Emmerdale's Charity Dingle addresses move away from ITV soap ahead of major milestone

Emma Atkins, known for her long-standing role as Charity Dingle in Emmerdale, is considering taking a year-long break from the soap to seek other opportunities. The actress, who first appeared in the village back in 2000, celebrates two significant milestones next year, her 25th anniversary on the show and her 50th birthday.

Ahead of these landmarks, the 49-year-old actress has thought about plans she wants to fulfil, which includes exploring the world. Revealing her potential plans, Emma shared: "I might take a year out at some point in the future - do some travelling, do some other jobs - but at the moment, I'm here to stay.

"As long as they're writing brilliant stuff for my character and I love playing her, I don't feel the need to go off and do anything else." Reflecting on her time in the soap so far, Emma went on to insist that she didn't expect to still be in the job after working as a "jobbing actor" before her return.

During her first break away from the soap, however, she believes it made her fiesty character "even better".

Charity, a mother-of-four (biologically) on screen, has been at the heart of some of the soap's most gripping plots, from a string of marriages and affairs to the emotional discovery of her long-lost daughter Debbie Dingle, played by Charley Webb, reports the Daily Star.

More recently, Charity is on a determined quest to rescue her cousin Belle, (Eden Taylor Draper) from the abusive clutches of her husband Tom King (James Chase).

The soap villain has increased his plan to isolate Belle from her loved ones including Charity by planning an exit from the village.

Commenting on the storyline, Emma told My Weekly: "She's aware that over the past six months she's seen less and less of Belle, and her personality seems to be dulled down.

"There are a few red flags and she's not willing to keep quiet about it - but I'm not sure anyone is listening."

The question on everyone's lips is, Can Charity intervene before it's too late?

As this compelling storyline unravels, Emmerdale producer Laura Shaw has shared her surprise at the audience's engagement with the plot.

Reflecting on the impact, she shared: "We said right from the beginning that we wanted to tell this story as truthfully and authentically as we can and let's face it for people who are subjected to domestic abuse this isn't something that's over in a couple of weeks.

"I think the audience reaction has been phenomenal.

"Domestic abuse is not new to soaps but the reaction has been incredible and the letters and comments we've had from women and men reaching out, and we're aware we're giving people a voice to speak out and that's what we want."

"What we will see is Tom finding different ways to manipulate Belle and to control Belle so we will see an escalation."

Emmerdale continues tomorrow at 7.30pm on ITV and ITVX.