Emmerdale star confirms critical ‘mic drop’ moment for Mack as he uncovers the truth about John

When it rains, it pours, and Emmerdale’s Mackenzie Boyd (Lawrence Robb) is about drenched at this point.

Here, star Lawrence Robb opens up about the troubles his alter-ego is facing…and the piece of evidence that leads him to uncover the truth about John Sugden (Oliver Farnworth).

Mack hasn’t had an easy ride recently, starting with the surrogacy saga he’s found himself embroiled in with wife Charity Dingle (Emma Atkins), who’s determined to carry a baby for granddaughter Sarah Sugden (Katie Hill).

He made it clear from the jump he wasn’t on board, but Charity went ahead anyway. When the initial attempt ended disastrously following a fall in the woods, Charity kicked Mack out when he admitted he was glad.

Speaking about the story, Lawrence said: ‘I think he copes initially in his head quite well, but he then changes his mind and then changes his mind again. So yes he is a bit like a yo-yo when it comes to the surrogacy news. And in my opinion, rightly so, given how they nearly broke up two years ago. 

‘So when I found out the news of the surrogacy, I was like, really? That’s rough. So I can totally, for one of the first times in my career, side with Mack on this. I think he was right on the money with his reaction. As while it is a lovely thing that Charity is doing for Sarah, I do think that he is right to be concerned and right to be worried given their past history. 

Unaware that, in true Charity fashion, she dealt with their tiff by getting drunk and throwing herself at her ex, Vanessa Woodfield (Michelle Hardwick), Mack tries his hardest to put things right.

Mack acquiesces to a second embryo transfer, but when he tries to further smooth things over with Charity, he finds himself left out in the cold, seeking solace in the pub.

After some prodding from Ross Barton (Michael Parr) and more than a few pints, he drunkenly confronts her about seemingly forgetting the anniversary of the loss of their child.

Speaking about the blazing argument that follows, Lawrence explained: ‘Well, it’s not looking good. There’s always a lovely element of saying never say never but I think because both characters feel so strongly – you can see it from both points of view.’

Charity responds to Mack’s accusations by booting him out – again.

Vulnerable and stung at Charity’s complete ignorance of him following their row, Mack finds himself accepting a lift from former enemy John.

”Well, he hated him when he first arrived and all the way through’, Lawrence said, discussing the dynamic between Mack and John.

‘He also hated him when he was with Aaron and hated him when John set him up with the slurry accident. But then John twisted it and used the slurry problem to help Mack get through it all, because Mack was really, really struggling.

‘So ultimately, that incident brought them a little bit closer and Mack is now at the point of view of thinking maybe you’re not as bad as I first made out; you’re still a bit weird, but you are with my best mate, so I can kind of get on board.’

‘Then of course Robert pipes up and has words with Mack about John and says, do you not think he’s a bit odd? And Mack agrees saying yeah, I really didn’t like him, but he’s all right now.’

It’s safe to say that what happens next will shape the future of both characters, as Mack is shaken to the core when he finds a damning piece of evidence in the killer’s van.

On the discovery, Lawrence revealed: ‘It’s quite a critical moment for Mack. It is a mic drop moment. Suddenly Mack is like, “I was right about you the whole time”.

When asked whether or not this discovery puts Mack in immediate danger, Lawrence didn’t mince his words: ‘One hundred percent yes. There’s no two ways about it. This evidence puts him in a dangerous position’.

When offered a potential happy ending in which Mack exposes John to the village and puts an end to his reign of terror, Lawrence was quick to counter:

‘There’s certainly a chance Mackenzie has the capability to bring John down. If he does – well that remains to be seen. But there’s potentially a very bleak outcome on the horizon.’

Will Mack be the one to finally show John’s true nature to the world? Or will he become another victim?