Exclusive: Emmerdale star reveals secret of Marlon's 30-year success

Emmerdale spoilers follow.

Emmerdale star Mark Charnock has weighed in on why his character Marlon Dingle has been a soap favourite for three decades, as the actor celebrates his 30th year on the show.

Marlon first came to the village back in October 1996 to stay with his uncle Zak Dingle. Since then he's been married five times, had two children and has faced difficulties such as a serious stroke and more recently, his daughter April Windsor's drug trafficking by Ray Walters.

Chatting with Inside Soap to mark the momentous 30 year milestone, Mark revealed that he believes the character of Marlon is more essential than ever today.

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"That’s not for me to say, but that’s really nice to hear," he said, when asked why he thinks Marlon is still a fan favourite after all this time. "I think his softheartedness, especially now.

"Over a longer period of time, and all the tragedies that have happened, it brings an empathy with it. I’ve been lucky as well because I’ve worked with amazing people and it raises your game.

"Marlon and Paddy, that’s definitely a thing, but the key to Marlon’s longevity is his softheartedness. Particularly now, we’re in a world where we’re seeing public figures being alpha male, and seeing beta males makes people feel affection towards them. I think the world could do with more beta males right now."

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Over the years, Mark has also starred in every single Emmerdale spin-off, including The Dingles Down Under and Don't Look Now! The Dingles in Venice, which he says were great fun to film.

"That was amazing, as you can imagine!" Mark recalls of The Dingles in Venice. "We were visiting the Italian branch of the Dingles family, the family Dingesi.

"I had to do this scene where it was a gondola chase and I remember sprinting down the dock and leaping into this gondola, then it just trundles off. It might be the only gondola chase ever filmed, because they don’t chase!"

Read Mark's full 30-year celebration interview in the next issue of Inside Soap magazine, which is out on Tuesday (13 October).

Emmerdale airs on weeknights at 8pm on ITV1, and streams on ITVX.

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