Emmerdale fans are in for a whirlwind of heartbreak and betrayal as Charity Dingle (Emma Atkins) faces the devastating truth about her baby’s paternity. After secretly chasing up DNA test results, Charity learns the news she was dreading: Ross Barton is the father.
The revelation sends shockwaves through her already fragile world, leaving her questioning her future, her family, and her ability to live with the secret.
Charity’s Devastating Truth
Although Charity suspected Ross was the father, confirmation hits hard. “She was kind of expecting Ross to be the dad, but it’s nevertheless still very shocking,” Emma Atkins explains. “The jeopardy that she’s in is palpable. There’s so much she stands to lose—she’s just devastated.”
Unable to cope with the guilt, Charity heads to The Woolpack, where her cousin Chas (Lucy Pargeter) quickly senses something is wrong. Hoping for an ally, Charity confesses everything—but Chas urges her to tell the truth, leaving Charity horrified.
Instead of support, she gets a moral ultimatum.
A Heartbreaking Decision
Feeling cornered and alone, Charity secretly books an appointment to terminate the pregnancy. But even as she steels herself for the decision, her shame deepens when Sarah Sugden (Katie Hill) presents her with a memory box lovingly made for the baby.
“She feels this is her only option,” Atkins reveals. “But morally, if she is to terminate, she needs to discuss it with Ross. To do this without consulting anyone shows just how desperate she’s become.”
As Charity sits in her car after the appointment, breaking down, the weight of her secret becomes unbearable.
Guilt and Secrets
Emma Atkins describes the moment as one of the darkest in Charity’s life: “Sarah’s there with this sacred little box, with beautiful letters from Jacob and Sarah, and then suggests that Charity writes her own letter to this baby. It’s just so much guilt, and the worst thing is covering it all up. The audience get to see the horror in Charity’s eyes, but obviously she can’t show it to Sarah.”
The question remains—did Charity actually go through with the termination, or is she hiding another secret? And how long can she keep up the lies before her world unravels?
Final Thoughts
Charity is trapped in one of the most impossible situations of her life, torn between guilt, secrecy, and the fear of losing everything she loves. With Chas demanding honesty and Sarah unknowingly adding pressure, the walls are closing in fast.
The truth always finds a way out in Emmerdale. The only question is—when it does, will Charity survive the fallout?
