Exclusive: 'Emmerdale' character teasers from producer Stuart Blackburn

Emmerdale's series producer Stuart Blackburn recently had a chat with Digital Spy about recent events on the ITV1 soap and what the future holds.

For details on the future of Home Farm, life after the Maceys, Leyla's departure and the promise of an explosive autumn and winter, make sure to read the main interview with Stuart.

Here, though, Soap Scoop asks Stuart about what's planned for a number of the village's residents over the coming months...

After so many dark times, some viewers are keen to see happier material for Aaron. Will he ever head in a new direction?
"It's going to be a long, long journey. What I cannot do and what would be unforgivable would be to take Aaron on this journey and then say, 'Oh, he's been a bit upset for a while, let's give it a month or two and then he'll be happy again'. He's got a long way to go. Ultimately over the coming months, there will be a degree of redemption for him, but he has a long battle ahead.

"For Aaron, it's irrelevant what his friends, family and the courts say about what he's done - it's about what he feels. We need to keep that character real and true and we're committed to following it through. But all stories must have hope, and this one does. There's a lot of people on his side and it's perhaps time for Chas to step up to the plate as his mother. Aaron will be surrounded by love, but it'll take him a while to take that on board and deal with everything that's happened."

Aaron and Adam's friendship has been really nice to watch and has proved popular, so will we see more of it?
"Absolutely - it's a great, great friendship. Those two are great and it'll never be forgotten. Obviously we may not see them together in every episode, but this whole story for Aaron started with Adam and they've been through so much together. They're so great on screen and I like them together. I don't think there's anything that could separate them, so even if we don't always see them together, that is a true and real friendship that I'd like to maintain."

There's been some speculation over Lyndon Ogbourne returning as Nathan - is he making a comeback?
"I know Lyndon and I like him a lot, and I think the great thing with Nathan was that he was such a powerful character who we loved to hate. And bizarrely with that story, we ended up feeling sorry for him! The time might not be right for him to return now, but Nathan isn't dead and we know he's a character who holds grudges. Short-term and medium-term, there are no plans - but it's good to have a character like that on the fringes, so I never say never. But any rumours about an immediate return are just that - rumours!"

We keep hearing that there's a big story on the way for Debbie. Is it definitely happening?
"Absolutely - yes it is. I've seen some of it in the edit and I think in the next four to six weeks, that's really going to grow and grow. We haven't been lying or teasing people - it's going to be a very big story that will last for over a year and touch the hearts of a lot of our regular characters. A lot of decisions are going to have to be made - it's a heartbreaking story and, again, it will have consequences."

What about talk of a big story for Laurel and Ashley?
"Again, for once, these rumours are true! I adore Laurel and Ashley and that family set-up there. I think they're great characters who are at the heart of Emmerdale, and I think they're played by superb actors. And yes, they have one, two, three stories coming up! They're going to be right at the centre of things for quite a long time."

Do you have any big plans for the Barton family?
"Yes, definitely. I think what we're going to see a lot of is John's ambition. John and Moira are a very modern farming couple, and John is a very ambitious man. But obviously along the way, Adam has not gone the right way to make friends with Declan, shall we say! So there's a big, big story and the consequences of Adam's actions may well come back to haunt them. I know there's a massive story coming up for John and Moira that will affect not just them but other families as well."

Our readers are convinced they can see a spark between Cain and Moira…
"There is a spark between Cain and Moira - but there's a spark between Cain and most women, isn't there? That's all I'm saying! (Laughs)"

Are there also big plans for the Dingles after Lisa's story was so well-received?
"Yes, I love the Dingles and Lisa's storyline was such a powerful one. We played Lisa's story but it was also Zak's story - he's a powerful man who wasn't able to protect her. There's a story coming up for Belle, we're trying to push Sam more - and yes, the Dingles are going to be at the very, very heart of a big story that we'll be pushing through the autumn and into winter."

We've seen lots of Chas lately, but mainly playing a role in other people's stories. Will she come to the fore in her own right?
"Absolutely. Obviously some of it will be linked to the Aaron story - she's going to do anything she can to help him and protect him. Beyond that, we've got very big plans as we go into 2012. We have life-changing plans for her - it'll be Chas in her own story and she'll increasingly be at the centre of things."

Things went a bit quiet for Katie after the Henshall story, but is that set to change?
"I think Katie's just taking her time. She's had a rough ride with the Henshall storyline, but she's not going to be quiet for long. There's a bright new future for her, which could involve a man! I just hope that this time she makes the right decision and not the wrong one!"

Gennie also seems to be becoming increasingly popular…
"I absolutely adore Gennie. Watch this space with the storyline that we're seeing on screen now, because it's not going to disappear. I think Gennie is a wonderfully warm character. We're going to follow her story properly and start to learn a lot more about her. Her story is one that has legs, has consequences and it will continue on into the new year."

Do you have any storylines planned for Nicky, the new vet character?
"Yes, in the short-term he's going to step forward a bit - we'll see him make a few new friends and maybe a few enemies along the way. We'll start to learn what makes him tick, and more importantly, who makes him tick!"

Finally, how about Amy, Eric and Val?
"There's going to be a big, big story for Amy and it's going to change the lives of a lot of people around her. I think it's going to change perceptions of Amy and those people. We're going to start to understand Amy an awful lot more. It's going to be a truly heartbreaking story, and a really dangerous one as well…"

Read more of Digital Spy's exclusive Producer Season interviews:-
> Myar Craig-Brown: Holby City's series producer
> Peter Lloyd: Doctors' series producer
> Oliver Kent: Casualty's series producer
> Cameron Welsh: Home and Away's series producer
> Bryan Kirkwood: EastEnders' executive producer
> Susan Bower: Neighbours' executive producer

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