The corridors of Hotten General are set to become a lot more hostile this February. Esteemed actress Caroline Harker (A Touch of Frost, Midsomer Murders) is officially returning to the Dales for an extended run as Doctor Todd.
While Jacob Sugden (Joe Warren Plant) has been thriving in his medical career, his professional world is about to become a battleground. As Doctor Todd takes her place as his boss, she is quick to find fault and relentlessly criticises her enthusiastic trainee.
The upcoming storyline aims to shine a spotlight on the troubling reality of workplace bullying and the shift in power dynamics between a mentor and their student. Jacob, known for his ambition, will find his confidence shattered as he struggles to manage a healthy work-life balance under immense pressure.
The tension won’t stay confined to the hospital, however. The stakes are raised when Doctor Todd installs herself in the village, effectively blurring the lines between Jacob’s professional and private life.
Speaking about her return to the soap, Caroline Harker shared her thoughts on the challenging road ahead for Jacob: ‘I’m delighted to be back at Emmerdale for a longer stint playing Doctor Todd. She’s a complex character and from what I’ve been told so far, quite a tricky one for Jacob to navigate. Workplace bullying is commonplace, and it will be interesting to see it brought to our screens in a serial drama such as Emmerdale.’
Emmerdale Producer Laura Shaw teased that the village should prepare for a shake-up: ‘We are looking forward to seeing the machinations of someone like Caitlin Todd, and it’s not just at the hospital where she will start to make an impression. Caroline is a fabulous actor and brings such great experience to this role – we can’t wait for her to play out what we have planned for the character.’
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