Things aren’t too rosy for Emmerdale’s Marlon Dingle at the moment.

His girlfriend Laurel, who was recently carjacked on the soap, is starting to show signs of post-traumatic stress and there’s nothing that poor Marlon can do to help.

What makes it worse is that Laurel tracks down and confronts her perpetrator – and in the dramatic episode to be aired this Thursday, August 8, Marlon and Cain are in hot pursuit to save her.

In contrast, all this drama makes life quite exciting for Bolton-born Mark Charnock, who has played the lovable chef since 1996.

The likable actor, who found his love of performing thanks to his drama teacher, Mrs Shuttleworth, at Cannon Slade School, describes Bolton as a “magical” place and still thinks of it as home.

He said: “There’s a rather romantic notion in my head about Bolton. I was really lucky that I enjoyed my childhood so much. It’s a magical place to me in my memory.

“I still think of Bolton as my home. I was born and raised in Georgia Street and went to Heathfield Primary School in Daubhill.

“We later moved to Atherton then Astley Bridge where I went to Cannon Slade School and loved it. I had a great drama teacher there called Gail Shuttleworth. She was amazing.

“There was a group of us that went to the youth group at Bolton Little Theatre and I remember one year we travelled to a drama festival in Austria, which was great. I became addicted to drama.”

Despite drama being a risky career choice, his hard-working parents, who ran a newspaper shop, supported his dream.

Mark said: “I had incredibly supporting parents that saw that I needed to try drama. I’m sure that they were worried because it’s one of those subjects that parents think are a little self-indulgent but my parents didn’t think that.

“After leaving school I went to Hull University to study drama. I wasn’t stupid so I’m sure my parents must have thought that I could have done something more secure but they continued to support me.”

After graduating the 45-year-old went to Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Arts where many a famous face has been, such as Minnie Driver and Hugh Bonneville.

Mark did various bits of TV after he left the academy, including a stint on 2point4 Children and Cadfael – but it wasn’t until 1996 that he got his big TV break on Emmerdale.

He said: “What’s great about Emmerdale is that there might be years that you may never work with a character, and then all of a sudden you’re thrown together.

“For example, Marlon doesn’t speak to his cousin Cain but a recent story has thrown the two of them together.

“My on-screen girlfriend Laurel has been carjacked in a really brutal way and Marlon is desperately trying to do the best thing all the time but he doesn’t succeed and often comes across patronising.

“Charlotte [Bellamy], who plays Laurel, is amazing. She’s had to do all the work really and Marlon’s had to react to something that he doesn’t understand.

“There’s an element of PTSD in Laurel’s behaviour and in many ways it’s better the less I know because it comes across better and more believable.

“I have no idea what he’s dealing with. He tries simplistic ways to help but it’s not enough that he’s just nice to her. It’s a great script and the stuff that’s coming up in a few weeks time is dramatic. Laurel tries to track down the guy that car jacked her and Marlon doesn’t feel terribly in control and he’s terrified of losing her or something happening to her.

“Ten years ago Marlon lost his wife Tricia and this story plays back on that emotion. You don’t have that longevity in a film or a TV drama to be able to do that but you can on a soap.”

Despite a successful career, a modest Mark says that his only regret so far is turning down a part in a play that would have brought him back to his hometown.

Mark said: “I was working at the Oldham Coliseum and I got a call from The Octagon asking if I would star in a play called the Rise and Fall of Little Voice.

“I was so excited but I was advised to turn it down at the time and I know I will regret that for the rest of my life.

“It’s like a church that place. It’s sad to think I’ve worked all over the north apart from my hometown. But hopefully that will change.”

n Catch Mark on Emmerdale every weekday at 7pm.