‘Can’t they think of a better storyline for Laurel?’ sigh fans as they brand her ‘village bike’ after sleeping with Charles

Emmerdale last night was an horrific episode – and not just thanks to Belle and Tom, but also due to Laurel Thomas. The former vicar’s wife has turned her attention to another man of the cloth, sleeping with Charles Anderson.

This can only end one way: badly, and fans certainly agree. They are not impressed with the latest offering for long-standing character Laurel and want the soap to give her something better to do.

Laurel and Charles sleep together in Emmerdale

Laurel has been throwing herself into planning the Harvest Festival to take her mind off her bitter divorce from Jai Sharma. She’s keen to get back involved with the church she’s had very little to do with since her husband Ashley died. That aside, she wants to modernise and help current vicar Charles keep the community coming to the services.

But Charles is a bit stuck in his ways and bows down to his mother, Claudette, and her very traditional views. So Laurel’s ideas of a disco, karaoke and feeding the hungry with veg from Liam’s allotment have gone down like a cup of cold sick.

Airing her annoyance to Manpreet, Charles overheard and wasn’t happy. But it did spear Laurel and Manpreet to become besties overnight. Something which has been severely tested now…

After Charles sacked her from the committee, Laurel went to give him a piece of her mind. But she ended up kissing him after giving him an earful! Then they headed to the bedroom.

When Manpreet came round to see Charles and tell him she wants him back, she was dismayed to see he was doing up his shirt and Laurel’s coat was there. She put two and two together and got four and she was right. Oops.

Fans react

So Laurel’s feeling terrible for breaking girl code, she and Charles have agreed it won’t happen again, Manpreet’s not impressed, and no doubt Jai will be fuming when he finds out, and it’s all a big mess.

Those watching at home also agree it was not the smartest move – and have hit out at the soap for not giving Laurel something better to do.

“Laurel is the village’s answer to what has become a London fixture, bike for hire…” joked one. Others agreed: “Village bike,” and “Laurel the village bike,” they commented.

Someone else said: “Laurel – is that all they can do with her character? Local bike, so nearly everyone gets a go??”

“For a series with a predominantly female team behind the scenes you would think that one decent female character would exist in an entire village. What have they done to Laurel?” mused one more.

Another said: Randy old vicar! The thought of Charles and Laurel has proper give me the ick! Emmerdale writers are getting desperate now …. Purrleese!”

So, are they the next big thing? Or should they leave it there and never make us watch that again? We’re going with the latter.

Read more: We’re Team Laurel in her divorce with Jai

Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm.

Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm.

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