While Mackenzie Boyd is finally out of the bunker, he’s not quite out of the woods yet (metaphorically speaking; he is actually out of the woods where the bunker is located), while actor Lawrence Robb who plays the recently freed Mack has enjoyed a weekend away with several of his Emmerdale co-stars.
On-screen, Mack was embroiled in a feud with the army medic, telling anybody who’d listen that he suspected John Sugden (Oliver Farnworth) of being a grade A wrong’un. As he screamed his theories from the rooftops, however, he was outwitted by John at every turn.
Viewers have known for a while, however, that Mack is bang on the money: John is incredibly dangerous. He has a ‘hero complex’, which compels him to endanger the lives of others, only so he can then appear just in time to save them and bask in the glory and gratitude of their loved ones.
One of John’s stunts saw Nate Robinson (Jurell Carter) lose his life when he unfortunately expired before John could complete the ‘savior’ portion of his routine. Poor Nate ended up being dumped in the lake, with John covering his tracks via a stitch up. John later framed Mack for the slurry leak he caused at Mack’s sister Moira Dingle’s (Natalie J Robb) farm, plunging her into serious financial hardship.
Though Mack eventually let his feud with John drop somewhat, with Robert Sugden (Ryan Hawley) taking up the mantle of John’s number one nemesis, he later realised that he had been right all along, when he discovered evidence that John had killed Nate.
After a tense car ride, John chased Mack through the forest with, armed with crossbow, and seemingly killed him when he shot him with it, before attacking him with a huge rock.
Devastated fans were relieved when it was revealed that John hadn’t actually offed Mack, instead keeping him imprisoned inside a bunker-cum-jail, close to where John was staying in a remote cottage with husband Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller), who he’d begun to drug in order to increase his need for his husband.
Although best friend Aaron heard Mack’s cries for help and attempted to save him, he wound up plummeting from a gorge when John decided to take the ultimate revenge on his love rival/half brother Robert.
When Aaron awoke following a failed murder attempt by John, he revealed Mack’s grim fate.
Mack injected himself with the syringe John had left for him previously, in an effort to end his suffering, hallucinating his wife, Charity Dingle (Emma Atkins), before losing consciousness, who, upon learning of what’d happened, raced to the bunker to save her husband.
John, meanwhile, had already decided to help his captive, as he carried a seriously unwell Mack into the hospital before bolting. As hospital staff warned his family that things weren’t looking good, though he later regained consciousness and was reunited with his beloved wife.
Dramatic, right?!
Luckily, Mack actor, Lawrence Robb, has been having a much better time off-screen, as evidenced by co-star Lisa Riley’s (Mandy Dingle) new Instagram post.
‘This was one of the best times I’ve ever had working for @emmerdale when we went to Scotland last weekend-the fun, the laughter, the party, the challenges, but I suppose mostly the people…thank you for the hours of true brilliance, loved every second, and still smiling’ she captioned the sweet post.
Lisa and Lawrence were joined by Jack Downham (Noah Dingle), Bradley Riches (Lewis Barton), Mark Charnock (Marlon Dingle), Nicola Wheeler (Nicola King), Dawn Taylor (Olivia Bromley) and Katie Hill (Sarah Sugden).
As the picture was shared before the reveal that Mack survived, fans were elated at Lawrence’s presence, hoping it was confirmation that the loveable rogue would make it through his ordeal.
‘Mackenzie’s with you all woohoo!’ said one commenter. Another added: ‘Macs alive! welcome back’ while a third said: ‘welcome Emmerdale cast and our own braveheart Mack. I hope you return soon.’
Upon official confirmation that Mack had survived, fans flooded comment sections with joy.
‘Absolutely brilliant by all concerned cried at the start and at the end just hope Mackenzie makes a full recovery can’t wait for tomorrow’s episode,’ wrote Syl Jones.
‘Fantastic episode tonight. Well done guys. I hope Mackenzie makes a full recovery and that John gets caught,’ Sarah Kaye Brogan added.
