Charlotte Bellamy isn't sure Jai Sharma can forgive Laurel Thomas.
Charlotte Bellamy
The 'Emmerdale' actress has opened up on the ongoing plot - with her character keeping quiet after her son Arthur (Alfie Clarke) admitted to bullying little Archie (Kai Assi) - and how it will impact Laurel's relationship with Chris Bisson's alter ego.
She told Metro.co.uk: "[Jai's] aghast, really, that Laurel would keep this a secret from him. I think that's the initial shock -- 'you didn't tell me; you kept this a secret' -- rather than thinking about what Arthur has actually done to Archie.
"I think it's more the betrayal of Laurel, rather than the betrayal of Arthur. It's very much an issue of blended families, isn't it? Can you ever love your stepchild as much as your own child?
"Even though they're in every early stages of this relationship, is this going to be detrimental to them?
"Will they be able to move forward? Will Arthur ever be forgiven by Jai? Will Archie ever forgive Arthur? It's an absolute tin of worms..."
Charlotte suggested Laurel always wanted to tell Jai the truth about the bullying in her own time, but Archie gets injured under a cabinet and instinctively lays the blame on Arthur in front of Jai.
She added: "I think when it came to the crunch, she felt that she should be the one telling Jai about what really happened rather than putting him in that very very vulnerable position.
"When he did confess on screen a couple of weeks ago, she immediately said 'this is my fault. I should've seen this. I should've paid attention to you.' I mean, it's kind of so selfless, isn't it? As a mother.
"As an outsider, you look and think 'no actually, he has to take responsibility for his own actions' but -- as a mother -- you can't see the wood for the trees, you immediately think it's your fault, guilt, responsibility."
Tagged in Charlotte Bellamy Chris Bisson