Emmerdale's Chas Dingle has another big crisis to deal with in the coming days as she is targeted by a mystery stalker.
Chas's ordeal begins with a sudden burst of silent phone calls, but the situation soon gets far worse and leaves her utterly terrified…
Here, Lucy Pargeter - who plays Chas - reveals the full details of the storyline.
How does Chas feel now that she's a free woman again?
"It's mixed emotions, really. Chas is ecstatic to be in the clear, but she still thinks that she was responsible, so the guilt and the hurt haven't gone away. She's also scared to be back in the village because of the repercussions of everything that's happened.
"As she works in The Woolpack, she's at the focal point of the village and of course she's going to have to face everybody and go through all kinds of different emotions. She's got a lot of catching up to do!"
Chas also ends up alone as Cameron heads off to Jersey, doesn't he?
"Yeah, Chas wants to go with him, but she doesn't because of Bernice. There's an onslaught from Bernice and she says that Chas really ought to leave, as nobody wants her around. So Chas decides to stay around to protect and hold onto her territory!"
Does Chas not have any inkling that something isn't right with Cameron after his latest murder?
"Not really. Chas can see that Cameron is a bit upset, but he tells her that it's because his son is ill and he needs to get to Jersey. Having been through everything with Aaron, Chas encourages him to go. She can see that he's a bit uptight about something, but she has no idea what he's actually done!"
Bernice is quick to blame Chas for punters avoiding the pub and the takings being down. Does she have a point?
"Bernice does have a point, but it's after Christmas and I think most places go through a lull at that time anyway. But Chas does start to think that it's got something to do with her. Chas and Bernice are at each other's throats, and it's also likely to kick off whenever the Dingles are at the pub, so people are avoiding those situations."
Is Chas tempted when Bernice keeps encouraging her to sell her share of the pub?
"She is tempted because things get so bad, and she starts getting these prank calls too. Chas has no idea where they're from and she starts to feel uneasy. She feels that if she did sell up and go, it'd be a lot easier for her family and she wouldn't have to deal with everybody. But then she thinks otherwise because the pub is one of the only things she has left."
Can you tell us more about the stalking?
"It begins with the first prank call in The Woolpack. Chas is working and somebody calls, but there's nobody there. Then it happens again and Jimmy is there, and he suggests that she should try 1471, but it's a withheld number.
"Then Chas gets even more calls, and she also senses that people might be watching her, especially when she goes to Carl's grave with Jimmy. There are also stones thrown at her window, and at one point she goes outside and there's a photograph of her and Carl which has been left for her…"
Is Chas being paranoid or is someone really watching her?
"She's not paranoid! There is genuinely someone watching her."
Does Chas have any suspicions over who the stalker might be?
"She starts to think that it could be Bernice, because she wants the pub. Then she thinks it's Cain or Debbie. After that, she gets another photograph delivered at The Woolpack with her eyes scratched out. She also gets a call from someone playing Carl's answering machine message, which is very creepy.
"Chas is already on edge because of everything that's happened, and the thought that someone is targeting her makes it even worse. It's the not knowing which is the worst thing. It could be the Dingles, it could be someone else, it could be anybody and that's what's the most unnerving thing."
What happens when Chas accuses Cain of being the stalker?
"He denies it point blank, but he says, 'I'd like to know who it is, so I could congratulate them!' So it's not nice that he's supporting what's happening. Chas suggests to him that maybe it's Debbie, but he tells her it's not as she's too busy with Sarah."
How frightened is Chas over the stalker's antics?
"I think she's most frightened when there's a bottle thrown at her and it cuts her face. If they're willing to throw something at her, it's a bit more than just threatening behaviour!"
Chas eventually manages to catch out the stalker. How does she feel about his or her identity?
"It is a shock, but there is a reason behind it and she fully understands why they did it. When she finds out who it is, it's yet another thing for her to deal with…"
Love many, trust few, always paddle your own canoe
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by sarah c
