‘Emmerdale’: Wedding joy for Marlon and Rhona after last minute hitch

The traditional drama of a soap wedding was shelved tonight, in favour of a hard-earned celebration for Emmerdale couple Marlon Dingle (Mark Charnock) and Rhona Goskirk (Zoë Henry).

It has to be said, most fictional weddings of this genre are destined for disaster, so it was refreshing to know that whatever might get in the way, it definitely wouldn’t be a murder, a bombshell fling or a sudden change of heart.

But while this time, there was no doubt that the bride and groom actually wanted to be there, there was just one crucial problem.

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After suffering a stroke earlier this year, Marlon ended up back in hospital the night before his big day.

What started as a secret pledge to walk down the aisle led to a medical dilemma, as Marlon fell to the floor, only to learn that his blood pressure was too high which heightened his risk of a second stroke.

Inevitably, by the time the morning arrived, he was far too stressed to allow the issue to resolve itself; and best man Paddy (Dominic Brunt) was no help in calming him down as the chaos sparked his own version of panic mode.

Back in the village, Rhona was blissfully unaware of the situation as Marlon wanted to spare her more worry. But as maid of honour Vanessa Woodfield (Michelle Hardwick) tried to stall her, the best she could do was insult her wedding make-up.

Read more: Emmerdale: Marlon's storyline praised for 'realistic depiction' of stroke

At the church, Rhona soon realised something was up, but thankfully Marlon made it in time to rise from his wheelchair and take those long-awaited steps towards his future wife.

From that moment on, it was all about the emotion of the day as the pair said their vows and were finally married, just as they had planned all those months ago before Marlon fell ill.

The actors have been hailed for their authentic portrayal of stroke, with charities including the Stroke Association and Different Strokes sharing their praise for Emmerdale’s dedication to raising awareness. Charnock later won Best Dramatic Performance at this year's British Soap Awards.

As Marlon and Rhona made their speeches at the wedding reception, their poignant words were powerful and heartwarming as they reflected on the challenges they have faced so far.

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Marlon thanked Rhona for never giving up on him - even when he tried to put her off marrying him. Rhona, meanwhile, was overwhelmed as she told him how proud she was to see him walk down the aisle.

There was also a notable mention of their previous attempts at a relationship - long-term viewers will recall that the bond between Marlon and Rhona spans more than 20 years.

Before their romantic reunion, they were contentedly co-parenting their son Leo (Harvey Rogerson). Marlon proved a strong support during Rhona’s personal struggles, while Rhona has always cared for Marlon’s daughter April (Amelia Flanagan) as her own.

Stars Charnock and Henry have always worked beautifully together, and their alter egos now form one of Emmerdale’s strongest ever partnerships as the newlyweds look to the future.

Of course, Marlon’s journey of recovery doesn’t end here. But now was the right time for the character and his family to sit back and bask in their joy. And Emmerdale certainly delivered the happy ever after they deserved.

Viewers can find help and support by visiting Stroke Association here: https://www.stroke.org.uk/, or Different Strokes which can be found here: https://differentstrokes.co.uk/

Watch Mark Charnock discussing his important Emmerdale storyline