Todd

Emmerdale’s Dr Todd, played by Caroline Harker, has been causing chaos in the village but the actress comes from a famous acting family

Dr Todd has caused nothing but chaos since her arrival on Emmerdale.

After bullying young trainee doctor Jacob Sugden (Joe-Warren Plant) at the hospital, Dr Todd, played by Caroline Harker, turned her attentions to Charity Dingle (Emma Atkins).

On Sunday night, Dr Todd sexually assaulted Charity after weeks of blackmailing her over the true parentage of baby Leyla.

Charity served as a surrogate for granddaughter Sarah Sugden and Sarah’s husband Jacob, giving birth to baby Leyla. However, Charity has failed to tell the new parents that she and Ross Barton are actually Leyla’s biological parents following a short fling together.

After Dr Todd discovered this secret, she demanded £100,000 from Charity, and things took a horrifying turn when Dr Todd sexually assaulted Charity on Sunday’s episode.

With Dr Todd currently dominating storylines on the ITV soap viewers may be interested to learn that actress Caroline, 60, hails from quite a distinguished acting family.

Who is Dr Todd star Caroline Harker’s family?

Away from the soap, it transpires that Dr Todd actress Caroline comes from quite a celebrated family. Her mother, Polly Adams, is an accomplished actress who has worked extensively across both the UK and the US.

She is perhaps best known for playing Mrs Brown in the 1990s television series Just William, with further TV credits including Kingdom and The Cinder Path.

In 1975, Polly made her Broadway debut in the award-nominated role of Grace Harkaway in a revival of London Assurance. However, Polly isn’t the only celebrated family member Caroline has.

Her sister is Susannah Harker, who has featured in hit BBC 1995 series Pride and Prejudice as Jane Bennet, alongside Jennifer Ehle, who played Elizabeth Bennet, and Colin Firth, who played Mr Darcy.

Other roles include Midsomer Murders and Grantchester. She also received a BAFTA TV Award nomination in 1990 for her portrayal of Mattie Storin in House of Cards.

Who is Dr Todd star Caroline Harker’s husband?

Caroline is wed to actor Anthony Calf, and together the couple have three daughters: Louise Emma Calf, Cecilia Ann L Calf, and Anemone Georgiana Calf.

The 66-year-old boasts an extensive acting career and is best known for his roles in The Madness of King George, Beau Geste, and I Came By, alongside his appearances in Lewis.

Between 2023 and 2025, Anthony portrayed Lord Brightlingsea in the costume drama The Buccaneers, and has also featured in the film A Teacher’s Gift (2025) and the series Insomnia (2024).

From 2005, Anthony spent a decade playing DAC Robert Strickland in New Tricks, having previously taken on the role of Michael Beauchamp in Holby City (2005 – 2006).

In 2019, Anthony stepped into the role of William Wickham in the hugely popular series Poldark, and also appeared in Doctor Who as Godsacre (2017) as well as Death in Paradise in 2021 as Phillip Carlton. His former brother-in-law is Game of Thrones star Iain Glen.

What else has Dr Todd star Caroline Harker been in?

Away from her work in the Dales, Caroline has cropped up in a host of productions, including Harry Enfield and Chums, Holding On, The Man Who Lost His Head with Martin Clunes, Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, Midsomer Murders, and Doctors.

In 2012, Caroline took on the role of Alicia Davenport for a brief stint in Coronation Street. She is also widely recognised for her portrayal of PC Hazel Wallace in A Touch of Frost, starring opposite Sir David Jason.

Her most recent roles include Julia in the Apple TV series Hijack, Bethany Hastings in The Stolen Girl, and Mrs. Taylor-Brown. Back in 2011, she made a one-off appearance in New Tricks, sharing the screen with her husband, portraying the character Tabitha Hall-Chalmers.

Emmerdale airs Monday to Friday at 8:00pm on ITV1 and ITVX

Emmerdale’s Charity Dingle made the brave decision to report her abuser to the police in powerful scenes, after Dr Todd’s disgusting assault left fans sickened on Sunday

Charity Dingle vowed to stop Emmerdale villain Dr Todd in powerful and moving scenes on Monday.

This article contains details from the latest episode now available on ITVX, while it airs on ITV1 on Monday at 8PM. The character had been subjected to a horrific sexual assault moments earlier by the former doctor. After Todd continued to blackmail Charity for money over her baby lie, Charity spiralled.

After getting drunk she confronted Todd, and was cruelly made to believe they had come to a truce. Todd had comemnted on why she was really targeting Charity, while Charity passed out on the sofa.

It’s then that in dark scenes, Todd took advantage of Charity while she was out of it, and after hurling insults at her she sexually assauted her. Charity realised what was happening and woke up, left numb as Todd smirked before leaving the room.

During Monday’s episode, Charity was visibly distraught by her ordeal, and sat in silence. As her family and friends continued celebrating her granddaughter Sarah’s birthday at the pub, Charity soon decided to join them.

Saying nothing about what had happened, she put on a brave face and joined her loved ones. She made her excuses and left, and we saw her approaching the outside of Vanessa Woodfield’s house, where Todd is staying.

But Charity didn’t enter the house, and instead she made the brave decision to report Todd to the police. A shaken Charity confirmed she was there to report a crime, before she was led into a room by a detective.

As Charity relived the horrifying assault that had just happened, she was told she would need to give full details and a statement, as well as undergo a full medical examination. The detective said they believed her, and they needed to gather as much evidence as possible.

They also revealed they would need to arrest and question Dr Todd about Charity’s accusations, and it would later be determined if there was enough evidence for Todd to be charged. As Charity returned home alone, she broke down in tears.

Emotional viewers praised Charity’s bravery, and shared they were glad the soap had taken this route. One fan said on social media: “Very glad #emmerdale went in the direction they did with Charity immediately going to the police.”

Another fan posted: “Charity went to the police that was unexpected,” as a third added: “I did a little cheer when Charity went to the police station, and when they said they believed her.” A fan then replied: “Yeah I did a little cheer as well!”

A final comment read: “I was surprised Charity went to the Police at this stage but definitely the correct way for the show to go.”

* If you’ve been the victim of sexual assault, you can access help and resources via www.rapecrisis.org.uk or calling the national telephone helpline on 0808 802 9999

Emmerdale airs weeknights at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX. * Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .

Emmerdale has had plenty of dark moments, but fans have now called the most latest storyline involving Charity and Dr Todd ‘abhorrent’ and have said the soap has gone too far

Emmerdale has aired some shocking storylines since it first began in 1972, but perhaps none so dark as its most recent, which fans have said went too far.

In Sunday night’s episode, airing on 7 June, longtime favourite Charity Dingle (Emma Atkins) became the victim of a “horrendous” sexual assault at the hands of Caitlin Todd (Caroline Harker). Dr Todd had been blackmailing Charity over the true parentage of the baby she gave her granddaughter but after Charity fought back, the villainous doctor tried to kiss her. Though she was rejected, when a drunk Charity fell asleep, Dr Todd assaulted her.

Fans were furious with the storyline. One called it “disturbing”: “The SA scene in #Emmerdale is horrendous, please take care of yourselves, very difficult watch. Charity [crying emoji].I can’t post the clip its so disturbing.”

Another added that they felt “physically sick” and hoped that the soap would be fined for the latest storyline: “I hope #Emmerdale gets a fine and or massive warning, there’s doing a storyline and there is a storyline that makes many women feel physically sick and shaking, disgusting behaviour from TV.”

Finally, another implied that the actors should be “ashamed” for agreeing to film the scenes and said they would not be watching. But this is not the first time Emmerdale has aired a deeply dark storyline. From serial killers to a modern slavery plot, here are the darkest storylines on Emmerdale.

Serial killer Meena

Nurse Meena Jutla (Paige Sandhu) arrived in Emmerdale in 2020. Meena did many villainous things whilst on Emmerdale, inclduing pretending to be Ethan Anderson’s (Emile John) estranged mum and taking Rishi Sharma’s (Bhasker Patel) medication so that she could later save him.

But things soon got worse for the Emmerdale residents, when Meena started killing. Offscreen, she murdered both her own father and her former best friend Nadine, while onscreen, she killed Leanna Cavanagh (Mimi Slinger), Andrea Tate (Anna Nightingale) and Ben Tucker (Simon Lennon). She seemed completely unaffected by her crimes, often singing and dancing to pop music before committing them and involving herself in the lives of those mourning her victims afterwards.

Several of Meena’s scenes were brutal and vicious. Some fans said they were left “traumatised” and “horrified” by the violent way she murdered Andrea and Ofcom received several complaints about Ben’s death.

Cameron killing Gennie

Cameron Murray (Dominic Power) was another Emmerdale killer. He killed three people – Carl King (Tom Lister), ALex Moss (Kurtis Stacey) and Gennie Walker (Sian Reese-Williams) – between 2012 and 2013.

Cameron was later sent to prison after his girlfriend Debbie Dingle (Charley Webb) turned on him. But, still believing that Debbie loved him, he escaped prison and took the patrons in The Woolpack hostage. Everyone managed to escape except Cameron, who was electrocuted in the cellar.

Though he killed several people, the way he killed Gennie was deeply disturbing. After seeing Gennie leave their house, Cameron and Debbie realised she must have overheard Cameron confess to killing Carl and chased her down in their car. Gennie’s car spun out of control and crashed – while Debbie called the police, hoping someone could save Gennie, Cameron got her out of the car and suffocated her without Debbie seeing.

Bear’s modern slavery story

At the end of last year, Bear Wolf (Joshua Richards) faced a modern slavery ordeal. The character had disappeared earlier that year and was believed to be in Ireland, but it was later revealed that he was living in a barn and being controlled by the barn’s owners, who forced him to work their farm.

Those captors were Ray and Celia (Joe Absolom and Jaye Griffiths), who also manipulated April and Dylan (Amelia Flanagan and Fred Kettle) into working for them too and transporting drugs across county lines.

Fans said the storyline was “too dark” but Joshua Richards said before the storyline aired: “It may surprise many people, but slavery is alive and well, indeed prospering in the modern world. Not only in obscure countries and cultures that we know little about, and not just the exploitation of migrants by criminal gangs of which some of us are aware. It is happening under our very own noses.”

He continued: “The disadvantaged, dispossessed, those with mental health issues or disabilities, the old, lonely and vulnerable people that our society neglect are the perfect prey for grooming by unscrupulous criminal agencies. I’m very excited and honoured to be taking part in this to hopefully educate and highlight this abominable trade of human bondage.”

John Sugden’s hero syndrome

John Sugden (Oliver Farnworth) appeared to suffer from hero syndrome in 2024. The paramedic would put people in danger and then use his skills to save them.

He injected Nate Robinson (Jurell Carter) with an unknown substance and planned to save him but was too late and Nate died. He also swapped Jacob Gallagher’s (Joe Warren Plant) coffee with an almond milk latte, knowing Jacob was allergic, swapped Chas Dingle’s (Lucy Pargeter) pain killers with a stringer dose so that she would overdose, whacked Liam Cavanagh (Jonny McPherson)over the head and did much more to others, all so that he could later save them.

Jackson’s assisted suicide

In controversial scenes in 2011, Aaron Livesy (Danny Miller) helped his partner Jackson Walsh (Marc Silcock) die. Jackson was tetraplegic, which is where someone is unable to move the upper and lower parts of their body.

Viewers watched in shock as Aaron helped to end Jackson’s life by helping him drink a lethal cocktail of drugs. Emmerdale was criticised for the story line and an Ofcom investigation was launched after several complaints were made.

Pierce assaults Rhona

In 2017, viewers watched as Pierce Harris (Jonathan Wrather) assaulted and manipulated his partner Rhona Goskirk (Zoe Henry). Fans were terrified for Rhona when she agreed to marry Pierce, and rightly so, as he raped her on their wedding day.

Emmerdale again received complaints for the graphic nature of the scenes that were broadcast, but ultimately stood by its decision for airing the episode, claiming it complied with Ofcom’s vigorous guidelines.

If you’ve been the victim of sexual assault, you can access help and resources via www.rapecrisis.org.uk or calling the national telephone helpline on 0808 802 9999

For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .

WASHINGTON — President Trump announced Wednesday night at a White House dinner that he wanted to make acting Atty. Gen. Todd Blanche’s leadership of the Department of Justice permanent.

The president said he thought the confirmation of his onetime personal defense attorney would go “very quickly,” according to a video posted from the dinner.

But early indications suggest that the process could be anything but.

Blanche, who assumed his current role after Trump fired former Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi in April, has been the face of some of the administration’s most unpopular actions, including the $1.8-billion “anti-weaponization fund,” the Justice Department’s release of the so-called Epstein files and a spate of prosecutions that critics have seen as politically motivated.

“He was nominated because he’ll do whatever the President demands. Todd Blanche should be under investigation — not under consideration for a promotion,” Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), who sits on the committee, said in a statement.

Blanche was confirmed as deputy attorney general last year in a vote along party lines but now faces a changed political climate, in which Senate Republicans have felt more emboldened to question the administration’s actions.

Already, two Republicans who sit on the Senate Judiciary Committee, which will decide Blanche’s fate, have expressed reservations about his nomination.

Republicans hold a 12-to-10 majority in the committee, so losing two votes probably would torpedo Blanche’s confirmation.

Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn told CNN reporter Manu Raju Thursday that he was concerned about the independence of Blanche, who served as Trump’s personal attorney in a New York case about his alleged hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels.

“Being attorney general is probably one of the hardest jobs in the Cabinet, because you’re working for the president but you’re also supposed to be able to tell the president ‘no,’ ” Cornyn said. “So we need to talk about that.”

Cornyn recently lost his primary bid for reelection after Trump endorsed his opponent, Texas Atty. Gen. Ken Paxton.

In recent weeks, Blanche has faced withering criticism for the anti-weaponization fund, which was created last month to settle a lawsuit brought by Trump, two of his sons and their business against the Internal Revenue Service.

Blanche publicly walked back the fund at a congressional hearing this week, after critics had described it as a slush fund for allies of the president who believed they had been prosecuted for political purposes, including those who participated in the Jan. 6, 2021, storming of the Capitol.

Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee, told reporters that the fund, and any support for participants in the Jan. 6 insurrection, would be a sticking point for him in Blanche’s nomination.

“The key for Todd or anyone going through the Judiciary Committee is being pretty tight on January the 6th,” Tillis said.

Tillis, who is not seeking reelection, previously held up the confirmation of another Trump appointee — Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh — over the senator’s concern about the prosecution of outgoing Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell in connection with statements Powell had made about a renovation of the Federal Reserve headquarters.

After the Powell investigation was dropped, Tillis supported Warsh’s nomination.

And Blanche will probably face questions during the confirmation process about the department’s prosecution of other perceived political enemies of the president, including former FBI Director James Comey, who is facing charges in North Carolina over a picture he posted on social media of seashells spelling out the numbers “86 47,” a reference to removing the president that prosecutors described as a death threat.

During Blanche’s first nomination hearing to be deputy attorney general, Tillis specifically asked Blanche to promise not to pursue any politically motivated prosecutions.

“I’ve got your commitment there will not even be a whiff of an investigation that appears to have a political motivation to it?” Tillis asked.

“I commit to that,” Blanche responded.

Even if he were to advance out of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Blanche could face a tough confirmation vote in the full Senate, where Republicans hold 53 seats. Two Republican senators facing tough reelection matchups, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, along with lame duck Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, could prove to be hard votes to win.

Blanche has also been criticized for his handling of the release of millions of pages of records from the Justice Department’s investigation into deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as well as his interview with Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell.

Last week, Blanche’s predecessor, former Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi, placed the blame for the delayed release of files and improper redactions on Blanche’s shoulders.

He has also faced criticism for his decision to interview Maxwell in her Florida prison in July 2025, and for her transfer to a more comfortable prison in Texas soon after the interview was conducted. The former British socialite’s attorneys have made clear that she is seeking a pardon for her 2021 conviction and 20-year prison sentence.

Lindsie Chrisley, one of reality star Todd Chrisley’s two children with his first wife, was arrested Saturday night on suspicion of driving under the influence in Concord, Ga.

The podcaster was booked on charges including DUI less safe — a DUI charge for those whose blood alcohol is less than 0.08% — attempting to elude police, improper passing, reckless driving and speeding, according to a police report obtained by The Times. Her bail on the five counts totaled $5,961, according to the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office.

“I got pulled over speeding past a car on a two-lane road because they almost hit an animal,” Chrisley told TMZ, which first reported the arrest. She said she was trying to miss that car and “whatever the animal was.” She said she planned to fight the charges.

Law enforcement had a different story to tell in its report, alleging that she was pulled over for traveling 86 mph on a surface street. After the deputy activated the lights on his car and initiated the traffic stop, Chrisley allegedly passed “multiple suitable stopping locations” before finally pulling over at a Chevron station, the report said.

The sheriff’s deputy who spoke with Chrisley said in his report that her stories weren’t making sense, her speech was slurred and her breath smelled of alcohol. After she was asked to step out of the Ford Bronco, she told the officer she didn’t know why she had been pulled over, then said it was because she had swerved around another vehicle that had “almost hit a deer,” the report said. The officer asked her if that was why she was speeding and she said “that is exactly why,” according to the report, then talked about the car in front of her brake-checking her as she drove home and said she hadn’t been traveling at nearly 90 mph.

The report said she refused to participate in field sobriety tests when the deputy asked her to and she also declined a blood test. No contraband was found in the car, according to the report.

Chrisley, 36, was released from custody around 4:15 a.m. Sunday morning.

Her encounter with law enforcement comes after her then-boyfriend, David Landsman, was arrested in Cherokee County in mid-April on a felony charge of aggravated assault/strangulation and a misdemeanor charge of battery after he allegedly placed his hand around a person’s neck and told them they were “not going anywhere,” People reported.

Lindsie Chrisley, the host of “The Southern Tea” podcast, appeared in 20 episodes of “Chrisley Knows Best” from 2014 into 2017. She and brother Kyle Chrisley are the children of Teresa Terry, Todd Chrisley’s first wife.

Todd and second wife Julie Chrisley were convicted of bank fraud and tax evasion in 2022 and imprisoned at separate facilities. Todd was serving a 12-year sentence in Florida and Julie was serving seven years at a facility in Kentucky when President Trump pardoned them in 2025, clearing the convictions from their records and ending their sentences.

Lindsie was estranged from her family for years over their suspicion that she had squealed to state and federal officials. Todd and Julie sued the state of Georgia in 2019, alleging that a tax official had targeted the couple’s estranged daughter and improperly shared confidential tax information to try to elicit compromising information on the family. As a result of the official’s efforts, the Chrisleys were forced to “incur substantial personal and financial hardship,” the suit said.

Sources who said they were close to Lindsie told TMZ in October 2019 that she spoke with the state official only to get updates about when her father might be arrested, so that she could shield her young son from any drama. In 2022, she said on her podcast that she and her father got back in touch after her second filing to divorce husband Will Campbell went public in summer 2021. The family members did crossover appearances on their various podcasts.

However, the reconciliation appeared to be short-lived, with Lindsie saying on her podcast in March 2025 that she hadn’t had any contact with her dad in a year.

The state of Georgia settled with the elder Chrisleys in January 2024, agreeing to pay them $1 million.

Emmerdale spoilers for next week tease big moments ahead on the ITV soap, from Dr Todd being exposed, to a planned Home Farm robbery and there’s also an affair heating up

It’s another big week ahead on Emmerdale, with new spoilers teasing big plans and secrets under threat.

Charity’s desperate when Kim pulls out of the Woolpack purchase deal. She instead asks Kim for a loan, but Chas overhears their conversation. Charity confesses to Chas she’s being blackmailed by Dr. Todd about Leyla’s true parentage.

Charity and Chas hatch a plan to rob Home Farm to pay Todd. When Charity can only give Todd a portion of the money she’s demanding, Todd demands the rest of it within 24 hours, or she will reveal her secret.

Laurel and Ross’ secret affair heats up, while Gabby is devastated over her rejection from Ross. As Ross and Laurel’s passion continues, only for them to almost be rumbled by Sam.

READ MORE: EastEnders icon makes unannounced return with huge news for Zack – as fans stunnedREAD MORE: What’s wrong with Coronation Street’s Sarah ‘revealed’ in new ‘health scare’

To cover things up, Ross claims Laurel is Sam’s new dance partner as Sam continues to have secret sessions to impress Lydia. Kim is suspicious of Sam’s shifty behaviour though, while Nicola, knowing about Ross and Laurel, almost reveals all to Manpreet.

Kerry and Pollard present a united front after being conned by Archie. Liam advises Cain to find a practical solution to start living his life again and Gabby contemplates clean living.

Emmerdale isn’t the only soap seeing big things ahead, with Hollyoaks and Home and Away also offering emotional and dramatic moments in the coming days. On Hollyoaks, Diane’s funeral arrives, and Dee Dee is devastated by her late mum’s letter to Tony.

Dee Dee publicly calls out Leela, accusing her of trying to replace Diane. As Dee Dee turns to drugs to deal with her grief, Tony is concerned.

Elsewhere, Beth is convinced the Osbornes are hiding Charlie who has decided to go on the run from the police. As she organises a family lunch, what does she have planned?

As for Home and Away, Tane wakes from his coma after his recent brutal prison attack, and he shocks Jo by dumping her after she’s been supporting him at his bedside. Alf sparks concerns after his recent driving troubles, as he’s determined to visit Martha.

But when he faces accusations of a hit and run, is he to blame? Sonny wants to move back in with Dana, and Richie and Cash continue to clash at work.

So it’s a big week across more than one soap next week, with plenty to keep focus on. As ever some things are not revealed in spoilers too with plenty under wraps, so expect twists and turns.

Emmerdale airs weeknights at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX. * Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .