Gabby Thomas (Rosie Bentham) has been unwell for months and it’s only just getting noticed in Emmerdale.
Her struggles with food have been somewhat eclipsed lately by her involvement in Jimmy’s death, but even before that all happened, no one around her realised just how bad things had become. Kind of plays into her hands of feeling unlovable and constantly rejected.
Her orthorexia manifested after a series of knockbacks from men and began with her overhauling the Hide’s menu in favour of clean, organic food (that the customers hate!) and denying her young son simple pleasures like a lolly pop.
It escalated to her passing out in the kitchen and refusing medication for a serious illness because she believes pharmaceuticals are unclean.
But now that the world is against her for keeping secret the fact that Vinny (Bradley Johnson) was the cause of Jimmy’s death, her obsession and need for control has multiplied. It’s intensified her feelings of rejection, especially with Kim Tate (Claire King) kicking her out in favour of supporting Joe (Ned Porteous), and Laurel’s (Charlotte Bellamy) distaste at having her stay because of what it’s doing to her friendship with Nicola (Nicola Wheeler).
Manpreet recently diagnosed her with a respiratory condition, but Gabby refused to take the medicine to make herself better. Manpreet (Rebecca Sarker) finally realised what was going on when she overheard some concerning thoughts from Gabby about the drugs and noticed that her Instagram algorithm is throwing up some pretty damaging posts.
But Gabby isn’t on the road to recovery just yet, she’s in denial.
‘She’s not actually fuelling herself with a balanced diet, which is what she needs’, star Rosie Bentham told Metro.
‘She has taken the control way too far and restricting herself from the food groups that would heal her from this.
‘Digging a little bit deeper, it’s actually because she has demonised certain food groups and been completely way too restrictive, which has meant she can’t recover properly. Then there’s the mention of antibiotics when she gets more ill, which come into the equation.
Manpreet shares her worries with Liam (Jonny McPherson) and her theory that Gabby might be suffering from Orthorexia. Manpreet is determined to get Gabby the help she needs, even if she doesn’t realise she needs help, and even if she’s the only one who wants to help her.
Manpreet starts by having a careful word with Laurel (Charlotte Bellamy) and clues her in on Gabby’s social media posts. Laurel’s worried and goes to find Gabby but alarmingly, she’s missing. Laurel doesn’t realise Gabby is on the floor in the Hide having a full-blown panic attack.
Laurel eventually finds her and tries to find out what brought it on, but before she can get much sense, Gabby collapses.
It’s a race against time to get her to hospital. She later wakes up in Hotton Genera. She’s fragile, but she’s ready to face the issue. She tells Manpreet that she can tell Laurel what’s been going on.
Billy (Jay Kontzle) hears about Gabby and is guilty for not realising she needed help sooner. Robert (Ryan Hawley), meanwhile, is dining out on all of this. Having overheard a conversation that the Hide is in trouble, he starts to think his plan to take over is a shoo-in. Is Gabby strong enough to fight him?
