Mark Charnock Reveals All on Marlon & April’s Emotional Emmerdale Episode: “I Cried When I Read It!”
After nearly three decades in the role, Emmerdale veteran Mark Charnock has faced countless emotional storylines — but the actor admits the recent Marlon and April episode left him in tears. Speaking candidly in a new interview, Charnock opened up about the heart-wrenching script, describing it as “one of the most powerful stories I’ve ever been part of.”
A Fragile Reunion
The episode, which has already been hailed by fans as a standout moment for the Dingle family, follows a fragile reunion between Marlon and his daughter April Windsor (Amelia Flanagan). After a turbulent year marked by April’s disappearance and emotional distance, the pair finally reconnect — but under the surface, heartbreak brews.
“It’s been a really dark year for them,” Charnock admitted. “Marlon’s just so relieved to have her back that he’s trying to overcompensate. He’s desperate to make things right, but he has no idea how deep her pain goes.”
In one particularly tender moment, Marlon and April prepare for Bonfire Night together. Marlon surprises her with a witch’s costume — the same kind she wore as a child — in an effort to recapture their lost bond. “It’s this wonderful reconnection,” Charnock said softly, “but also bittersweet, because the audience knows something he doesn’t.”
April’s Deadly Secret
Behind April’s fragile smile lies a devastating truth: she is hiding the fact that she killed a man in self-defense. The emotional weight of that secret drives the episode’s tension, creating what Charnock describes as “a knife-edge of love and fear.”
“April is protecting her dad,” he explained. “She’s terrified that if she tells him what really happened, it will destroy him. It’s such an extraordinary conflict — she’s doing the wrong thing for the right reasons.”
The Astonishing Twist
Written by Emmerdale’s Carol Mitchell, the special episode is structured as a blend of intense thriller and intimate family drama. Charnock revealed that the tone shift halfway through took him completely by surprise.
“The writing is incredible,” he said. “It starts off as this delicate story of reconnection, and then — bang — two-thirds of the way through, something happens that absolutely pulls the rug out from under you. I cried when I read it.”
The actor praised both the script and Amelia Flanagan’s performance, calling her “a once-in-a-generation talent.” He added, “Amelia’s scenes are breathtaking. She carries so much emotion and restraint — it’s astonishing to watch her work.”
A Defining Moment for Marlon Dingle
For Charnock, who first stepped into Marlon’s shoes 29 years ago, this episode represents more than just another dramatic chapter — it’s a defining point in the character’s journey. “It’s about love, fear, forgiveness, and the lengths a parent will go to protect their child,” he reflected. “After all these years, I still feel lucky to be part of something that can touch people in this way.”
With a shocking twist still to come and secrets on the verge of being exposed, Emmerdale promises that this father-daughter story will have lasting consequences for the Dingles — and leave viewers reaching for the tissues.