The good-natured chef is the black sheep of the Dingle family – he’s honest and tries to stay on the right side of the law!
My dad could not GET any worse!
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 she’s asked out by suave vet Adam Forester. 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.
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 landed several roles in series like The Ruth Rendell Mysteries and sitcom 2.4 children. He also spent much time on stage at the Oldham Coliseum and even turned up as a policeman in both Coronation Street and EastEnders.
Mark was best known before Emmerdale for his role as Brother Oswin alongside Derek Jacobi in the popular drama series Cadfael, but he had to turn down a second series after he was chosen to play Marlon.
