Charlotte Bellamy feels that \'Emmerdale\' has handled the death of Freddie Jones really well.
The 46-year-old actress plays Laurel Thomas, the former daughter-in-law of Freddie\'s character Sandy Thomas, in the ITV soap and off screen Freddie - who appeared on the show between 2005 and 2018 - died at the age of 91 in July 2019.
Freddie\'s popular alter ego Sandy will be killed off-screen in Australia next week and Charlotte feels that is the right time for \'Emmerdale\' to acknowledge Freddie\'s passing.
In an interview with Inside Soap magazine, Charlotte said: "When a cast member dies in real life, there has to be a period where the character is not really mentioned. But now feels the most correct and respectful time to acknowledge the actor and his character have died, and I feel the show had dealt with it really well."
Charlotte also discussed how the fall-out from Sandy\'s death will cause her on-screen son Arthur (Alfie Clarke) to admit to his bullying of Archie Breckle (Kai Assi).
She said: "The story is very complex, and it\'s going to get more so. But the thing is, as a parent myself, you\'d always stick up for your child. You\'ll always try and see the good in them, even if they\'re being horrendous and a bully. You try to think of why - is it your fault? The animalistic maternal instincts kick in, and I think every parent can kind of understand that."
Laurel will travel to Australia to help arrange Sandy\'s funeral and Charlotte believes it will be some welcome respite for her character.
Charlotte said: "It\'s the perfect chance for Laurel to ignore the fact that she has to deal with this. She feels that Arthur has enough on his plate at the moment, and that going to Australia will be a good way of burying it.
"That\'s Laurel\'s character - the matriarchal figure who doesn\'t think that her child is in the wrong. She\'ll protect Arthur to the end."
