Emma Atkins (Charity Tate, 'Emmerdale')

After a four-year absence, one of Emmerdale's most iconic characters Charity Tate - played by 34-year-old Emma Atkins - makes her eagerly-anticipated return to the show next week in dramatic soap style. With the knowledge that her lover Michael (Jamie Belman) is about to tie the knot, Debbie Dingle (Charley Webb) and her father Cain (Jeff Hordley) storm the Durham church and are stunned to the core when they see that Michael's bride is none other than Debbie's mother Charity. We recently caught up with Emma to chat about her comeback, what it's been like 'finding Charity' again, rehearsing over Skype and her return to the village.

How did the return come about?
"It's great to be back and I'm honoured to be continuing Charity's journey. The return couldn't have been better timing really. I'd been asked by each producer over the past few years whether I'd be interested in coming back, but it seemed too soon. With work commitments too, the timing wasn't right. But at the beginning of this year, I got a phone call from my agent saying that Emmerdale had been on the phone asking if I'd be interested in making a return and whether I'd agree to meet Gavin [Blyth] for lunch to talk about the possibility.

"I went to meet Gavin up in Leeds and it was fantastic. He gave me this incredible story outline and I sat there thinking, 'I'd be a bit stupid to say no really!' Six months work for any actress is a wonderful opportunity and it'd have been daft to turn it down."

You're back for six months, then?
"Yeah, six months initially and then who knows?!"

Did it take much persuading on Gavin's part?
"No, not really. Gavin and I had a real heart-to-heart and he's very approachable. I've been a jobbing actress for five years and I've really enjoyed the freedom of going and playing other roles. He was really understanding of that. Obviously he wants me to stick around and it seems that might be the way it will go, but until six months is up, I don't think anyone knows."

What's it been like being back on set with Jeff and Charley again?
"Oh, it's brilliant. There's no other words to describe it. They're amazing to work with, wonderful actors and brilliant people. They're so funny, so we have a laugh on set. We never take ourselves too seriously, but when it comes to work, we're completely dedicated.

"The other night, Charley and I had loads of lines to learn - it was actually the night before my first day back in the studio - and I text her asking if she had Skype. She text straight back saying she does and she Skyped me and we sat there for three hours doing our lines! It was absolutely brilliant. I went on set the next morning feeling really confident!"

You return is like the official 'relaunch', as it were, of the show - do you feel any pressure?
"No because I'm a light-hearted sort of girl and the moment you start taking yourself too seriously, you start losing the essence of what my character's about. I play Charity in such a way, but as Emma, I'm quite light-hearted and that helps me get through. I so suffer from nerves and that will never change. There are days when I don't feel light-hearted in the slightest, but then there's a nice counter-balance which helps when someone mentions the ratings - at that point, I just switch off! I just treat it as any other job, like any other acting role, and do it to the best of my ability. I have fun with it, put 110% in and I hope that the outcome is what viewers are expecting."

How easy has it been to 'find' Charity again?
"I was daunted at thinking that I might make a pig's ear of it by not being able to 'find' the character again, but I was worrying unnecessarily. As soon as I got the first brilliant script, I knew I could do it. Again, rather than adding unnecessary pressure to an already pressurised work schedule, there's no point. I want to enjoy every second I'm here and embrace the character completely again. From that train of thought and mindset, it came instinctively."

How do we first see Charity?
"It's a huge reveal moment, where Debbie and Cain decide to storm the wedding because Debbie can't bear Michael going through with the wedding. They literally run into the church and the vicar's telling them to take a seat to join the congregation. Charity then turns around to see what the fuss is all about and that's the huge reveal of who the blushing bride is!"

What's your first expression?
"I don't actually know! They filmed a couple of takes and thinking about it, it's probably over the top! I remember thinking, 'How am I going to react here?' because there's so much going on and so many different expressions I could have chosen. I probably pulled the worst one ever! We'll see, I'm sure it'll be fine! The reveals continue to happen throughout the episodes, though. It's non-stop revelation."

How does she end up back in the village?
"Well, she's dragged back really. Whatever happens with the wedding means that she's left distraught, having had Debbie and Cain destroy things. Charity turns up and confronts them. She drives back into the village like a maniac in search of some answers. My second episode's just brilliant."

What are everyone's faces like?
"They're hilarious. Betty's jaw just drops in typical Betty-style. The Dingles are all apprehensive, if not a little horrified, as they're concerned about whose life she's back to wreck now. Jimmy's hilarious, too. Nick [Miles] and I shot a hilarious scene a few days ago. Jimmy thinks he can still threaten Charity, but he's not got a leg to stand on - she's not remotely frightened. Jimmy and Nicola are fantastic, so she has a bone to pick with Charity because of all the money she stole off the Kings. The unfinished business with the Kings is to be continued…"

> Click here to read more from Emma Atkins in Soap Scoop