Emmerdale's Charlotte Bellamy: Laurel's back!

Emmerdale's Charlotte Bellamy: Laurel's back!
Emmerdale's Charlotte Bellamy: Laurel's back!

Emmerdale's Charlotte Bellamy brings Laurel back to Emmerdale... and warns it could be the death of her! You had your baby daughter only four months ago. How are you coping with being back at work so soon? "Juggling Emmerdale with being a mum of three is mad at times but I have a nanny and a hands-on husband so that’s how I do it." Your children are called Sunnie, Herbie and Teddie Boo Florence. What unusual names… "We love names that are quite kooky but also have some history. Our new baby Teddie, for instance, is a 1920s name for a girl. I love it because it’s cute but not too girly." What’s made Laurel agree to give her marriage another go? "She’s come to realise that by not trying to save her marriage Sally will be the winner. It’s difficult but Laurel wants back the life she had before Sally tried to ruin it..." How does Ashley finally persuade her to come home? "Laurel still loves him and Ashley works really hard to persuade her. Ultimately you can’t change the past, all you can do is try to get on with the future." Is it strange being back – like the ghost of Sally is still lurking? "It still feels very raw. Ashley and Laurel don’t really talk about it but Sally – and what she did – is always there. It’s not that easy for her to settle back into village life because there’s been so much speculation while she’s been away." How are things between Laurel and Ashley when she moves in? "A bit stilted at first as they try to get to know each other again – and trust each other. But once they have it starts being good again." Has Laurel forgiven Ashley for believing Sally over her? "She’s forgiven him enough to put all that behind her and move on." Does Laurel believe Sally has gone for good? "She’s sure she has. Everyone in the village thinks she’s gone. But she tried to kill Laurel and I don’t think anyone realises just how unhinged Sally is. I think it’s unlikely she’d just go quietly…"

Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 

An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.