Thought you should know that Emma Atkins is also the same age as her Emmerdale character(Picture: ITV)

Emmerdale fans had quite the shock after Charity Dingle (Emma Atkins) revealed her age.

Actress Emma, who’s played Charity in the soap since the early 2000s, has been involved in a lot of explosive storylines over the years.

Ever since Charity shot evil Damon ‘Harry’ Harris (Robert Beck) to save Mackenzie (Lawrence Robb), she’s been suffering under the pressure of the guilt of actually killing someone.

The police are satisfied that the shooting was an accident so Charity won’t face any legal consequences, but it’s the psychological consequences she’s struggling with. She can’t cope with being alone and puts the radio on as soon as she’s by herself and she’s jumpy and on edge.

During Monday’s episode, she got a visit from her newly-discovered grandson Oscar (Harley Hamilton) brought up the subject of Ryan (James Moore)’s father, Mark Bails (Rocky Marshall).

Oscar asked: ‘How old are you? It’s your birthday soon isn’t it?

Charity recently met Oscar, her grandson (Picture: ITV)

‘There’s a present out there with your name on it. I wasn’t being nosy but I was hungry.’

Charity replied: ‘I will be 48 tomorrow.’

Viewers couldn’t quite believe what they were hearing and took to social media to express their thoughts.

@ZoeTheReturn tweeted: ‘CHARITY IS TURNING 48!!! wtf. I say that but I am next month too. 48 isn’t too bad.’

@RyanTheSoapking added: ‘WOW! Charity is 48 soon. She looks younger.’

@DebysGlynm weighed in: ‘Charity has aged well to be fair.’

Speaking about her current storyline, Emma said: ‘She’s constantly reliving the moment and it’s going to lead to a lot of PTSD, really. She’s just putting the walls up. The shutters are coming down and she’s just going through her own hell.

Charity’s PTSD leaves her unable to sleep properly and, unable to share her true feelings with husband Mack, she ends up snapping at son Moses in upcoming scenes.

Things only get worse when she later gets a call from his school, and Charity learns he has been fighting other children over rumours about his mum being a murderer.

As Charity’s symptoms worsen, her past traumas will end up coming back to the forefront, as Emma revealed.

‘It’s going to start spiralling and everything starts to come up to the surface and be revisited again. I have been teased of a therapy session…’

MORE : Emmerdale spoilers: Charity Dingle violently attacks Moira Barton in showdown following brutal death

MORE : Emmerdale star Emma Atkins reveals complicated therapy session in Charity Dingle PTSD story

‘Charity has aged well to be fair.’