Mark Charnock's Italian lockdown

18 June 2020

Mark Charnock has been learning Italian during lockdown.

Mark Charnock

The 'Emmerdale' actor has been keeping himself busy by trying his hand at a new language and reading a lot, and while he has questioned when "all this is going to end" at times, he feels fortunate to have not been going through some of the "terrible things" that others have faced during the coronavirus pandemic.

He said: "I'm good at occupying my time, I've kept my brain fit by learning Italian and reading a lot.

"I've had a few days when I've felt myself asking when this is all going to end? But this is what we're left with.

"This is the given situation at the moment and I've been lucky. You look on the news and see people going through terrible things.

"I think I'm not going to feel sorry for myself with people going through all that.

"Fortunately, I'm not in that position and I've found it OK."

Mark has resumed filming on 'Emmerdale' as his character Marlon Dingle is the focus of one of the ITV soap's special lockdown episodes, and the 51-year-old star was "genuinely thrilled" to be a part of the eps.

He said: "I got a phone call to say I was going to be in the episode and then the script was emailed across.

"I read it then texted the writer and producer to say how nuanced, detailed and brilliant I thought the script was and how it was a real journey for some of the characters.

"They replied to me saying, 'You've only had it for half an hour!' I realised I'd missed reading scripts that much, that I just swallowed it whole and the same thing has happened with learning it.

"It does help that it's so well written by Karin Young so I found it really easy to learn. I always try to do my learning in drafts and on my first scan across the script I have it pretty much down and then just try to get the details in.

"The line learning muscle in my brain has been waiting to do some exercise and here it is."

Last month, Mark praised the 'Emmerdale' team for doing a "jaw-dropping job of keeping everyone safe" after filming resumed on the soap.

He wrote on Twitter: "Loved being back filming a fantastic @Emmerdale episode yesterday with #michaelwildman @aaron_ants & the best crew in the world.Hats off to mighty director @ianbevitt for his brilliance. The team's done a truly jaw-dropping job of keeping everyone safe.Blimey,but I've missed it! (sic)"