Belle Dingle (Eden Taylor Draper) and Jamie Tate (Alexander Lincoln) have been playing with fire by conducting a secret, passionate affair in Emmerdale.

And both are now unaware that scorned wife Andrea knows the truth – and actress Anna Nightingale has warned Metro.co.uk that even though she is prepared to fight for her marriage, Belle should be very worried about the consequences and her potential revenge.

The star explained to us: ‘I think she’s in shock, she wants to pretend it’s not happening and she’s using that as a survival tactic. It’s horrific to be the person it’s happening to in these situations.

‘Deep down she immediately hates him for what he’s done. However, because of their family and history she’s clinging on to the memory of someone she used to know. I think she believes she can still claw that back. She thinks she knows him better than anyone and those things will be enough to steer him away. 

‘Andrea seemingly only has her little family unit in her life so for that to be taken away from her would be the end of life as she knows it. Right now she’s focused on giving it everything she’s got to win him around.

‘She’s a fighter and won’t take it lying down. The balls in her corner at the moment as they don’t know she knows. I think the idea of alternative life is too much to consider so even the hate she feels isn’t enough for her to just walk away. She’s also thinking about their daughter, Millie. It wouldn’t just be her that would get hurt.’

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Especially given that Belle has dallied with a married man and has seen the damage an affair can do after what Zak did, it seems that the audience are very much pro-Andrea in this clash. And Anna is glad that fans can sympathise with her alter ego.

She agreed: ‘It’s reassuring that the audience feel what they are doing is wrong. These things happen all the time and there are ways it can be handled to consider the fallout for others. I don’t think they’ve considered anyone but themselves at this stage.

‘Things have been up and down for Andrea and Jamie since they arrived in village so their relationship has always fluctuated. I think she felt safe in the fact that they had been through so much, it’s their bond.

‘ I think Andrea is quite sure in herself and her strengths but her husband working so closely with an attractive woman closer to his age into the same things as him has always made her slightly on guard. I think the ghost of what they had been through was always there and moments arose where it would come back to the surface.’

What is her motive in keeping the fact that she knows to herself and interacting with Belle more? Does she have a long term plan? 

Anna teased: ‘She’s planning and plotting some days and others she finds it easier to carry on like normal. The phrase “keep your friends close and your enemies closer” comes to mind. If she can get Belle to feel things from her side she hopes it’ll push her away. At this time I don’t think she can think long term only day by day and try and keep Jamie away from her as much as possible. 

‘Andrea is being extra attentive to Jamie and taking up as much of his time as possible as she knows that means less time with Belle. Showing displays of public affection and gushing over their family would make them both very uncomfortable. She knows there’s a lot she could do but she has to be careful to not make anything too obvious on her part.’

Many fans understandably believe that Jamie doesn’t deserve another chance with Andrea – and Anna is somewhat in agreement that she’d like to see the character operate outside of the fractured marriage environment.

She said: ‘I think we haven’t seen that side to Andrea yet and with any relationship we can become the person we think we should be rather than who you are as an individual. I would love to see her navigate her relationships in the village as a single woman.I think she’d want to stay even just to prove a point. She’s got a fun, crazy and sexy side she would feel more free to show.’ 

Andrea can be fierce – should Belle be worried about what she is capable of? 

Anna smiled: ‘Definitely, we’ve already seen her fight for what she believes in with Kim and Graham. Someone who seemingly has nothing to lose has everything to fight for. She will be thinking of her daughter so I don’t think she’d do anything to jeopardise her but blind rage can make people do crazy things. 

‘I think she would find it heartbreaking to see them together if they stayed as a couple so she may set her sights on breaking them up. She’s learnt a lot from Kim and her stealthy approach for implementing revenge, I hope this might be how she would go about executing any revenge.

‘She’s made friends in the village and getting those people on side would give her a boost through their support.’

She certainly has proven a match for Kim – but whether or not Andrea can be as ruthless as her mother-in-law remains to be seen. That said, Anna knows her character is keen to have as little showdown with Kim as possible. But it may not be possible.

She declared: ‘She will want to keep Kim out of her business as much as possible, particularly where her son is concerned. She would hope she’d have disdain for their relationship too. She knows she doesn’t like Dingles so maybe getting her on side would be to her benefit?

‘Andrea knows Kim will do whatever it takes to win so avoiding any confrontation with her is safest. We’ve seen her go head to head with her before and lose. If she found herself or Millie being threatened by her again she would do whatever it takes. Millie is her achilles heel.’ 

Away from Emmerdale, Anna is appreciating the time she currently has to spend time with her family and described her lockdown routine for us.

She explained: ‘It’s me, my partner and daughter at home and we sat down to talk everything through when it first started. We had very busy lives and agreed to take the time to enjoy our family to the full every day.

‘These are unprecedented times and the knowing so many people are suffering sits with you but we get through as a family and expressing our care and gratitude for one another. We wake up every morning and say what we’d like to achieve that day.

‘We’ve jumped on a few bandwagons and pulled out the gym gear and cake tins. We’ve made puppets, done dinosaur excavating and Easter was full of games and making things. We’re a family who always listens to music so we’ve had a few random dance breakouts. There’s nothing like a spontaneous dance off with your hubby and 3 year old!

‘We’ve finished Ozark, binged on Tiger King in one sitting and Disney has become a staple go to!’

 Oh we can relate to that! And Anna is certainly missing working with the Emmerdale team right now.

She said: ‘I’ve spent the last year with most of the cast so it’s been a big change not seeing everyone. We’ve had lots of updates from production and everyones working hard to get the show in the best place possible for when we return.

‘Alex who plays Jamie is a good friend, he’s like a brother so I check in with him at least once a week. I had a lovely chat with Roxy and social media is fab because you can see what people are up to and makes you realise we’re all in this together. I’m really looking forward to going back, I love working on the show and I think it’ll feel even more tight knit than before.’

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