'Emmerdale' Alicia is devastated for Andy, says Natalie Anderson

Emmerdale star Natalie Anderson has discussed her character's role in Sarah's illness storyline, admitting that Alicia Gallagher will experience mixed emotions as she becomes increasingly affected by the situation in the coming days.

Alicia is currently supporting partner Andy Sugden (Kelvin Fletcher) as he and Debbie Dingle desperately try to find a bone marrow match for their young daughter, who has been diagnosed with the rare genetic disorder Fanconi Anaemia.

Anderson told Inside Soap of the storyline: "Alicia is absolutely devastated for Sarah, Andy and Debbie. She's trying very hard to be supportive. She loves Sarah to bits and as a mum to Jacob, she knows how important it is to look out for your child.

"So when the donation unit comes to the village hall, she's right there bullying everyone to spit into tubes to see if they could be a match for Sarah. But it's all becoming very difficult for Alicia, because she's jealous of Debbie and all of the time that Andy has to spend with her now."



The actress added that upcoming tension between Alicia and Debbie makes the situation more difficult.

"Those two are so confrontational," she explained. "They both get each other's backs up. I think what annoys Alicia the most is when Debbie says that she's a bad mum. But she isn't - they just come from extremely different schools of parenting."

Sarah's storyline takes a new twist in the next fortnight when Andy and Debbie decide to have another baby together in a 'saviour sibling' plan.

Charley Webb, who plays Debbie, recently confirmed that the pair will have to pretend to be a couple as they undergo IVF treatment for Sarah's sake.

> Emmerdale Sarah plot must be done correctly, says Charley Webb
> Emmerdale Debbie has no doubts over baby plan, says Charley Webb
> Read more Emmerdale spoilers and news

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