Charity Dingle’s Surrogacy Choice Tears Her Marriage to Mackenzie Boyd Apart

Emmerdale delivers a heart-wrenching twist in its July 14, 2025, episode, airing at 7:30pm on ITV1, as Charity Dingle’s (Emma Atkins) decision to become a surrogate for Sarah Sugden (Katie Hill) without consulting Mackenzie Boyd (Lawrence Robb) pushes their marriage to the brink. The emotional fallout in the Dales is explosive, with secrets and past wounds threatening to unravel everything. X fans lament: “Charity and Mack are crumbling!”

Sarah, devastated by a hysterectomy following cervical cancer surgery, can no longer carry a child, per Radio Times. Her fanconi anemia diagnosis, shortening her life expectancy, makes surrogacy a slim hope, per Metro. Charity, watching her granddaughter’s dreams shatter, secretly undergoes tests to carry Sarah’s baby, withholding the plan from Mack, per Express. This choice reopens scars from their 2022 ectopic pregnancy loss, when Charity swore off having more children, per Radio Times. Emma Atkins told Express: “Charity’s decision is selfish but driven by love for Sarah. It’s deceitful, and Mack feels sidelined.”

Mack discovers Charity’s plan at the Woolpack, his shock turning to betrayal as she admits acting alone, per Metro. The couple’s past trauma—losing their unborn child—fuels Mack’s resentment, per Express. Atkins added: “Mack’s defensive, riled by Charity carrying a child for Sarah after refusing to try again with him.” A new twist imagines Mack finding Charity’s medical files, revealing she’s at risk due to her age, escalating his fear, per Radio Times. X fans rage: “Charity lied to Mack? This is heartbreaking! #SaveCharityAndMack”

Charity grapples with Sarah’s health risks and her own doubts, torn between supporting her granddaughter and her marriage, per Metro. Scenes show her at Sarah’s bedside, promising hope, only to clash with Mack at home, where he feels like an outsider, per Express. Inventively, a flashback could reveal Charity’s guilt over their lost baby, explaining her impulsive choice, per Soap Hub. Meanwhile, Sarah, unaware of the rift, clings to Charity’s offer, per Radio Times. X posts speculate: “Will Charity’s choice destroy her family?”