{"id":54480,"date":"2024-07-08T09:00:18","date_gmt":"2024-07-08T07:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=2067000"},"modified":"2024-07-08T09:53:35","modified_gmt":"2024-07-08T07:53:35","slug":"emmerdales-lucy-pargeter-on-how-cancer-changed-chas-and-her-take-on-belle-and-toms-storyline","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/emmerdales-lucy-pargeter-on-how-cancer-changed-chas-and-her-take-on-belle-and-toms-storyline\/","title":{"rendered":"Emmerdale\u2019s Lucy Pargeter on how cancer changed Chas and her take on Belle and Tom\u2019s storyline"},"content":{"rendered":"

The star exclusively reveals all on being nominated in the RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024. <\/p>

By Johnathon Hughes\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Monday, 08 July 2024 at 07:00 AM<\/p>

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Chas Dingle\u2019s world was turned upside down when she was told she had breast cancer, and she bravely faced the diagnosis with strength and determination. The Woolpack\u2019s indestructible landlady eventually had a double mastectomy, and is now recovering and looking to the future.<\/p>\n

To discuss her nomination for best actor in the RadioTimes.com Soap Awards 2024<\/strong> sponsored by Inspired Villages<\/a>, Emmerdale<\/a> stalwart Lucy Pargeter exclusively tells us how she handled her character\u2019s hard-hitting storyline, and who she believes are the unsung heroes of soap\u2026<\/p>\n

Are you pleased to be nominated for best actor?<\/h4>\n

It\u2019s lovely that these brand new awards have sprung up, it\u2019s always nice to go to a do! Although it\u2019s bizarre as I don\u2019t think there\u2019s any other job where you get an award for working! But it is an honour and lovely to be appreciated for putting in the hard graft, and hopefully for doing a harrowing storyline justice.<\/p>\n

Do you enjoy awards ceremonies?<\/h4>\n

The build-up can be quite stressful! I\u2019m not a girly girl and there\u2019s all that preparation about what to wear, and having someone else doing your make-up makes me nervous. If I could just go in my pyjamas that would be brilliant! But it\u2019s nice to chill out with the cast and have a drink afterwards\u2026<\/p>

What have been your highlights of the last year?<\/h4>\n

Now the breast cancer storyline has played out, having people come up to me and say they\u2019ve been through it themselves and thanking Emmerdale for portraying it realistically \u2013 that is the highlight. You don\u2019t know how to play it at first, apart from your gut instinct. I don\u2019t take praise very well but it\u2019s good to hear people positively and appreciatively to what we\u2019ve done. I was at the Emmerdale village tours at the weekend and spoke to quite a few people who had personally gone through the same thing as Chas. You never know until after the event.<\/p>\n

Which moments stand out as the most challenging through the storyline?<\/h4>\n

There were quite a few. Getting the diagnosis was huge, the realisation she had it and the fear kicking in of her mum dying from breast cancer. The others were the revealing of the scars, Chas hadn\u2019t actually looked at herself since the surgery and Charity sat with her in the bedroom saying: \u2018Let\u2019s do this together, I\u2019ll get mine it if you get yours out!\u2019 And Chas getting her prosthesis out and publicly saying I don\u2019t need these, I\u2019m more than a pair of boobs and am absolutely fine the way I am. She\u2019s no less of a woman without a pair of breasts.<\/p>\n

What other storylines are you currently enjoying on Emmerdale?<\/h4>\n

I\u2019m quite affected and disturbed by the Belle and Tom story, which I think a lot of the audience are. People really hate Tom! I went through the same hatred for Chas when she had the affair with Al, it can affect you personally and I think James Chase (who plays Tom) is chucking himself wholeheartedly into this narcissistic, evil character.<\/p>\n

Is it nice to see Eden Taylor-Draper all grown up, having worked with her since she was a child?<\/h4>\n

Eden is playing a blinder, it\u2019s been a while since she was really tested as an actress and to see her doing such a relentless, heavy storyline is great. I don\u2019t know where it\u2019s going to end but with the Dingles being so closely involved I\u2019m hoping they have some hand in taking Tom down.<\/p>\n

\"Chas\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Emmerdale.<\/span><\/figcaption> ITV<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

What else is coming up for Chas?<\/h4>\n

She\u2019s not quite out to pasture but she is dipping into other people\u2019s storylines which I enjoy, especially after doing such a hard storyline. We\u2019ve got some stuff coming up with her and Aaron, and another thing with Moira. And of course there\u2019s the Belle situation still going on.<\/p>\n

Who at Emmerdale deserves an award for being an unsung hero?<\/h4>\n

Do you know what, the supporting artists deserve an award. Some have been on the show longer than a lot of the cast, including me. They are always respectful and very confidential, we are very open on set and they have to sit there while we jabber on! It\u2019s a hard job, you have to look interested and appear animated but without interfering in the scene, be fully aware of what\u2019s going on and react to it. I don\u2019t think supporting artists get enough acknowledgement.<\/p>\n

Read more:<\/strong><\/p>\n