Emmerdale legend Emma Atkins reveals Mackenzie is 'not dead' in explosive scenes

Soap fans have waved goodbye to Mackenzie Boyd following his heart-dropping showdown with John Sugden - but actress Emma Atkins teases this may not be the last they see of him.

Charity Dingle and Mackenzie Boyd’s marriage is in shambles in Emmerdale. Emma Atkins, who has played the Woolpack landlady for over 20 years, explains Charity is battling a storm of emotions.

“She’s still quite defiant, because the last time they were together, it erupted into a huge disagreement about her moving forward with the surrogacy,” she says. “Mack couldn’t get himself fully on board because he’s devastated that she’s doing this as he wanted a child of his own. He’s full of resentment and worry.”

With Mack away in London on a stag do, Charity faces an early ultrasound alone this week - while hiding an even bigger secret. Her fling with Ross Barton means the baby she’s carrying for her granddaughter Sarah and her boyfriend Jacob may not even be theirs.

“She’s in the most awkward situation and she can’t tell anyone,” Emma says, “She feels really empowered that she’s able to carry this child for Sarah and now she’s being met with the dilemma that it might not be Sarah’s baby.”

This week, Charity masks her turmoil with forced smiles and false cheer. But the façade takes an emotional toll. “She’s trying to let them be excited but she’s so irritable.

The irritability comes through all the green smoothies she’s being forced to drink, vitamins she’s being told to take,” Emma teases. “It exacerbates Charity’s inner turmoil. It's making her snap, and then she feels really guilty.”

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And while Charity and Sarah’s bond has always been chaotic, Charity’s latest secret could break it for good. “It’s such an ultimate betrayal to take it this far and lie,” she says.

“Charity is digging a hole that is so big now, there’s no going back. She’s determined to keep the lie up. She can’t bear the idea of Sarah ever finding out.”

But in true soap fashion, Charity’s world is about to be turned upside down. Recent scenes have seen Charity equally crushed over the end of her marriage with Mackenzie, sealed with a cryptic test from the hunk.

Little does Charity know that Mack is actually alive, held hostage in a bunker by John Sugden after a chilling showdown in the woods. This week sees Mackenzie actor Lawrence Robb back on screens after soap fans predicted the worst.

However, Emma knew he’d be back. “I had no doubt that Mackenzie would be okay because he’s so good, Lawrence is incredible,” she says. “

I knew it would be very exciting for the audience to wonder what his fate would be. They built a special set for the bunker. We were both very excited. This storyline is proving to be my favourite at the moment.”

Away from the chaos of the Dales, Emma leads a far more peaceful life. She’s even got an unexpected passion - and a special interest for trees. “I’ve always loved taking pictures,” she says.

“I had a Canon 5D and the shutter broke so I turned to my iPhone and decided to take photos of wherever I’d go in nature. It was a good therapy tool.”

On-screen, Charity is defined by her fiery personality and protectiveness, especially when it comes to her children and grandchildren. But her determination to keep them out of trouble sometimes triggers more hassle and harm than intended.

However, Emma admits that her own experience as a mother helped her bring depth to Charity’s antics. Emma welcomed her son Albert, now 10, with long-term partner Tom in 2015.

“I’m fiercely loyal,” she says, “My love for Albert runs very deep but at the same time, I want him to be his own person. In that regard, Charity and I are similar.”

For Emma, parenting is a balance between protecting her son while letting him learn to navigate the world by himself. “I want him to stand on his own two feet and grow up knowing that I have given him that freedom to make decisions for himself, even at an early age,” Emma says.

“I don’t want to be telling him what to do all the time. I try not to be possessive over my own child. I’ll be there to steer him and encourage him in the right direction.”

Emma’s nurturing instinct extends beyond family. She has stayed close with many of her Emmerdale co-stars over the years, particularly Charley Webb, who played her daughter Debbie for nearly two decades. “If I’ve worked with them, you can bet your life that I’m still in touch with them,” she says.

She’s equally bonded with current cast members. “I’m very close to Katie Hill, we share a dressing room. We’re like sisters,” Emma says. Her friendship with Belle Dingle actress Eden Taylor-Draper is just as strong. “We’ve been friends for years,” she says.

And despite John Sugden being one of the most sinister villains in recent Emmerdale history, Emma only has praise for Oliver Farnworth, who plays the sinister surgery receptionist.

“He’s such a gorgeous human being and so different to John,” she says, “Whenever we’re on set together we spend our time talking about animals because he’s a big animal lover and so am I.”

Over the years, Emma’s portrayal of Charity has won her a loyal following and recognition from critics and fans alike. She has been nominated for multiple TV awards and eventually scooped Best Soap Actress at the TV Choice Awards as well as Best Actress at the Inside Soap Awards.

But Emma insists the real secret to her success is knowing how to separate her on-screen havoc from her off-screen serenity. “I’ve learned to keep it simple,” she says, “But Charity’s world is too chaotic for me.”

With affairs, betrayals and deadly secrets, Charity Dingle is facing one of the most dramatic times of her life in Emmerdale. Will she come out of it unscathed?

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