They are finally brought back together after Laurel decides to confess that she still has feelings for Ashley.
Laurel makes her bold move after Ashley splits from his current partner Harriet Finch.
Ashley
is initially hesitant and reluctantly breaks the news of his recent
dementia diagnosis, but a shocked Laurel refuses to be deterred and vows
to stand by him every step of the way.
Charlotte Bellamy, who plays Laurel, revealed: "Laurel confesses her
love to Ashley, but he says that she can't fall in love with him and
then tells her why. It's an absolute shock, she can't understand it
because he is only 54. She's also seen Ashley around the village and
he seemed fine. She knows he's been a bit forgetful, but she can't
believe that he's been dealing with this all on his own. She's not going
to leave him. Before you
know it, they're back together and it feels like they haven't even been
apart. When Laurel's alcoholism got really tough, Ashley was always
there for her. He was the one who never judged her, and I think that was
true love. That's what she quotes when they get back together. Ashley
never really fell out of love with Laurel, and I think probably she
didn't with him either. She was also in love with Marlon and he's funny
and so different to Ashley, but her heart's really with Ashley, isn't
it?"
While Laurel and Ashley's reunion will be
welcomed by most, an upset Harriet will be stunned when she first sees
them back together.
Bellamy added: "Ashley does like
Harriet and he respects her, but he doesn't want to put that burden on
her. It doesn't feel right. She was fine as a
girlfriend for him at that moment, but we're talking about something
much bigger now and really the history lies with Laurel. Laurel
doesn't try to split them up or anything like that. She actually tries
to keep them together at first, but it kind of backfires. It's only
after Ashley finishes it with Harriet that Laurel confesses her love.
But yeah, poor Harriet!"
Airs Monday, December 21st