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Entertainment
Craig Jones

Emmerdale cast 'assume the worst' about their futures ahead of soap's 50th anniversary

Emmerdale legend Mark Charnock has warned co-stars to ‘assume the worst’ for their futures with the soap set to unleash some major storylines as part of their 50th anniversary.

Mark Charnock, 53, is known to millions as Marlon Dingle in Emmerdale. Despite being a popular cast member the star has warned nobody is ever safe from the axe - as we all know soapland can be a vicious place.

Mark, who first started playing Marlon back in 1996, appeared alongside co-star Zoe Henry at Emmerdale’s Eccup base to discuss the soap’s big milestone. Zoe was asked whether she could see herself portraying her character Rhona Goskirk, in 10 years, for Emmerdale’s 60th birthday.

Read more: Emmerdale legend on a major soap stunt which went wrong

“It does feel very nice to have been here a long time - it is a great place to work,” replied Zoe, who became a full-time cast member in 2010, after fleeting appearances as Rhona. “There’s never any room for compliancy in this job, or in any job actually, but I don’t think anyone thinks they are here for the long haul. We work very much on year-to-year contract basis.”

Despite the slight uncertainty in-the-air, undoubtedly heightened by the upcoming anniversary, Mark views it as something of a good thing. He said: “You’ll have heard this from other cast members.

“There's a real family vibe here and, as I’ve said many times before, never ever, ever think beyond the contract. Assume the worst, is really the healthiest, best way of going forward.

“The great offspring of that is it keeps you on your toes all the time - you’ve got to keep trying your best. Never, ever take it for granted.

“It has been a wonderful job and being part of the history of it feels very special - especially coming up to this anniversary. I remember the 40th like it was yesterday. That decade has gone like lightning which, I guess attests to the fact it has never been dull.

“I’m very proud to have been a part (for so long). I used to watch it with my nanna and grandad in the afternoons in the 70s. So, to be part of it feels lovely.”

You can visit our Emmerdale homepage to find the latest gossip about the soap and its stars. There you'll also find our Emmerdale features and further news about the show's 50th anniversary plans.

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