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Emmerdale star Chris Chittell has been forced to abandon his week-long charity expedition after one of his trek companions was injured.
The actor, who plays Eric Pollard on the ITV1 soap, recently embarked on a 200-mile journey from Scotland's Fort William to Cape Wrath in aid of Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research.
However, events took an unexpected turn on Sunday when Chittell's fellow challenger Pete Quinn tried to jump a stream and slipped, causing a suspected Achilles tendon injury. As heavy rainfall had led to treacherous conditions, the whole walking team were rescued by helicopter yesterday.
Chittell told the Daily Record: "They came to get us by air, which is actually quite embarrassing because it is not a life-threatening situation, although if they had not got the guys out it would have been a very uncomfortable and very, very slow journey to head back to civilisation. It could have developed into something else.
"It's a little ironic given I have done a bit of charity stuff with search and rescue. Under the circumstances, it wouldn't have been safe to carry on. We were using daylight as much as possible and head torches but because the rainfall was so great, there were holes where you didn't see them.
"That's another reason why I thought it best not to continue, even if we dropped Pete off. It's hugely disappointing."
The 63-year-old, who trained extensively in preparation for the trek,, added that he intends to return and complete the challenge at a later date.
"We'll be back, without a doubt," he said. "It's got to be done."
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Emmerdale stars Dominic Brunt and Mark Charnock have praised their upcoming DVD special, hailing its script as "fantastic".
The actors recently completed work on Paddy and Marlon's Big Night In, which focuses on their characters as they experience "a not-so-quiet night in the country, and a morning after anybody would want to forget".
Brunt and Charnock recently completed work on the spinoff project, which was officially unveiled at a press launch yesterday.
Reflecting on the experience, Brunt commented: "We had a brilliant time filming the DVD - the story allowed us to just push the comedy element a bit further than we would normally be able to. Instead of [director] Mike [Lacey] telling us to take it down a notch, we were able to let go and get on with it.
"Paul Roundell's script was fantastic and gave us the perfect vehicle for Paddy and Marlon's comedic relationship to shine. They're such loved characters and judging by the audience's reaction yesterday, the DVD will make even more people laugh with them, as well as at them!"
Meanwhile, Charnock said: "It was one of the best shoots I think I've ever done. Apart from the scene where our 10 foot boa constrictor 'Winnifred' got a little too friendly up my trousers! I can honestly say we had the greatest fun making the film and I hope that shows in the finished product. If people laugh watching it, as much as we laughed making it, then we've cracked it!"
Emmerdale's release of Paddy and Marlon's Big Night In follows the success of last year's DVD spinoff, The Dingles: For Richer, For Poorer.
ITV Studios' Product Manager Kylie Featherstone added: "Last year, The Dingles: For Richer, For Poorer, was one of ITV Studios Home Entertainment's most successful DVD releases. Emmerdale is a much-loved programme and it was a natural choice to work with the characters of Marlon and Paddy for the next feature-length release.
"The team up in Leeds have worked tirelessly around their normal filming schedule to produce a brilliant, funny, fast-paced comedy that I am sure will appeal to Emmerdale fans, and comedy fans in general."
Paddy and Marlon's Big Night In will be released on November 14.
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Emma Atkins has starred in rural soap Emmerdale for more than a decade, but the actress has confessed she has a fear of cows.
The 36-year-old actress has been in the countryside show - formerly known as Emmerdale Farm - as Charity Tate on-and-off since 2000.
But Emma revealed to Inside Soap magazine: "I have a phobia about cows! I've been filming scenes where there have been cows and I had to make sure that I could see them at all times so I knew what they were up to.
"I was paranoid they were going to get close."
Feisty Charity has had one failed marriage and three failed weddings in the soap, but she is now engaged to Jai Sharma.
Emma said she is looking forward to filming the wedding, adding: "Weddings are always the most exciting episodes to film, because you know everything will be packed into the episode - a fight, kissing, falling out, making up. You're always guaranteed great dialogue."
She added she doesn't care what she wears - "as long as it's as over-the-top as possible".
PA
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Emmerdale star Dominic Brunt has joked that he was disappointed when he discovered his spinoff DVD would be set in Leeds.
The actor stars alongside Mark Charnock in Marlon And Paddy's Big Night In, which sees the pair experience "a not-so-quiet night in the country, and a morning after anybody would want to forget".
Brunt has since admitted that he was hoping to visit a more exotic location than Emmerdale's existing set to film the DVD, which is released on November 14.
According to PA, Brunt said: "When we first found out they were doing it we knew they'd filmed in Australia before and they'd filmed in Venice and we thought 'Yes?! Where's it going to be?' Leeds - that was a bit disappointing."
Speaking of a three-minute dance scene, which took five hours to film, Charnock continued: "It was quite stressful. I didn't enjoy it massively, but we got through it without having to wear tights."
"I used to break-dance. About 30 years ago and three stone ago!" Brunt added.
The soap duo recently promised that Marlon And Paddy's Big Night In would provide laughs for the audience, praising Paul Roundell's "fantastic" script.
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Emmerdale's Mark Charnock has revealed his terrifying close encounter with a live snake while filming the soap's new spin-off DVD.
Mark and Dominic Brunt star in Marlon And Paddy's Big Night In - available from November 14 - which sees the dopey duo wake up after a wild drunken night out to find a snake in the house, and they can't remember where it came from. Mark had to film a scene with the snake crawling over his feet - but it went up his trousers.
Mark revealed: "The snake really went up my trousers! It wouldn't do anything for a lot of the time, it just stayed still like a draught-excluder. And on the final shot it was meant to crawl across my feet, and I sat there and it went up my trousers.
"I wasn't snake-aphobic, until that moment. It went up my leg, all the way to the top, and I could feel it's tongue flicking against my shin. I'm not a brave person anyway, and then because it was a boa constrictor I could feel it starting to squeeze and I was thinking 'Just shout cut now'! :eek:
"I could see all the crew shaking with laughter. And somewhere in the out-takes there's me swearing quite profusely."
PA
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Emmerdale star Natalie J Robb has bought her first home as she plans to settle down.
The actress, who plays Moira Barton in the ITV1 soap, purchased a four-bedroom property in Harrogate, close to co-stars Mark Charnock (Marlon Dingle) and Emma Atkins (Charity Tate).
"I'm ready to put down roots," she told the Daily Record. "I'm so sick of living out of a suitcase. I want it to be a family home so my mum, brother and sister can visit.
"I'd also like to have children. I'm more broody now than I have ever been. You'd have thought at my age I'd have had one by now, but I've been living in London for a while. It was so expensive, it was ridiculous.
"It's also very difficult not having a constant wage. Harrogate is like home now. It is one of the most beautiful parts of England."
Robb added that she is "keeping my cards close to my chest" when it comes to discussing her new boyfriend.
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Coronation Street's busybody Norris Cole and EastEnders' Dot Cotton should join Emmerdale, the rural soap's producer Stuart Blackburn has said.
Stuart would like the two beloved soap characters - played by Malcolm Hebden and June Brown respectively - to appear in the village for a crossover.
"I adore Norris, and I'd love to bring Dot and Edna together, because despite being superficially similar, I think they'd hate each other," he told Inside Soap.
"They'd probably each describe the other as sanctimonious and po-faced!"
Stuart is planning "the best" 2012 storylines for Emmerdale, as the ITV soap celebrates its 40th anniversary next year.
"We're hoping to do something very different that redefines our new, modern Emmerdale. I want every story we play to be big, powerful and emotional," he continued.
"I want to try to find a way of giving every single character a voice and a role. I want 2012 to have the best storylines the show has ever had. That's a start - and the rest will be unveiled shortly!"
PA
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Emmerdale's Dominic Brunt has revealed he gets sent racy letters from older women who watch Emmerdale.
The soap star has played sensitive vet Paddy Kirk for 14 years and revealed to Inside Soap magazine he gets lots of dirty fan mail.
Dominic said: "I get some absolute filth from older women watching the show! That's the truth.
"It's women in their late fifties to early seventies, really. Often written in green pen and filthy!
"They just tell me what they want to do to me! I haven't met any of them yet - fortunately..."
The 41-year-old actor once had to strip off for an episode of Emmerdale and confessed it was his most embarrassing moment on set ever.
He said: "When you start a job like this, you just do whatever they tell you. Just after I arrived the show had a Full Monty episode where we all had to strip off and walk around in boxer shorts.
"I think I'd refuse to do that now. It was pretty embarrassing!"
PA
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Emmerdale star Danny Miller has been injured in a car crash.
The 20-year-old, who plays Aaron Livesy on the soap, was involved in a traffic incident while driving down from Yorkshire to turn on Christmas lights in Reading.
Miller has been taken to hospital, but he later assured fans on Twitter that his injuries are not serious.
"Reading! I am so so sorry for not being there today," he wrote. "Truly. From the bottom of my heart! I've had a check up after the bump and everything's fine.. Bit of swelling on my knee but nothing to worry about. I'll make it up to you somehow. I am so so sorry!!"
Snatch actor Andy Beckwith has replaced Miller at the event, according to the Reading Chronicle.
Miller announced yesterday (November 18) that he will be leaving Emmerdale next year.
