Emmerdale star Zoë Henry has discussed the possibility of her character, Rhona Goskirk, leaving her marriage to Marlon Dingle. Though the pair have a strong bond, Rhona’s resolve is tested by former flame Graham Foster.

Rhona’s world was rocked earlier this year after Graham returned from the dead, with the character arriving in the Dales following a six-year absence. Rhona married Marlon in 2022, and the pair raise April Windsor together.

Graham, however, is hellbent on rekindling his romance with Rhona, and upcoming scenes in the ITV soap will see the love triangle take another turn as Marlon spots Rhona and Graham sharing an intimate moment.

With both Marlon and Graham having very different personalities, Rhona finds herself torn, with Henry – who first portrayed the character in 2001 – sharing that it would be a tough decision to make.

“Marlon offers her security and definite happiness,” explained the actor. “They’ve got three kids together, which is a blended family of sorts. It’s not easy. They’ve been through a lot together.

“I suppose Graham is exciting, very different and slightly risky. Whereas Marlon – not to use ‘pedestrian’ in a bad way – but it’s a very obvious life and a very happy one. But it’d be an easier choice I think.”

Despite only getting married four years ago, Marlon and Rhona have a long history together dating all the way back to Henry’s early years, and she explained why it would be a difficult decision to leave him.

“She loves Marlon and they go back 20 years,” said the star. “My first appearance in the show was in 2001 and they had a brief affair. They’ve had all these years and, of course, they share children now.

“Ivy is not biologically Marlon’s, and April is not biologically Rhona’s, but Rhona loves that girl like she’s her own and I know Marlon feels the same. And they’ve got this shared, brilliant son [Leo].

“They’ve got so much together. I can’t imagine how she’d even begin to consider walking away, but she’s been put in an impossible situation of being literally dropped back into where she was emotionally six years ago.”

Whatever decision Rhona makes (viewers will find out next week), it will have a lasting impact on her relationships with each party. Even if she chooses Marlon, her lingering feelings for Graham could pose a problem further down the line.

“Certainly, the foundations will be shaken,” stated Henry. “If, for even a second, you think your partner has had their head turned, it’s going to impact you. But they’ve got to be honest. It’s about communication for Rhona and Marlon – it’s cards on the table.”

If Rhona elects to pursue another romance with Graham, then it will mean leaving behind the family unit that she has forged over the years. Her bond with April, in particular, would be sorely missed.

“The amazing story that Amelia [Flanagan, who plays April] has just told – the whole Celia and Ray thing – has just cemented Rhona’s role, not as April’s mother but as close as she could ever be to Donna,” said Henry.

“I think that would be as difficult to walk away from as it would be to walk away from Marlon. Also, how would Graham and Rhona exist in that village? It feels impossible. I mean, nothing’s impossible because it’s soap! But I question how they’d manage that.”