ITV Emmerdale's Lucy Pargeter nearly played Charity Dingle before landing Chas role

Emmerdale star Lucy Pargeter has opened up about her journey to becoming the much-loved Chas Dingle on the ITV soap, revealing that she had previously auditioned for two other roles.

The 47-year-old actress, who has been a fixture on Emmerdale since 2002, initially tried out for the part of Charity Dingle, which ultimately went to her close friend Emma Atkins. Emma, 49, has been portraying Charity since 2000.

In a candid conversation with OK! in 2022, Lucy shared her experience: "Yes, I went for the role of Charity!

"So it got down to me, Emma and somebody else for the role of Charity. Also there was a trucker that I auditioned for in Emmerdale a long long time ago. So yeah, I've been up for three roles and got one of them!", reports Leeds Live.

During the same interview, both Lucy and Emma talked about other characters they'd be interested in playing on the show.

When asked which other roles they would pick if given the chance, Emma expressed her admiration for two characters: "For me there are two people", and elaborated: "So Faith Dingle, I think she's pretty cool, she's so funny, she's so charismatic. I can't take my eyes off her when she's onscreen, she manages to make everyone laugh.

"The other one is Emma Barton, remember Emma Barton? Gillian Kearney she could play crazy so well and I thought: 'I'd love to play a character that zany and crazy!'"

Lucy, on the other hand, had a surprising choice, stating: "I would morph into Cain Dingle!" which elicited a surprised reaction from Emma, who asked: "Would you?"

Lucy went on to say: "Or you [Emma], I think we're quite similar but you get away with being nastier and I'd want Chas to be slightly nastier. She used to be but she's mellowed in her old age!"

Emma responded by saying: "I do love our chemistry together anyway, I do often watch you and think: 'B****y hell, she's good!'"

Lucy finished her answer by saying: "Charity so I could be bad and Cain so I could be bad."

Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX, with an hour-long episode on Thursdays.

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