Natalie: Alicia feels she’s disappointed David

Things are not going well for Alicia Gallagher. She's finally realised she's in love with her housemate and best friend David Metcalfe (something we could have told her months ago) but before she can do anything about it, she's looking at a prison sentence.

The gobby barmaid was just about to pour her heart out to the object of her affection when in comes hurricane Val shouting the odds at David. Unable to keep her cool, Alicia punched her straight in the face!

Actress Natalie Anderson, who leaves the soap to go on maternity leave in the next couple of weeks, tells All About Soap what Alicia is facing after losing her temper.

So Alicia's falling for David...
'She is! They're living together and she's grown to love him. It's not been an instant attraction - but he's the person she turns to for everything and who she trusts the most. It's only just dawned on her the reason she feels this way is because she actually loves him.'

They're great pals aren't they?
'They are, but it's more that they get each other. David understands Alicia's hysterical behaviour and the fact that she can be unconventional!'

Does she think he could have feelings for her in return?
'She would certainly like to think that, because he confides in her too. They're very good mates - they're really close.'

So how does Alicia feel when Val's really rude to David?
'She's furious! She was about to tell David how she feels about him - it's not been easy for her and she's been working up to this for a good few months. Then just as she starts to explain how she feels, Val bursts in! Val's angry because David backed Eric's decision to stay with Brenda and she goes on about how useless and spineless he is. Alicia can't help herself: she just loses her temper!'

She steams in and punches Val!
'Well the way Alicia sees it is that it's actually Val who's steamed in on this intimate conversation between her and David! But yes Alicia does get extremely angry. It's a very hard punch indeed!'

Did you enjoy filming it?
'It was quite funny, as I was six months pregnant at the time! It was good fun though - Charlie Hardwick (Val) and I had such a laugh doing it.'

Then the police turn up...
'Alicia's horrified. She feels Val has overreacted. She's kept in prison overnight and has to go straight to court in the morning. She's really upset because she's got a secret in her past, and she didn't want David to know about it...'

That's exciting! What is it?
'It turns out Alicia has a previous conviction for assault, and it means she could now be sent to prison because she's broken the terms of her earlier sentence.'

How does she feel about that? She must be worried!
'She's absolutely mortified. She buries her head in the sand for a bit and tries to pretend it's not happening, but underneath she's terrified. Alicia's main focus is Jake and the thought of someone else caring for her young son is horrifying.'

David tells her she must be truthful with Jacob about what's happening: why doesn't she want to do that?
'She's terrified of telling Jacob because she feels she's let him down and she doesn't want to be a failure as a mother. But equally she's upset at how David's reacted because she didn't want him to know about this side of her. She thinks it'll make him view her in a different light, so Alicia feels she's disappointed David too - which is hard as she's in love with him.'

Is she scared she might end up in prison?
'Terrified. The thing that scares her more than anything isn't actually being in jail - she can hold her own - it's what will happen to Jacob while she's away. She even tells Justin she thinks Jacob should stay with David, but he's not keen.'

Could Jacob go to Leyla?
'No - Alicia would hate that! She would rather know that he was in the village with people he knows and no one who might tell him that Alicia isn't really his mother. That's what she's most frightened of: without her being around, Jacob I'd vulnerable to anyone who fancies revealing the truth.'

So does she ever get to tell David how she really feels?
'No, bless her she doesn't. But him being around for her and being supportive is making her fall more and more in love with him. And though David is frustrated by Alicia, he can't help but she that she's driven purely by her love for Jacob, which makes him more fond of her. So hopefully it's not too late!'

COMING SOON: Who does Jacob want to stay with if Alicia goes to prison.

SPOILER: David has a plan but what does Alicia think about what he's proposing?