EMMERDALE fans were left hot under the collar at newcomer Marcus – and think he’s the spitting image for another soap legend.
Marcus’ rapist killer dad Pierce Harris – played by Jonathan Wrather – contacted victim Rhona Goskirk to ask her to find his now adult son.
On Thursday’s episode, the handsome stranger arrived in The Dales and revealed his own tragic backstory that his dad Peirce had emotionally abused him when he was younger.
ITV viewers were quick to doubt Marcus’ sincerity while many were left swooning over the hunky newbie.
One delighted fan wrote: “Hello Marcus….I’ll be tuning in every night now just to watch you. #Emmerdale”
Another posted: “This Marcus has lovely blue eyes. #Emmerdale”
A third gushed: “Marcus is seriously cute! #Emmerdale”
“Lowkey in love with Marcus #emmerdale,” another thrilled viewer penned.
Meanwhile, some fans were convinced that Marcus shared a striking resemblance to soap favourite Marlon Dingle, played by actor Mark Charnock.
One wrote: “Does anyone notice that he looks like Marlon.”
Another posted: “He looks like a young Marlon from this angle.”
Marcus opened up to Rhona about his difficult childhood and what it was like having Pierce as a dad.
“I was really young so emotional abuse wasn’t really part of my thinking,” Marcus explained.
“But I always had to be quiet when daddy was around.
“I swear I was walking on eggshells from the moment I took my first steps.
“It was always guaranteed he would kick off at some point, and then there would be a row and mum would try and calm things down without success.
“Mum’s filled in the blanks in a sense – she said it was never ending. There was a friend mum had, one of the few he hadn’t driven away called Linda.
“She never liked him apparently and couldn’t trust him. One day mum got our stuff together and we went to Linda’s place for a while.
Marcus then asked Rhona to go with him to visit Pierce – and she was visibly shaken.
And fans think Marcus could have a dark side just like his dad.
“And when we went back he was gone and I never saw him after that. Now he’s dying.
“He’s always been there in the back of my head, maybe it’s time I faced him?”
One wrote: “So…..I’m guessing Pierce’s son left at a young age? But why does it feel like he’s stringing Rhona along?”
A second said: “I am not buying that this Marcus is Pierce’s son – at no point has he ever been mentioned. And for someone to approach Rhona with a request is a bit suss.”
Another added: “Rhona nooooo – he’s in cahoots with his arse of a dad.”
Victims of abuse who need emotional support can contact Samaritans on 135 247.
