Emmerdale character Charity Dingle will return to a sexual assault support group to address the trauma inflicted by Dr. Caitlin Todd, actress Emma Atkins confirmed.
The ongoing storyline explores Charity's emotional struggle after being assaulted by a female perpetrator, leaving her feeling isolated and confused about legal classifications under UK law.
Atkins explained that Charity initially struggled to speak during her first support group meeting due to the unique nature of her experience.
"In the first meeting, Charity really struggled to know what to say because her situation felt so different to a male-female rape situation," Atkins said.
"She didn't know what to call it. I think she just felt so lost and lonely and has kept so much to herself.
But in this second meeting, she feels braver."
The character makes significant progress during the subsequent session after receiving encouragement from the meeting facilitator.
"The facilitator is so gentle in her approach, and she just asks Charity to try and speak," Atkins explained.
"She finally explains that it was a woman who assaulted her, then once she starts, she can't stop – it's like taking the top off a bottle."
Atkins described the support group scenes as an essential stage in the character's emotional recovery and search for accountability.
"It's a lovely, natural progression for the character's journey," Atkins remarked. "Charity's confidence has begun to gently flourish again after it was wiped away.
I think to connect to a group of strangers is quite bold, and it's why these support groups are so incredibly important.
She wants to get justice, whether that's through the courts or not…"
Prior to attending the group, Charity faces additional emotional strain when her son, Noah Dingle, played by Jack Downham, announces plans to move to Dusseldorf, Germany, before opting to stay in the village to support his mother.
Legal Definitions Impact Charity's Reporting
Atkins detailed how legal definitions impacted Charity's attempts to report the crime to law enforcement authorities.
"In that first initial meeting, she really struggled to know what to say, because her situation felt so different from a male/female situation," Atkins said.
"After she realised that what happened to her isn't recognised as rape, it's assault with penetration, I think Charity just felt so lost in it all and lonely."
Under current law in England and Wales, rape charges strictly require penetration with a penis, while non-consensual penetration using other body parts or objects is legally classified as assault by penetration.
Atkins highlighted the importance of portraying the sensitive subject accurately, praising co-star Gloria Adereti for her performance as the group facilitator.
"The facilitator, played by Gloria, was just brilliant. She brought something very unique to it.
Very gentle, and a truthful approach.
I think it helped Charity to open up when initially she wasn't prepared to do that," Atkins said.
"I think that's why she goes back a second time.
She kept so much to herself, but in this second meeting, that's when she finally decides she feels braver, through a lot of different things that happen.
I think it was a natural progression for my character's journey to go on, to finally go and speak and say it out loud, because she kept it bottled up for so long.
I think a lot of people have been able to relate to it, regardless of the gender.
It was a very fragile and sensitive topic, I felt I had to commit to this and do it justice."
Atkins added that public awareness around underreported crimes influenced her commitment to the performance.
"She goes to the police and they are understanding, but what happened to her isn't classed as rape, so she feels extremely unlistened to and as though it lessens the gravity of it.
There are so many people who have experienced this, and they don't feel like they get the justice they're seeking.
It's a very sensitive topic, but it needs to be talked about," Atkins stated.
"And obviously it's so underreported as well, because people feel that if it's not going to be classed as rape, there's no point.
It was an incredibly powerful storyline and I was just honoured and privileged to be given it to play.
When I read the factual stuff that I was given about how under-reported it was, I thought, this storyline has to be taken on and committed.
I just had to commit in a way that people out there can watch and go okay, it's not just me then."
Confrontation with Dr. Todd Ahead
Confirming upcoming plot developments, Atkins indicated that Charity will eventually confront Dr. Todd directly in a future episode.
"I think the audience is owed that because they've followed this journey," Atkins said. "Caroline has been playing Todd so brilliantly.
I think the audience needs to see that showdown. I don't want to give too much away, but it's absolutely brilliant.
It was written so well, and Caroline played it fantastically. It was a very special day of filming for us both.
I think the audience will be blown away by the outcome, and shocked.
There's some kind of retribution and justice in its own way, and you'll see that moving forward. I think the audience will be pleased."
Atkins compared the narrative weight of the current storyline to Charity's historical abuse storyline involving the character DI Mark Bails.
"It's probably the most challenging one, although I have to say the historical abuse with Bails, it's kind of on a par in the sense," Atkins said.
"But assault or violence is something that has always got to be dealt with in a sensitive way, and will put any actor through that challenge of having to go to a place.
I will always cherish the storyline as difficult as it's been, it's a story like it's needed to be told.
At first, I was like, how am I gonna do this?
It's constantly moving when you get the scripts, and then every block it changes and becomes something else...
It's been a very truthful journey.
But yeah, it's been my most challenging, I think, alongside the Bails storyline, 'cause I often do love it when I just get the scripts where I'm making people laugh, and I have missed that.
So I'm looking forward to a bit more lightheartedness in the future, but, you know, we'll see."
Atkins praised actress Caroline Harker, who plays Dr. Todd, for her professional collaboration throughout the storyline.
"I adore her. She's so gorgeous in every way.
She's such a team player, and that's what she brought every day, just a delight to work with.
We were serious when we needed to be serious, and then we needed to sort of switch off from it, because of the nature of it, we would have a giggle together as friends," Atkins stated.
"I hope to keep in touch with her. Well, we text each other from time to time.
But what an incredible actress, and, wow, nobody could have played it as well."
Emmerdale airs weeknights on ITV1 and streams on ITVX.
