Emma Atkins knows her 'Emmerdale' alter-ego Charity Tate will never be happy with Cain Dingle.

The 34-year-old actress - who plays the former prostitute in the ITV soap - admits her gold-digging character has feelings for her former lover but is aware they are not good for each other.

She said: "Charity and Cain have always had this love-hate thing between them. They both enjoy the fighting and bickering - they don't know any different. But I don't think a happy relationship sounds right where either of them is concerned, so who knows?

Emma - who recently returned to the show after a four-year break - previously said she had no hesitations about rejoining the 'Emmerdale' cast.

She said: "It's brilliant to be back. Charity is back under circumstances beyond her control which creates a whole host of problems for all concerned.

"I met with the new producer Gavin Blythe and he told me the idea for the future storyline involving Charity and I couldn't possibly say no. The scripts are fantastic and viewers are in for a treat."