Marlon and Jessie, Chas and Paddy, Belle and Tom. There’s not a great precedent for successful Christmas weddings in Emmerdale.
And yet, Pollard (Chris Chittell) decides this will be the day he and Brenda (Lesley Dunlop) say ‘I Do!’.
It’s risky, but with his Parkinson’s diagnosis weighing heavily on him, Eric decides he needs to act to show his love to his beloved Brenda before it’s too late.
Eric’s diagnosis has had a profound effect on him. It took weeks before he’d even tell his family he was sick, having confided in Mandy Dingle (Lisa Riley) and swearing her to secrecy, as he saw his illness as weakness.
He eventually revealed the truth, which led to the breakdown of his relationship with his son, who was devastated that he’d kept such a huge secret from him.
Most recently, he was rudely confronted by the realities of his disease, when some missed medication saw him crash a lorry and only narrowly escape injury while in the midst of a war with Caleb. It was an embarrassing outcome for him, one that showed him he is not the man he once was.
Once again, he swore Liam (Jonny McPherson) to secrecy and refused to tell Brenda. Another reminder that his health is declining fast.
It sees a huge shift in Pollard, who even somehow manages to make friends with Caleb in the wake of the disaster.
Pollard has always somewhat taken Brenda for granted, but this makes him sit up and take notice. He makes a bold and beautiful decision – he wants them to get married.
Brenda is bowled over when she learns that Pollard has decided they shall marry at Christmas. The usually tight businessman even presents her with a ring that he bought at the auction. Brenda is loved up and glowing at the thought of their impending festive nuptials.
But though it’s a lovely bit of news amongst some darkness for Eric, should Brenda still proceed with caution in marrying a man who is as slippery as Eric? Is there a hidden agenda behind his sudden decision for a wedding?
Chris Chittell, who plays Pollard, and Lesley Dunlop, who plays Brenda, are married in real life. They met in 2008 when she joined the soap, and they got engaged in 2015 before having a beautiful Cornwall-based ceremony in 2016.
Will this be the soap couple’s happy ever after, or will it end up being a Christmas Day drama? Soap Christmas weddings are mostly cursed, so we’re crossing everything for poor Brenda.
