Laurel and Marlon

[Telly Watcher]

Emmerdale's Laurel Dingle will face a life-changing decision next week when she discovers that she might be pregnant.

The troubled mum is still reeling from the news of her partner Ashley's dementia diagnosis when she receives the baby bombshell too.

Laurel finds out when she accidentally falls off a ladder while making the final preparations to move back into Mulberry Cottage with Ashley (John Middleton) and their family.

When Laurel has to be checked over, Emma Barton lets her know that she may be expecting a baby - which immediately leaves her worrying about how on earth she'll cope.


© ITV
Emma asks Laurel if she might be pregnant

Charlotte Bellamy, who plays Laurel, revealed: "It was the last thing she ever expected. At first, Laurel just knows that it's going to be the straw that breaks the camel's back. She'll be dealing with a baby as well as Ashley's illness.

"Laurel feels that she has to abort, even though it goes against what she stands for. For both Laurel and Ashley, this would never have been an option, but she feels she has to make a decision.

"Ashley is very much against Laurel's decision. She eventually tries to make out that it's because of her alcoholism that she wants to terminate the pregnancy, but it'll be evident to the audience that it's actually because Ashley's not going to be there forever.

"Laurel will be bringing up a child while Ashley's going to be getting worse and worse with his dementia. By the time the baby is born, he may not even be alive."

After much discussion with Ashley, Laurel starts to come around to the idea of becoming a mum again - but the decision may be tragically taken out of her hands when she suddenly starts bleeding.

Laurel is rushed into hospital, but then faces an agonising wait as the sonographer admits that she cannot say for sure whether she has lost the baby or not until more time has passed.


© ITV
Laurel faces an anxious wait


© ITV
Laurel sees the scan at hospital

Bellamy continued: "By the time Laurel thinks she's miscarrying, she's decided that she actually wants this baby. She realises this may be her last opportunity to be a mum.

"We're left unsure whether she's pregnant or not, so we'll have to wait and see. If she is, it will throw a massive spanner in the works. How on earth are they going to cope with Ashley, a baby and Sandy who's in his late 80s? She'd be a carer for all of them.

"It's not even that Laurel has taken on too much - it's the way things have unravelled and it's really out of her control."

By Daniel Kilkelly, Digital Spy
http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/emme...will-she-cope/

[Telly Watcher]

Charlotte Bellamy gave a Star Interview for TV Soap magazine

"Laurel has got so much on her mind that the possibility of being pregnant is the last thing she had thought about. How would she cope? She would end up being a carer for a baby, Ashley and Sandy, who is in his 80s, and their children.

"Laurel tells Ashley that she wants an abortion because of her alcohol problem, although it's more down to Ashley's illness. But by the time she thinks she's miscarrying, Laurel's realised that she does want this baby.

"The doctors say they have to wait 10 days to be sure if they have lost their child or not. Things are completely out of Laurel's control."

TV Soap, The Sun on Sunday, 24-30 January 2016

Emmerdale airs the scene where doctors suspect Laurel has miscarried her baby on Thursday, January 28 on ITV

[Telly Watcher]

Laurel Dingle and husband Ashley Thomas are set to have a war of words later this month, over her continued denial about her pregnancy.

When she disappears to the shop for headache tablets, her spouse grows suspicious and confronts her upon her return.

In scenes set to air on February 16, the pair are not getting on well due to Laurel's (Charlotte Bellamy) attempts to forget about her condition.

ITV viewers will see the worried character fly into a rage and deny everything Ashley, played by John Middleton, is claiming.

The argument leads to Laurel informing him that she will attend the scan alone, which concerns him even more.

"Getting pregnant was the last thing Laurel thought was going to happen," actress Charlotte revealed.

"And she knows that it's going to be the straw that breaks the camel's back. She's not going to be able to cope with a newborn baby and Ashley's illness."

The soap star also told the Radio Times: "So Laurel feels that she has to have a termination, even though it's against everything she stands for. Ashley certainly doesn't agree with abortion either, but Laurel has to make that decision."

Her comments come after it was reported that the fictional pair were planning to recommit themselves to one another by remarrying.

Producer Iain MacLeod said: "The next big chapter in that [love story], incidentally, is their wedding which is coming up in about six weeks' time. That has a really interesting twist within it, but at its core it's a really poignant, sad, joyous, complicated day."

By Jessica Earnshaw, Sunday Express
http://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-...baby-pregnancy

[Telly Watcher]

Luscious Laurel is definitely within my top 3 Emmerdale favourite characters right now.

[Telly Watcher]

Laurel and Ashley Thomas's Emmerdale wedding will descend into chaos next week when the vicar is too hungover to carry out the ceremony.

It could only happen in the soap world, but Laurel's friends will mistake vicar Ben for a stripper when he turns up at her hen night - which leads to havoc when they start plying him with booze.

The next morning, it becomes clear that Ben is in no fit state to conduct the wedding as he wakes up worse for wear.

This forces Harriet Finch to step in to save the day, promising to marry the pair herself even though she's Ashley's ex. So you can forgive everyone for looking a little bit awkward in these pictures...


© ITV
Harriet is put in a difficult position


© ITV
Harriet prepares to marry Ashley and Laurel

Charlotte Bellamy, who plays Laurel, revealed: "The vicar doesn't turn up because the girls get him so drunk that he can't actually get out of bed. It turns out that Harriet takes over and marries them.

"I don't think Laurel minds that too much. She's only thinking about one thing and it's Ashley. It's probably more awkward for Harriet than Laurel.

"It's the perfect, beautiful and most wonderful wedding. It's a real heart-melter, but that makes a subsequent twist of what happens next even more traumatic and shocking..."

Laurel has committed herself to Ashley after hearing the devastating news that he's been diagnosed with dementia. Even though the pair are facing a very uncertain future, they're determined to live life to the fullest and enjoy their big day.


© ITV
Ashley waits for Laurel


© ITV
Doug walks Laurel down the aisle


© ITV
Ashley and Laurel's wedding begins


© ITV
Ashley and Laurel's wedding begins


© ITV
Ashley and Laurel get married

Bellamy continued: "Laurel is not going to keep thinking about problems which could crop up. She's going to take it in her stride, but inevitably there are going to be issues, which the audience will see.

"We're going to really show how when you're living with dementia, even the smallest things can be so disruptive, shocking, disorientating and frightening. It's the simple things that you don't even think about."

Laurel's father Doug is present to walk her down the aisle on her big day, but it's touch and go as she even considers banning him from the ceremony when she realises that he disapproves of her nuptials.

Doug fears that Laurel is making a big mistake by getting caught up with Ashley's troubles, but she can't believe that he'd be so insensitive about it.

"Laurel notices that Doug seems to be avoiding her in the lead-up to the wedding," Bellamy explained. "There are also a few comments he makes here and there, so she gets the feeling that he's avoiding being anywhere near the two of them.

"Laurel is furious, really. She does understand that he's only doing it because he's worried about her, but she thinks that he has tunnel vision when it comes to this.

"Doug does eventually admit to her that he doesn't think their wedding is a good idea. Once he says it, that's it. Laurel thinks that if Doug can't support her, she doesn't want him there.

"But Doug does later make it up to her by coming to see her at the salon. He reads his wedding speech to her and she just melts. Laurel does hit out a bit when she's angry, but I think you've got to have your dad there walking you down the aisle, haven't you?"

By Daniel Kilkelly, Digital Spy
http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/emme...ar-yes-really/

[Perdita]

There’s trouble and strife as Laurel again prepares to become Ashley’s wife, Emmerdale’s Charlotte Bellamy reveals to Soaplife…

How is Laurel feeling about the day?
“She’s happy. She knows things will be tough, but their wedding is the light at the end of the tunnel. It’s something really positive for her to cling to. They have a lot of history together and getting married now seems right. She wants everything to be perfect.”

So why is she keeping her pregnancy secret?
“She wants to make sure that everything is okay. She also doesn’t want her dad, Doug [Duncan Preston], to find out because she knows he’ll worry and think she’s taking on too much.”

He’s definitely against the wedding…
“Yes. He makes it clear he isn’t happy about it. He avoids Laurel and Ashley [John Middleton] and he doesn’t even bother showing up to the wedding rehearsal. Laurel sort of understands he’s only doing it because he cares about her. But when he admits that he thinks their wedding isn’t a good idea, she tells him, ‘If you can’t support me, I don’t want you there!’.”

How does he change her mind?
“Doug comes along to her hen do to try to make it up with her, but she pushes him out. He ends up reading his speech about her through the letterbox and she melts because it’s so heartfelt and lovely.”

Then Harriet guesses Laurel’s pregnant, doesn’t she?
“Yes and Laurel’s thrown. She feels she has to justify why they’re keeping the baby and she says the child is like a little miracle. She still feels kind of awkward with Harriet.”

So why is Harriet marrying them?
“On the hen night, the male vicar gets so drunk with the girls that he can’t get out of bed the next day and Harriet [Katherine Dow-Blyton] has to take over. Laurel doesn’t mind too much as she’s only thinking about Ashley.”

How does the wedding go?
“It’s the most perfect, beautiful and wonderful wedding, but there’s a traumatic twist. We’re going to really show how living with dementia can be shocking, disruptive, frightening and disorientating. It’s the simple things you don’t even think about if you’re living with somebody with the condition.”

Watch the events leading up to Ashley and Laurel's big day in Emmerdale from Monday 14 March on ITV.

[Telly Watcher]

Expect disaster as Ashley and Laurel wed for the second time, say actors Charlotte Bellamy and John Middleton

As dementia-hit Emmerdale vicar Ashley prepares to wed the love of his life, ‘In sickness and in health’ is more poignant than ever.

There are emotional scenes this week as the confused curate, played by John Middleton, and Laurel (Charlotte Bellamy) get set to marry for a second time.

But the man of God’s debilitating medical condition is a ticking timebomb that could explode at any time. Will they successfully tie the knot – or will it be a day of tears and tragedy?

We Love TV visited the Emmerdale set in Yorkshire to watch the wedding being filmed.

Between downpours, we chatted to John, 62, and Charlotte, 42, about this heart-rending storyline. Here’s what they had to say...

How do Ashley and Laurel feel on their big day?

JOHN: Ashley is thrilled and ecstatic. At this stage it’s all positive because they’re both optimists at heart. They’re going to have a baby and now they’re remarrying. It’s perfect.

CHARLOTTE: Laurel is very excited. Since Ashley’s dementia diagnosis they’ve decided everything should be about creating happy memories to hold on to. And what could be more positive than a wedding?

How is Ashley’s health at this point?

JOHN: He doesn’t know how long he’s got to live. It could be months, or years. As this is vascular dementia, there is a risk of strokes. There are some awful things that could happen, but at the moment everything is fine.

It’s ironic that Ashley’s former lover Harriet leads the wedding service...

CHARLOTTE: That’s definitely a bit weird! But Harriet wants the best for them and respects Laurel for taking on so much with Ashley’s condition.

JOHN: It’s a pleasant surprise for Ashley. He’s really bowled over by Harriet’s magnanimity.

What’s the mood like at the wedding service?

CHARLOTTE: It’s euphoric, beautiful and romantic. Plus Laurel [who’s to be given away by her dad Doug] wears a lovely outfit. A huge amount of work goes into Emmerdale weddings.

It seems too good to be true – will there be nasty twists?

JOHN: Viewers will be put through the emotional wringer.

CHARLOTTE: Expect disaster. It’s going to be absolutely awful. Some events later in the week come out of nowhere.

This dementia storyline will touch a lot of people...

JOHN: It affects so many people in such a devastating way that it would be incredibly insulting if we didn’t get it right. This storyline is the most challenging opportunity I’ve ever been given as an actor.

CHARLOTTE: We’ve both done a lot of research and met people with dementia. It’s very important as it gives us a real insight into the condition.

By Neil Batey, Daily Mirror

Have a sneak peek at behind the scenes pictures from the making of a soap wedding and read more at:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/e...aurels-7533602

[Telly Watcher]

Dales actress Charlotte Bellamy lifts the lid on big days, big obstacles and why Laurel is right to say "I do" again...

"If you love someone, there's no question that you stick by them," explains the star, who is married to television producer Mungo Denison.

"It's an impossible situation, but Ashley and Laurel have so much history, and that's why this is such a tragic love story. For the moment, though, Laurel's feeling really positive about this wedding. She knows there will be problems here and there, but she's just planning on taking all that in her stride.

"She's really furious with Doug," sighs Charlotte. "He misses the wedding rehearsal, and he keeps avoiding talking to them or being anywhere near them. When he eventually admits that he thinks the wedding is not a good idea, Laurel tells her dad that if he can't support them, then she doesn't want him there anway!"

After Doug discovers his daughter's pregnancy, he has a change of heart...

"Doug turns up at Laurel's hen party at the salon to make amends," shares Charlotte. "She ends up shoving him outside, so he pushes this wedding speech he's written through the letter box for her to read. It's a really lovely and heartfelt speech, and Laurel completely melts. It's her wedding, so of course she's got to have her dad walk her down the aisle!"

With this hurdle out of the way, as well as a fun hen do and a silly stag night - where Ashley asks Bob to be his best man - it's a relaxed morning on the day itself, and Laurel is looking forward to becoming Mrs Thomas again. What she doesn't realise is that the vicar who is supposed to be marrying them is so hungover, he can't perform the ceremony!

"Harriet takes over!" reveals Charlotte. "I don't think Laurel minds - she's only thinking of one thing, and that's Ashley. She's made the decision that she's going to live life to the full with him.

"It's the most wonderful and perfect wedding day," she grins. "Laurel's dress is gorgeous and quite 1920's. It was made and designed by our team at the show."

With a baby on the way, and two other children causing chaos - not to mention Ashley's dad Sandy! - this is a lot for any couple to cope with, let alone one who are already facing an illness like Ashley's.

"We're going to show how, when living with dementia, even the smallest things can be disruptive, shocking, frightening and disorientating," says Charlotte. "In their daily life, anything could have that effect for Laurel and Ashley. The fact that this wedding is so lovely makes the subsequent twists even more dramatic and traumatic."

By Kate White
Inside Soap, 12-18 March 2016

[Telly Watcher]

Harriet lost her job as local vicar (8 Dec 2014) after she had married Ali and Ruby without permission from the bishop. She was also charged by the police on the same day with burglary at a police station, after commiting the crime 2 Dec 2014. Latest spoilers say that she gets special permission from the bishop on the morning of the wedding day to perform the wedding ceremony herself. Harriet and Ashley were in a relationship together up to Dec 2015, of course, until Ashley and Laurel got back together on 22 Dec 2015.

The latest spoilers and soap interviews suggest that something goes badly wrong after Laurel and Ashley get married during the Friday 18 March 2016 episode. After the wedding, the guests go to the reception but Laurel and Ashley are missing for a while. Exactly what happens next is being kept a secret for now though by ITV.

I for now am guessing that the stress of the day causes Ashley to have a stroke (a mini one maybe though?) and he either has a form of paralysis or, more likely I think, Ashley forgets something. Perhaps is unable to afterwards recognise just who someone close to him from the village is (someone like best man Bob or even someone from his own family, so that would be out of Laurel, Sandy, Gabby or Arthur?) or even that the wedding has even happened?

Even if what I've suggested here for now just doesn't happen on Fri 18 March 2016, these are still just the kind of things which we should all expect to happen to Ashley over the next 12 months or so.

John Middleton's acting contract as Ashley in Emmerdale is due to end by December 2016 with his final scenes being aired during early 2017.

The reveal episode about what really happens after Ashley and Laurel's wedding is due to to be aired on Friday 18 March 2016 at 7pm on ITV.

[sarah c]

a twist would be Amnesia for Ashley after a stroke and forgetting he and Harriet had ever split up........