Emmerdale DS Ramsden’s Suspicion of Charity Grows

Emmerdale’s DS Ramsden is already proving difficult for Charity Dingle to convince as the investigation into Dr Caitlin Todd’s death gathers pace. Played by Chelsea Edge, the detective has begun picking apart Charity’s account and identifying details that she believes Charity and Sarah Sugden have failed to explain.

Viewers know Sarah pushed Caitlin during the confrontation after discovering what the doctor had done to Charity. Caitlin fell and suffered the fatal injury, but Charity decided to protect her granddaughter by taking responsibility for what happened.

After spending a night in the cells, Charity faced further questioning from Ramsden in the latest episode and continued sticking to the version of events she had agreed with Sarah. However, Ramsden quickly began raising details that Charity had previously failed to mention.

One of those concerned Sarah’s husband Jacob, who had worked with Caitlin and had previously made a complaint accusing the doctor of bullying. When Ramsden questioned why Charity had not disclosed the connection, Charity insisted it had not seemed important compared with what Caitlin had done to her.

Charity’s solicitor attempted to push back, pointing out that Charity had not been present during Jacob’s employment dispute. Ramsden was not finished, however, and also brought up Charity describing herself as “raging” when she met Vanessa, highlighting another detail she had learned while examining the events surrounding Caitlin.

The detective then turned her attention directly towards Sarah, pointing out that Jacob’s wife was the only witness to Caitlin’s death. Ramsden told Charity she could understand why that made Sarah of particular interest to the investigation, while Charity continued insisting there was nothing more behind it.

Ramsden’s strongest warning came as she questioned how much Charity and Sarah had left unsaid during their earlier accounts. She made it clear that if the police could not deal with the “inconsistencies and omissions”, Sarah might have to be called back in for further questioning.

That possibility came dangerously close to becoming something much bigger when Sarah’s guilt eventually took her to the police station. She approached the desk and said: “I’d like to talk to someone about the Dr Caitlin Todd case,” apparently ready to finally say something about what happened.

Sarah’s resolve disappeared when Charity emerged with Ramsden. The detective immediately recognised Sarah as the young woman who had spoken to the desk sergeant and invited her to come back and talk, but Sarah quickly claimed she had only come to check on her grandmother.

Ramsden gave Sarah another opportunity by asking whether she was sure she did not have time for “a little chat”. Sarah declined and left with Charity, prompting Ramsden to send her on her way with a pointed “Goodbye. For now.”

That exchange makes Ramsden’s position considerably clearer. She is not simply processing Charity’s confession as fact, and the detective has already identified enough unanswered questions to keep Sarah firmly within her sights.

Charity may currently be maintaining the story intended to protect her granddaughter, but Ramsden now knows there are omissions in the accounts she has been given. Sarah’s unexpected appearance at the police station may also have given the detective another reason to wonder why Caitlin’s only witness suddenly wanted to talk about the case before changing her mind.

With Sarah’s guilt already threatening to overwhelm her and Charity determined to take the consequences herself, Ramsden may not need a confession to begin pulling their story apart. The detective is asking increasingly specific questions, and Charity and Sarah could find it much harder to keep their accounts aligned if Ramsden brings them back in separately.

Where to watch: Emmerdale airs on ITV1 and is available to stream on ITVX. Images: ITV.