Emmerdale couple 'torn apart' as Charity Dingle makes life-changing decision

Charity Dingle (played by Emma Atkins) and Mackenzie Boyd's (Lawrence Robb) marriage will be on the brink of ruin after she makes a life-changing decision without consulting her husband. The couple face turmoil in upcoming scenes on Emmerdale when Mack discovers that Charity offered to be Sarah Sugden's (Katie Hill) surrogate before speaking to him about it. Fans will know that Sarah was exploring becoming a mother through IVF, but had to have surgery after doctors discovered she had cervical cancer.

While the operation was successful, the doctors were forced to perform a hysterectomy during the procedure due to complications, meaning Sarah can no longer carry her own children. Watching her granddaughter's dreams shatter in front of her, Charity attempted to find someone to carry Sarah's baby for her. However, Charity knew people wouldn't be forthcoming due to Sarah's Fanconi Anaemia diagnosis, which has drastically shortened her life expectancy.

Believing she has no other option, Charity offers to be Sarah's surrogate. But she withholds the information from Mack before she is certain she is able to carry the baby.

Discussing the ramifications this has for their relationship, actress Emma Atkins told Express Online and other press: "There's so many complexities with what they've been through on their own journey with pregnancy and there's a lot of emotional scarring and wounds there for them both that they've brushed under the carpet and not really discussed because Charity made the decision that she didn't want to have another baby.

"I think that will create a lot of tension and resentment and we'll see that play out in the not too distant future."

Fans will recall how Charity and Mack were expecting a baby in 2022, but tragically discovered it was an ectopic pregnancy. Knowing their unborn child wouldn't survive, Charity had an abortion. While Mack was keen to try for another baby, Charity decided she didn't want to have any more children.

Opening up about Mack's feelings towards the situation following their own journey with pregnancy, Emma explained: "I think everyone is so emotionally invested in different ways and then Mack is on the sidelines and feels like an observer looking in on a situation that he has no control over because she kept it from him and chose to get the tests without his knowledge.

"That in itself is such a deceitful thing to do when you're married to someone, to not discuss that beforehand, and Charity has been selfish doing that, but she's done it for the right reasons in one respect. She says from the start that there's no point in getting everyone restless until she knows if she could carry a child for Sarah.

She added: "But poor Mackenzie is feeling very out of it and they've had the ectopic pregnancy and with the loss of the baby after Charity saying she can't go through it again and then he finds out that she's willing to do it for Sarah, of course he's going to be feeling extremely defensive and riled by that."

Emma teased that fans will see several different sides to the storylines as Charity attempts to support Sarah. "One minute she's for it and the next minute she's struggling with the obvious - with Sarah's health complications and with her own being the age she is," the soap star said.