Emmerdale actress Salley Dexter has said that playing Faith Dingle cheers her up in her "darkest hours."
Faith Dingle is the ex-wife of Shadrach Dingle and the mother of Cain and Chas Dingle.
She first appeared in the soap back in 2000, originally portrayed by actress Gillian Jephcott.
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But the Dingle matriarch returned as a regular character in February 2017, this time played by Sally Dexter.
The character is known for bringing cheer and energy on screen.
Sally appeared on ITV's Lorraine this morning ahead of a big upcoming storyline for her character.
It's been five years since Faith's double mastectomy but this evening her health takes a real turn for the worst.
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In a preview showed on the breakfast show, Faith can be seen doubled over in pain but when Liv Flaherty asks her what's wrong she bats it off and says "I'm fine."
She is later seen being accused of drinking by her daughter Chas as she stumbles around the kitchen, but she is actually in agonising pain that she is hiding from her family.
Lorraine asked Sally why Faith was determined to keep her ill health a secret from her family.
Sally said: "Number one she doesn't want it to be true and number two, she thinks it will worry them, they wont be able to do anything.
"Until she knows exactly whats happening, I think she wants to just keep it to herself and pretend it's not happening."
Lorraine asked: "She's had a very interesting life, the Dingles are unconventional I think we can say, I think Faith more than most - you must love playing her?"
The 60-year-old actress admitted: "You know Lorraine she cheers me up even at my darkest hours, I look at Faith's script and she just cheers me up and that's what I hope gets passed on to the audience as well."
Presenter and day time TV host Lorraine commented on how glam Faith looks even when she's dishevelled.
Sally added: "I have absolutely no dress sense myself so it's fantastic to go in and see these incredible clothes lined up on the rack - it's brilliant."
The soap star couldn't resist the opportunity to get her new puppy on the camera, she held her adorable 10-week-old Cockapoo up to the camera.
"This is button, Lorraine we've just gone to mush, it's fantastic, we have just gone completely puppy brained over here."
