Laurel Thomas

Laurel Thomas
Emmerdale character
Charlotte Bellamy as Laurel Thomas
Portrayed byCharlotte Bellamy
Cal Freestone (2016)[1]
Duration2002–present
First appearanceEpisode 3258
3 September 2002 (2002-09-03)
ClassificationPresent; regular
Introduced byKeith Richardson
In-universe information
Other namesLaurel Potts
Laurel Dingle
Laurel Thomas
Laurel Sharma
Occupation
  • Cleaner
  • Packer
  • Factory supervisor
  • Café waitress
FatherDouglas Potts
MotherHilary Potts
SistersCaroline Swann
HusbandAshley Thomas (2005–2013, 2016–2017)
Marlon Dingle (2014–2015)
Jai Sharma (2023–present)
SonsArthur Thomas
DaughtersDotty Thomas
Adoptive sonsDaniel Thomas
StepsonsLeo Goskirk (2014–2015)
Archie Breckle (2023–present)
StepdaughtersGabby Thomas (2005–2013, 2016–2017)
April Windsor (2014–2015)
NiecesJasmine Thomas (step)
Other relativesSandy Thomas (father-in law, 2005–2013, 2016–2017)
Dorothy Thomas (mother-in law)
Luke Thomas (brother-in law, 2005–2013, 2016–2017)

Laurel Thomas (also Potts and Dingle) is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Emmerdale, played by Charlotte Bellamy. She debuted on screen during the episode airing on 3 September 2002. Laurel has been off-screen at various times while Bellamy has taken maternity leave. Laurel is shown to have a thoughtful and caring attitude towards other characters, however, this changed dramatically in 2015 when she developed an addiction to alcohol which often caused her to become violent and aggressive.

Her storylines have included her first and second marriages to Ashley Thomas (John Middleton), the highly publicised cot death storyline in which Laurel and Ashley's adoptive baby son dies but it transpires that their biological baby is still alive as he was accidentally swapped with another baby at the hospital, mentally unstable Sally Spode (Siân Reeves) trying to murder Laurel on numerous occasions, discovering Ashley's abuse of his elderly widower father Sandy (Freddie Jones), her relationship and marriage to Marlon Dingle (Mark Charnock), being carjacked by Ross Barton (Michael Parr) and becoming obsessed with getting her revenge on him, sliding into alcoholism when she begins to struggle with life, a reunion with Ashley, coping with Ashley's vascular dementia, going into premature labour which resulted in the birth of her and Ashley's daughter, Dotty, coming to terms with Ashley's death, her friendship with fellow widow Emma Barton (Gillian Kearney), which later turns bitter when she becomes obsessed with proving that Emma murdered her husband, James (Bill Ward); an affair with Bob Hope (Tony Audenshaw), her marriage to Jai Sharma and deciding to terminate their pregnancy after discovering that the baby has Down syndrome.

  1. ^ Series Producer: Iain MacLeod; Director: Peter Rose; Writer: Maxine Alderton (20 December 2016). "Episode 7699:Inside the Mind of Dementia". Emmerdale. ITV. ITV.