Marlon and Laurel 'a perfect match'

Emmerdale star Mark Charnock has said he thinks Marlon Dingle and Laurel Thomas are a perfect match.

The vicar's wife - who is now estranged from husband Ashley - finally declares her love for Marlon after the chef reveals he plans to follow friends Paddy Kirk and Rhona Goskirk to New Zealand so he can live near his son Leo, who he has with Rhona.

Mark revealed that once Laurel tells Marlon she loves him and begs him to stay he thinks their relationship will work out.

The actor said: "I think they're really well matched, they're both quite quirky. They're both quite romantic characters in an off-kilter way. They're both funny.

"I just think it's a meeting of minds really. They both really get each other, and they're both people that a lot of the other villagers don't get. They're both slightly off centre characters. And I think they recognise something in each other, that other people don't. They see the best in each other, and actually it's not often that you find that in life. I think it's great coupling."

But things will not be easy as they have to break the news to Ashley, and although Marlon says he is still happy for Leo to go to New Zealand with Rhona and Paddy, Mark reveals, he will not want it to happen in reality.

Mark said: "Marlon decides to stay with Laurel and he says 'I'll just make it work'. Which is a lie. His son's everything to him and there's inevitably going to be a moment when he says, "Actually, why am I being made to choose?' And that's where it all leads."