Stuart Blackburn - Emmerdale DS interview

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Emmerdale entered a new era earlier this year as Stuart Blackburn was appointed as the soap's new series producer. Having worked as the show's story editor since 2009, Blackburn has been right at the heart of the rural drama's recent period of success and, as a life-long Emmerdale fan, he is now aiming to take the programme to new heights in the coming months. With a number of characters bowing out in the weeks ahead and hints that new arrivals could be on the way, Digital Spy recently caught up with Stuart for his first in-depth interview about his future plans for Emmerdale.

After four months in charge of Emmerdale, how's it all going?
"I think it's going really, really well. Every week I'm learning new things, in fact I'm probably learning new things every day. I understand the responsibility of looking after a show like this - it's a massive show that I was a fan of as a child. The team here at Emmerdale and the support I've had has been great. I'm excited every day by the challenges, and I love working here."

What's your vision for the show? Are there any particular changes that you'd like viewers to notice as your episodes continue coming through?
"On screen, I'd like there to be a slightly faster pace and I want Emmerdale to have a modern and contemporary feel, but without losing sight of its roots as I'm proud that this show is set in the village that it is - it's the most stunning and beautiful location. We might not be an urban show, but I think we can be an urbane show - modern, contemporary and with a real cutting edge. I'd also like the show to be full of wit and warmth, as I'd never want to lose the humour. That's not to say that I like to do huge comedy stories, but I think if there's wit and warmth with every character then that's where we'll get that humour - character-based humour that feels real."

Do the episodes airing at the moment fully represent your vision for the show, or will it take a while for your plans to be reflected on screen?
"Well, I was here for two years before taking over as producer as I was working as story editor, so I'm not going to hide behind anything as I've been across all of the material that is on screen at the moment. But obviously the further we go into my tenure, the more it will be my work. I take great pride in what's on screen now and great excitement in what we've got coming up."


You've mentioned wit and warmth, but some fans think that the show feels quite dark at the moment. Do you think that's just because the Aaron, Jackson and Hazel story has been so prominent?
"I think it is because that story has had such prominence. But even in that story, there was a massive amount of warmth and moments of wit there. I think that when you've got a story that is so emotional and has had such a long build, people tend to forget the other stuff that has gone on around it. I think people tend to forget the episode that went out the night before Jackson's death, where we had the party at the Dingles' - I think it was one of the funniest episodes that I've seen. All of the kids were there and they were playing games with Lizzie, so even on the evening before a really sad and tragic episode, we had one of the funniest and warmest episodes that I've seen. So I think we can do both. I don't think that tackling hard and powerful subjects means that you have to forego the humour. We've all been in dark places sometimes, but we don't stop laughing and we don't stop living."

We know that all of the Maceys apart from Declan are leaving the show, so will that mean a new family at Home Farm?
"I think what we'll see is that, no matter how explosive and dramatic the departures of his family members are and how powerful that storyline is, Declan is left as the man who seems to have everything. He's got his freedom again, he's got the money, he's got the big house and he's got the big car. So what we'll be exploring is what's next for Declan - we're not rushing into any new families. Home Farm is Declan's and that's where he belongs. There may be people coming along to join him along the way, but those may be more established faces rather than new ones. It will be all change, but it'll be Declan staying at Home Farm."

Declan is a popular character but he seems to have become slightly less so as he's become more ruthless. Will we see him return to his old self?
"For me, Declan hasn't changed. I think Declan is funny, he's witty and he's relaxed - until he's pushed into a corner or until he's challenged! I think he's a man who can compartmentalise and put things into boxes - in the afternoon he might have to deal with a very tricky problem and realise he has to be ruthless, but in the evening he'll see that he's dealt with that and now it's time for fun. I think there'll be an evolution of Declan and we'll start to understand him more. We'll see that he's a man who's capable of being very hard and holding a grudge for a long time, but that doesn't stop him from enjoying life."


Why are the rest of the Maceys being written out of Emmerdale?
"It was absolutely because of the story - that story of Ella and Adam was so explosive. I think sometimes what soaps can do is have great characters and great actors and they'll tell a story with them, but they're so afraid of change and that means stories don't have consequences. For me, with a heavy heart, as soon as we saw this story evolving we realised that in order to play it properly, it had to have consequences. We couldn't do a story that was so big and have everyone happy and acting like it never happened two months later. So it was a story-led decision and I do think we've had a high quality of actors in the story - some of Ella's scenes have been magnificent. She'll be leaving for the foreseeable future, but she's not going to be killed, let's say that!"

With so many characters leaving Emmerdale, can we expect an influx of newcomers?
"There won't necessarily be an influx, but there are changes coming and we'll see some new faces on screen. We've just had Rachel Breckle joining, and some very interesting characters who are linked to her and her background will appear. I think they'll have a very clear effect on screen and they'll be types of characters who we haven't seen for a while - they're really exciting. But we do have a big, solid cast here and I wouldn't ever want to get more in just because people are leaving. It's about the story and when the timing's right."


Will the departing characters have dramatic exit storylines or will they leave quietly?
"It's different for all of them. For Leyla, the story of her departure is going to be so emotional, so powerful and so full of consequences. I've been watching some of the episodes in the edit and they're so, so moving. Equally with Mia and Ella, their departures will not be a whimper - they're going to go out with a bang and in the process, that will change the attitudes and lives of quite a few people for a long, long time. It's all character-dependent and again, the most important thing for me is consequences. There should always be consequences for those who are left behind."


The new titles and reworked theme tune had a bit of a mixed reaction. Are you still happy with them?
"Absolutely. It's been interesting looking at the mixed reaction, but at this end, the overall response has been really positive and I love them. We really wanted an opening that started to tell a story and started to hint that, yes, it's a small village but there's big drama. And look, I've been working in telly for years now, and I have never, ever known any change of credits or theme tune that hasn't had fans - quite rightly - saying, 'I don't like this change'. It would have been impossible for us to do this and please everyone, but I'm happy with them and I think they do exactly what we wanted them to do - they start to reposition Emmerdale into something that's very strong, very modern and very fresh. I'm happy with them, and we also know that far more people contact to complain than contact to praise!"

Some viewers are keen to see the older characters get more screen time. What are your thoughts?
"I love our older characters and it's always a really fine balancing act. I absolutely adore them, I personally want to see more of them, and I think we will see more of them. We'll make sure that they're properly served as the show goes on. And certainly for one or two of them, as we head into the future, there is a really big story. I absolutely want a more contemporary Emmerdale, but I want a realistic look to the show as well. People have parents, grandparents, older friends and older relatives and they're absolutely at the fore of my thinking."

Do you think Emmerdale is lacking a big villain with Nathan and Kelly gone?
"There are still villains, but maybe at the moment they're lying dormant and not showing their true colours! I think that as we go into late summer and head into the autumn, some of those people in the cast who are capable of bad behaviour will show their true colours with a vengeance!"

Does Emmerdale have a big autumn and winter planned?
"Yes! I can say, hand on heart, that I've worked on a lot of shows and I haven't ever been as excited. We have two, three, four, five big stories that are going to coalesce and create a perfect story storm. They're going to have life-changing effects and it's going to be an exciting time, it really is."


After so many dark times, some viewers are keen to see happier material for Aaron. Will he ever head in a new direction?
"It's going to be a long, long journey. What I cannot do and what would be unforgivable would be to take Aaron on this journey and then say, 'Oh, he's been a bit upset for a while, let's give it a month or two and then he'll be happy again'. He's got a long way to go. Ultimately over the coming months, there will be a degree of redemption for him, but he has a long battle ahead.

"For Aaron, it's irrelevant what his friends, family and the courts say about what he's done - it's about what he feels. We need to keep that character real and true and we're committed to following it through. But all stories must have hope, and this one does. There's a lot of people on his side and it's perhaps time for Chas to step up to the plate as his mother. Aaron will be surrounded by love, but it'll take him a while to take that on board and deal with everything that's happened."


Aaron and Adam's friendship has been really nice to watch and has proved popular, so will we see more of it?
"Absolutely - it's a great, great friendship. Those two are great and it'll never be forgotten. Obviously we may not see them together in every episode, but this whole story for Aaron started with Adam and they've been through so much together. They're so great on screen and I like them together. I don't think there's anything that could separate them, so even if we don't always see them together, that is a true and real friendship that I'd like to maintain."

There's been some speculation over Lyndon Ogbourne returning as Nathan - is he making a comeback?
"I know Lyndon and I like him a lot, and I think the great thing with Nathan was that he was such a powerful character who we loved to hate. And bizarrely with that story, we ended up feeling sorry for him! The time might not be right for him to return now, but Nathan isn't dead and we know he's a character who holds grudges. Short-term and medium-term, there are no plans - but it's good to have a character like that on the fringes, so I never say never. But any rumours about an immediate return are just that - rumours!"


We keep hearing that there's a big story on the way for Debbie. Is it definitely happening?
"Absolutely - yes it is. I've seen some of it in the edit and I think in the next four to six weeks, that's really going to grow and grow. We haven't been lying or teasing people - it's going to be a very big story that will last for over a year and touch the hearts of a lot of our regular characters. A lot of decisions are going to have to be made - it's a heartbreaking story and, again, it will have consequences."

What about talk of a big story for Laurel and Ashley?
"Again, for once, these rumours are true! I adore Laurel and Ashley and that family set-up there. I think they're great characters who are at the heart of Emmerdale, and I think they're played by superb actors. And yes, they have one, two, three stories coming up! They're going to be right at the centre of things for quite a long time."

Do you have any big plans for the Barton family?
"Yes, definitely. I think what we're going to see a lot of is John's ambition. John and Moira are a very modern farming couple, and John is a very ambitious man. But obviously along the way, Adam has not gone the right way to make friends with Declan, shall we say! So there's a big, big story and the consequences of Adam's actions may well come back to haunt them. I know there's a massive story coming up for John and Moira that will affect not just them but other families as well."

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Our readers are convinced they can see a spark between Cain and Moira…
"There is a spark between Cain and Moira - but there's a spark between Cain and most women, isn't there? That's all I'm saying! (Laughs)"


Are there also big plans for the Dingles after Lisa's story was so well-received?
"Yes, I love the Dingles and Lisa's storyline was such a powerful one. We played Lisa's story but it was also Zak's story - he's a powerful man who wasn't able to protect her. There's a story coming up for Belle, we're trying to push Sam more - and yes, the Dingles are going to be at the very, very heart of a big story that we'll be pushing through the autumn and into winter."

We've seen lots of Chas lately, but mainly playing a role in other people's stories. Will she come to the fore in her own right?
"Absolutely. Obviously some of it will be linked to the Aaron story - she's going to do anything she can to help him and protect him. Beyond that, we've got very big plans as we go into 2012. We have life-changing plans for her - it'll be Chas in her own story and she'll increasingly be at the centre of things."

Things went a bit quiet for Katie after the Henshall story, but is that set to change?
"I think Katie's just taking her time. She's had a rough ride with the Henshall storyline, but she's not going to be quiet for long. There's a bright new future for her, which could involve a man! I just hope that this time she makes the right decision and not the wrong one!"


Gennie also seems to be becoming increasingly popular…
"I absolutely adore Gennie. Watch this space with the storyline that we're seeing on screen now, because it's not going to disappear. I think Gennie is a wonderfully warm character. We're going to follow her story properly and start to learn a lot more about her. Her story is one that has legs, has consequences and it will continue on into the new year."

Do you have any storylines planned for Nicky, the new vet character?
"Yes, in the short-term he's going to step forward a bit - we'll see him make a few new friends and maybe a few enemies along the way. We'll start to learn what makes him tick, and more importantly, who makes him tick!"

Finally, how about Amy, Eric and Val?
"There's going to be a big, big story for Amy and it's going to change the lives of a lot of people around her. I think it's going to change perceptions of Amy and those people. We're going to start to understand Amy an awful lot more. It's going to be a truly heartbreaking story, and a really dangerous one as well…"

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I wonder if Chas becomes preggers

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Emmerdale series producer Stuart Blackburn has revealed that the Dingles will face the "biggest challenge of their lives" in 2012.

The family have already suffered a tough 12 months following the revelation of Lisa's (Jane Cox) rape ordeal and their attempts to bring her attacker Derek Benrose (Stephen Bent) to justice.

However, Blackburn teased that life will only become harder for the Dingles next year as they face a new set of challenges they have "never come across before".

"The Dingles are going to be massive," he said in a 2012 preview video. "They're such a superb family unit. Things have been tough for them, I think it's going to get a whole lot tougher.

"They're going to be facing things they don't understand and have never come across before. We're going to push them right to the wire. The Dingles are going to be on screen facing the biggest challenges of their lives."

Blackburn also expressed his pride in the Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) attack plot that dominated the end of 2011 and will continue into the New Year.

He said: "The whole Cain story has been nearly a decade in the making so watching that unfold, knowing where it's going to take us, it's just been fantastic."

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Emmerdale's Aaron Livesy (Danny Miller) will have "a real chance [of] happiness" in 2012, series producer Stuart Blackburn has revealed.

Viewers have been waiting for an end to Aaron's suffering following his struggle with his sexuality, his decision to help paraplegic boyfriend Jackson Walsh (Marc Silcock) commit suicide and a subsequent obsession with self-harming.


In a teaser video of the next year, Blackburn said that while there may still be hardship ahead for Jackson's mother Hazel (Pauline Quirke), Aaron will finally experience "a ray of sunshine" ahead of his departure from the village.

"Hazel and Aaron's [assisted suicide] story has been magnificent and what can I say about Danny Miller and Pauline Quirke? They are absolutely phenomenal," he said.


"I think Hazel is going to make the ultimate sacrifice. What we're going to see with Aaron is perhaps finally, a real ray of sunshine, a real chance for him to find happiness. It's whether he's got the courage to actually go for it and take it."

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Life in Emmerdale has been far from quiet this year with high-profile storylines including John Barton's tragic demise, Ashley Thomas's downfall, an emotional rollercoaster for the Dingles and the dramas of Chas and Cameron's affair.

Show chiefs are now promising much more to get excited about over the next few months as the ITV1 soap builds up to its 40th anniversary celebrations in October, which will include an ambitious live episode.

Digital Spy recently caught up with Emmerdale's series producer Stuart Blackburn for an in-depth and exclusive chat about recent storylines and what's to come. Read on to find out what he had to say!

There have been lots of big storylines on Emmerdale in the past year. Are there any particular plots or moments that you're most proud of?
"I'm not trying to dodge a bullet at all when I say that there's genuinely no single particular story. Instead, it's how we've managed to play out such a range - from the more hard-hitting stories like the assisted suicide and Lisa's rape, to the real soap drama of 'Who attacked Cain?' and love triangles.

"That's what I've found most gratifying - the fact that we can tell such a wide variety of storylines, and yet it all feels seamless and real. It's the balance and the mix that I take most pride in."

Emmerdale had one of its best years at the British Soap Awards, so that must have been a real highlight for the team.
"Yes, I was absolutely delighted - and not just for the cast, because it filters through the whole show. On the occasions when we're not winning things, the whole team considers what more we need to do. Everyone works their socks off day and night - on weekdays and weekends - so getting those awards was so important for everyone here.

"The morale here as we head towards the 40th anniversary has just been lifted. I think often people say, 'Oh, it doesn't matter if we win awards, we don't mind and we just carry on'. But actually it does matter, so we were really thrilled."

Can you give us any gossip on what fans can expect from the 40th anniversary?
"I hope that the whole week - and not just the live episode itself - is going to be a celebration of great soap storylines. We've got births, we've got weddings and more big, big stories.

"Rather than rounding things off or ending them, pretty much every story that is told in that anniversary week is going to be part of a bigger story that takes us into 2013. We're going to see some really bold, exciting stuff."

Ahead of Corrie's anniversary, fans knew to expect a tram crash quite far in advance. Are you planning any big announcements of your own, or will you be keeping things a bit more secretive?
"Well, what I can say - and I've been saying it for about a year - is that we're not going down the line of stunts for the anniversary. However, there will be two or three momentous things that we're going to try to keep under our hats. I think the biggest gift we can give our audience is surprise. We want people to say, 'Wow - did I just see that? Has that really happened?'

"So we really hope everyone will play along with us. Spoilers can often help to build up excitement, but in this case, it would be great if we could have two or three surprises that the audience didn't see coming at all. But the main point for me is not just to celebrate 40 years, but to kick ahead into next year and beyond."

There's been lots of discussion about the Maceys' music festival. Will this be part of the anniversary week, or is it a red herring?
"It's not a red herring - it's there or thereabouts. Certainly the consequences of it will start hitting home in that week. I can't say much more than that, but it's a music festival that has serious consequences for all the players."

When it comes to the live episode, your studios and village are miles apart. How is this difficulty being addressed?
"By going for it hell for leather! The entire live episode is going to be shot on-location at the village. It's not a stunt, but I don't think that's ever been done before - a live episode entirely on location. As you can imagine, on an October evening high on the Yorkshire moors, it's going to present us with one or two challenges!"

Will there be a sense of nostalgia for the anniversary, or is it more about the current storylines? Would you rule out returnees?
"I absolutely would not rule out returnees - not at all. Having said that, I don't want a nostalgic feel to the anniversary - for me, it's very much about the here and now. The most important time for Emmerdale is always 'next week and the week after', so the episodes will be a celebration of all that the show is right now, and very much about looking forward, too."

Some of the fans have recently been wondering whether the 'Emmerdale 24/7' digital initiative has been dropped. Is that the case, or will it continue?
"We want it to continue in some form or another. So far it's been great - the Facebook pages that we've got have really engaged the audience and we've got good numbers looking at those. Following Aaron after he left for France was a great example of the sort of stuff that we can do.

"Nobody doubts the success that we've had so far, but at the moment it's a case of trying to make it commercially viable and pay for itself. It's not confirmed yet, but we're hopefully going to carry on in our own small way doing as much as we can, with a strong online presence and interesting plans for the 40th anniversary. The project is not dead and buried, but we're going to pause for reflection and find different ways of moving on."

Ashley's story has been a big talking point recently, and we've noticed many viewers are starting to feel sorry for him. Would you say this is a redemption story for Ashley?
"The reaction is remarkable and really pleasing. When you go back to the beginning of this story, here's a man who for weeks and months psychologically bullied his father, before actually physically lashing out at a fairly defenceless old man. And yet here we are now - rightly, I think - having a degree of sympathy for him.

"I'm pleased that there is now sympathy for Ashley and there's now a big, long-term journey for him. He's very much going to remain at the heart of the show and hopefully he's a character who will slowly find his own redemption and the forgiveness of those around him."

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Would you rule out a reunion for Ashley and Laurel, or is the story leaning more towards Laurel and Marlon?
"There's a long, long way to go for all three of them. Obviously Laurel and Ashley are in a very difficult place at the moment. All I'll say is that Laurel did go back to Ashley for the right reasons, but at the same time, she did love Marlon. I also don't think Marlon has stopped loving Laurel…"

Zak has also had very troubled times. In the long-term, is there any hope of happiness for him and the rest of the Dingles?
"Absolutely. The story of depression - both from Zak's point of view and Lisa's - is one that's really close to my heart in terms of my own experiences. One vital thing to come out of this story is that there absolutely is hope, both for the person suffering from mental illness and for those around them.

"It'll take time for things to change, but we're already seeing stories now that lead up to and around the anniversary week, where those old wounds are starting to heal and Zak is becoming himself again."

With darker storylines like Ashley and Zak's playing out, some fans have said that they'd like to see more light relief in the show. What are your thoughts?
"It's interesting, because I think what sometimes happens is that the big, darker storylines take all of the headlines and are the ones that people most remember. But going back to the assisted suicide storyline, the episode prior to that saw a kids' party at the Dingle house which was one of the funniest episodes that I've seen.

"Along the way, we've seen comic moments from David, Nikhil, Gennie, Alicia, Paddy, Marlon and Val, so there has been a lot of lightness of touch - it just perhaps hasn't had the same exposure.

"Having said that, there's absolutely going to be more light and funny stories on the way. There are three or four in particular that I'm really looking forward to, because they are important and I think we are a show that is designed to entertain."

With Moira and Adam as the only Bartons left in the village, what's coming up next for them?
"There's going to be lots more story for Moira on the way as she slowly gets over the loss of John. Moira, Alex, Andy and Adam are also really going to make a go of the farm. Looking to the future, it's perhaps time for Moira as a single woman to get her mojo back…"

Would you ever expand the Bartons by bringing in someone new?
"Well, Nana Barton has often been spoken about and I don't see any reason why she shouldn't join the show at some point in the future. We've talked about her a lot, so it's now just a case of finding the right time and finding the right story. So Nana Barton is certainly up there in the mix!"

Is it true that Rachel's decision to sleep with Jai kicks off a big story for her?
"Yes. I love the character of Rachel. Let's just say that sleeping with Jai is probably not the wisest move, and she knows that! It's going to have massive, long-term consequences for both of them."

Gennie and Nikhil's relationship has been a big success story. Are you committed to them as a couple?
"Absolutely - 100%. Yes, there will be rows, break-ups and getting back together along the way, but they're genuinely one of the most unique couples that we've got. I adore them and there is obviously a big, big story coming up for them now."

Fans have often speculated about a possible eating disorder story for Nikhil, given all the references to his diet and exercise. Is this on the cards?
"Short to mid-term, there are no plans. But I think that obsession with health and hygiene is always there and always part of Nikhil's personality - it'll inform his relationship with Gennie and their unborn child. So there are no plans at the moment, but it may be that sometime in the future we'll start to look at that in more detail."

What's coming up for Debbie, Andy and the saviour sibling storyline?
"There are a lot more twists and turns. I don't think it's any big secret that the saviour sibling is due to be born during the anniversary week, and so it will come to pass. For all those characters, much more is going to be thrown at them."

Would you say Val, Eric and Brenda is an ongoing love triangle? Or has Eric already made his final choice by picking Brenda?
"He absolutely hasn't made his final choice - there's much more to come as Val won't give up that easily. In fact, I don't think Val's going to give him a choice, really!"

There's been rumours that the Kings - and Carl in particular - could be prominent around the time of the anniversary. Is that the case?
"Yes, Jimmy, Carl, Edna and Nicola will all be up there in the mix. I think we're really going to test that relationship between Carl and Jimmy. We'll actually put it to the test big-style - it's going to be massive…"

The show now seems to be exploring the consequences of characters' actions more fully, as we've seen with Ashley. Will there also be big consequences for Chas when her affair is exposed?
"Definitely. Chas, Debbie and Cameron will all have big roles to play in the live episode and the anniversary week.

"Deep down, I think Chas has known from the word go that people would find out about the affair at some point. She's not a stupid woman, so she also knows that the effects are going to be devastating. They'll change her relationships with her friends and her family for a long time - if not forever…"

The build-up to Alicia's exit is a big story at the moment. Is there any chance David could reciprocate Alicia's feelings for him?
"At the moment, no - it's just utterly heartbreaking. It is a love story, but a very one-sided one. What David will do is completely step up to the mark to support Alicia and Jacob. But at this point, I think we're looking at heartbreak for Alicia…"

The fans still seem passionate about the older cast members getting more screen time. Sandy has had one of the biggest stories this year, but will we see more of the others too?
"Absolutely. I love those characters, and there's big stuff coming up for Paddy, Marlon and Rhona which Pearl will be at the centre of. As we head through late summer, autumn and into winter, there's going to be some stuff linked to the Kings' story for Edna as well. You'll also see material for Alan, as there's going to be changes to his life and living arrangements - quite unexpected ones, I think!

"We're blessed with a really strong older cast, and Freddie Jones has been amazing in the past few months. I do want to use all of those characters more, and I think we've now got stories that will work."

Would you consider bringing in more older characters, so the existing ones have more people to interact with?
"Yes, but the danger when you bring in a new character is that person is the one who gets the story, when we'd actually love to have stories for Pearl and Alan instead. So my first point of focus is making sure that the existing cast we've got have great and solid stories. Once we've got that right, perhaps we'll bring someone new into the mix to stir things up."

What are the plans for the wider Sharma family - Priya, Rishi and Georgia?
"Priya is definitely staying around and there's going to be romance on the cards for her. That ultimately might be quite a dangerous romance!

"Rishi is sticking around too, and he's got a story coming up with Charity. The two of them will be going side-by-side as Charity decides that it's time to start making her own money and doing what she does best.

"Georgia will be at the birth of Nikhil and Gennie's baby - obviously she'll be straight there! I think Gennie will be delighted to know that she's decided to move in for a little while! (Laughs) I think Georgia will be a returning character, who comes in at key moments, and then maybe in the future she could become permanent. But all of that family will definitely be well used with Rishi and Priya permanently there."

Emma Atkins is often praised by our readers. Does Charity have anything big on the way?
"Charity has got a couple of great stories coming up. She's obviously tied in with Jai and his story with Rachel. But she's also an ambitious woman - she's never intended to be a kept woman. With Rishi at her side helping and funding her plans, she's going to go all-out to get her own business going. If she has to take over someone else's business, then so be it! She'll do whatever it takes."

Will Robbie's story get bigger? Should the viewers trust him?
"Robbie's story will get much bigger. Essentially it's a love story between Robbie and his very reluctant mother, so they've got a long journey to go on.

"But no, I don't think we can trust him! This is a guy who's had a lot of loss in his life - he's a drifter. I don't think he's attracted to the money that Declan has got, he's attracted to the money that his mother has got. I also don't think he trusts the Maceys - he's not a person who gives, as he's very much used to being let down and left alone. He's keen to protect himself, so he's always the first one to throw the stone. Absolutely don't trust him…"

Will the Robbie dramas affect Katie and Declan's relationship?
"It will affect them big style. With the repercussions from the festival and the relationship between Megan and Robbie, we're going to have to see Katie toughen up a great deal. It's very much going to be a divided house with Katie and Declan on one side, and Megan and Robbie on the other! It's classic Home Farm stuff, really.

"Katie and Declan's journey will play out from the anniversary week onwards - and as we head towards Christmas, it's going to get bigger and bigger and bigger!"

Alex Moss has never really had a big story of his own. Could that change?
"It certainly could and it certainly will! Let's just say that I don't think Victoria's going to be very happy with some of the decisions that he's making…"

How will Amy be affected by the arrival of her mother Kerry?
"Kerry's arrival will affect things massively for Amy, Val and Eric. The one thing that Val and Eric have got in common is their desire to do the best for Amy. With her mum returning, it's going to be a massive threat - especially to Val, who sees herself more as Amy's mother than a foster mother.

"I think for Amy, the arrival of her mother is going to bring back masses of bad memories. This is a girl who's been 4 years old, sat on a Saturday night locked in the house on her own while her mum was out on the lash. So Amy's got a very warped view of her mother, and there's a lot of ground to make up.

"One thing I will say is that Amy's mum fought and fought to keep her, but she just got it wrong. So from Kerry's point of view, this is a chance - albeit a slim one - to really make it up to Amy. She's a woman with a heart of gold, but a disastrous and chaotic lifestyle that will have a massive impact on Amy."

It can be a tricky task introducing a new family to a soap - what are your thoughts on how the Spencers have been received?
"I absolutely adore the Spencers. They're always a difficult family to introduce, because they're almost 'too real' in some people's eyes! Obviously we've given them very strong stories which have forced them into quite antagonistic positions. But we're going to see Ali develop further with the adult literacy, and start to see her vulnerability a little bit more.

"There's also going to be really big story for Dan. Although he's moved on from Ali, he's still a part of the family. I think we'll see a real warm side of Ali, Ruby and the kids as they sprint to protect Dan later on.

"I've got absolute confidence in the family - I think the actors are great and the characters are great. They're really, really believable, so there's lots more story for them. We'll get them integrated even more into village life and operating strongly as a family full of love and care."

Finally, will Paddy and Rhona's wedding be a big story in its own right, or are things heading in a different direction?
"It's only the start! I think it's clear on screen that Paddy's having a little bit of a mid-life crisis, and that's the story we're going to follow. They're going to make some massive decisions to change their lives forever, which will put them firmly up against the Marlon storyline.

"There's going to be big, incredibly funny and moving stuff for Paddy and Rhona. They're another great, funny, powerful and believable couple, so there's big stuff for them."