Emmerdale star Kevin Mathurin on injury for Charles in stunt episodes

Emmerdale star Kevin Mathurin has shared more details of next week's dramatic rapids scenes.

Kevin's character Charles Anderson will fight for his life when he, Manpreet Sharma (Rebecca Sarker), Victoria Barton (Isabel Hodgins) and David Metcalfe (Matthew Wolfenden) all find themselves helpless in dangerous waters.

The scenes play out in the early part of Super Soap Week, which features multiple stunts as a survival adventure challenge goes horribly wrong thanks to Meena Jutla (Paige Sandhu).

Kevin recently caught up with Digital Spy and other media to chat about what's to come.

Ahead of the survival challenge, how is Charles' relationship with Andrea going?

"In Charles' mind, it's going really well. He has just told Andrea that he loves her and she has said it back, so their relationship has moved to the next level. There has even been talk of moving in.

"But obviously Andrea has got her own issues to address with Kim Tate at the moment. There's that storyline going on, surrounding custody of Millie, so I think that's slightly messing up the flow of the situation at the moment."

Does Charles have feelings for his ex-fiancée Manpreet?

"There's always been feelings for Manpreet, because they've got history. I think whenever you're in a relationship and you're not the one who broke it off – in Manpreet's case, she left Charles at the altar – you've not got closure.

"Charles seems very tough, he knows that's the past and he's in a new relationship, but he can't help seeing that there's a rapport and something very natural between himself and Manpreet."

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Why has Charles got himself involved in the survival challenge?

"Charles and Andrea are both going through some very stressful times at the moment. Charles is still facing a dilemma over the appearance of Esme – his long-lost wife and Ethan's mum. Ethan has met up with her, but it's not gone to plan.

"Charles has just been patching all of this up and trying to make sure everyone is okay. He is always thinking of other people rather than himself.

"Charles is just worn out now. He wants to have a break and it just so happens that Andrea has mentioned this survival challenge is going on. He thought: 'Anything to escape the village for a bit'."

Over the course of the challenge, Andrea becomes unhappy with Charles, although viewers will know it's because Meena has been winding her up. Does Charles realise that?

"Not at all. It comes across a bit odd. It seems like it comes out of nowhere. He's enjoying the event, but all of a sudden Andrea's very snappy at him and he doesn't understand where it's coming from.

"There are lots of questions being asked over Charles and Andrea moving in together and whether it's going to happen or not. All of a sudden there's a pressure. Then when you get to the crux of where it's coming from, it's jealousy from Andrea over whether Charles still has feelings for Manpreet.

"There's a really uncomfortable moment where Andrea asks Charles if he still has feelings for Manpreet. You'll have to watch to find out what he says."

Charles is an honourable man, but do you think he really belongs with Manpreet?

"Charles is honourable, so in his mind, what's in the past is in the past. Yes, Manpreet and Rishi are no longer together, but now is not the time. Charles wouldn't see that as his opportunity, because right now, all of his focus is with Andrea.

"But I think Charles still has feelings for Manpreet in terms of wanting to know if she's going to be okay. He hates the fact that she's suffering and he tries to lift her.

"Charles' focus is on Andrea, though. Whether he believes it himself, that's what he's telling himself."

charles anderson in emmerdale's stunt week

ITV

We know Charles gets badly injured in these episodes. What can you tease about the water stunts?

"Yes, Charles does get injured. The water stunts were amazing to do. We had to do them numerous times, obviously, for technical reasons and camera angles.

"It was fun. It was thrilling. I think our producer Kate Brooks was talking about me when she said that it looked like real fear on the camera! I wasn't acting! They had to dub over when I was shouting for Manpreet because what I was really shouting was 'mum'! (Laughs.)

"Jokes aside, it was an amazing experience. When we were told that we were doing it, everyone was so pumped up with no fear at all. I was proud of everyone.

"Everyone teamed together. The crew looked after us and they made sure we were warm every time we got out of the water. They looked out for us so we felt safe and we could trust that the stunt was going to be okay."

Was it cold in the water?

"It was pretty cold. There was a lot of time spent in the water, changing costume, and then going back in the water. There was one time in between shots that we had to get in a dinghy, which was the right thing to do, but sometimes it was so knackering trying to get into the boat.

"In the end, I was like: 'Just leave me in the water!' It was easier to just float and swim."

How much of your own stunts were you able to do?

"We did quite a lot. The stunt team did a trial run and showed us what we needed to do. They told us: 'Okay, watch out for that bit, the current is a bit strong here, you might take a bump here'.

"They just really strongly advised us and tested everything out for us, and if it was too dangerous then they'd change it. We had their complete trust and reassurance that we were going to be okay. The guidance was amazing.

"The current was very strong, so the water was going to take you where it wanted to take you. It was having the technique of swimming against the current.

"You needed to swim but you could also stand in it. You had to make sure that you had a lot of strength and you didn't knacker yourself out. It was exhausting."

kevin mathurin films emmerdale's stunt week

ITV

How was it working on this big shoot as a cast?

"Everyone was so encouraging and supportive of one another and we looked out for each other. It was quite nice to bond after the pandemic. We isolated strictly, had lots of tests and checks, so that we could all be connected and be in our own Super Soap Week bubble.

"Rebecca and I would work out at the hotel in the evening, because we both like to use the gym. The hotel had a decent gym so we'd de-stress doing that. Then we'd just relax in our rooms. But when we were all on set, everyone used to hang out and will each other on. It was so tough and I was proud of everybody."

How did you wind down after filming?

"Personally I ate and stayed in my room and watched Netflix. I love my own company, I love my own space. It's great being around everybody, but it was nice because one of the hotels had a bath so I was like: 'Thank you!' I had a soak, I'd speak to my family and then I'd just relax and watch TV in bed. That's all I had the energy for at the end of the day, really."

How did you feel about being part of Super Soap Week?

"I was surprised, if I'm honest. I felt kind of new! I heard earlier in the year and I was still new at the time. Our executive producer Jane Hudson had a word with me saying: 'Make sure you set up your annual leave dates around so-and-so a time, because you're going to be part of Super Soap Week'.

"I couldn't believe it. As it got closer and closer, I was so excited and raring to go. When it was revealed what was going to happen and what was expected of us, I was like: 'Bring it! Bring it on'."

Are you looking forward to watching the episodes?

"I'm looking forward to watching it, definitely. I know cast and crew and everyone involved did an amazing job and it was an amazing effort. I'm excited to see the outcome. We've had some feedback from the editing saying how brilliant it is already. So I'll be glued, I'll be watching definitely."

Emmerdale airs on weeknights at 7pm on ITV, with an extra episode at 8pm on Thursdays.