Life at The Woolpack will take a very dark turn as Chas Dingle accidentally stabs her friend Diane Sugden.

Chas will make the shocking move in the heat of the moment when she thinks that her stalker has broken into the pub to kill her.

Chas is left fearful when Emma returns to the village after a few days away.

Emma's presence sends Chas's paranoia into overdrive, especially when she wakes up one morning to find a large kitchen knife placed next to her bed.

Lucy Pargeter, who plays Chas, revealed: "Chas has decided she's being stalked by Emma. Emma has always been a bit of a strange character anyway, but there's an extra insecurity there due to her relationship with James. Emma keeps thinking that James is going to reunite with Chas, even though Chas has got no interest in James at all anymore. When Chas finds the knife by her bed, she thinks it's definitely a message from Emma that she's going to have to watch her back. Chas thinks her life is in danger and she completely freaks out. Afterwards, Aaron and Cain both offer to do a stake-out at Emma's house, which does reassure Chas. Cain has really stepped up as head of the Dingles recently and his brother-sister relationship with Chas is really flowering."

Unfortunately, Chas's new-found relief doesn't last for long as she wakes up that night to hear a disturbance from downstairs. Diane is responsible for the noise as she is arriving home a little worse for wear after a night out.

Pargeter continued: "When Chas hears the noise, she thinks Emma has come to get her and she might lose her life. She takes the knife with her to defend herself and I think instinct just kicks in. What happens isn't self-defence, but it's fuelled by everything that's happened. Chas reacts in the worst way possible and just lunges forward. She doesn't know who's there, but she thinks it's either them or her and stabs Diane. It's complete panic afterwards and Chas doesn't believe that she could have done it. She runs away from the situation, it's a 'fight or flight' thing, but Cain goes after her. I think she needs professional help now, really. It's gone beyond the help that Aaron and Cain can give her."

Diane will pull through after being rushed to hospital for emergency surgery, but there could be more trouble to come when she later receives some shocking news from the doctors.

Chas also has a long journey ahead as her ex-husband Gordon will soon be returning to the village.

 

Speaking about what's ahead, Pargeter added: "I really do hope that Chas and Diane can get their friendship back on track. They work great as a team and I love working with Liz. Chas has let Diane down quite a lot in the past and she's been so forgiving over the years. Whether this will be the final straw that makes Diane think they can't be friends anymore, I don't know! They always have their fallings out, but then they come back together again, so fingers crossed. I'm really enjoying the storylines at the moment, but I'm absolutely shattered to be quite honest with you. It's been absolute non-stop, as we've had long days and night shoots. I've also been moving house and renovating, so my personal life has been crazy as well. Normally you can leave work, go home and relax but everything's been crazy for a couple of months. I'm looking forward to taking on the next challenge, but hopefully in more relaxed surroundings at home!"

Airs Wednesday, November 25th