Emmerdale cast and viewers got a chance on Thursday (September 20) to leave behind all the drama of Lachlan’s downfall, Rebecca White’s rescue and Robron’s romantic woes to see what life in the Dales was like a century ago.
The cast of the ITV soap are taking part in a new limited documentary series called Emmerdale 1918, which was commissioned to mark 100 years since the end of World War I.
In the series premiere, Marlon Dingle actor Mark Charnock retraced the steps of a real First World War chef called Frederick Brocklehurst, who lived in the village of Esholt — where Emmerdale was filmed until 1996.
The inexperienced chef was determined to pay tribute to the war hero as he tried to replicate heroism that Fred showed preparing meals for hungry troops under enemy fire. The experience even included visiting a recreation of the trench that Brocklehurst had to work in.
Mark visited with local historians, learning that Fred had to prepare his meals under the harshest possible conditions. He was also responsible for engaging the enemy at a moment’s notice.
“So, you’re a soldier first and a cook second,” Mark marvelled, mentioning later: “It’s like, the guy before you’s been killed. He’s not got the golden ticket, has he?”
Mark added: “You get sense this that this cook, this handsome devil, was risking his life to get food to his mates.”
The actor particularly identified with Fred almost as a lost family member because, like Marlon Dingle, he was thrown into having to cook out of necessity rather than having any particular skill for it.
“Dare I say, there is a kind of Dingleyness to him,” he joked. “He’s got something about him that I immediately like.”
But in a shocking twist of fate, Mark learned that Fred was ultimately court-martialled and found guilty of stealing some coal from a village to help keep his soldiers warm.
“I so wanted him to have some life after the war. Some kind of life,” a dejected Mark admitted.
Luckily, Fred wasn’t executed, but did endure 56 days of being publicly shackled. But all’s well that end’s well, and Fred was eventually cleared, promoted in the service and lived a happy married life after the war.
“Everything he’d been through, he deserved his happy ending,” Mark beamed.
Viewers’ hearts were suitably warmed by this loving salute to the men and women who served their country in World War I:
Emmerdale 1918 continues next Thursday (September 17) at 8.30pm on ITV as Laurel Thomas actress Charlotte Bellamy travels to the real pub that inspired the Woolpack.
Digital Spy Soap Scoop video – hit play below for all the latest Emmerdale spoilers, as Charity tracks down her father and Moira confesses everything to Matty.
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