As Emmerdale fans speculate the outcome for missing April Windsor (Amelia Flanagan), there is clearly a long way to go for the storyline and, whatever happens, the aftermath is going to be dramatic and powerful.
Central to one of Emmerdale’s most dramatic stories at the moment, Mark Charnock is lighting our TV screens with electrifying performances in what he calls a ‘thunderous and visceral’ storyline involving the disappearance of April Windsor played by the highly-praised youngster Amelia.
In an exclusive interview with Metro, the acclaimed actor discusses the developments in April’s ordeal, his reaction to the story, how the ITV soap still makes him anxious, and an unfortunate cooking incident.
How did you react when you were told about the story? It’s quite different to other missing persons stories in soap.
I had a similar reaction to when I was told I was getting the stroke storyline. I just thought ‘This is going to be a really challenging, difficult thing.’ My main thought was with Amelia – she’s not had anything this extreme before and I wanted to be a person she was reliant to on set.
I think we’ve got that anyway, but I really wanted to be on it for her. It’s big. She’s brilliant but you forget how young she is. She’s extraordinary in this, there’s some stuff coming up that kills you.
My initial reaction was ‘How do we get this right as actors?’ and I saw the structure of the story, and thought they’d done it really properly. People are often found in the first 48 hours so it’s relatively rare for somebody to go missing for a prolonged period of time, but it does happen with this age group.
I knew it was going to be really tough but we owe it to the people to get it as close as we can [to the truth].
Have you had much reaction to the story?
I have an account on X, but I don’t really look at it anymore because it’s a hellscape. I don’t really look at social media in that regard anymore, but I’ve been told Amelia’s had an amazing response in regard to her performance, and they haven’t seen half of it yet! People who know me have said ‘It’s been really strong, it’s coming across well.’ So that’s nice.
On working with Louise Jameson…
I love her. I adore that woman. She’s such an amazing… she gives you everything.
Even in day-to-day stuff, she’s a dream to work with.
Has this been challenging for you?
Because the scripts have been so amazing and we have lengthy talks with charities – the idea of that level of loss and abject horror, it’s so bleak and desperate and lost, in a weird way, the extremity of it has made it more direct to access it.
It’s so thunderously appalling, the situation, you’re not going around ginnels to find your way to it, the endpoint is so extreme that you can see what it must be like for people. Hopefully, it will do some good somewhere. It’s not that it’s not nuanced, it’s just easier to access because it’s so visceral and awful.
There’s so much more emotion to come…
Absolutely. For example, in a recent episode, they see her alive and there’s this amazing piece of hope. Then they can’t find her – it doesn’t happen. Fireflies of hope that are quenched by reality.
If they’re lucky enough to find her in the human haystack and get her back, there’s the challenge of keeping her. Her life has changed so much in ways that Rhona and Marlon can’t begin to comprehend. They’re going to have to deal with an entirely new human being or try and access the bits of her that they used to know and bring it forward.
Soap truly has the power to change things…
I’m obviously biased, but I really feel this and I would if I wasn’t working on one, but this is why these shows matter. Other dramas can’t do this day-to-day reality of it. The bits in between.
Those are the bits that really speak to people and might make them feel differently if they see a missing person’s poster. I feel so passionately about what soaps can serve.
On Beth Cordingly’s story as Ruby
Extraordinary. I’m watching it as a viewer and I’m in bits. She’s been, and they’ve all been amazing. Nick has been amazing as Anthony. She’s a wonderful actress.
Are you still proud to be at Emmerdale after 30 years?
I am. It feels like a privilege. The funny thing after all this time – to get a reaction about a story – watching it feels so fresh and it feels like we’re addressing issues that people won’t address. I’m part of something culturally significant.
You get to do a lot of comedy scenes too, do you have a preference?
If they said, ‘You have to choose’, I’d probably choose the dramatic stuff. But I love to work with Dominic and there are so many great comic actors in the show.
It’s lovely, in all the soaps, when there’s just a moment of light which is the same in any community. The cups are full somewhere.
Cast members often describe Emmerdale as a ‘family’. Do you get a lot of support from your colleagues?
It’s not a myth, it’s true. There’s a real safety net. If somebody’s seen your episode it’s endlessly supportive [from them]. It’s a safe space in that respect, when you put yourself out there it’s nerve-wracking. Actors get so insecure but it’s understandable because you’re so exposed.
Do you still get nervous and anxious?
Absolutely. I’d be disappointed in myself if I didn’t. There’s a fear of getting it wrong, but it keeps you wanting to do your best with it.
Are there any ambitions beyond Emmerdale that you’d love to pursue?
I’d love to finish my novels. That’s it. Most of my closest friends are writers and I’ve always been in awe of them. I’d like to write more. There’s lots of unfinished manuscripts lying around, looking at me. I admire novelists because it’s hard work, so relentless and there’s not a lot of reward unless you’re a best-selling author.
What would you class as your hobbies? How do you wind down?
I’d say the answer would be football but given the way Manchester United are playing at the minute, it’s more like anxiety. I wind down by reading a lot. That’s my best chill-out time. I try and get through 30-40 a year. I like to read at a steady pace. I’m toying with the idea of doing a YouTube-y thing reviewing books.
Playing a chef, how are you with cooking? Do you have a signature dish?
I had a weekend with some old friends this weekend, and [my friend] Pete made three courses. He asked me to cut an onion, and I immediately got a really deep cut into my finger. He looked at me and said, ‘I might end this [friendship], you’re rubbish.’ I like baking bread. Baking is very therapeutic. I can follow a recipe but it’s always a mess, like there’s been a weird assault.
You’ve come a long way, what advice would you give to your younger self?
Worry less. I spent too much time doing that. Don’t let that make you overconfident – worry enough, it’s underrated because it can be very helpful but I feel like I do it too much. I’m not very good at being chilled.
