Laurel Thomas (Charlotte Bellamy) could really do with something – or someone – to put a smile on her face after the year she has had in Emmerdale. Life has been less than blissful for the café worker in recent times. From a miserable marriage and contentious divorce from Jai Sharma (Chris Bisson), to shacking up with human trafficker Ray Walters (Joe Absolom), capped off with violent son Arthur (Alfie Clarke) abusing her. What she could do with is a good dose of Netflix and chill.
There was a bit of light relief amongst it all when she had a little dalliance with vicar Charles (Kevin Mathurin) but it was not an ideal match, being one of her besties’ ex and it all fizzled out like a damp firework. That said, it will not be the only time she shares a man with Manpreet (Rebecca Sarker). Ross Barton enters the chat. It is a small village, it is hard not to have crossover. Ross is mostly led by what is in his pants. He recently tried to get it back on with Manpreet, who told him in no uncertain terms that he was punching. But when did that ever stop him – he simply turns his attention to someone else. Not Gabby, definitely not Gabby.
As the dancing gets underway, Ross starts to have flirty thoughts towards Laurel. ‘Unbeknown to anyone, [Ross] is a really good dancer and so that is how I get in with him,’ Charlotte reveals. ‘We sort of Salsa and it all gets a bit steamy, but it is all really lighthearted and fun, which we need.’ Good old snake hips does it every time. It is quite the controversial storyline, because Ross and Laurel is a pairing no one imagined, but also Laurel is sleeping with the guy her step-daughter wants to bed.
But this is a big deal for Laurel. ‘Sexual liberation!’ actress Charlotte Bellamy labels Laurel’s next few moves. But she has one big concern for Laurel, after making her way through so many men. ‘I do not want her to become the local bike!’ So the fear is that Laurel takes it too far in the name of letting go, but as she confesses herself, with it being such a small area, there is not much other option if a gal just wants to have fun. ‘It is a small village. We have to go through everybody really. Well, I have anyway,’ Charlotte told Metro. And why not? Some good looking fellas in that place.
Could Laurel now be awakened to her own desire and go on the prowl around the village? Spoiler alert – she and Ross do not make it long term because she decides when she has had enough. Perhaps the Ray situation had an effect on Laurel. Though Ray was a terrible man, their short-lived romance was fiery and passionate, leaving a lasting impression on Laurel. When asked if Ray awoke something in her, Charlotte said: ‘Totally. That was genuine. But she has been stung, has not she? So maybe just some frivolous affairs will see her through. But I am sure it will not carry on like that.’
Ok so that confirms it – there is more to come from Laurel’s sexual liberation, if you pardon the expression. ‘He is her kind of therapy,’ Charlotte shared about Laurel and Ross. ‘Just to have a really surface-level relationship after falling for Ray, and getting burnt.’ But when she has had her fill, she dumps Ross. ‘That is why she actually rejects Ross. You would think it might be the other way around, but of course, she has all the power. We are going to like that. We should get a good reaction, hopefully.’ Never have we been more proud of Laurel in her whole 24 years in town. Love this for her.
