You’ve got to feel sorry for Emmerdale’s Billy (Jay Kontzle) in this Dawn Taylor (Olivia Bromley) affair scenario. He is the loser in this whole situation, and it’s only getting worse.
He’s known something has been up with Dawn for a while; she’s failed to spend any quality time with Billy, and been off with him whenever he’s tried to talk.
Her behaviour wouldn’t be that surprising if Billy were to realise that she’s sleeping with Joe (Ned Porteous) and planning a secret life with him. But he’s not far off from the truth.
It’s Mackenzie (Lawrence Robb) who puts the idea in his head of an affair and even plants a seed of who it might be.
Billy is gutted by the thought, but the shoe seems to fit. Determined to get to the bottom of it he grabs Dawn’s phone but is instantly wounded to realise she’s changed her passcode.
Joe then rubs salt in the wounds by also alluding to the same person Mackenzie has suspected as Dawn’s affair partner – Ross (Mike Parr).
Hurt and betrayed, Billy immediately confronts Ross, and things spiral into a fight. But not only has Billy got the wrong guy, he’s horrified to learn that daughter Clemmie has heard his theory.
As Billy reels from his terrible mistake, Joe comforts him and for the first time, Joe is left feeling guilty at being the cause of Billy’s pain and distress.
After words with Ross, Billy is left with food for thought about now prioritising his children, and he decides to leave Home Farm.
He visits Dawn with flowers and apologises for his accusation, leaving her feeling riddled with guilt too. The couple now face the job of telling their children they are divorcing.
Billy is left broken to tell the kids that he is leaving but assures them he will still be in their lives. Dawn has got away with it for now and Billy has come off as the bad guy. But will her and Joe become unstuck?
