Marlon Dingle

Good-natured chef Marlon Dingle (Mark Charnock) is the black sheep of the Dingle family - he's honest and tries to stay on the right side of the law!

Marriages Tricia Stokes (deceased), Donna Windsor (separated)

1996 Marlon moves in with the Dingles at Wishing Well cottage and gets a job as chef at Kathy's Diner.

1997 Dates schoolgirl Lyn Hutchinson.

1998 Tips off the police that wine bar owner Eric Pollard is encouraging under-age drinking. A depressed Eric almost torches the place - with them both in it. Dumped by Lyn at Christmas.

1999 Unsuccessfully attempts to win back Lyn by taking up her ludicrous challenges, including dying Eric Pollard's moustache bright pink and doing a strip in the Woolpack!

2000 Falls for chirpy barmaid Tricia Stokes but misses his chance when suave vet Adam Forester asks her out. Has a rival in the kitchen - new chef Carlos Diaz - and challenges him to a cook off. Carlos wins.

2001 Gets together with Tricia.

2002 Proposes to Tricia and her mad mum Steph turns up for the engagement party. Marlon gets scared when Steph flirts with him! Wedding day is scrapped after a series of disasters.

2003 Tricia surprises Marlon with a Valentine's Day wedding. Has an ill-advised fling with cousin Charity while Tricia is away filming a movie.

2004 Tricia is critically injured during a New Year storm and dies. Marlon has a mini-breakdown and starts stalking the girl who has Tricia's donated heart. Is landed with looking after his relative Lilith's four boys and Donna helps out.

2005 Falls madly in love with Donna and proposes to her at the Pub Chef of the Year competition in Newcastle.

2006 Marries Donna in February. Looks after Lilith's kids again and he and Donna decide they'd like to start a family. The show home they won blows up. Donna joins the police force. Beaten up by men looking for his brother Eli.

2007 Trying to improve his and Donna's financial situation he gambles their savings - and wins £18,000. But the bookie refuses to pay. Plans with Eli to rob the bookie and is accidentally shot - by Eli! Donna discovers what he did but forgives him. They throw Eli out.

2008 The Woolpack is entered in Pub of the Year competition. Marlon creates a gourmet menu and judge Antony Worrall Thompson is so impressed he offers him a slot on TV. Also gets a column in local paper.

2009 Heartbroken when Donna confesses her affair with Ross Kirk. Marlon implicates Ross in the murder of Shane Doyle and Donna betrays the Dingle family to get Ross out of trouble. Marlon asks for divorce.

2010 Develops feelings for new vet Rhona and is delighted when she moves in with him, although she doesn't appear so keen. Rhona suddenly ends their relationship because of her growing feelings for Paddy. Is completely gutted when Rhona reveals she's carrying his baby but Paddy reveals he and Rhona are together. Marlon eventually accepts being a father to the unborn baby without being with Rhona.

Played by Mark Charnock

Mark grew up in Bolton and when he was at school he wanted to be a director. He won a place at Hull University, but decided to opt for acting instead, going on to study at the Webber Douglas Academy in London.

After a slow start, he... Read More