Emmerdale producer Kate Oates has revealed that Laurel Dingle's current drinking problem is the beginning of a much bigger storyline.
Viewers have seen Laurel (Charlotte Bellamy) develop a worrying reliance on alcohol in recent weeks, but the plot will head in a surprising direction in the longer-term - focusing on much more than just her addiction.
Oates confirmed that the unexpected developments ahead in the story will set it apart from Emmerdale's most recent addiction plot, which saw Rhona Goskirk become hooked on painkillers.
"The audience will have to wait and see how this story will be different, because what is different about the story is where it goes in the long-term," Oates explained. "It will be a much, much longer journey.
"It's not just about Laurel's alcoholism. It's not just about what that does to Laurel in the here and now and how she and her family deal with that, it's about where it goes beyond that. People will have to be patient and wait and see what happens with that one!"
Oates refused to reveal what the twist in the story's direction will be, but she promised that there is much more to come as the troubles within Laurel's marriage to Marlon (Mark Charnock) continue to take their toll.
She continued: "It's a long journey for Laurel and what we're seeing is that her marriage is really flawed. She's really struggling, but she thinks she has a 'life problem' rather than a drink problem and she's drinking to cover that life problem.
"It's nice to explore that and the problems in Laurel's relationship with Marlon, and also to use Duncan Preston as her dad Doug, because Doug is absolutely devastated to see his little girl in this situation. He's desperately trying to help her and she's just fighting all the way.
"One person who Laurel will come to rely on massively is her ex-husband Ashley through all of this, so the people who enjoyed Laurel and Ashley back in the day will hopefully enjoy this."
Next week's episodes will see Marlon's young daughter April become unwell after she accidentally drinks Laurel's secret glass of vodka and orange at home. A horrified Laurel has to rush April to hospital, before stooping to new lows to hide what happened from Marlon.
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