Emmerdale’s bumbling Marlon Dingle (Mark Charnock) isn’t known for his violent outbursts, but he’s pushed to this out of character behaviour when Rhona Goskirk (Zoe Henry) makes yet another huge decision without her husband’s input.
Marlon and Rhona’s relationship is already hanging by a thread, and she is well aware that her penchant for going behind Marlon’s back is the reason.
Apparently, she just can’t help herself.
Instead of listening to what her husband is trying to tell her, Rhona is focusing on how fed up she is that Marlon keeps bringing up her past actions. Perhaps as some kind of trauma response, this leads her to put Marlon firmly out of her head.
When Charles (Kevin Mathurin) visits, Rhona spares not one single thought for her spouse and his warnings when she starts planning a christening for Ivy with the vicar. All is going well with the arrangements, until Marlon suddenly returns home mid-discussion.
He’s aghast to hear Rhona planning yet another major family decision without him present.
Rhona feebly explains it was Charles who raised the question of a christening, but this only enrages Marlon further – Rhona always has an excuse as to why she’s excluded him.
In an uncharacteristic move, a frustrated Marlon turns violent as he punches a pan of food and sends it flying, baring a side to himself no one has seen.
Then Rhona is hit with a sucker punch more violent than the upended perishables – she learns that Marlon is going camping with Paddy (Dominic Brunt) to decide if he still wants to be in a relationship.
Paddy is taken aback on the trip to learn that Marlon is ready to give up on his marriage and is considering divorcing Rhona.
Paddy knows he’s got a job on his hands and attempts to encourage Marlon to fight for his love – surely if he can find his way back from his stroke, he can find a way to get through this?
Mary (Louise Jameson) is also on hand to give Rhona advice and brings out the big guns in urging Rhona to fight for her love. But is it too little too late?
