Jason Merrells (Emmerdale's Declan) interview

This week on Emmerdale, Declan (Jason Merrells) decides enough is enough.

> Find out the latest Emmerdale spoilers.


What are Declan’s feelings for Natasha?

"They connect on every level and if circumstances were different, I feel they could make a go of it. But she’s so eaten up with, as Declan sees it, sticking up for Nathan, it’s impossible for their relationship to flourish. What Declan doesn’t know is that she’s actually eaten up with trying to protect herself."

How did Declan feel when Mark’s body was found?

"It was a shock but he knew something fishy was going on with the Wyldes - all the stuff about the flowers, the dry cleaning and so on. It confuses him why Natasha seems so determined to stick by Nathan when it’s becoming increasingly obvious to Declan, and Maisie, too, that Nathan must be the murderer."

Does Maisie confide in Declan that she suspects Nathan?

"Yes. She tells him about Cain coming to see her and admitting he sent the flowers, etc, and that her mum and brother paid Cain for his silence. Maisie's convinced that Nathan murdered Mark and that Ryan's been framed. Declan's becoming more and more uneasy about what's happening, and he tries to comfort Maisie. But she's freaking out and feels she has to get away."

Is he suspicious of the way Natasha reacts to this latest development?

"Completely. She continues to stick up for Nathan and seems certain that Ryan must be the murderer. Declan knows she’s hiding something. He thinks she’s lying, covering up for Nathan who, by now, Declan is convinced is Mark Wylde’s murderer."

What happens next?

"Declan confronts Natasha. He presents the facts so far as he knows them and insists that Natasha come clean. You see her almost break down and admit everything but then she clams up again. Declan can’t stand this any more and he tells her they’re finished."

Does he confront Nathan?

"Nathan tries to have a go at Declan but Declan floors him. He then sacks Nathan from Home Farm - as the majority shareholder, he's able to do this."

Will Declan stay at Home Farm?

"Absolutely. You’ll see him playing a very different game from now on. Until now Natasha’s always been the driving force but now the tables have turned. He becomes her enemy instead of her lover - the fact that they have this history between them makes Declan even more determined to get what he wants. He wants the Wyldes out. His love for Natasha has turned into hate. But it's not just that, Declan’s a business man who’s invested a lot of money into Home Farm and since Mark’s body was found, there’s been no business going on."

Has Declan ever considered it might not be Natasha covering up for Nathan but the other way around?

"I think the fact that he and Natasha have been lovers has blinded him to seriously consider this. I think it would throw him if he found out he’d been sleeping with a murderer for all this time. He wouldn’t be prepared for it."