As Emmerdale’s legendary Marlon Dingle, actor Mark Charnock has been at the centre of some of the soap’s most hard-hitting storylines over three decades. From suffering a stroke two years ago and watching his first wife, Tricia, die after a storm hit the Woolpack in 2003, to getting caught up with Rhona’s embryo controversy, drama has followed Marlon since Mark, now 56, was told he had landed the part on his 28th birthday in 1996.
Now he is involved in a harrowing plot after Marlon’s 16-year-old daughter April disappeared on Christmas Day. The hard-working, likeable star describes the powerful drama as one of the most challenging, not to mention one of the most significant, storylines he has worked on.
He has been working with Missing People, the charity the Mirror chose as its Christmas Appeal, to research for the role. Around 75,000 children are reported missing in the UK each year – and Mark is hoping April’s tragedy, coupled with our appeal, could help raise awareness and funds for the charity so they can help more families who are searching for a loved one.
In an exclusive interview, Mark says: “I saw the great work the Mirror did for Missing People when they chose the charity as their Christmas Appeal. Hopefully, between this storyline and the Mirror, we can help the charity support even more families who are in desperate need of answers.
