There’s a lot going on for Marlon Dingle (Mark Charnock) right now and a fall out with Laurel Thomas (Charlotte Belamy) while trying to find his lost teenage daughter is the last thing he needs.
It doesn’t help that Rhona (Zoe Henry) is at his throat for his fall out with Laurel. He can’t catch a break.
Marlon’s world is in utter turmoil after April (Amelia Flanagan) went missing at Christmas. Having had a huge row, April was sent to her room and stripped of her privileges – including her mobile.
When Marlon went to check on her the next day, she was gone – without so much as a phone for contact.
Since then, Marlon has been in bits trying to find her. He even organised a search party, which turned up absolutely nothing.
‘He wonders whether she’s been kidnapped again. Obviously, your brain goes everywhere. But that’s as much as I can say right now,’ actor Mark Charnock reveals of Marlon’s mental state.
In the process, things turned sour with Laurel, which overly protective Mary (Louise Jameson) cannot abide by.
She’s outspoken at the best of times, and against better judgement, decides to confront Laurel about her uncalled-for behaviour.
When Marlon hears of this, he is furious. It’s another example of Mary sticking her nose in where it’s not wanted or needed.
Marlon finds Mary in a café, and already in a heightened state of emotions, unleashes hell on his mother-in-law. He makes it crystal clear that her interference is not at all welcome, leaving Mary aghast at his outburst.
But she knows that he’s going through the toughest of times – which are only about to get worse.
Marlon decides to post a video appealing for information on April’s whereabouts.
But instead of having the positive impact he hopes, the video goes viral for the wrong reasons and is hit with vile trolling and abuse. Mary tries to shield Marlon from it, but when he finds out about it, he’s crushed. Will this be the final straw to break him?
Things are not about to get any better for the devastated dad. Actor Mark Charnock told Metro when asked if the police are involved: ‘Not at this stage. It escalates, this storyline, so this is just the beginning.’ There is more to come from April’s disappearance it seems.
