Emmerdale star Lucy Pargeter, who is best known for her role as Chas Dingle on the ITV soap, has admitted she is worried for her character's future following the backlash she has received surrounding her current storyline.
Lucy has held the role for two decades and is an integral part of the Dingle clan, however, Chas' behaviour and actions of late has lead to viewers wanting to see the back of her. Viewers have watched through gritted teeth the past few month as Chas has been cheating on fan favourite Paddy with bad boy Al Chapman.
But things came to an abrupt end as her lover got shot. It was understood that Cain was to blame as he pleaded guilty to Al’s murder and is currently facing a life sentence for the murder.
However it was revealed that Cain was innocent and it was in fact his 10-year-old son, Kyle who killed Al. No one in the village including Chas knows the truth however she has continued to blame Cain for her affair and lashes out at those close to her including husband Paddy.
Paddy Kirk, played by Dominic Brunt, is completely oblivious about Chas and Al's relationship and even though the affair is now over fans are still not happy with Chas' behaviour, with many even calling for the "unbearable" character to be axed.
Actress Lucy, who plays Chas has spoken out following the backlash she has received as she opens up about the future. She said she has never experienced such a backlash to a storyline before.
In an interview with Digital Spy Lucy spoke of the future of Chas and Paddy's marriage once the secret comes out, admitting she's "absolutely terrified."
And while the soap star admitted she "would never condone or agree with Chas' behaviour", she did say it's an "interesting" role to play. Speaking of the reaction from fans Lucy said: "They are absolutely furious with her. In fact with all the storylines I've ever played I have never had a response like this. They are furious and the vigour and the anger they have is strong. They are cross – she has betrayed her marriage. But I do understand their reaction."
In a previous interview with The Mirror, Lucy said she has "sucked up her own feelings" in able to do the role justice. She said: "You have to [believe it.] Over the years, the amount of stories that have been pitched and given to you that are a massive gift to have, but not all the time do you believe it. Not all the time can you justify it as yourself.
"You have to put yourself in the character's position and go okay it’s being pitched to me, this is what I've got to do, I have to try to believe it. I don't have to necessarily like it personally, but as an actress or actor you have to find truth in it and just trust what your character has been given.
"And if the director or the producer or the writer is putting it your way, you have to suck up your own feelings about things sometimes, and just go well if that is what my character is doing I have to throw myself into it and believe it."
Emmerdale airs on weeknights at 7.30pm on ITV1, and streams on ITVX.
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