Emmerdale’s Arthur Thomas (Alfie Clarke) came back to the Dales with a bit of a personality transplant, going from meek and mild Arthur to one who could easily put smarmy Jai Sharma (Chris Bisson) in his place.
An impressive improvement.
Since his return, he’s even had a secret beer-fuelled date where he revealed himself to be quite the promiscuous one – of which his mum is none the wiser. As far as she’s concerned, he’s still her innocent golden boy.
Well, nothing will shatter that image faster than learning he’s been sleeping with an older man.
This new Arthur is desperate to prove how much he’s grown up to his best pal April Windsor (Amelia Flannagan), and he cooks up a plan to flirt with John Sugden (Oliver Farnworth) right in front of her.
His act has April is convinced he’s playing in the big leagues now and believes him when he tells her that he’s even had sex with John.
While this could have been somewhat of an innocent bravado lie between friends, Laurel Thomas (Charlotte Bellamy) overhears and is apoplectic at hearing that a grown man has taken advantage of her teen son (even though he hasn’t).
She storms off to find John and she finds him minding his own business in the Woolpack, where she confronts him.
A horrified Arthur runs after her, but it’s too late – Laurel accuses John of sleeping with a teenager in front of the pub.
Mortified John denies the accusations – because they are not at all true and pretty damaging – but will his protestations be enough?
Will Arthur come clean, or will he stick to his lie to save face, and in doing so, trash John’s reputation?
