View Full Version : Gemma Oaten (Rachel Breckle)
Emmerdale bosses have announced that a feisty new character named Rachel Breckle is to arrive in the village in July.
The new arrival, played by actress Gemma Oaten, is defensive, argumentative and insistent on defending her young niece Amelia (to be played by 7-year-old Daisy Campbell), after she is accused of bullying Samson Dingle.
The 27-year-old previously appeared in BBC1's Doctors and has been in various stage productions at Drama Studio London.
Oaten said: "I'm thrilled to be joining Emmerdale. I've always watched the show and getting the part of Rachel is a dream come true. She is a fantastic character and I'm so excited about filming my first scenes."
Series producer Stuart Blackburn added: "I'm delighted to welcome Gemma to the cast. Rachel will certainly ruffle a few feathers with her straight-talking approach but beneath the surface she is fiercely loyal with a hidden heart of gold."
Oaten starts filming this month and viewers will see her arrival on screen in late July.
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Emmerdale newcomer Gemma Oaten has revealed that there are exciting times ahead for her character Rachel Breckle, promising that she has depth and that viewers will be introduced to her "extended family" in the coming months.
The actress was cast in the ITV1 soap earlier in the summer and Rachel makes her first appearance on screen in tonight's episode.
Rachel's debut sees her storm round to the Dingles' home in a rage, accusing young Samson of bullying her niece Amelia.
Speaking to ITV Calendar about her first scenes, Oaten commented: "For me, barging into the Dingles' house and giving them what for was really bizarre, but that's the joy of playing Rachel - she's got no connection to any of them, so she doesn't know that the Dingles aren't really a family to be messed with. She really doesn't care - she just goes in there all hell blazing and gives them a piece of her mind."
However, she continued: "I think there's a very lonely side to Rachel inside that I'd like to explore more, and I think that will come out as the weeks go on. She's got quite a quirky sense of humour and I think the writers might have seen that in me and have started to pick up on the fact that I'm quite daft in the head as a person, as Gemma!"
Oaten added that she is thrilled by the news that her character has family members arriving in the show.
She said: "I come in with my niece tonight. There is a nephew that is coming in too, and there's going to be an extended family that I haven't heard too much about yet, so I'm really excited to see who I'm joined by in the coming months. It'll be great!"
Emmerdale continues tonight at 7pm on ITV1.
WHEN Gemma Oaten landed the role of Emmerdale newcomer Rachel Breckle, it was the proudest day of her life.
For what few fellow cast members know is the huge struggle she went through to land her dream job.
At just ten years old Gemma developed anorexia which she battled for 12 YEARS.
She missed months of school, was separated from her family inside residential units for troubled teens and almost died.
Yet astonishingly, Gemma never gave up on her dream of becoming an actress.
And when she finally beat the eating disorder, she set about fulfilling her acting ambition with the same determination.
Her hard work paid off when Emmerdale bosses hired her to play Rachel - the first member of a new family joining the soap.
Gemma, 27, explains: "It's a dream come true, but I fought hard for it. Going through all that made me so determined.
"It took over my life and there were times I just wanted to die, but there was still some tiny bit of fight left in me.
"It's hard to talk about, but if one person reads my story and believes they can get better it will make it all worthwhile."
Sporty, clever and a fine young actress - she was in a touring production of Evita aged ten - she had a happy childhood in Hull with her teaching assistant mum, accountant dad, two older sisters and brother.
Gemma's problems began when she was bullied in her final year at primary school.
She recalls: "I looked at my belly and thought it was fat so started cutting back on what I ate. I couldn't control what people said, but I could control what went inside me."
Aged 11 she had lost so much weight and was so weak she couldn't walk to school. She recalls: "I was at my worst then. I'd have five cornflakes and a sherry glass of water a day."
She was admitted to a residential adolescent unit psychiatric ward for three months, attending another unit for six months after falling ill again aged 14. At 17 Gemma was hospitalised, on the verge of having a heart attack.
Dream job ... Gemma Oaten, as Rachel, confronts Sam Dingle
She says sadly: "I knew I was putting Mum and Dad through hell, but I just couldn't stop."
Things only finally began to turn around when a close friend, who had been her first boyfriend, committed suicide.
Tearfully she says: "I thought, 'What am I doing?' I was basically killing myself too. I owed it to my parents to change."
"
She saw a therapist and finally beat the illness aged 22, before dedicating herself to pursuing her acting dream.
Graduating from Drama Studio London last summer, pretty Gemma fired off 500 letters and won a part in the BBC daytime drama Doctors. She was shortlisted for a Corrie role, then landed the part as feisty Rachel.
Gemma now lives in Hull with her mum Marg - who was awarded an MBE for setting up the eating disorders charity Seed - and dad Dennis.
She says: "I've got to look after myself, but there is no going back. I'm going to make the most of every second of my life."
Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/soaps/3710661/Id-only-have-5-cornflakes-and-a-glass-of-water-a-day.html#ixzz1StvOazfS
tammyy2j
23-07-2011, 22:18
Is she a new full time character?
Is she a new full time character?
I think so, looks like she is around for a while
Emmerdale newcomer Gemma Oaten has predicted that there will be "trouble" ahead on the soap as her screen family members start making their mark in the weeks ahead.
The actress's volatile character Rachel Breckle is aunt to youngsters Amelia and Sean, while the children's mother Ali Spencer is also due to arrive on screens in the autumn.
Speaking of upcoming plans for Rachel and her relatives, Oaten told OK Extra: "Rachel comes across as very hard, assertive, mouthy and with a no-nonsense attitude. But then you start to see a heart of gold beneath it all. She's the sort of person who says things a lot of people think but wouldn't have the guts to say to someone."
She continued: "I don't know too much about what's going to happen. I can't wait to see what she gets up to. I do know she's looking after her niece and nephew for her sister, who's going through a difficult time, and they cause a lot of trouble.
"Her nephew latches on to Aaron, which is difficult for him after what happened with Jackson. So there's going to be all sorts of trouble."
Amelia is played by 7-year-old Daisy Campbell and Sean will be portrayed by 14-year-old Luke Roskell, while former Shameless star Kelli Hollis has signed up to play Ali.
Additionally, ex-Bad Girls actress Alicya Eyo has landed the role of Ruby Haswell, who is Ali's girlfriend.
Emmerdale's feisty newcomer Rachel Breckle has exciting times ahead in the coming weeks as her family become permanent fixtures in the village.
As announced in the summer, former Shameless star Kelli Hollis has been cast as Rachel's sister Ali Spencer, who leaves her flat on the Hotten estate as she's hoping for a fresh start with her two children Sean and Amelia.
Ali moves into Brook Cottage with the kids next week, but life won't be simple for her as she has left her husband for another woman called Ruby (ex-Bad Girls actress Alicya Eyo). Sean is horrified by the situation, especially when it emerges that Ruby will be living with them too.
Here, Gemma Oaten - who plays Rachel - chats about what viewers can expect as the Spencers and Ruby make their mark in Emmerdale.
How does it feel to have your on-screen family joining you in Emmerdale?
"It feels fantastic. It's been three months since I've been in Emmerdale now and I've always known that they were coming in, but it's been a long wait and the excitement's been building up, so now to have us all together is just brilliant.
"It's been really exciting for me waiting to find out who would play the rest of the family. The casting director was keeping me informed and as soon as I heard that Kelli Hollis was up for Ali, I was just thinking how amazing that would be, as I thought she was just fantastic in Shameless."
Are you no longer feeling like the new girl now they've arrived?
"No, I'm still running around like a headless chicken not knowing what I'm doing half the time! The filming is intense, so I'm all over the place. If anything, I feel like the new girl again because although I've been here a while, I haven't been on screen a huge amount so now it feels like it's all happening. I'm much more settled now my family are here."
It's Rachel who lets Ali know about Brook Cottage, but Nicola also has her heart set on living there. Is Rachel worried about making an enemy of Nicola by showing Ali the cottage?
"I don't think Rachel knows how nasty Nicola can be at this point and she sees it as someone she can play against. Rachel can handle herself and she has got Sam as a sidekick in the plot to get the cottage, so it's nice to see how they manage to wangle it away from Nicola. The telling thing is that Rachel is doing it for her sister. She is willing to offer up her wages to cover the rent and get them out of the council estate and I think it shows a real caring side to her and how she feels about Ali."
Can you tell us a bit more about the relationship Rachel has with her sister?
"I think they are quite close. Me and Kelli have become close already and we've only known each other for two weeks, but we've got a great connection which is fantastic and I think that's coming across on screen.
"The way we're playing it is that they are close. They've had quite a hard upbringing which has made them even closer. It would be quite nice to see more about their background in the coming months and to find out more about them.
"I think Rachel is perhaps the stronger emotionally of the two because she's had to fend for herself a lot more, whereas Ali got married and had the kids and got her own family. Rachel was left behind to make her own way in the world. I think she sort of takes care of Ali when really it should be the other way round."
Does Rachel think Ali has handled the move badly by not telling Sean about what she has planned?
"I think Rachel thinks that Ali has buried her head in the sand a bit by thinking it's all going to be okay, because Sean is very fiery and we've seen it on screen already that he has got a nasty side. I don't think she's really prepared for how he will react."
Is Rachel close to her niece and nephew?
"I think she's got a big soft spot for both of them, especially little Amelia, she makes her heart melt. With Sean, she does love him and she'll protect him but she can give it out to him as well and can tell him what for, because she can see him going off the rails and I think that's quite worrying for her. But if anyone else attacks him, she'll be straight in there with a defence."
How about Ruby?
"I think with Ruby it's not a case of Rachel being against her sister going off with a woman, it's about her not liking the person Ruby is and the way she is with her sister. She thinks Ruby could be a bit of a liability and I think she doesn't like the fact that she doesn't fully take the kids on board, she wants to go out and do her own thing.
"I think there's going to be clashes with Rachel and Ruby. She has a big dislike for her and there are some scenes coming up where it gets a bit heated, which will be great!"
walsh2509
17-10-2011, 19:24
just watching , seen her and her sister walking about Brook Cottage , well the cleaner one says, with your benefits and my wages ( part time cleaner) we can get this place. Cottage like that in a village , what £250 a week rent / more ? yes they could afford it .... in your Dreams.
Emmerdale star Gemma Oaten has admitted that the soap's elder abuse storyline has been "heartbreaking" to film.
The actress's character Rachel Breckle has recently become concerned that village vicar Ashley Thomas (John Middleton) is mistreating his frail father Sandy (Freddie Jones).
As Sandy is reluctant to accept Rachel's help and nobody else believes that anything is wrong, the plot will continue to progress for some time to come.
Oaten today (March 19) told Lorraine: "I think when it first came up, I didn't actually realise the scale of the storyline. To prepare for it, I started looking into Action on Elder Abuse, which is a charity for the protection of vulnerable older people.
"I realised that this is a subject that [there isn't much] awareness of, and it was quite heartbreaking to film, really, because I'm very close to my granddad and my grandparents. My grandma died with Alzheimer's a couple of years ago, so it's really touched me."
Oaten said that viewers can expect a complex portrayal of the issue as Ashley will not be painted merely as a villain.
"It's really not a black and white storyline, as it pans out over the next few months," she explained. "It's not clear-cut at all that Ashley is being 'evil'.
"It can affect so many people, and there's a thing called passive abuse, where people are actually neglecting their elders without really realising what they're doing. It's about holding your hands up and saying, 'I can't cope anymore'."
Oaten, who joined Emmerdale last summer, added that she is hoping for a long future with the programme.
"I don't want to go anywhere. As long as they'll have me, I'm very happy at Emmerdale at the minute," she said. "I hope to take Rachel further. The viewers seem to be really getting behind her and I'm loving it. I wouldn't want to go anywhere else at the minute."
Emmerdale airs weeknights on ITV1.
Bearing in mind Rachels family situation she is hardly in any position to report anyone to Social Services
Bearing in mind Rachels family situation she is hardly in any position to report anyone to Social Services
indeed, glass houses and all that.
Besides, to date what has Ashley done wrong?
Emmerdale's Gemma Oaten has revealed that fans want her character Rachel Breckle to start a relationship with Marlon Dingle.
Speaking to PA, the actress hinted that her character's current romantic feelings for shop owner David Metcalfe (Matthew Wolfenden) will not be reciprocated.
"Everyone talks about romance between Marlon (Mark Charnock) and Rachel, they're lovely together," she said. "I'd like to do some more stuff with James Hooton who plays Sam (Dingle).
"At the moment I know she's starting to take a little interest in David - but that's possibly not going to go her way.
"The thing I love about Rachel is she's such a mix - I get the scenes that are just hilarious, the stuff she comes out with, but I'm also getting to show the sensitive side and there's some really gritty stuff coming up."
Oaten added cryptically: "There's big stuff coming up but it's not happy stuff."
Of her rapport with the village soap's cast, the star went on: "From the first day I walked in, they started taking the mickey out of my accent and putting me down, messing my hair up, getting me in headlocks.
"They just completely brought me into their family. It's been brilliant."
She should get with David
Chloe O'brien
12-05-2012, 01:55
She should get with David
Yeah because they're both lovely characters but we don't want Rachel to be heartbroken again. Marlon's not for her neither Sam. Maybe David is but romance will have to take the scenic route for these two as Holly and Alicia's departures will overshadow any relationship Rachel and David may have.
Emmerdale launches a big new storyline for Rachel Breckle tomorrow evening (June 29) as she sleeps with married businessman Jai Sharma.
With the pair both feeling down about their lives, Rachel and Jai (Chris Bisson) seek comfort in each other after hours at the factory - drinking together before their unlikely bonding session turns to passion.
Rachel and Jai are plagued with regret the next morning, but with hints that the encounter will lead to a huge story for the duo, it seems that this is just the beginning of a longer journey.
Gemma Oaten, who plays Rachel, recently chatted about the drama in store and her time at Emmerdale so far.
What was your initial reaction to Rachel and Jai's new storyline?
"I was told about this storyline before Christmas, and I was completely shocked. A lot of people have said to me, 'I never saw that one coming!' Neither did I, because before Rachel got the cleaning job, her path had never really crossed with Jai, Charity or any of the Sharmas.
"So it has definitely floored me a little bit, but in a really exciting way. Also, I know where the story goes and how it all pans out, and it does turn into something pretty big."
Does Rachel have any feelings for Jai, or is it just a drunken mistake?
"I think people will see that it really does come from nowhere. Rachel has never had an agenda with Jai at all - she's just had a really rubbish day. She's been kicked out of her flat, and she's just found out about David and Alicia too, so she's a bit down in the dumps.
"Rachel is working at the factory and when she comes in to clean the office, she sees that Jai is on his fifth whisky! He asks her to join him and she's not really sure at first, but they do have a drink and then it all goes from there. The two of them sleeping together honestly comes with no build-up at all."
How does Rachel feel the next morning?
"Rachel bitterly regrets what she's done. She's such a moralistic girl, so she feels awful that she's slept with a married man - whether Charity treats her like rubbish or not. So there's no romance there at all, it's just a huge mistake that they both regret."
Jai is quite cruel to Rachel afterwards, isn't he?
"Yeah, Jai says all the wrong things, implying that he wouldn't have touched Rachel with a bargepole if he hadn't been drunk! He's obviously mortified that he's done this to Charity, but he does keep slipping up and putting Rachel down.
"That's really difficult for her, because she's never had anybody reciprocate her feelings - as we've seen with Marlon and David. So Jai really does rub salt in the wounds for her and she comes out of the situation feeling very vulnerable, angry and upset."
Rachel threatens to tell Charity the truth at one point. Is she serious, or just trying to scare Jai?
"That happens the day after, when Charity is being horrible to her. When she's cleaning, Charity just treats Rachel as a dogsbody, and a row starts to escalate. That's the impulse for Rachel to say, 'Do you know what? I might just tell her'.
"But deep down, Rachel knows that she would never do that. It's just a threat that comes out of being angry. She actually says later on, 'I would never tell Charity, because I'm not that kind of person - but she's going to have to back off because she's treating me like rubbish!'"
Jai also tries to buy Rachel's silence! How does Rachel react to that?
"Oh, she's not happy! (Laughs) He's already insulted her, so the worst thing he could do next is offer her money. She is just incredulous over what he's suggesting. It shows that he doesn't know Rachel very well - that is not the kind of girl she is. She feels absolutely trampled all over, yet again, when he does that to her."
Are you excited about the bigger stuff this story is leading into?
"I'm really, really excited! I've been in Emmerdale for a year now, I've done bits here and there, and I think it's great that they've brought me in so slowly. But now I've got something to really sink my teeth into. I can't say much about it, but I can't wait for it all to unfold.
"We're filming it at the moment, and the last two weeks have just been insane. I've been in work from 7am until 7pm six days a week, but it's so flattering that they think I can handle it. I feel very lucky and blessed."
The viewers have usually been on Rachel's side in her stories so far. Do you think they'll still have sympathy for her now that she's made a big mistake?
"I've thought a lot about this and it's started already now that the spoilers have been coming out for the storyline. There are a lot of people who are jumping to conclusions, but I think you have to really watch and see how it plays out.
"I think there will be sympathy for Rachel, because it's just come from a feeling of loneliness. I'm sure there will be people out there who think, 'No matter what, she's done wrong', but that's something Rachel and myself are going to have to deal with.
"She's not perfect and she makes mistakes like everyone does, but hopefully people will see that she's not malicious with this and she has no agenda. She's not out for money, she's not out for blackmail - she's just made a mistake that she bitterly regrets."
Your other big story has been Rachel's involvement in the recent Sandy and Ashley plot. Do you think Rachel will ever forgive Ashley?
"When our producer Stuart told me about the Sandy storyline, I didn't realise how important and big it would be. It wasn't until I started to read the scripts that I felt a huge sense of pride that they'd actually entrusted my character - and myself - with something like that.
"I think what they've done with Ashley is brilliant. I remember being in the thick of it when John [Middleton] was playing all of the really difficult scenes. It was difficult for all of us involved and we thought, 'How can he ever come back from this?' But the scriptwriting is so brilliant, as it shows so many different sides.
"I also think that Rachel has a good brain and a good heart, so she sees all sides to things - and I think she could forgive Ashley, to be honest. I've played scenes already where Ashley has been around and Rachel doesn't give him grief. She just thinks, 'Right, I did the right thing, I spoke up, what's done is done, Sandy is alright, let's move on'. I think that's the sort of girl she is."
Does Rachel still have feelings for Marlon?
"I think they've come to an understanding and a middle ground now. I think she's let that one go and she knows to resign herself to the fact that Marlon never held that torch for her - he held it for Laurel. I think it's the same with David - she knows the score with him, too.
"Luckily, Rachel has managed to keep her friendships. I think she doesn't expect too much because she's never had that much. I want her to have a love interest at some point!"
How do you feel about Emmerdale's 40th anniversary being on the way?
"I've watched Emmerdale all my life and I know it inside out, so to be here when the anniversary storylines are starting is so exciting. None of us know the storyline for the live episode yet, and none of us know if we're in it or not.
"It already feels like we're building up to something, though. We just got some new scripts yesterday and you can see in the writing that there's a momentum and pace. All of the stories are crossing and mixing together. It's a brilliant time to be here at the minute."
Who are your best friends on set?
"I'm very close to James Hooton, but unfortunately we haven't filmed together a lot recently. Obviously when I came in, the story was me having a go at his character Sam. Lucy Pargeter is like a big sister looking out for me, and then I've got people like Tom Lister, Nick Miles and Sian Reese-Williams, who I know I can go to for anything.
"I've sort of flitted between different cast members, but at the moment I'm having an absolute scream with Rachel's family - Alicya Eyo, Kelli Hollis and now we've got Liam Fox, who plays Dan. We've been filming so much together lately - which is nice, because I think there's been a separation on screen with Rachel and her family for quite a while, but they all start coming together again."
Do you enjoy 'dressing down' to play Rachel?
"I'm really enjoying playing someone who is so far removed from my real-life persona. I feel very fortunate, because I can still live quite a relatively normal life - people don't recognise me. It can be difficult and it affects my confidence on set sometimes when I see a mirror and think, 'Oh God, I look awful!' But I do love it.
"It's quite an easy ride for me really - I spend five minutes in make-up and I'm done! I'd love to maybe see a makeover for Rachel further down the line, but I know Stuart loves Rachel's current look and he wants to keep it for as long as he can, so who knows if it will ever happen?"
tammyy2j
18-07-2012, 15:45
Emmerdale's Gemma Oaten has revealed her character Rachel Breckle is to have a secret love child with Jai Sharma.
The cleaner and her married boss had a drunken one night stand and Rachel is shocked to discover she is pregnant. She is planning on having a termination and Jai (Chris Bisson) gives her the money. But then they both start to have second thoughts.
Gemma revealed: "Jai comes as Rachel's about to get in the taxi to the clinic. She's already starting to think, 'Do I really want to get rid of this baby?'
"She's starting to bond, she's starting to feel maternal, and she's starting to have a really heart-breaking decision in her mind, but ultimately she thinks, 'I can't go through with it because I can't bring up this baby.' And then Jai comes and stops her before she gets into the taxi. It's just this big struggle of what's going to happen next."
The Emmerdale star revealed Jai wants to be a father after losing daughter Mia in a car crash, but Rachel wants Jai to tell his wife, Charity, the truth.
She said: "There are two people here, they've done something that is so wrong, but without pre-empting it. Sometimes people make mistakes in life and now they've got to cope with the consequences.
"Jai has the background of losing Mia; he wants a child desperately and Charity won't give it to him. Rachel is starting to feel bonding with the baby already. It's not as black and white as people think. Rachel wants Jai to tell Charity and he says he will, but we'll have to wait and see..."
Emmerdale's Gemma Oaten has said she is attempting to persuade Sir Patrick Stewart to join the show.
The actress, who plays Rachel Breckle, revealed that she has been in contact with the Star Trek icon since writing to him at drama school.
She told Inside Soap: "I keep trying to persuade Patrick to star in Emmerdale!
"When I got my place at drama school, I was looking for a bit of advice about where to get funding, so I wrote to Patrick and Sir Tom Courtenay, who are connected with my local area. Bizarrely, they both wrote back and have become mentors to me."
Stewart has appeared in a soap once before, playing a fireman on Coronation Street in 1967, when he extinguished flames at number 9 caused by Dennis Tanner.
Oaten further divulged that Billy Liar actor Courtenay has praised her performance on Emmerdale.
"Tom watched the show the other night," she added. "He emailed me and said, 'That's our girl, very well done - very proud!' It was so nice."
Gemma Oaten joined Emmerdale just over a year ago, becoming involved in Ashley's elder abuse storyline earlier this year, and now being pregnant with boss Jai Sharma's baby.
Emmerdale's Gemma Oaten has said she is attempting to persuade Sir Patrick Stewart to join the show.
The actress, who plays Rachel Breckle, revealed that she has been in contact with the Star Trek icon since writing to him at drama school.
She told Inside Soap: "I keep trying to persuade Patrick to star in Emmerdale!
"When I got my place at drama school, I was looking for a bit of advice about where to get funding, so I wrote to Patrick and Sir Tom Courtenay, who are connected with my local area. Bizarrely, they both wrote back and have become mentors to me."
Stewart has appeared in a soap once before, playing a fireman on Coronation Street in 1967, when he extinguished flames at number 9 caused by Dennis Tanner.
Oaten further divulged that Billy Liar actor Courtenay has praised her performance on Emmerdale.
"Tom watched the show the other night," she added. "He emailed me and said, 'That's our girl, very well done - very proud!' It was so nice."
Gemma Oaten joined Emmerdale just over a year ago, becoming involved in Ashley's elder abuse storyline earlier this year, and now being pregnant with boss Jai Sharma's baby.
Emmerdale star Gemma Oaten has admitted that she expects an on-screen catfight when the truth about her character's unborn baby is eventually revealed.
Rachel Breckle is currently pregnant with Jai Sharma's child, but the businessman's wife Charity and the rest of the village have no idea of the pair's connection.
Oaten, pondering Rachel's future mothering skills, told PA: "I think she's going to be fiercely protective and loyal of him or her, especially with how things may or may not develop.
"I'm sure Charity's going to find out some day, but I don't know where or when - and I'm preparing myself for when it happens because I think she's going to rip Rachel apart!"
She added: "But I think she's going to defend her child to the end of the earth, really. And I think because she had such a difficult upbringing herself, she's going to be even more protective of the little one when it comes along.
"But I'm just dead excited to find out whether I'm having a boy or a girl!"
Rachel and Jai had their one-night stand in the summer, and viewers can expect trickier times ahead for them in the coming weeks as it becomes more difficult to keep their secret under wraps.
tammyy2j
13-09-2012, 12:18
Rachel has become very tame since she first arrived and attacked Sam and Samson
Charity of course would destroy her :p
Emmerdale star Chris Bisson has hinted that his character Jai Sharma is heading for a "massive fall".
Jai is currently hiding one of the biggest secrets in the village as few people know that he is the father of Rachel Breckle's unborn baby following their one-night stand earlier in the year.
While the truth is not expected to come out in tonight's live Emmerdale episode, the storyline will become more prominent on screen in the coming months.
Bisson told Stray FM: "I've had some great storylines. I've got another one building at the moment - a long-running one where Jai has got Rachel the cleaner pregnant.
"That continues to build. We've got a little bit of a break from it while we get through the live episode, then we're straight back into it for Christmas and the New Year. But that's a long-running story, so watch this space."
Discussing his future at Emmerdale, he continued: "I will be here until the middle of next year at least. The character is spiralling - he's on a bit of a downward spiral at the minute. He's not quite in the vortex where he's going down the plughole yet, but he is certainly setting things up nicely for a massive fall!
"I suppose the storyline is such that he will try to keep his baby with Rachel a secret, and the audience will be waiting for his wife Charity to find out. How she reacts, we don't know."
Emmerdale Live airs tonight from 7pm on ITV1.
Emmerdale star Chris Bisson has hinted that his character Jai Sharma is heading for a "massive fall".
Jai is currently hiding one of the biggest secrets in the village as few people know that he is the father of Rachel Breckle's unborn baby following their one-night stand earlier in the year.
While the truth is not expected to come out in tonight's live Emmerdale episode, the storyline will become more prominent on screen in the coming months.
Bisson told Stray FM: "I've had some great storylines. I've got another one building at the moment - a long-running one where Jai has got Rachel the cleaner pregnant.
"That continues to build. We've got a little bit of a break from it while we get through the live episode, then we're straight back into it for Christmas and the New Year. But that's a long-running story, so watch this space."
Discussing his future at Emmerdale, he continued: "I will be here until the middle of next year at least. The character is spiralling - he's on a bit of a downward spiral at the minute. He's not quite in the vortex where he's going down the plughole yet, but he is certainly setting things up nicely for a massive fall!
"I suppose the storyline is such that he will try to keep his baby with Rachel a secret, and the audience will be waiting for his wife Charity to find out. How she reacts, we don't know."
Emmerdale Live airs tonight from 7pm on ITV1.
"I suppose the storyline is such that he will try to keep his baby with Rachel a secret, and the audience will be waiting for his wife Charity to find out. How she reacts, we don't know.
She will effing kill him, that is how she will react
tammyy2j
17-10-2012, 15:26
So Jai dont die tonight either
So Jai dont die tonight either
I don't want him to die, I like his character and want to see Charity make mince meat out of him :D
She will effing kill him, that is how she will react
Perdu I'm shocked at you using the f word:nono::D
Perdu I'm shocked at you using the f word:nono::D
:o :p :D
Emmerdale's Rachel Breckle has an emotional rollercoaster ahead this week as she goes into premature labour.
Rachel is helping out with the preparations for the village nativity when she suddenly starts experiencing contractions, which leave her terrified as she isn't due to give birth for months.
After Rachel is rushed to hospital, her baby son Archie arrives safely but isn't out of the woods yet. To make matters worse, neither mum nor baby can rely on proper support from Jai Sharma (Chris Bisson), who is still hiding the fact that he is the child's father.
We recently caught up with Gemma Oaten, who plays Rachel, to hear about the big scenes in store.
How did you feel about taking on a premature birth storyline?
"I knew the storyline was coming up for a little while, because sometimes the producers give you a heads-up if something really big is on the way. Then when the scripts came out, I was blown away. I've only been out of drama school for two years and I never dreamed that I'd be getting an opportunity like this. As actors we love to play all sorts of different emotions, so I feel very lucky to be given this chance.
"I was very scared leading up to filming the episodes, because I wanted to do a good job. But the director Peter Rose was phenomenal and it was great that Alicya Eyo and James Hooton, who play Ruby and Sam, were there for the hospital scenes as they're two of my best friends. I felt surrounded by a fantastic comfort blanket."
Did you do any research into premature birth?
"I did quite a bit of research online. One thing I found out was that the timescale is so short from experiencing the actual contractions to having the baby. So you'll see that Rachel goes into hospital and the baby is born within the hour.
"I also looked into the emotions of what women go through. One thing I found is that a lot of women who give birth prematurely often feel guilty and wonder if they did anything wrong. But then obviously they're ecstatic that the baby is there, so it's a real mix of emotions for a new mum. It's quite a scary position, so I did a lot of reading. I just hope that I've done it justice."
Did you film these big scenes before or after the live episode?
"All of this kicked off for me after the live episode. I tried to keep it quite quiet because fans of Emmerdale who follow us on Twitter are very quick off the mark and very clever! They read into tweets and often figure out what we're filming, so I tried not to speak too much about it and just kept focused.
"It's quite satisfying that nobody really got hold of the storyline until the spoilers were officially released. It was quite an intense period for me, because obviously we'd just done the live episode and then I had these big scenes to film. There's also a big aftermath with the baby in hospital, and then I'm still very busy on set at the moment as well."
When Rachel goes into labour, is there a part of her that wishes Jai would just be honest with everyone and support her?
"I do think Rachel wants the secret to come out now. I know a lot of people think that Rachel should be petrified of Charity, but actually she's finding an inner strength and her main concern is making sure that her baby is alright. She just wants her little boy to survive and she couldn't care less if Charity finds out, because she wants to have the dad there.
"Obviously that's not the situation, but instead Sam is becoming more involved and that makes Rachel feel like she's not alone. She's finding a lot of strength from Sam."
What do you make of Rachel's choice of baby name - Archie?
"I love the name! It's really weird, but my sister gave birth in May to a beautiful little girl called Rosie, but if the baby had been a boy, she'd chosen the name Archie. I think Archie Breckle has got a good ring to it!
"I just can't wait to meet the real baby, because obviously we've been filming with a model so far. The model has been absolutely amazing, by the way - the props department did a brilliant job. But I can't wait to see the real baby!"
There comes a point in the storyline where Rachel bans Jai from seeing Archie. Why does she make that decision?
"That was never going to happen in Rachel's mind, but it's actually Rishi who comes round after the baby is born and he says that Rachel needs to encourage Jai to back off. Rishi starts implying that the business is at stake and Jai's marriage is at stake too, so he's putting a lot of pressure on Rachel.
"Rachel feels like she has to tell Jai to back off following Rishi's warnings. Rachel wants Jai to see the baby, but it's Rishi who puts a spanner in the works and he makes things a lot worse."
Could Rachel and Sam's friendship develop into something more?
"I don't know! In all honesty, I still haven't seen any scripts where that happens, but I know that they are getting close. Ruby thinks that Sam is falling for Rachel, but she encourages him to back off because Rachel is not ready for this. In Sam's head, he'd never even entertained the idea, but when Ruby mentions it, things start to change slightly for him!
"It's the same for Rachel. She doesn't see Sam in a romantic way, but when someone mentions that they could be more than just friends, she wonders if they're right.
"All I can say is that I'm really happy that Sam and Rachel are getting close again, because I adore James and we get on so well both on set and off. It's so nice to be working closely with one of my best friends, so watch this space for some sweet and touching scenes. Personally speaking, I would like things to go further because I think they'd make a brilliant pairing."
Is the truth about Jai being the father going to be revealed soon, or is there still a long way to go?
"I think there's a lot of longevity in it. One of the things we've discussed is that if the secret was blown too soon, people wouldn't invest as much in it. People need to see Archie maybe growing up a little bit before the truth comes out, because then the impact will be bigger. And if Rachel and Sam got together further down the line, what would that mean when the big secret is revealed?
"I think they're going to try to keep this one a secret for a little bit longer yet! I know the viewers are keen for it to be revealed, but I know when the scenes do eventually come around, it'll be amazing. Myself and Emma love going up against each other as Rachel and Charity. Although it's terrifying - I come away with heart palpitations!"
Will there be any happiness for Rachel at Christmas?
"I think there's a little glimmer of joy for Rachel on Christmas Day. I don't want to give away too much, but there might be a little touch that will make her Christmas."
Will motherhood change Rachel?
"It's really funny, because I've felt that Rachel lost some of her feistiness when the pregnancy was first revealed. Her head was all over the place and she became a bit of a pushover, I think! But since I've been filming the post-birth scenes, I can see a real strength coming back into her. I think motherhood is making her start to realise that she is an independent young woman and she can get through this. She's holding her own again.
"Rachel has always had a protective streak in her - remember that when she first came to Emmerdale, it was because she was protecting her little niece Amelia. So I think motherhood is going to be a fantastic thing for Rachel, and it's great for Sam to be involved as well. Sam has been through the same thing - when he lost Alice, he had to bring up a little boy on his own. He might come across as a simple mind but he can definitely hold his own."
Finally, there's lots of speculation at the moment about another Emmerdale death this Christmas. Are you sad to see another colleague leave the show?
"I am. You become very close to your co-stars, whether you film with them a lot or not. I still miss Tom Lister every day and I was only on the show for 16 months with him. I'm also very sad to see this next person go, as they will be missed. But I also know that they're going to go on to a very successful career. The person leaving is a really good and talented person.
"There seems to be a massive change at Emmerdale at the minute - it's not a bad thing and everybody's just trying to embrace it. Kate Oates is going to be taking over as producer in January and there's a lot of new faces in the corridors who I think the viewers are going to love meeting. They're such lovely people and it's an exciting time."
Emmerdale star Emma Atkins has revealed that she is enjoying showing a more vulnerable side to her character Charity Sharma in her current storyline.
Charity's marriage to businessman Jai (Chris Bisson) has reached breaking point this week as she is struggling to cope with his strange and secretive behaviour.
Viewers know that Jai is the father of Rachel Breckle's baby son Archie, but he has so far managed to shield Charity from the truth.
Atkins told itv.com: "For Charity, for the first time in her life, she is quite bewildered by her partner's behaviour. She does not have a clue why he is behaving the way he is. That's brilliant for the audience, because they all know what's going on.
"Of course he is father to Rachel's baby, and Charity is none the wiser. For someone who's supposed to be so clued up, she doesn't have a clue! She's rubbish - which is good to play, actually, because it shows a more vulnerable side to Charity. She cannot discover what is going on and she's even doing a little detective work."
The actress continued: "She doesn't know where she stands with Jai anymore. Jai is being so secretive and aloof, and it's horrible in any relationship to be experiencing that sense of detachment from someone that you really care about."
Tonight's (January 4) Emmerdale episode sees Charity quiz a number of the villagers as she desperately seeks answers over Jai's antics.
Atkins added: "By hook or by crook, she will find out what is the secret. She's got to find out! We'll see."
Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7pm on ITV1, with an extra episode on Thursdays at 8pm.
Emmerdale's Rachel Breckle is left heartbroken on Valentine's Day as she is rejected by potential love interest Sam Dingle.
Rachel is finally honest about her feelings for Sam (James Hooton) next week when she thinks that he has sent her a Valentine's card. In reality, however, little Samson and Amelia are responsible for the surprise delivery.
When Rachel confronts Sam over the card and he denies all knowledge of the romantic gesture, the penny drops and she feels humiliated. Rushing out of the Dingle house in embarrassment, has Rachel lost her chance with Sam?
Here, Gemma Oaten - who plays Rachel - chats about her character's upcoming setback.
When did Rachel start to see Sam in a different light?
"I think it was when baby Archie had the infection. It all started when she gave birth and he was there for her, but I think Sam really started to come into the mix when Archie was poorly again. He seems to be the voice that's rational, reasonable and calm - which is funny because the perception of Sam is that he's nothing like that!
"Another key moment was when Ruby pointed out that Sam could be developing feelings for Rachel and suggested telling him to back off. That was when Rachel realised that maybe she didn't want him to back off!"
What's the main attraction of Sam?
"For Rachel, it's how he makes her feel and how he makes her laugh. With everything else that's going on around her with Jai and the baby, her life has been spiralling out of control. But Rachel has put Jai in his place, and now Sam has brought laughter back into her life.
"The main attraction for Rachel is just having somebody there who really genuinely cares for her. That's very different from what Rachel's ever experienced before. I don't think she's ever been in love, so I really like this storyline and I think it's really genuine and sweet."
How does Rachel feel about the speculation in the village over her friendship with Sam?
"It's been a bit of an eye-opener for her! All of a sudden, everyone has a lot to say about everyone else's business! From Rachel's point of view, she's trying to figure out how she got to the point where she grew to have feelings for Sam Dingle, who's very different from anyone she's been attracted to before.
"When Ali and Ruby get involved and Lisa starts questioning what Rachel wants from Sam, I think it throws her a little bit. She thinks, 'Hang on a minute, where has all this come from?' There's a lot of obstacles standing in their way and I think people can't quite believe a girl like Rachel would want to be with Sam."
Does the gossip affect their friendship?
"Definitely. It's really sad, because they're so close and tight-knit, but then other people are pulling them apart and causing this awkwardness between them. It definitely affects the way they behave around each other."
What happens on Valentine's Day?
"Well, little Amelia asks if Rachel has any Valentine's cards and obviously the answer is no. Samson and Amelia are growing quite fond of this friendship between Sam and Rachel, so they decide to plant a card from Sam to Rachel. Rachel gets complete crossed wires, builds up the courage to go and see Sam with the card, but then it all falls apart!"
Is Rachel pleased when she thinks the card might be from Sam?
"She's made up! It's so sweet with the way she reacts to it, because she's actually chuffed to bits. Until now, she hadn't been sure whether her feelings for Sam had been reciprocated, so she views the card as a seal of approval. It's the happiest she's been in a long time."
Is she wary about getting into a relationship, though?
"Rachel is obviously still worried about Jai, and what might happen if she brought someone else into that situation. But then she thinks, 'Hang on a minute - it's nothing to do with him'. She knows that Sam is caring, funny and brilliant with Archie, so she thinks it's the right thing."
What happens when Rachel goes to see Sam?
"Poor Rachel! I'm sure this happened last Valentine's Day with Marlon! (Laughs.) Basically, she makes an effort to look a bit more glam and she broaches the subject of this card with Sam. But Sam hasn't got a clue what she's on about.
"At the same time, Ali and Ruby have discovered the mix-up with the card, so they rush round to stop the inevitable happening. Unfortunately, they're too late and Rachel is left absolutely mortified! Sam explains to her that the card must be from Samson and Amelia.
"Rachel makes a really swift exit from the Dingle house after that, and she's angry because she thinks she has messed up. She's also angry with Ali and Ruby for egging her on. But in a side of Rachel we've never seen before, she's absolutely heartbroken. As much as she's having a go at everyone, we can see she's torn apart when she's on her own."
How does Sam react to the mix-up?
"Sam goes to see Rachel, and she thinks there might be a chance. Unfortunately, though, he tells her that they can only be friends.
"Unknown to Rachel, this is only because everyone is putting their opinions across. Lisa has told Sam that it's not worth it and he shouldn't get involved with Rachel, so he's taken that on board. But I think deep down, Sam is feeling very different to what he's actually saying to Rachel."
Do you think Rachel and Sam would make a good couple?
"I think they'd make an absolutely amazing couple! When I watch them on screen together, it just seems to be a really genuine partnership. I also remember starting in the show 20 months ago now, and I had a conversation with James Hooton and Steve Halliwell back then where we said it'd be brilliant to get us together.
"We always saw that potential was there, but we got split up in our storylines. Now they're growing closer again, it just feels right. It's also a bonus for me because I adore James and we're great friends in real life. I think that definitely shows on screen."
Do you think the viewers are rooting for Sam and Rachel?
"I keep hearing about 'Samchel' and there's a lot of people rooting for them. But it's also interesting that a lot of viewers are saying that Rachel and Jai should be a couple! That's news to me, but I think the viewers are really supporting Sam and Rachel too. I hope they're going to enjoy the journey of what might be."
Is there a lot to come with Rachel and Jai's baby secret?
"Definitely! Since coming back to work after Christmas, I've found out things that have shocked me. There's definitely a heck of a lot to come before the reveal, and it's really exciting. I think the viewers are never going to guess what's to come in a million years, but it's going to be one heck of a year.
"Viewers ask me about this storyline all the time and it's nice because it feels like they're excited and interested. I think they're excited to see me get beat up by Charity! But also with the way that Charity's behaving, I think people want to see her get a taste of her own medicine."
What else is coming up for Rachel?
"Well, let's see what happens with this love storyline, because Rachel's not been in love before and I think that's going to be something to explore. It's a different side to her.
"There's also Jai, who'll be back in the village at some point. Can you imagine him coming back and possibly seeing Rachel with Sam? That idea is already freaking Jai out already, because he can't stand seeing Sam with Archie. So let's see what happens when he turns up again!"
Emmerdale's Rachel Breckle is left heartbroken on Valentine's Day as she is rejected by potential love interest Sam Dingle.
Rachel is finally honest about her feelings for Sam (James Hooton) next week when she thinks that he has sent her a Valentine's card. In reality, however, little Samson and Amelia are responsible for the surprise delivery.
When Rachel confronts Sam over the card and he denies all knowledge of the romantic gesture, the penny drops and she feels humiliated. Rushing out of the Dingle house in embarrassment, has Rachel lost her chance with Sam?
Here, Gemma Oaten - who plays Rachel - chats about her character's upcoming setback.
When did Rachel start to see Sam in a different light?
"I think it was when baby Archie had the infection. It all started when she gave birth and he was there for her, but I think Sam really started to come into the mix when Archie was poorly again. He seems to be the voice that's rational, reasonable and calm - which is funny because the perception of Sam is that he's nothing like that!
"Another key moment was when Ruby pointed out that Sam could be developing feelings for Rachel and suggested telling him to back off. That was when Rachel realised that maybe she didn't want him to back off!"
What's the main attraction of Sam?
"For Rachel, it's how he makes her feel and how he makes her laugh. With everything else that's going on around her with Jai and the baby, her life has been spiralling out of control. But Rachel has put Jai in his place, and now Sam has brought laughter back into her life.
"The main attraction for Rachel is just having somebody there who really genuinely cares for her. That's very different from what Rachel's ever experienced before. I don't think she's ever been in love, so I really like this storyline and I think it's really genuine and sweet."
How does Rachel feel about the speculation in the village over her friendship with Sam?
"It's been a bit of an eye-opener for her! All of a sudden, everyone has a lot to say about everyone else's business! From Rachel's point of view, she's trying to figure out how she got to the point where she grew to have feelings for Sam Dingle, who's very different from anyone she's been attracted to before.
"When Ali and Ruby get involved and Lisa starts questioning what Rachel wants from Sam, I think it throws her a little bit. She thinks, 'Hang on a minute, where has all this come from?' There's a lot of obstacles standing in their way and I think people can't quite believe a girl like Rachel would want to be with Sam."
Does the gossip affect their friendship?
"Definitely. It's really sad, because they're so close and tight-knit, but then other people are pulling them apart and causing this awkwardness between them. It definitely affects the way they behave around each other."
What happens on Valentine's Day?
"Well, little Amelia asks if Rachel has any Valentine's cards and obviously the answer is no. Samson and Amelia are growing quite fond of this friendship between Sam and Rachel, so they decide to plant a card from Sam to Rachel. Rachel gets complete crossed wires, builds up the courage to go and see Sam with the card, but then it all falls apart!"
Is Rachel pleased when she thinks the card might be from Sam?
"She's made up! It's so sweet with the way she reacts to it, because she's actually chuffed to bits. Until now, she hadn't been sure whether her feelings for Sam had been reciprocated, so she views the card as a seal of approval. It's the happiest she's been in a long time."
Is she wary about getting into a relationship, though?
"Rachel is obviously still worried about Jai, and what might happen if she brought someone else into that situation. But then she thinks, 'Hang on a minute - it's nothing to do with him'. She knows that Sam is caring, funny and brilliant with Archie, so she thinks it's the right thing."
What happens when Rachel goes to see Sam?
"Poor Rachel! I'm sure this happened last Valentine's Day with Marlon! (Laughs.) Basically, she makes an effort to look a bit more glam and she broaches the subject of this card with Sam. But Sam hasn't got a clue what she's on about.
"At the same time, Ali and Ruby have discovered the mix-up with the card, so they rush round to stop the inevitable happening. Unfortunately, they're too late and Rachel is left absolutely mortified! Sam explains to her that the card must be from Samson and Amelia.
"Rachel makes a really swift exit from the Dingle house after that, and she's angry because she thinks she has messed up. She's also angry with Ali and Ruby for egging her on. But in a side of Rachel we've never seen before, she's absolutely heartbroken. As much as she's having a go at everyone, we can see she's torn apart when she's on her own."
How does Sam react to the mix-up?
"Sam goes to see Rachel, and she thinks there might be a chance. Unfortunately, though, he tells her that they can only be friends.
"Unknown to Rachel, this is only because everyone is putting their opinions across. Lisa has told Sam that it's not worth it and he shouldn't get involved with Rachel, so he's taken that on board. But I think deep down, Sam is feeling very different to what he's actually saying to Rachel."
Do you think Rachel and Sam would make a good couple?
"I think they'd make an absolutely amazing couple! When I watch them on screen together, it just seems to be a really genuine partnership. I also remember starting in the show 20 months ago now, and I had a conversation with James Hooton and Steve Halliwell back then where we said it'd be brilliant to get us together.
"We always saw that potential was there, but we got split up in our storylines. Now they're growing closer again, it just feels right. It's also a bonus for me because I adore James and we're great friends in real life. I think that definitely shows on screen."
Do you think the viewers are rooting for Sam and Rachel?
"I keep hearing about 'Samchel' and there's a lot of people rooting for them. But it's also interesting that a lot of viewers are saying that Rachel and Jai should be a couple! That's news to me, but I think the viewers are really supporting Sam and Rachel too. I hope they're going to enjoy the journey of what might be."
Is there a lot to come with Rachel and Jai's baby secret?
"Definitely! Since coming back to work after Christmas, I've found out things that have shocked me. There's definitely a heck of a lot to come before the reveal, and it's really exciting. I think the viewers are never going to guess what's to come in a million years, but it's going to be one heck of a year.
"Viewers ask me about this storyline all the time and it's nice because it feels like they're excited and interested. I think they're excited to see me get beat up by Charity! But also with the way that Charity's behaving, I think people want to see her get a taste of her own medicine."
What else is coming up for Rachel?
"Well, let's see what happens with this love storyline, because Rachel's not been in love before and I think that's going to be something to explore. It's a different side to her.
"There's also Jai, who'll be back in the village at some point. Can you imagine him coming back and possibly seeing Rachel with Sam? That idea is already freaking Jai out already, because he can't stand seeing Sam with Archie. So let's see what happens when he turns up again!"
Emmerdale star Emma Atkins has revealed that Jai Sharma's baby secret is likely to be kept under wraps for quite some time.
The actress's character Charity still has no idea that husband Jai (Chris Bisson) is the father of Rachel Breckle's baby son Archie, after the unlikely pair slept together last summer.
Speaking on This Morning today (February 21), Atkins predicted that Charity will be shellshocked when she finally discovers the truth.
Atkins explained: "The fact that it's all been going on under her nose without her knowing will be the biggest shock. Charity's one of those people… if there's digging to do or detective work, she'll do it really well, because she's quite conniving in that way.
"But the fact that he's been leading this double life under her nose is going to have a huge impact on her, I think."
However, asked when fans can expect the big reveal, she replied: "Well, the storyliners, I think they're going to keep it going for a while. It's quite interesting for the audience to see someone having two lives."
With Jai currently away from the village, tonight's hour-long Emmerdale episode sees Charity sleep with Home Farm businessman Declan Macey (Jason Merrells), who is having marriage problems of his own.
Atkins commented: "It's a weird circle, because you've got two marriages which are both going wrong in their own dysfunctional ways. Then you've got two people within either marriage coming together in a frisson. It's very odd.
"In real life, it would be the most disgusting set-up. But it's the most wonderful thing to play, because you're experimenting with the way you'd feel in that particular situation. For Charity, she's done it before, hasn't she? Many times!
"She also has history with Declan, which is why I think the audience will really like it - because it's Jai's best friend.
Emmerdale star Emma Atkins has revealed that Jai Sharma's baby secret is likely to be kept under wraps for quite some time.
The actress's character Charity still has no idea that husband Jai (Chris Bisson) is the father of Rachel Breckle's baby son Archie, after the unlikely pair slept together last summer.
Speaking on This Morning today (February 21), Atkins predicted that Charity will be shellshocked when she finally discovers the truth.
Atkins explained: "The fact that it's all been going on under her nose without her knowing will be the biggest shock. Charity's one of those people… if there's digging to do or detective work, she'll do it really well, because she's quite conniving in that way.
"But the fact that he's been leading this double life under her nose is going to have a huge impact on her, I think."
However, asked when fans can expect the big reveal, she replied: "Well, the storyliners, I think they're going to keep it going for a while. It's quite interesting for the audience to see someone having two lives."
With Jai currently away from the village, tonight's hour-long Emmerdale episode sees Charity sleep with Home Farm businessman Declan Macey (Jason Merrells), who is having marriage problems of his own.
Atkins commented: "It's a weird circle, because you've got two marriages which are both going wrong in their own dysfunctional ways. Then you've got two people within either marriage coming together in a frisson. It's very odd.
"In real life, it would be the most disgusting set-up. But it's the most wonderful thing to play, because you're experimenting with the way you'd feel in that particular situation. For Charity, she's done it before, hasn't she? Many times!
"She also has history with Declan, which is why I think the audience will really like it - because it's Jai's best friend.
Emmerdale star Gemma Oaten has revealed that she has landed a new contract with the soap.
The actress, who plays Rachel Breckle, will now remain on screen until next summer at least.
Oaten confirmed the news in an interview with the Daily Star Sunday, telling the newspaper: "I am so thrilled. I love working on Emmerdale and in this industry you can't take anything for granted. So I was over the moon when I was told the news."
She added: "They've got lots of exciting things planned for Rachel and I can't wait to find out more."
Rachel is currently at the centre of one of the village's biggest secrets as married businessman Jai Sharma (Chris Bisson) is the father of her baby son Archie.
The pair have managed to keep their one-night stand under wraps for nearly a year, but fans know that it's only a matter of time before Jai's cunning wife Charity (Emma Atkins) finds out everything.
Rachel has also recently enjoyed some happiness in her life by embarking on a relationship with Sam Dingle (James Hooton)
Emmerdale star Gemma Oaten has revealed that she has landed a new contract with the soap.
The actress, who plays Rachel Breckle, will now remain on screen until next summer at least.
Oaten confirmed the news in an interview with the Daily Star Sunday, telling the newspaper: "I am so thrilled. I love working on Emmerdale and in this industry you can't take anything for granted. So I was over the moon when I was told the news."
She added: "They've got lots of exciting things planned for Rachel and I can't wait to find out more."
Rachel is currently at the centre of one of the village's biggest secrets as married businessman Jai Sharma (Chris Bisson) is the father of her baby son Archie.
The pair have managed to keep their one-night stand under wraps for nearly a year, but fans know that it's only a matter of time before Jai's cunning wife Charity (Emma Atkins) finds out everything.
Rachel has also recently enjoyed some happiness in her life by embarking on a relationship with Sam Dingle (James Hooton)
Emmerdale fans see the Rachel and Jai storyline come to a head this week as the penny finally drops for cunning Charity Sharma.
When a suspicious Charity (Emma Atkins) catches Jai (Chris Bisson) with baby Archie at the factory, she realises it's the final proof that he is the father of Rachel's young child.
While show bosses are keeping tight-lipped about the fallout, there are bound to be difficult times ahead for the Sharma family as they become the subject of gossip in the village.
We recently chatted to Gemma Oaten, who plays Rachel, to hear her thoughts on the must-see episodes.
How do you feel about the Rachel and Jai storyline really stepping up a gear this week?
"It's really exciting. The story has been so much fun to play, even though it's been hard work at times too. It's been great to get our teeth into it. We filmed these scenes about five or six weeks ago now, so it's been a crazy time for us but very enjoyable."
As viewers, we all thought it'd take a long while yet before Charity became suspicious. What kind of a reaction have you seen since the spoilers came out?
"The fans have gone absolutely mental - they're going crazy for it! I remember last week that I was just about to go to bed and I literally received a ton of tweets because one of the spoilers had just come out at midnight. The fans know this is massive, so they're really, really excited to see it unfold.
"It's also quite interesting to see all the different views on it. Some people are actually siding with Rachel, some people are siding with Charity, and there's even people siding with Jai. Obviously all of my followers are on 'Team Rachel' which is quite funny, and of course I'd promote that! (Laughs.) It's really got people talking and that's exactly what we wanted, so it's great."
Did you always know that the story would be reaching a peak around this time?
"No, it was a surprise even to me, really! A lot of things changed as Stuart Blackburn left and our new producer Kate Oates came in, so we were all slightly in the dark for a while about where storylines were going to go. Then I found out a few weeks after Kate joined that this would be happening. It's the little injection of excitement that's needed, along with everything else that's going on at the minute.
"I feel like Emmerdale is on fire, literally! We've got the Cameron stuff, the Debbie and Chas storyline, and the brilliant scenes with Gennie and Brenda. It all seems to be happening at the minute, which is a really good thing for the show."
The situation all starts to kick off when Rachel punches Megan. What can you tell us about that?
"Rachel smells a rat when she sees Megan going into Brook Cottage and measuring up for different fittings. Rachel is very, very loyal to her family and will do anything for them. She twigs that Megan is planning to evict the Spencers and take the cottage for herself.
"Megan then turns around and says some cruel things to Rachel about Archie. If there's one thing that Rachel won't allow, it's her baby being brought into the situation and her own name being dragged through the mud. Rachel literally lashes out and throws a big old punch!
"That's when it all starts to spiral out of control. It's that one moment of madness, and Rachel soon realises that she's really messed things up."
What was the punching scene like to film?
"Gaynor Faye, who plays Megan, was brilliant. I've grown up watching her on other shows, so I was like, 'Oh my God, I'm punching Judy Mallett!' It was really bizarre, but Gaynor was fantastic and really put me at ease. We've also got a fantastic crew - Judith Dine was directing and we also had a stunt co-ordinator. Everyone always comes together with scenes like this.
"I was petrified of hurting Gaynor, but she told me, 'I trust you - go for it'. I haven't seen the scenes yet but I've seen the pictures, and you can see that I've proper gone for it!"
How does Rachel react when Megan threatens to report her to the police?
"She's mortified. For a while, Rachel tries to act like it's all going to be fine and it's not a problem, but then Ali tells her that Megan is going to go to the police if the Spencers don't give up Brook Cottage. That's when the reality kicks in for Rachel, and the scene is actually quite upsetting. Rachel is distraught at what she's caused."
Rachel invites the Spencers to live with her, but Jai isn't happy! How does Rachel respond to his disapproval?
"The dynamic between Jai and Rachel is always a battle - they're always trying to get one up on the other. Rachel says to him, 'What else am I meant to do? I've made a mistake and the only way I can rectify that is by looking after my family first and foremost'.
"Jai retaliates by calling Rachel an unfit mother, and he really brings her down. This really breaks Rachel's heart, because she starts to doubt herself again. She comes across as a feisty girl who won't stand any messing, but in reality she's very sensitive and unsure of herself.
"When Jai starts criticising her, Rachel also worries about her new relationship with Sam, wondering why on earth he'd want her."
At this point, Charity is really starting to take note of the secret conversations between Rachel and Jai. Do they realise that she's getting suspicious?
"I don't think they do! It's only when Rachel leaves the baby with Jai following an argument at the factory that she realises what she's done. As Rachel walks out, she sees Charity heading inside, and she knows that Charity is about to catch Jai with the baby. Rachel can't turn back, because she isn't sure how much Charity knows. Rachel knows that she'll have to live with the consequences, but she's well aware that it's all about to kick off!
"Charity has seen Rachel and Jai have heated conversations a few times now. She's not stupid, so of course she's going to start twigging that something's going on."
Rachel always pushed for the truth to come out, but is it fair to say that's now the last thing she wants?
"Well, from day one, Rachel was always encouraging Jai to just tell Charity the truth. Jai's always said no, so Rachel has had to go along with so much secrecy. But now Rachel has fallen in love, and she's got more in her life now. She doesn't want to lose Sam - it's a genuine love and that's something she's never had."
We can't give too much away about what happens next, but is Rachel and Sam's relationship going to be tested?
"Well, I think Rachel and Sam are such a unique couple - they're so different, but they have an incredible bond. Time and time again, Sam has proved himself to have a big heart - he's a bigger man than Rachel ever expected him to be.
"I think the viewers will be heartened by the way Sam reacts to all this. There is a future still there for them, but there are also twists and turns along the way."
What was the atmosphere like on set when you were filming these big scenes?
"Everyone involved was buzzing! We couldn't believe it was happening. The dynamics between everyone involved are very interesting to watch and very exciting to play. Working with James Hooton, Chris and Emma is an absolute pleasure for me."
Even with this story reaching a peak, is there still a big year ahead for Rachel?
"There's a very, very big year ahead. It's going to be exciting, although I've got a little bit of time off coming up. I really love my job, but I can't wait to have a holiday and chill out! Then I'll come back and we'll see where the next part of the story takes Rachel. There's lots more to come and I can't wait to crack on with my third year at Emmerdale."
You must be delighted that your contract has been renewed for another year.
"It's such a strange thing, because you can never be complacent. That's one thing I learned through drama school - you have to keep your feet on the ground and keep working hard.
"When I found out my contract had been renewed, I was absolutely delighted. I'd prepared in my head for it not to be, so then when it was, it was such a celebration for me because I hadn't taken it for granted that this would happen."
Emmerdale fans see the Rachel and Jai storyline come to a head this week as the penny finally drops for cunning Charity Sharma.
When a suspicious Charity (Emma Atkins) catches Jai (Chris Bisson) with baby Archie at the factory, she realises it's the final proof that he is the father of Rachel's young child.
While show bosses are keeping tight-lipped about the fallout, there are bound to be difficult times ahead for the Sharma family as they become the subject of gossip in the village.
We recently chatted to Gemma Oaten, who plays Rachel, to hear her thoughts on the must-see episodes.
How do you feel about the Rachel and Jai storyline really stepping up a gear this week?
"It's really exciting. The story has been so much fun to play, even though it's been hard work at times too. It's been great to get our teeth into it. We filmed these scenes about five or six weeks ago now, so it's been a crazy time for us but very enjoyable."
As viewers, we all thought it'd take a long while yet before Charity became suspicious. What kind of a reaction have you seen since the spoilers came out?
"The fans have gone absolutely mental - they're going crazy for it! I remember last week that I was just about to go to bed and I literally received a ton of tweets because one of the spoilers had just come out at midnight. The fans know this is massive, so they're really, really excited to see it unfold.
"It's also quite interesting to see all the different views on it. Some people are actually siding with Rachel, some people are siding with Charity, and there's even people siding with Jai. Obviously all of my followers are on 'Team Rachel' which is quite funny, and of course I'd promote that! (Laughs.) It's really got people talking and that's exactly what we wanted, so it's great."
Did you always know that the story would be reaching a peak around this time?
"No, it was a surprise even to me, really! A lot of things changed as Stuart Blackburn left and our new producer Kate Oates came in, so we were all slightly in the dark for a while about where storylines were going to go. Then I found out a few weeks after Kate joined that this would be happening. It's the little injection of excitement that's needed, along with everything else that's going on at the minute.
"I feel like Emmerdale is on fire, literally! We've got the Cameron stuff, the Debbie and Chas storyline, and the brilliant scenes with Gennie and Brenda. It all seems to be happening at the minute, which is a really good thing for the show."
The situation all starts to kick off when Rachel punches Megan. What can you tell us about that?
"Rachel smells a rat when she sees Megan going into Brook Cottage and measuring up for different fittings. Rachel is very, very loyal to her family and will do anything for them. She twigs that Megan is planning to evict the Spencers and take the cottage for herself.
"Megan then turns around and says some cruel things to Rachel about Archie. If there's one thing that Rachel won't allow, it's her baby being brought into the situation and her own name being dragged through the mud. Rachel literally lashes out and throws a big old punch!
"That's when it all starts to spiral out of control. It's that one moment of madness, and Rachel soon realises that she's really messed things up."
What was the punching scene like to film?
"Gaynor Faye, who plays Megan, was brilliant. I've grown up watching her on other shows, so I was like, 'Oh my God, I'm punching Judy Mallett!' It was really bizarre, but Gaynor was fantastic and really put me at ease. We've also got a fantastic crew - Judith Dine was directing and we also had a stunt co-ordinator. Everyone always comes together with scenes like this.
"I was petrified of hurting Gaynor, but she told me, 'I trust you - go for it'. I haven't seen the scenes yet but I've seen the pictures, and you can see that I've proper gone for it!"
How does Rachel react when Megan threatens to report her to the police?
"She's mortified. For a while, Rachel tries to act like it's all going to be fine and it's not a problem, but then Ali tells her that Megan is going to go to the police if the Spencers don't give up Brook Cottage. That's when the reality kicks in for Rachel, and the scene is actually quite upsetting. Rachel is distraught at what she's caused."
Rachel invites the Spencers to live with her, but Jai isn't happy! How does Rachel respond to his disapproval?
"The dynamic between Jai and Rachel is always a battle - they're always trying to get one up on the other. Rachel says to him, 'What else am I meant to do? I've made a mistake and the only way I can rectify that is by looking after my family first and foremost'.
"Jai retaliates by calling Rachel an unfit mother, and he really brings her down. This really breaks Rachel's heart, because she starts to doubt herself again. She comes across as a feisty girl who won't stand any messing, but in reality she's very sensitive and unsure of herself.
"When Jai starts criticising her, Rachel also worries about her new relationship with Sam, wondering why on earth he'd want her."
At this point, Charity is really starting to take note of the secret conversations between Rachel and Jai. Do they realise that she's getting suspicious?
"I don't think they do! It's only when Rachel leaves the baby with Jai following an argument at the factory that she realises what she's done. As Rachel walks out, she sees Charity heading inside, and she knows that Charity is about to catch Jai with the baby. Rachel can't turn back, because she isn't sure how much Charity knows. Rachel knows that she'll have to live with the consequences, but she's well aware that it's all about to kick off!
"Charity has seen Rachel and Jai have heated conversations a few times now. She's not stupid, so of course she's going to start twigging that something's going on."
Rachel always pushed for the truth to come out, but is it fair to say that's now the last thing she wants?
"Well, from day one, Rachel was always encouraging Jai to just tell Charity the truth. Jai's always said no, so Rachel has had to go along with so much secrecy. But now Rachel has fallen in love, and she's got more in her life now. She doesn't want to lose Sam - it's a genuine love and that's something she's never had."
We can't give too much away about what happens next, but is Rachel and Sam's relationship going to be tested?
"Well, I think Rachel and Sam are such a unique couple - they're so different, but they have an incredible bond. Time and time again, Sam has proved himself to have a big heart - he's a bigger man than Rachel ever expected him to be.
"I think the viewers will be heartened by the way Sam reacts to all this. There is a future still there for them, but there are also twists and turns along the way."
What was the atmosphere like on set when you were filming these big scenes?
"Everyone involved was buzzing! We couldn't believe it was happening. The dynamics between everyone involved are very interesting to watch and very exciting to play. Working with James Hooton, Chris and Emma is an absolute pleasure for me."
Even with this story reaching a peak, is there still a big year ahead for Rachel?
"There's a very, very big year ahead. It's going to be exciting, although I've got a little bit of time off coming up. I really love my job, but I can't wait to have a holiday and chill out! Then I'll come back and we'll see where the next part of the story takes Rachel. There's lots more to come and I can't wait to crack on with my third year at Emmerdale."
You must be delighted that your contract has been renewed for another year.
"It's such a strange thing, because you can never be complacent. That's one thing I learned through drama school - you have to keep your feet on the ground and keep working hard.
"When I found out my contract had been renewed, I was absolutely delighted. I'd prepared in my head for it not to be, so then when it was, it was such a celebration for me because I hadn't taken it for granted that this would happen."
Gemma Oaten has revealed that her feisty character Rachel Breckle will soon be slapping another one of the villagers.
Tonight's (April 25) hour-long episode sees Rachel punch Megan Macey (Gaynor Faye) as an argument between the pair turns violent, but it won't be the last time that Rachel loses her temper.
Speaking on Daybreak this morning, Oaten confirmed that she has filmed another violent scene which will air in the next fortnight.
The actress hinted that it may not be with Charity Sharma, who is slowly realising that her husband Jai is the father of Rachel's baby son Archie.
She explained: "I'm getting in good practice [for Charity]. I've slapped Jai now, I've punched Megan, and I can't say too much but I do slap somebody else in a week or two as well!"
Appearing on ITV's Lorraine later, Oaten continued: "Emma Atkins is amazing as Charity, so it's a real privilege for me to be working alongside her. Hopefully we'll get a good little catfight going at some point."
Oaten joined the cast of Emmerdale in summer 2011 and she has recently signed a new contract which will keep her in the show until July 2014.
Asked whether she is still enjoying her time at Emmerdale, she replied: "I am! It's hard work and some days you're going through a 12-hour day and you're thinking, 'I'm not going to get to the end of this. I don't know what I'm saying next'.
"But then you do, and the sense of satisfaction and relief that you get after it is brilliant. It's a difficult industry and I'm learning as I go, but I'm loving and embracing every minute of it."
Emmerdale continues tonight at 6.45pm on ITV.
Emmerdale star Gemma Oaten has decided to leave the soap.
The actress, who plays Rachel Breckle, will bow out on screen next year following a turbulent time for her character.
An Emmerdale insider confirmed the news to Digital Spy this afternoon (October 30), but details of Rachel's exit storyline are being kept tightly under wraps.
Oaten joined the cast of Emmerdale in summer 2011 and Rachel's feisty nature quickly caused a stir in the village.
Rachel's arrival also soon paved the way for the introduction of her on-screen family, the Spencers.
Viewers have since seen a softer side to Rachel, who is currently at the centre of a huge secret in the village.
Fans know that Jai Sharma is the father of Rachel's baby son Archie and next month's episodes see the businessman's wife Charity finally discover the shocking truth, leading to fireworks.
James Hooton, who plays Rachel's boyfriend Sam Dingle, said this week: "It's just a matter of time and I think that it's going to come down to who actually breaks the news in the end."
Emmerdale star Gemma Oaten has decided to leave the soap.
The actress, who plays Rachel Breckle, will bow out on screen next year following a turbulent time for her character.
An Emmerdale insider confirmed the news to Digital Spy this afternoon (October 30), but details of Rachel's exit storyline are being kept tightly under wraps.
Oaten joined the cast of Emmerdale in summer 2011 and Rachel's feisty nature quickly caused a stir in the village.
Rachel's arrival also soon paved the way for the introduction of her on-screen family, the Spencers.
Viewers have since seen a softer side to Rachel, who is currently at the centre of a huge secret in the village.
Fans know that Jai Sharma is the father of Rachel's baby son Archie and next month's episodes see the businessman's wife Charity finally discover the shocking truth, leading to fireworks.
James Hooton, who plays Rachel's boyfriend Sam Dingle, said this week: "It's just a matter of time and I think that it's going to come down to who actually breaks the news in the end."
let her take ali and ruby and the kids with her
Emmerdale's Rachel Breckle is at the centre of a shocking moment next week as Charity Sharma's feelings of anger escalate.
As Charity (Emma Atkins) continues to simmer over Rachel and Jai's baby secret, she gets behind the wheel of her car and considers mowing down Rachel and Archie in one sweep.
Here, Gemma Oaten - who plays Rachel - gives her thoughts on the trouble ahead for her character with Charity on the warpath.
Now that the truth is out, how worried is Rachel that Charity could get revenge on her?
"I think when it first came out, it didn't even cross Rachel's mind, to be honest. But then Rachel slowly sees more behaviour from Charity and she hears from various people that you don't cross Charity because she'll get her own back.
"Suddenly Rachel starts to think, 'Oh my God, this could really spiral out of control now'. What's quite scary is that Charity is suppressing her emotions to try to stay with Jai, but then it's just so apparent that the more she suppresses it, the more it feels like it's gonna blow…"
Is Rachel capable of holding her own against Charity?
"I think so. Rachel is not blameless in all this - she knows that what she's done is awful to another woman, but having said that, I think she just wants to carry on with her life with Sam now. As far as she's concerned, it's all out in the open and she wants to move on. But when it comes to defending those that she loves, she's not a shrinking violet. She will fight back, absolutely. It's going to take something pretty big for Charity to get one over on her."
Is Sam a support to Rachel at this time?
"As always, Sam is absolutely brilliant. He does see things a lot simpler, but there's also a lot of heart and love between them. Sam just wants what's best for Rachel and he sees Archie as his own."
Next week, Charity sees Rachel, Jai and Archie all together - seemingly like a family. How does she react?
"It's horrendous - how horrendous for a woman to see that. She keeps bottling things up, but seeing that is a major blow to her and I think that's when Charity starts to crumble.
"I think Rachel is also starting to realise that Charity is slowly starting to play games and she's got to be careful. But because she loves Sam so much, I think a lot of the time Rachel has not got her radar on. As she's with Sam and in love, she's a lot more trusting which is very, very dangerous ground to go on when it comes to Charity."
Who do you think the viewers are going to be siding with - Charity or Rachel?
"Me and Emma often talk about it. We do sympathise with both sides of it, but obviously for me, I've got to be Team Rachel all the way. I think even Emma sometimes says, 'I'm Team Rachel too!' It's such a difficult situation to be in, but to me, Rachel was backed into a corner. She wanted to reveal the truth so many times, but she was pushed back by Jai and Rishi. I've got to be Team Rachel!"
Next week, we'll see Charity in her car behind the wheel and she revs the engine ready to mow down Rachel and Archie! Does Rachel see any of that?
"Rachel is completely oblivious to all this. I think if she was aware of it, she'd have ran towards that car and got Charity out of the seat! So, no, she doesn't see any of it. It's Lisa who actually sees all this. When Lisa sees what Charity is even contemplating doing, that's when she realises that things are a lot more serious than what they'd all anticipated…"
Does Rachel ever imagine that Charity could be capable of killing her and Archie?
"I think she knows Charity is more clever than that. It would be too easy to cause physical damage to another person. Charity has got a way about her - she's clever and cunning. I think Rachel is well aware that if Charity is going to get her revenge, she's going to get it in a big way where she can't get out of it."
Next week is a big week for the story in general, isn't it?
"Yes, there's a big ultimatum given to Jai and it's very, very interesting to see which way he sways. I can't say any more!"
It's also been announced that you're leaving Emmerdale next year…
"I am but there's so much to come and I can't even contemplate next year at the minute. At the moment I've got to give my heart and soul to Emmerdale and love it as I always will and I always have, and hopefully do everybody proud.
"I know what my exit storyline will be and I am so excited. I can't even begin to tell you!"
Emmerdale star Gemma Oaten has praised her character Rachel Breckle's exit storyline.
It was previously announced that Oaten would bow out of the soap this year after joining in 2011, with the actress hinting that Rachel's exit would be 'devastating'.
Speaking about her show exit on BBC Radio Leeds today (January 2), Oaten said: "Obviously for me, as the viewers know, I'm not there anymore. My exit has been absolutely amazing to film.
"The people that I got to work with so closely like Emma Atkins, who plays Charity - she's such a phenomenal actress and so generous with the time she gives on set.
"It's been an absolute rollercoaster for me but I feel that I go out on an absolute high and the door's wide open."
Viewers will know that Charity Sharma and Declan Macey are currently trying to frame Rachel's partner Sam Dingle for the Home Farm fire on Christmas Day.
Speaking about the storyline, Oaten said: "Charity has seen that she can get 50% of the insurance money and also set up her own cousin, which also implicates Rachel and Archie.
"It's quite dark, really, and Rachel and Sam are literally little pawns in her plan. It's been brilliant to play but poor Gaynor [Faye] is in her hospital bed thinking her brother wouldn't do anything to hurt her. She woke up last night and she was defending Declan.
"The viewers will see how at the start Declan's not wanting to be part of this plan, but slowly but surely Declan is manipulated into going into it and almost becomes as bad as Charity."
Emmerdale continues tonight at 7pm on ITV.
tammyy2j
02-01-2014, 23:46
Well she don't die and the door is open for her to return
Emmerdale fans will see Rachel Breckle issued with a heartbreaking ultimatum next week as her exit storyline comes to a head.
When Rachel's fiancé Sam Dingle is arrested and charged for the Home Farm fire, vengeful Charity Sharma (Emma Atkins) finally reveals her recent scheming and gives Rachel a chance to save her partner.
Charity's idea to get Sam (James Hooton) out of prison will involve Rachel making a big sacrifice, but will she be willing to go through with it?
Here, Gemma Oaten - who plays Rachel - previews the drama in store and reveals her plans for the future.
Can you tell us about the scene where Sam is arrested?
"Sam and Rachel have decided to go into business together as they want to get on with their lives. It's a little cleaning and gardening business and they're working at the church for the vicar. They're discussing what their plans are for the future and Sam has got it into his head that he wants to run away. That's what he's normally done in the past when the police have been sniffing round him - he's got a bit of a track record for running away!
"Rachel is convincing him that's not the right thing to do, but then Charity appears and puts doubts in Rachel's mind. They're actually talking about running away and all of a sudden the police turn up and it's suddenly too late. It's quite upsetting to see how Sam reacts."
Later, Charity shocks Rachel by revealing that she was the one who framed Sam. How does Rachel react?
"Rachel's been banging her head against a brick wall with the Dingles. She's been saying that someone set Sam up, but nobody believes her and everyone thinks that she is just causing upset and aggro. Then Charity quite connivingly starts to try befriending Rachel and say that she understands and believes her. Rachel says that she doesn't trust her, but Charity tells her, 'Well you should trust me, because I'm the one who has set this whole thing up!'
"Rachel can't get her head around it at all - it just comes as a bolt from the blue. She knew that Charity was capable of a lot of things, but never in her head did she think that Charity would turn against one of her own.
"I think because the Dingles have always said that Charity would never do that, it comes as a double blow for Rachel - not only has she been duped, but the whole family have too. She can't quite believe that Charity's hatred would go that deep to set against one of her own."
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Charity stuns Rachel
While we can't give away the full details, Charity issues Rachel with a very difficult proposition to help save Sam. Does Rachel feel trapped by that?
"Rachel is quite clever and savvy in her own ways, but Charity is just that one step ahead. Rachel just feels that she has nobody, because with any option she has to fight back against Charity, it's obvious that Charity has already got it covered. She feels completely trapped in a corner and it's just awful."
Does Rachel confide in her sister Ali?
"Yeah, Rachel's absolutely distraught and she does confide in Ali. Ali thinks that she can sort this whole thing out and sort Charity out, but I don't think even Ali has come across someone who's as much of a force to be reckoned with as Charity. I think in Ali's mind it's all going to be sorted by telling the police the truth, but it's not as black and white as that."
Is Rachel willing to make any sacrifice to save Sam?
"I think throughout the whole ordeal of Sam being arrested, Rachel has always said that she would do anything to help him. Charity has cottoned onto this. Rachel loves Sam so much that she can't bear to see the man that she loves locked away for years. She also loves the family as Zak and Lisa have done a lot for her, so it's something that's in her head all along - she would give up anything for Sam.
"But if she did, the other side of it is that she's not just sacrificing herself for Sam - she's got friends and family in the village, so for the first time in Rachel's life, she's got good people around her and a good environment to live in. What Charity's asking is a massive sacrifice to make, especially when she's got a little baby."
How does Rachel feel about the prospect of losing Sam?
"It's utterly heartbreaking. Sam has given her so much in terms of support, happiness and friendship. They've been through so much together and it's something that she can't even contemplate. This is where Rachel's dilemma lies - does she give up everything for this man who she absolutely adores?"
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Charity drops Rachel outside the police station
Do you think the viewers will be sad to see Rachel and Sam's love story run into so much trouble?
"Already the public are getting rumblings about things not going well for them, and their reactions are so heartening because everybody wants Sam and Rachel to win through.
"I hope the public will get behind this story and really be affected by the turmoil that Sam and Rachel are in. One thing that I found through this whole storyline was that Sam and Rachel were literally pawns or puppets. They're being dangled by people with power and money, and they're helpless through it all."
Is Rachel tempted to tell Jai what's going on?
"I think she is, but her relationship with Jai is very complex. One minute they're trying to get their heads together for Archie, but Rachel also knows that Jai stopped her from telling the truth about Archie for ages. In the past he's put a roof over her head, but in terms of emotional support, Jai's always seemed quite cut off. I don't think that Rachel sees any gain from telling Jai, but she would have a flicker of hope that he knows what Charity is capable of."
Are you pleased with your exit storyline?
"I really couldn't be happier. It's been such a challenge for me with the hours I've been working and the emotional content. I've even become achy and my voice is croaky so I'm really tired, but it's quite fitting as I feel like I'm going through what Rachel is going through!
"It's been great for me to get this platform for what might come next to me. It's also been great to have the support from the producer Kate Oates, the cast and to be able to work with Emma Atkins. It's such a privilege for me."
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Charity coaches Rachel on what to do.
What would be your dream role for the future?
"I'm a true Northern girl, so I think Jimmy McGovern and his series are great. The Accused absolutely blew my mind. I'm also good friends with Debbie Horsfield who wrote Cutting It and Sex, Chips & Rock n' Roll. We've often discussed working together in the future.
"Then there's the other side like Downton Abbey. I know everybody says it, but I've had the privilege of meeting Julian and the cast a few times. They seem a brilliant bunch to work with, just like it is at Emmerdale, so it'd be great to do a period piece. I'm not sure I'd go upstairs - I think I'd be downstairs!"
What are your fondest memories of being at Emmerdale?
"I'll miss all of the banter we have on set, because it's always brilliant. James Hooton is one of a kind and we have a great laugh. I think my last few weeks of filming will stay with me forever and I feel blessed to have had such a great send-off.
"With storylines, I loved my involvement in the Ashley/Sandy abuse storyline. That was my first ever chance as Rachel to be involved in the thick of it. You can't ask for much more than working with Freddie Jones, and John Middleton is fantastic. That was a really great time because I learned so much from Freddie and John. That really sticks in my mind. This final storyline will stick with me too."
Who are you going to miss the most?
"Everybody is fantastic and I'm not just saying that. The cast are so down-to-earth and I'm going to miss them so bad. If I was going to single anyone out, I've got to say my boy - James Hooton! We've been through a lot over this past two-and-a-half years and he's going to be in my life forever."
Emmerdale star Gemma Oaten has spoken about her relief at not being killed off on the soap.
The actress's final scenes will air during tomorrow night's episode as Charity follows through with her revenge plans and urges Rachel to take the blame for the Home Farm fire.
Oaten said to the Hull Daily Mail: "I was over the moon when they told me the storyline.
"You hear horror stories of characters being killed off-screen so when I knew what was happening, I was really pleased.
"But there are lots of reasons why Rachel would return in the future, so it leaves things open for me. I'm really pleased and excited to see it."
Oaten has also hinted at her future plans, revealing that she would like to get back into theatre.
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Rachel at the coach station
© ITV
Rachel at the coach station
She said: "I've signed up to a new agent - the same one as Mitchell and Webb. I'll never stop working hard and I've got hundreds of things to do.
"I've got a couple of meetings with casting directors, but I don't want to jinx it. I would love to go back to the stage.
"I've been in London over the weekend watching some of the shows there and it has really given me the bug again."
Emmerdale star Gemma Oaten has promised that there are "heartbreaking" scenes ahead this evening (January 16) as her character Rachel Breckle leaves the soap.
Tonight's double bill sees Rachel's terrible dilemma come to a head as she buckles under pressure from Charity Sharma (Emma Atkins), who wants her to confess to starting the Home Farm fire.
Declan Macey was responsible for the Home Farm blaze on Christmas Day, but Charity has pulled off a cunning scheme by framing her cousin Sam Dingle (James Hooton) - Rachel's fiancée - for the crime.
Speaking on ITV's This Morning about Charity's antics, Oaten explained: "It's something the Dingles just don't do. Family's family and you don't turn against one of your own.
"She's just been that consumed with hate and revenge towards Jai and Rachel for what they did to her, and obviously baby Archie, that she's just lost the plot with it, really. But she's kept her control - she's got everything covered."
On Sam's future, the actress continued: "He gets let out of prison because Rachel decides that she has to hand herself in, but then it's whether she can carry through with it and carry on with the plan and scheming. Even at the last point, the decision in her head is, 'Does she actually do this?'
"It's really quite heartbreaking, actually. She loves [Sam] and even when she goes to the police station to confess, she's still unsure whether she's going to get bail, whether she's going to be able to leave, and whether she's going to take the baby.
"Obviously everybody knows that I'm going, but it's 'Does she take the baby?', 'How does that implicate Sam?', 'Does Sam get out forever?'"
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Charity drops Rachel outside the police station and heads inside.
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Charity drops Rachel outside the police station
Oaten added that she is grateful to Emmerdale's bosses for giving her an exit to remember.
She said: "It's just been amazing. It's been hard work, but the best thing for me is those scenes with Emma Atkins on Tuesday night were my last ever scenes at Emmerdale.
"I filmed them on my last day and they were so charged. She's been so generous with me with the commitment she's given to the storyline. And James Hooton - this story has given him a chance to shine."
Emmerdale continues tonight (January 16) at 7pm and 8pm on ITV.
tammyy2j
16-01-2014, 14:57
She should leave Archie to Jai :p
She should leave Archie to Jai :p
Yes she should, that would serve Charity right as I don't like what she has done to Sam, he has done nothing wrong
She should leave Archie to Jai :p
Yes she should, that would serve Charity right as I don't like what she has done to Sam, he has done nothing wrong
tammyy2j
16-01-2014, 21:22
Why didn't Ali do anything, she could have went the police and even to Jai, she has a big gob she could use it for good this time and also how was Rachel released so quick after being charged with arson?
I think we might not have seen the last of Rachel, not necessarily played by Gemma but she would come back, I am sure
Emmerdale fans were treated to a soap surprise in Tuesday's hour-long episode (January 20) as Gemma Oaten made a shock return in her role as Rachel Breckle.
Rachel's return wasn't announced by show bosses before transmission, so fans will have been stunned when she arrived as an unexpected witness at Charity Dingle's trial.
In a further twist, Rachel delivered the evidence which proved crucial in securing a guilty verdict for Charity, giving the schemer her comeuppance at last.
Digital Spy recently caught up with Gemma to hear all about her top-secret comeback and what may be in store next.
How does it feel to be back?
"It feels lovely and it's great to be back. It also feels like I can really enjoy it now that everybody knows about it! It has been nice being slightly incognito and having this big secret, because hopefully the audience are going to love it."
When were you first approached to return?
"The first call came back in August. That was unbelievable, because I'd literally just got settled into life in London! That call was just a feeler, but I had an inkling from that point that this might be happening.
"It was October when it was all signed, sealed and sorted and I've been filming since November. It's been a whirlwind really, because I feel like I haven't really been gone for that long! Rachel left on January 16 last year and she's back almost a year to the day. It's crazy."
There was obviously unfinished business with Rachel, so did you always expect to come back at some point?
"I couldn't say anything at the time because it would have totally spoiled things, but myself and Emmerdale's producer Kate Oates had spoken about the storyline of Rachel leaving and then coming back. Kate was really lovely and said, 'I will be ringing you and bringing you back, that's for sure' - but you can never be complacent. When it did happen, it was lovely and Kate said, 'I told you so!'
"I feel very lucky that I've had this year out, but then equally lucky that I've been able to come back so soon and fit straight back in where I left off. If anything, it's better because I'm not so overwhelmed by the cast like I was when I first joined!"
There's been quite a build-up to Rachel's return…
"Absolutely. I remember that I spoke to Emmerdale's press office and they told me in advance that there would be a body found and Archie would come back. People were then tweeting me saying, 'Oh my God, they've killed you off-screen!' Then you had certain people saying, 'Oh well, they can't have thought that much of her!' I was happy for that to carry on because I knew deep down what was going to happen next!"
With all of the recent mentions of Rachel, have you been tuning in over the past year?
"Yeah! I've not been able to watch it constantly because I've been quite busy, but I've always tried to tune in or catch the omnibus if I've missed something. I kept hearing Rachel's name and asking, 'Am I getting royalties for this?!' I should have got that in my contract! (Laughs.)
"I tried to keep abreast of what was going on, knowing that there was a potential return coming up and also so I could understand what everybody was tweeting about!"
Was it hard to keep the return a secret?
"I was constantly having to cover my tracks and tell a white lie here and there, but to be honest, the best thing you can do is not say too much! The more you elaborate when you're giving an excuse, the more people know that you're lying. If people saw me in Leeds, I'd link it to working for Capital Radio or visiting friends.
"There were so many times that people on East Coast trains were saying, 'Are you back?' Obviously my immediate family knew and some very trusted friends, because it would have been hard to disappear without anyone knowing where I was! Luckily I've picked the right ones to tell! It's been difficult to keep it a secret, but we've got through it."
With the show not always filming in sequence, were these court scenes the first ones you filmed?
"Yeah, it all worked out brilliantly. It was my first day back and I was straight into the court scenes. I couldn't have asked for a better scenario, because obviously the nerves that I felt coming back as myself were there in Rachel because she was also very nervous. That was a really exciting day and really fitting for the character. It all tied in really well."
What is Rachel's state of mind now?
"I think there's a lot of damage that's been done. She's had to go through this horrendous ordeal of leaving the man she loves, saying goodbye to her family and going on the run. That's probably toughened her up a lot. I know the viewers always saw Rachel being feisty but when she left at the end, she was a shadow of the girl that came in two years before. Charity really ground her down.
"Rachel has definitely come back with more of an edge. Her feistiness and her spirit are still there, but there's definitely an undertone of hardness there. She's come back to fight and she's done that, as Charity has gone down!"
How long are you back for?
"It's open at the moment, but I'm definitely back for a good time. I don't want to tempt fate with any contract talk, but I'm not going anywhere for a while. You'll see my trackies for a while yet, which is exciting!"
How will Rachel feel about Sam's romance with Tracy?
"She's going to be crushed when she finds this out and you'll see that as this week plays out. Rachel is quite gobsmacked and slightly hard done by, because she left the village to protect Sam and now he's with this girl with heels and blonde hair! But then that opens up the possibility of maybe a love triangle down the line. There's a lot of good stuff to play."
Would you like Rachel to fight for her man?
"Definitely! Selfishly, I love working with James Hooton who plays Sam and that's always a joy. I think Rachel and Sam had something very special and sweet. Hopefully the viewers have always championed those two together. There might be some obstacles along the way and Rachel might need some people to egg her on, but she's definitely going to try."
Are you getting on well with Amy Walsh, who plays Tracy, in real life?
"She's a cracking girl. She's from Leeds herself and you can just tell that Emmerdale is where she's meant to be. We've got a lot of stuff coming up and we've been filming together a lot. It's quite funny because James is just in the middle of it all, lapping it all up! Amy is very professional, but equally very giving and a lovely laugh. I couldn't be in a better position, really!"
Is there anyone in particular who's given you a warm welcome back?
"I've been really lucky - I've had hugs galore! It's just been a joy to walk into the studio and have that warmth. The main ones are Alicya and Kelli who play Ruby and Ali. They never took my name down from the dressing room door, bless them! Being with them again has just been brilliant.
"I've also really loved being back with James and the lovely Jane Cox who plays Lisa. I've missed them. There's also Fiona Wade who plays Priya - we didn't get to work together much previously, but I've missed her too. We've all kept in touch, but I haven't physically seen them much at all. Me, Alicya and Kelli cried in the dressing room when I came back and I haven't stopped beaming since!"
tammyy2j
20-01-2015, 20:36
Rachel to take on Tracey and have a nice happy ending with Sam, Samson and Archie would be good
Gemma Oaten has said that the response to her shock return to Emmerdale has been "unbelievable".
Oaten's character Rachel Breckle returned to the soap yesterday (January 20) and spoke to ITV's This Morning about her character's absence from the show.
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Gemma Oaten on ITV's This Morning in January 2015
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Emmerdale's Gemma Oaten: 'Rachel Breckle return has been a whirlwind'
"There were rumours [that I was in] Bognor Regis, Skegness, Hull... and it'll all be revealed on Thursday as to where she's been," Oaten said.
Asked about keeping the return a surprise since August, she added: "It was a bit of a nightmare because people know that I am a bit of a chatterbox. So yeah, it's been really hard.
"I had to tell my mum and dad because they didn't know where I was half the time and we're really close, and then I had to confess and confide in a few close friends.
"I'm usually quite good and reply to people [on Twitter] and I felt awful ignoring loads of people. But the tweets last night and the payoff has been unbelievable.
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Rachel Breckle's Emmerdale return
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Rachel Breckle's Emmerdale return
"So I'm really glad we did it and for Emmerdale it's been worth it."
Of her court scene return, Oaten said: "I was really nervous that day because it was my first day back filming.
"It's been amazing, the second time around is even better, and you feel a bit more confident in yourself, and having that year out has been really good for me as well."
Asked what she had done in her time away from the soap, Oaten said: "I'm patron of Seed, which is an eating disorder charity.
"I suffered as a young girl for about ten years, so there was months of campaigning and raising awareness which was brilliant."
Serena Williams
23-01-2015, 01:11
Why is the show trying to make Rachel look so ordinary? You can see she is a natural beauty.
Emmerdale delivered another huge surprise in Thursday night's double bill (January 22) as Jai Sharma discovered that he had been duped over his young son Archie.
Jai appeared to have been reunited with his son in November when a dodgy man named Josh gave him the opportunity to buy Archie back.
The village's businessman paid £40,000 for the toddler, but Emmerdale's latest episodes revealed that the child was a lookalike. The real Archie, meanwhile, has been with his mum Rachel Breckle the whole time.
Reacting to the shock twist, Gemma Oaten - who plays Rachel - told Digital Spy: "This is going to open up a lot of discussion about what the hell has happened! Rachel also realises that Jai has actually bought this baby whilst not even caring whether she's alive or dead.
"It will affect Jai and Megan and we'll see what Jai is going to feel about the baby that he's had for all this time."
She continued: "It knocks everyone for six and hopefully it has for the audience too, because we've managed to keep it secret and it's a great little twist.
"The viewers have waited a long time for this and it would have been wrong if we'd given them just one whammy of Rachel returning and Charity being sent down. We had to give them something else for sticking with it for so long, as the story has been a long-burner."
Emmerdale bosses pulled off the unusual feat of holding back three big secrets about this week's episodes, with the Archie twist, Rachel's return and Charity's imprisonment all being kept strictly under wraps until transmission.
Charity's exit allows actress Emma Atkins to take a year out from the role as she is eight months pregnant.
Discussing her co-star's happy news, Oaten added: "I'm absolutely over the moon. It couldn't happen to a nicer person and Emma is going to make an amazing mum. I remember her reading baby books in between takes when we were filming the court scenes. She always was beautiful, but she was just glowing before she went on maternity leave."
tammyy2j
23-01-2015, 14:22
Megan is too attached now to fake Archie, she needs a substitute for Robbie as she is still grieving, Megan wont give him up
Emmerdale's Rachel Breckle will leave the village with her young son Archie next week after she is offered a job in Luton.
Rachel (Gemma Oaten) is left with a big decision to make after her job search results in her being offered work away from Yorkshire.
Rachel's news is met with a mixed reaction from the village residents - while her sister Ali is devastated, Tracy Shankley is delighted, believing Sam will finally be able to move on.
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Will Sam be able to convince Rachel not to leave?
Determined to keep her sister in the area, Ali goes to see Sam to appeal for his help, but her visit leaves him feeling confused.
However, one person who Rachel has been unable to inform about her departure is Archie's dad Jai. Although Megan is shocked when she hears that Rachel is leaving, she can't bring herself to break the news to Jai.
Ali is full of emotion as Rachel says her goodbyes and leaves with Archie, but will she be back? And how will Jai react when he finds out?
Emmerdale airs these scenes on Thursday, February 26 at 7pm on ITV.
TaintedLove
18-02-2015, 01:36
Emmerdale's Rachel Breckle will leave the village with her young son Archie next week after she is offered a job in Luton.
Rachel (Gemma Oaten) is left with a big decision to make after her job search results in her being offered work away from Yorkshire.
Rachel's news is met with a mixed reaction from the village residents - while her sister Ali is devastated, Tracy Shankley is delighted, believing Sam will finally be able to move on.
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Will Sam be able to convince Rachel not to leave?
Determined to keep her sister in the area, Ali goes to see Sam to appeal for his help, but her visit leaves him feeling confused.
However, one person who Rachel has been unable to inform about her departure is Archie's dad Jai. Although Megan is shocked when she hears that Rachel is leaving, she can't bring herself to break the news to Jai.
Ali is full of emotion as Rachel says her goodbyes and leaves with Archie, but will she be back? And how will Jai react when he finds out?
Emmerdale airs these scenes on Thursday, February 26 at 7pm on ITV.
*punches fist in the air* Hooray
I hope Jai reports her to the police for yet again disappearing with his son. She really is a spiteful and selfish person.
Which brings me to another question. If Rachel no longer lives in that house that Jai bought for her and Archie, why is Ali (and her lot) still living there? They`re taking advantage of Jai, yet they treat him like dirt. Just sack the ungrateful cow Jai.
Emmerdale actress Gemma Oaten has spoken about her struggle with anorexia.
Appearing on This Morning in aid of Eating Disorders Awareness Week, she said that she is "starting to live again" after numerous relapses.
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Gemma Oaten on This Morning
© Rex Features / Ken McKay/ITV
Gemma Oaten on This Morning
She said: "My journey was a roller coaster really, I had peaks of being well and then would go into a relapse. It was very difficult... but now I'm 30 and I feel like I'm starting to live again. A lot of people doubt that recovery exists.
"It's not just about the sufferers, it's about the carers and the torture of them seeing their loved ones going through hell and back. Effectively I was killing myself in front of my parents and loved ones. And that caused a lot of heartache."
Oaten explained that her illness took hold of her when she was just 10 years old.
"For me, I'm very passionate about the fact that an eating disorder is a mental health illness," she added. "It's nothing to do with vanity, I didn't look in a magazine one day and think, 'I want to be like her'.
"There was just one moment when I was younger and growing up and I remember looking down and saying to my dad, 'Am I fat?' I was 10 and it's a very vivid memory.
"My feelings towards myself were changing. I was getting bullied at school and for me the on-set of puberty played a massive factor.
"All of a sudden, girls would get jealous and I couldn't control what people would say or do to me but I could control what was going on inside me, and I remember thinking - and it's heartbreaking to say it - but I remember thinking if there was less of me, there would be less for people to see and hurt."
Oaten was admitted to a children's psychiatric unit at the age of 10, and found herself "in and out of eating disorder units" until the age of 21, which she believes was a "turning point" for her.
She said: "I was about 20 or 21 when one of my best friends killed himself. And I remember being at the funeral, looking around at the devastation, thinking, 'I am doing exactly the same thing as what he did... and I can't do this anymore', and he had spoken to me the week before and said, 'Gemma, please get better', and I didn't realise then, but those were his parting words to me."
tammyy2j
26-02-2015, 22:37
Finally Sam speaks up, good Rachel is staying and she gives Sam cramps :lol::cheer:
Gemma Oaten will be hanging up Rachel's tracksuits and leaving the Village later this year.
Having put Charity away, Rachel Breckle returned to live in the village where she fought for the heart of her ex-lover Sam Dingle who had, in her absence, started dating Tracy Shankley.
Rachel has now secured her man but once again is struggling to fight for her son Archie, as Jai Sharma is putting up tough resistance, wanting full custody of the boy.
With the stresses and strains taking their toll, Rachel will start lashing out and taking out her anger on gentle boyfriend Sam Dingle. Will he put up with being on the receiving end of her angry behaviour?
Keeping it a secret was hard and I didn't even tell some of my closest family and friends.
– Gemma Oaten, on Rachel's return earlier this year
Speaking to Gemma on Rachel's return and impending departure from the Village: "It was fantastic coming back to Emmerdale for the surprise return in January.
Keeping it a secret was hard and I didn't even tell some of my closest family and friends.
I was thrilled to stay longer than the couple of months I was originally contracted for and I'm now looking forward to my next chapter and future roles.
I don't want to give away details about my exit other than to say there is a lot more to happen before I go - and I'm very excited and proud of what's coming up on Emmerdale."
:( Sam will be hurt again :angry:
tammyy2j
14-05-2015, 15:52
Does she beat up Sam?
Emmerdale star Gemma Oaten has shared some juicy teasers about her upcoming exit from the soap, admitting that Rachel Breckle's upcoming behaviour will "shock the audience quite a bit".
Show bosses announced last week that Rachel will be bowing out from the village following a new crisis for her troubled relationship with Sam Dingle.
Hit play below to see Gemma discuss the drama to come in a chat with Digital Spy on the red carpet at the British Soap Awards 2015:
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With the news that Rachel will be taking her anger out on Sam as she continues to battle with Jai Sharma, we asked Gemma for some insight into what form Rachel's bad behaviour will take.
The soap star also spoke to us about the shift in Rachel's attitude since her return to the village in January and how viewers might respond to seeing her mistreat mild-mannered Sam.
The British Soap Awards air on Thursday (May 21) at 8pm on ITV.
tammyy2j
18-05-2015, 16:02
Yes I think she gets violent with Sam
Emmerdale's Sam Dingle will be left terrified next week when his partner Rachel Breckle violently attacks him.
Rachel (Gemma Oaten) will lash out at Sam as her problems with Jai Sharma increase after he sets her up before an important meeting about custody of Archie.
After Rachel is sick before the mediation meeting, she realises that a devious Jai has drugged her, and Sam has to restrain her from hitting the businessman.
Later, a furious Zak attacks Jai and warns him to stop messing with Rachel and Sam, but his good intentions make the situation worse, as Jai is left believing he can use the situation to his advantage.
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Zak attacks Jai and warns him against messing with Rachel and Sam
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Zak attacks Jai and warns him
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Zak attacks Jai
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Zak attacks Jai
However, it is Sam who is on the receiving end of Rachel's anger that evening as Rachel blames him for everything that has happened with Jai.
As the situation escalates, an already-nervous Sam is soon left terrified by Rachel's behaviour as she angrily lashes out.
The following day, Sam is forced to lie to Ruby about how he got the injuries, while Rachel is full of regret over her actions.
Sam grows nervous as Rachel blames him for everything that has happened with Jai and Sam's soon left terrified by Rachel's behaviour…
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Sam grows nervous as Rachel blames him
Rachel apologises to Sam and promises she will never hurt him again, but does Sam believe her?
Emmerdale airs these scenes on Monday, June 15 and Tuesday, June 16 on ITV.
Emmerdale airs dark scenes for Rachel Breckle in tonight's episode (June 15) as she violently lashes out at her boyfriend Sam Dingle.
Rachel goes on the attack in a moment of anger and frustration after ruthless Jai Sharma outsmarts her yet again in their ongoing battles over their young son Archie.
Digital Spy recently caught up with Gemma Oaten, who plays Rachel, to hear her thoughts on the domestic violence plot and to get some early gossip on her upcoming exit from Emmerdale.
How did you feel about taking on this storyline?
"My first gut reaction was sadness, just because I care so much about Sam and Rachel, but the more that I spoke about it with James [Hooton, who plays Sam], the more I realised that the storyline is a fantastic opportunity for us as actors. It's a brilliant chance to do something different and to really push ourselves.
"It's also a really important subject and there's a lot of responsibility that comes with that because we have to do it justice. Although it was heartbreaking at first, what's come out of it is an amazing partnership between me and James. Hopefully that's going to come across on screen."
Were the attack scenes difficult ones to film?
"They were. Even on the first rehearsal for them, I burst into tears. James came over and he said, 'Don't be daft, duck!' before giving me a big hug. He said, 'Dry your eyes, stop being a daft lass and we'll do this'. We went ahead with it afterwards and I really hope the audience can see the commitment between us both.
"We're good friends off-screen and I think we've got a good chemistry on-screen too. I think that's why the audience invest so much in Sam and Rachel. There's a lot of trust and friendship there between us, so it was hard but we got through it like we always do."
How would you explain Rachel's attack on Sam?
"As the audience have seen already, every way Rachel turns, she ends up hitting a brick wall. That's all down to Jai. He is effectively bullying Rachel, manipulating her and trying to drive her out of her tiny mind, bless her!
"That has repercussions for Rachel and I think this pressure has built and built. I don't think there's any black and white in this storyline, either. Sam wasn't really there for Rachel when the Dingles started turning on her. He didn't often step up when as a partner he should have done, and that hasn't been forgotten.
"I think Rachel has just felt bombarded and bashed ever since she got back in the village. Now that's manifesting itself in anger and frustration. Unfortunately it's making her come to breaking point and explode at the man that she loves."
Is Rachel very remorseful afterwards?
"Definitely. I think one of the big things that was very apparent when we were filming these scenes is that Rachel has lost all sense of who she is. She's looking at herself and asking, 'What on earth is happening and why am I doing this?' She's very remorseful afterwards."
Despite that, is there a chance that Rachel could hurt Sam again?
"Rachel's intention is to make sure that she doesn't, but I've done a lot of research into the abuse cycle that we see in situations like this. Time and time again, we see people who promise they won't do it again because they love their partner, but they go back on their word. This doesn't condone it, but it's not always just out of malice and violent intentions, as each individual case is different.
"Rachel totally believes what she's saying in the moment, but whether it really will be a one-off remains to be seen. The audience will just have to wait and see how that journey plays out."
Are you worried there could be a viewer backlash against Rachel?
"I received a tweet the other day which nailed it for me, as it was brilliant. A girl got in touch to say, 'I absolutely hate Rachel! You, however, are doing a great job and I think you're great, Gemma'. I can totally take on board what people are saying about Rachel as a character.
"Interestingly enough, a lot of people are still saying to me that they're on 'Team Rachel', but that's obviously before they've seen her attack Sam. In the build-up to this, I think the audience are still fighting for Rachel and Sam as a couple against Jai. I'm not sure how people will react to what's coming up, but I'm a tough cookie so I'll be alright! People who know me know that I'm a million miles away from this storyline, so long as I'm doing my job as an actress then it's fine."
Do you hope Rachel will keep hold of at least some viewer sympathy?
"I think what we want to try and portray is the truth of Rachel and Sam's love. It's probably more heartbreaking that they still have these tender moments alongside the drama in their relationship. It's not about the sympathy vote, it's about exploring the truth of the story, so however the audience feels at each point will be down to them as individuals.
"I can't put into an audience's mind what I want them to feel. I just hope that it rouses a reaction, an emotion or a discussion about violence and abuse within the household, which can only be a good thing."
Do you think viewers might compare this to the Coronation Street domestic violence story with Kirsty and Tyrone?
"I think the Kirsty and Tyrone storyline was done brilliantly and Natalie Gumede and Alan Halsall are two amazing actors, but our story is very different in the sense that Kirsty's anger towards Tyrone was very brutal. We saw her batter him, whereas with Sam and Rachel it's more the emotional and abusive side that we're focusing on.
"There are sudden bouts of anger coming from Rachel and we know there's a backstory to why she's acting the way she is, whereas with Kirsty and Tyrone, their situation was more contained. I think they both did an amazing job and it was brilliant to see them win awards for it. I hope that what we do is going to make an impact too, but be very different."
What kind of reaction have you seen from your fans since your upcoming exit from Emmerdale was announced?
"They've been really lovely. A lot of them have been quite sad, bless them! I've seen a few people saying, 'What? You've only just come back!' There's also been a lot of people wishing me well, which is so sweet of them. Equally you can't please everyone all of the time, so there are lot of people rejoicing at the fact that Rachel's going! (Laughs.) The reaction has been lovely and I've just been really touched by all of the well-wishes."
We know you've stayed in London over the past few months, so did you always know you weren't back at Emmerdale forever?
"Initially I knew that I was back for a short period of time. When that was extended, that was brilliant. I knew in my gut that I didn't want to make any big life-changing decisions, because moving homes and moving cities is quite a big deal. I just wanted to play it by ear and go with it.
"For me, the most stability I've had in a long time has been in London. I want a career and to move further with my ambitions, so that's why I've stayed really. Anything past the short return stint that I had on Emmerdale was a complete bonus and a joy - and there's still a lot more to play out. At the moment I'm on a train a lot and living out of a suitcase, but I'm really happy and it's fine."
Were you grateful for the opportunity to come back and bring some closure to Rachel?
"I always knew when I left last time that it was a massive possibility in terms of where the story was going. I never in my head or in my heart said goodbye to Emmerdale but obviously you can't be complacent and think you're definitely coming back, because the soap world is ever-changing.
"It was brilliant to come back, especially with the way we kept it a secret - that was absolutely fantastic. You'll have to wait and see now whether we conclude this story when I go again or whether the door stays open. Who knows at the moment?"
Do you hope Rachel will be the one who gets Archie when she leaves?
"Obviously I'm rooting for Rachel, but I also wouldn't wish any father to lose their son - I really wouldn't. At the same time, the game that Jai has played is cruel and dirty, so maybe Rachel getting Archie would be a fitting comeuppance for him.
"It's a hard one, though, because deep down Jai does love Archie. You never know, maybe there is a bridge to be built at some point, but at the moment neither Jai or Rachel are responsible role models and it's a really difficult situation.
"As Gemma, I wouldn't like to really say Jai doesn't deserve his son. My heart goes out to the thousands of people out there who are in custody battles. It must be so traumatic and I don't think it's a black and white scenario."
Will you be involved in the show's big summer spectacle that's on the way?
"I might be, I might not be! You just don't know do you? It's always exciting when something comes up like that. I loved being part of the live episode - it was an experience and a half that I'll never forget. I was also thrilled to be part of the flood and the siege. I spent six nights getting soaked just to be seen a couple of times on screen, but it's still an amazing opportunity to be part of it! (Laughs.) All of the cast buzz when something like that is going on."
What are your future ambitions?
"Theatre is something that I feel quite passionate about at the moment. I think that would be a brilliant step towards a future as an actress and progressing further.
"I'm proud of championing the north, so I'd love to do more northern-based drama as well. I'm a massive fan of Jimmy McGovern and I'm also good friends with Debbie Horsfield who's adapted the Poldark series. She's fiercely Manchester-orientated and very proud of her northern roots, so we have talked about working together in the future.
"I loved my stint on Capital Radio too after I left Emmerdale the first time round - that was fantastic and I'm still in touch with them. I feel like I don't want to put limitations on myself at the minute. I'm really excited to start auditioning again. I can't give away when I'm leaving as there's still a lot to come, but I'm ready to just go for it as you only get one chance."
Has Emmerdale's producer Kate Oates told you the exact details of your exit?
"Yeah, I know what's coming and I'm very, very happy with it. I feel like Kate has entrusted me with a lot and it means a lot as a person to have her respect. As an actress, it's also great to get the chance to do something that's hopefully going to be a great platform for me to leave off."
think rachel may hurt or kill jai and blame an innocent like charity did
maidmarian
15-06-2015, 09:19
think rachel may hurt or kill jai and blame an innocent like charity did
Regarding the first part of your reply-
Yes - we must always hope for the best!
Re the second part- not sure character
up to it- but she us on a downward
spiral ( allegedly)!!
maidmarian
15-06-2015, 09:19
think rachel may hurt or kill jai and blame an innocent like charity did
Regarding the first part of your reply-
Yes - we must always hope for the best!
Re the second part- not sure character
up to it- but she us on a downward
spiral ( allegedly)!!
Telly Watcher
24-08-2015, 14:19
Radio Times published on Tuesday August 18th 2015:
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Emmerdale star Gemma Oaten on Rachel's “heartbreaking” goodbye to Sam - “She’s not been killed off, so the door is open”
Oaten will exit the ITV soap in emotional scenes to be shown next week
By David Brown
Tuesday 18 August 2015 at 12:01AM
Rachel Breckle will bid farewell to both Sam and the village next week when she exits for Liverpool.
“It’s heartbreaking,” admits Gemma Oaten, who is leaving the ITV soap for the second time. “On the last occasion, Rachel ran off. But this time, she does actually get to say goodbye to Sam.”
Rachel decides to depart after her physical abuse of Sam is witnessed by her sister Ali, who has returned for Ruby’s funeral.
“Ali sees Rachel unleashing her wrath and demands to know what’s going on. That’s the moment of truth and the truth comes spilling out.
“In the end, Ali says that if Rachel has any chance of redemption and of keeping her son, she needs to sort herself out and get away. So Ali suggests that Rachel move to Liverpool with her, which obviously throws Rachel sideways.
“She can’t believe this is even being uttered, but deep down Rachel knows that Ali is right.”
Oaten is remaining tight-lipped as to whether Rachel leaves with son Archie, but what’s bound to be emotional is Rachel’s parting from Sam.
The two characters have been put through the emotional wringer these past few months, with Sam having the bruises to prove it. And Oaten says that their shared screen time gave their final scenes together a real intensity.
“Hand on heart, it was one of the most truthful performances that we’ve both ever given. Leaving James Hooton is hard because he’s ace. But Rachel’s not been killed off, so the door is open.
“It was one of those filming days that did me in by the end of it, but I’ll never forget it. I love Emmerdale, but it was the right time and it was very fulfilling to get that moment with James to say goodbye.”
As for the future, Oaten says that she’s now moved back down to London and would like to take part in the next series of Strictly, despite not being the most able of dancers.
“I can’t dance to save my life,” she laughs. “But I’d love to be a part of Strictly Come Dancing. I know a lot of people are dying for me to do it. And I think they should pair me up with the Grimsby lad, Kevin Clifton. But whatever I do, I know I will miss everyone at Emmerdale with every bit of my heart. They’re friends for life.”
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Source: http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2015-08-18/emmerdale-star-gemma-oaten-on-rachels-heartbreaking-goodbye-to-sam---shes-not-been-killed-off-so-the-door-is-open
As for the future, Oaten says that she’s now moved back down to London and would like to take part in the next series of Strictly, despite not being the most able of dancers.
“I can’t dance to save my life,” she laughs. “But I’d love to be a part of Strictly Come Dancing. I know a lot of people are dying for me to do it.
Sounds like more than one actor leaving Emmerdale could end up on Strictly soon...?
The big reveal about Ross in the woods will maybe come to a head either during tomorrow's episode (Tuesday 25th) or it will maybe be a cliff hanger ending to leave us guessing and finding out about Ross during the Wednesday 26th episode?
Strictly is due for launch night on Saturday September 5th on BBC1. Up to now, Monday August 24th, 9 contestants have been confirmed. The 2015 series is going to have 15 contestants. Is Mike Parr one of the empty slots for this year? We may find out soon after Ross' revealed storyline on Emmerdale this week?
Telly Watcher
24-08-2015, 14:21
breakingnews.ie published on August 22 2015:
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Emmerdale's Gemma Oaten: Rachel's exit is heartbreaking
Emmerdale’s Gemma Oaten has promised Rachel Breckle and Sam Dingle’s split will be “heartbreaking” despite their difficult relationship.
Gemma is set to depart from the soap after five years when Rachel decides it is best for everyone if she leaves the village, after months of subjecting Sam to violent and mental abuse.
She revealed: “Rachel is devastated but, deep down, knows it is right. She loves Sam and he loves her, but they can’t go on like this.”
The actress added her final scenes are: “Pretty heartbreaking. Rachel and Sam get to say a proper goodbye.”
Things come to a head at Ruby Haswell’s funeral when Rachel’s sister Ali (Kelli Hollis) sees Rachel lashing out at Sam. Ruby was one of the villagers who died in the soap’s dramatic helicopter crash.
Gemma said of filming the funeral: “Alicya [Eyo, who played Ruby] had already left the show, so it felt strange. I couldn’t quite get my head around it. It was hard because I knew these were some of my final scenes.”
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Source: http://www.breakingnews.ie/showbiz/emmerdales-gemma-oaten-rachels-exit-is-heartbreaking-692235.html
Gemma Oaten (Rachel) leaves Emmerdale on Wednesday August 26th 2015.
Telly Watcher
24-08-2015, 14:22
Radio Times published on Sunday August 23rd 2015:
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Emmerdale: Rachel leaves the village - new details about Gemma Oaten's final episode revealed
There's one final surprise in store for Rachel before she exits later this week
By David Brown
Sunday 23 August 2015 at 12:01AM
Fresh details have been revealed about Rachel's Breckle departure from Emmerdale, which is set to be screened this Wednesday.
Rachel decides to depart after her physical abuse of Sam is witnessed by her sister Ali, who has returned for Ruby’s funeral. After Ali warns her that she needs to sort her life out, Rachel decides to leave for Liverpool in the company of her sister.
Matters remain awkward between Sam and Rachel and, despite knowing that it's for the best, Sam is devastated to be losing her. Jai is also shocked to hear that Rachel is moving to Liverpool but is powerless to stop her. But there's a surprise for Rachel too when she goes to see Megan to offer thanks for her help - only for Megan to then reveal that she's pregnant.
Speaking about saying her goodbyes, actress Gemma Oaten said this week: "It’s heartbreaking. On the last occasion, Rachel ran off. But this time, she does actually get to say goodbye to Sam.
"Hand on heart, it was one of the most truthful performances that we’ve both ever given. Leaving James Hooton is hard because he’s ace. But Rachel’s not been killed off, so the door is open."
>
Source: http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2015-08-23/emmerdale-rachel-leaves-the-village---new-details-about-gemma-oatens-final-episode-revealed
tammyy2j
25-08-2015, 11:58
I am glad she is leaving soon, even with full custody of Archie now she is awful to Sam
I think her abusing Sam will become common knowledge and she realises she can´t stay around with all the Dingles sticking up for Sam and takes Archie and leaves
I think her abusing Sam will become common knowledge and she realises she can´t stay around with all the Dingles sticking up for Sam and takes Archie and leaves
Yes, I can see something like that happening. I think maybe the Dingles will agree not to tell anyone for Sam's sake (not easy to admit that you've been a victim of domestic abuse and certainly not for men, as that isn't talked about as much.) Either that or whoever finds out agrees that Rachel should be allowed to get off free provided she stays away from Sam. Maybe they think that she is the lesser of two evils where Archie is concerned.
Poor Archie :(
tammyy2j
25-08-2015, 14:48
I think Ali sees her abuse Sam
Former Emmerdale star Gemma Oaten has said that she would always be open to returning to the ITV soap.
The actress played Rachel Breckle from 2011 to 2014, before making a surprise comeback last year. Although Rachel hasn't been on screens since last summer, Oaten has hinted that fans could see her again one day.
"Emmerdale was such a massive part of my life", she told the Daily Star. "It is such a treat of a job. So I don't think you can ever put limitations on going back.
"Some people have got theories that if you play a soap role for long enough, then you get typecast. But I believe you can do what you do with a talent - then you'll get somewhere."
Despite the door being widely left open for her at Emmerdale, Oaten has a few projects she wants to complete first.
She said: "There are talks about a period drama. It would be amazing to get that and be in a corset rather than trackie bottoms and a hoodie – it would be great to do something really different.
"All of the characters I've played have been rough and ready."
Digital Spy
I would like to see her back with Sam :)
* Emmerdale return for Rachel Breckle? *
Rachel Breckle just has to return to Emmerdale, right?
Gemma Oaten thinks that her character needs to be back in The Woolpack soon.
The actress played Rachel from 2011 to 2014, before making a surprise comeback last year. She's previously hinted that fans could see her again one day.
"I'd love love to go back to Emmerdale," she told BANG Showbiz.
"I need to go back and beat up Jai."
However, Gemma also recently said that she has a few projects to finish before any possible return to the soap.
She told the Daily Star: "There are talks about a period drama. It would be amazing to get that and be in a corset rather than trackie bottoms and a hoodie - it would be great to do something really different.
"All of the characters I've played have been rough and ready."
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