Christmas and New Year in soaps typically bring some shocks, some surprises and some festive, heartwarming moments and this year in Emmerdale there’s all of the above and more.
Christmas focuses on some very dark and mysterious goings-on at Home Farm, as the feud between Kim Tate (Claire King) and Will Taylor (Dean Andrews) reaches a violent climax. Elsewhere there’s heartache for Marlon Dingle (Mark Charnock) when he faces every parent’s worst nightmare, while Bob Hope (Tony Audenshaw) relives the worst day of his life.
A new romance blossoms, there’s a baptism of fire for Jacob Gallagher (Joe-Warren Plant) as he starts his new job, and there’s joy at last for Belle Dingle (Eden Taylor-Draper) as a beloved old friend comes home.
Without further ado, let’s have a closer look at what’s in store.
Piper returns
When evil Tom King (James Chase) pretended that Belle’s little dog Piper had d.i.e.d – after Tom himself ran her over – it was possibly the cruellest moment during his reign of terror. But now Tom is in custody, Belle realises that she never saw Piper’s body and starts to suspect the dog’s death could have been another of Tom’s lies.
When Belle and Vinny (Bradley Johnson) dig up Piper’s coffin, they find only a brick inside – and the hunt is on for where Piper might be, with Vinny and Gabby (Rosie Bentham) determined to track her down.
‘They just bring her back to Belle on Christmas morning,’ Eden Taylor-Draper said. ‘She is by her dad’s grave having a moment then all of a sudden you just see Piper running up with a bow on. It was so cute. It was like, “This is the best day!”’
April vanishes
Following the revelations about her mum Donna (Verity Rushworth)’s d.e.a.t.h, April’ (Amelia Flanagan)’s relationship with Marlon gets steadily worse as she blames him for keeping the truth from her.
When Marlon discovers that his daughter has tried to buy cannabis he’s appalled and confronts her about her behaviour. Christmas Eve ends in a huge row between them and April goes off to bed. The next morning, Marlon unwraps a present from his daughter.
‘She’s got him this mug that he dropped not long after he had the stroke,’ Mark Charnock told us. ‘The handle had come off and she stuck the handle back on. They turn it around and there’s a thing on the bottom of the mug that says “Things that are broken can always be mended.”’
Marlon heads upstairs to give his daughter a hug and make amends, but to his horror he finds her bed empty. Mark recalled the scene: ’There’s nothing right about that picture, her empty room on that day, no matter what they’ve been through there’s no way that room could or should be empty. And she’s gone.’
Ross and Marlon are in danger
As the rest of the village joins in with the search for April and search parties are formed, Marlon reluctantly joins forces with Ross Barton (Mike Parr) to look for the missing girl. It was because of Ross that April was kidnapped and threatened before Christmas as ruthless boxing promoter Jade (Twinnie-Lee Moore) sought revenge for the loss of her money. Is Jade involved in April’s disappearance?
As Ross and Marlon desperately search for answers, they soon find themselves in massive danger.
Violence at Home Farm
It’s hard to keep track of who is plotting against who at Home Farm as the dynamic between Kim Tate and Will Taylor has shifted so often over recent months. As Christmas approaches, Will is still somewhat reluctantly going along with the plot he concocted with Kim’s financial advisor Peter (David Michaels) to take Kim down and take her money.
Will becomes increasingly uncomfortable with the situation and starts having second thoughts about the plan, but Peter insists that they will carry on with what they agreed and Kim will get her comeuppance on Christmas Day.
Then there’s a scary flash-forward scene as we see the aftermath of a violent struggle at Home Farm, with the Christmas tree toppled and chaos everywhere. But there’s no sign of either Kim or Will. What’s happened? Will they both make it to New Year?
Romance for Sarah and Jacob
It wouldn’t be Christmas without some romance, and this year it comes courtesy of Sarah Sugden (Katie Hill) and Jacob Gallagher. Jacob, who is training to be a doctor, has been single since he split up with Victoria Sugden (Isabel Hodgins) – Sarah’s aunt – but sparks begin to fly between him and Sarah over Christmas.
Jacob decides to take the plunge and arranges a lunch date with Sarah, but this is derailed when Leyla (Roxy Shahidi) insists on her son having lunch with her. If this is a deliberate ploy by Leyla because she doesn’t want him getting into a relationship with Sarah (it wouldn’t be the first time Leyla has meddled in his relationships), it almost works because Sarah is fuming at being stood up.
Later, Jacob apologises and he and Sarah arrange another date. Could their new romance finally be on track?
Work pressure for Jacob in special hospital episode
As well as a new romance, Jacob is also contending with a new job to kick off 2025. A special standalone episode will focus on his first day working in a busy A&E department on a four week placement.
‘He’s been dreaming of this day for a long time,’ Joe-warren Plant told us. ‘I think that is his main emotion. I think it’s only later on in the day when the apprehensions start to show and he does start to feel a little overwhelmed.’
The hour-long episode, to be aired on January 2, will focus entirely on Jacob and his first day as he gets to grips with the realities of working in a busy A&E.
‘When the producer told me there was going to be an hour long episode coming up dedicated to Jacob’s first day of placement on A&E, I remember being hit with all these emotions,’ Joe-Warren recalled. ‘Knowing how many people have this high pressure job and I felt the pressure to really knuckle down with it and get it right. Tackling this storyline scared me a bit at first, but they trusted me to tell it. It means a lot and I do feel very honoured.’
Ruby confesses to Chas
Ruby (Beth Cordingly) is stressed throughout the festive season, still unsettled by the presence of her father, Anthony (Nicholas Day), and the uncomfortable memories that have resurfaced since he arrived in the village.
Also weighing on her conscience, of course, is her little indiscretion with Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) while Moira (Natalie J Robb) was having her surgery. With Cain and the rest of the Dingles hard to avoid over Christmas, tensions are high.
Her behaviour gets more and more agitated and she’s drinking even more than usual and it’s not long before Chas (Lucy Pargeter) notices that something is up and presses her for answers. Ruby finally opens up to Chas – but what will she reveal?
Cain tries to support Moira
As Moira has her first hospital appointment for her radiotherapy treatment Cain tries his best to be the supportive husband she needs him to be. But with his own conscience troubling him over what happened with Ruby it’s a struggle to stay focused.
Bob struggles on the anniversary of Heath’s death
It’s a year ago since Heath Hope (Sebastian Dowling) lost his life in a car accident on the way to a New Year party with his sister Cathy (Gabrielle Dowling) and their friend Angelica King (Rebecca Bakes).
Bob arranges a memorial concert for his son, but is infuriated when Wendy (Susan Cookson) and Brenda (Lesley Dunlop)’s rivalry over the event overshadows it. And on the anniversary of his son’s death, Bob can’t hold in his grief any longer.
Flash forward to 2025
Looking ahead to the start of 2025, New Year’s Eve’s episode will break format again to show us five flash-forward sequences that will set up storylines for the first part of the year.
These mysterious sequences will give hints and clues about what’s in store for some of the characters, starting the year with an intriguing little appetiser of what’s to come.
