Emmerdale‘s producer Laura Shaw has confirmed plans to explore an important new issue-based storyline with Gabby Thomas this year.
Gabby will begin to develop an unhealthy relationship with eating as she struggles following her latest romantic rejection.
This week’s episodes see Gabby make a play for Ross Barton, after admiring him from afar since he returned to work at Home Farm.
Even though Ross has openly flirted with Gabby, he ultimately decides to let her down gently – mostly because he only has eyes for her stepmum Laurel.
“It’s going to be a big story for Gabby, where we delve into the dark side of obsessive healthy eating,” Laura told Inside Soap in an exclusive chat.
“She lost Vinny and then being pushed away by Ross makes her start to become a little bit more obsessive about controlling what she eats.
“And while initially it’ll just look like healthy eating, we’ll see how an obsession can start to go wrong.”
Gabby’s self-esteem has been knocked by a string of romantic disasters – including her doomed relationship with Vinny, who was struggling with his sexuality.
Prior to that, she was also left heartbroken when she discovered that Nicky Miligan had used her in a sham relationship while helping his father Caleb to plot against Kim Tate.
Rosie Bentham, who plays Gabby, has also explained: “Gabby is obviously completely humiliated by Ross, but that propels her into wanting to take control, forget men, and she wants to be the best version of herself.
“She starts trying to eat clean. Body image starts becoming really important to her. Obviously, with that rejection and seeing Vinny all over the village being absolutely fine, makes her be like: ‘Let’s take control of our lives, we don’t need anybody else’. Unfortunately that does become a bit obsessive.”
