The relationship between Marlon Dingle and April Windsor has become increasingly strained in the lead up to Christmas, but the same can’t be said for the bond between actors Mark Charnock and Amelia Flanagan.

Mark, 56, heaped praise on his co-star Amelia, 16, who has portrayed his daughter on Emmerdale since 2014.

Since being kidnapped by Jade and discovering the truth about her mum’s death, April’s behaviour has continued to spiral. Things come to a head on Christmas Eve when the teenager turns to alcohol to help with her declining mental state.

Although Marlon and April’s relationship is hanging by a thread, Mark opened up about how much he has enjoyed working with Amelia over the past few months.

He exclusively told Express.co.uk and other press: “It’s been fantastic working with her, particularly recently but she’s always been so great.”

April’s behaviour has continued to spiral (Image: ITV)

The soap star continued: “I’m very biased about Amelia’s performance but she’s not gone through that bit where they become a bit self conscious. She’s kind of just jumped to being an adult actor.

“It’s extraordinary to watch. I was doing some scenes with her the other day where she was confronting me about why I didn’t tell her about Donna.

“She can be so mesmerising because she’s got these really piercing eyes and there’s so much going on behind her eyes that it’s like working with someone far more experienced. But then you forget, she’s really experienced.”

Mark added: “But she’s not gone through any of those fazes. There’s been no middle bit. She’s gone from being a really good little kid actor to an adult actor. It’s lovely, she’s so wonderful to work with.”

Marlon’s worst fears come true when April goes missing on Christmas Day (Image: ITV)

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Marlon’s worst fears come true when he wakes up on Christmas Day to find April has disappeared.

Expressing how Marlon feels when he discovers his teenage daughter is missing, he said: “She’s gone. There’s that moment where you can only imagine. It’s not like a building horror, it’s a full 10 because there’s nothing right about her empty room on Christmas Day.

“No matter what they’ve been through, there’s no way that room could or should be empty. And she’s gone.”

The soap star added: “It’s unimaginable horror that’s instant and full.”

Marlon turns to his loved ones and it’s not long before a village-wide search begins for April. And this is far from the end of the story as the actor teased: “This storyline escalates. This is just the beginning.”