The Dingles are in turmoil in Emmerdale next week, as worrying news from Chas Dingle (Lucy Pargeter) throws three relatives into a spin.
When Chas tells her family that her cancer has been caused by a faulty BRCA2 gene, Cain (Jeff Hordley), Aaron (Danny Miller) and Caleb (William Ash) are blindsided to realise there’s a high chance they could be impacted.
With Chas feeling awful, she tries to push son Aaron to get a gene test, but he is reluctant, sparking fears he will bury his head in the sand.
Meanwhile, Moira (Natalie J Robb) is equally worried about what this could all mean for husband Cain.
In other village developments, Rhona Goskirk (Zoe Henry) is torn over how to approach her imminent court case – and Gus (Alan McKenna) is left fuming to learn that she is going to plead not guilty.
A resulting showdown sees him clash aggressively with Marlon (Mark Charnock), but a surprising proposition follows, leaving Rhona with a dilemma.
Finally, Belle (Eden Taylor-Draper) is confused and unnerved by the gaslighting behaviour of new husband Tom King (James Chase), who continues to cruelly undermine her.
Monday February 26
Jimmy and Nicola worry they’ve left their daughter unprepared for the ordeal ahead.
Marlon is supportive of Rhona but it is clear the looming court case is affecting them both.
Tuesday February 27
Tom gives Belle the silent treatment when she gets a job opportunity from Suzy.
Suzy and Vanessa have a flirtatious encounter in the Woolpack bar.
Rhona’s anxieties increase as the family tries to hold it together and Angel remains fearful for her future.
Wednesday February 28
April continues to struggle and unable to face branding herself a criminal, Rhona tells worried Mary and Marlon in the café that she intends to plead not guilty at her trial.
Tom tells Belle his promise that she would talk to Angel about the secure home given her experience in one, and makes her feel guilty at the thought of saying no.
Thursday February 29
Amelia catches April worrying about what will happen to Rhona, and is concerned when April gets on the wrong bus and admits she’s not going to school. Confident and determined April arrives at shocked Gus’s house to speak to him.
Inside, she begs Gus to tell the police Rhona is innocent, but is caught on the back foot when she accidentally reveals Rhona’s pleading not guilty.
Gus drops April back off outside Smithy, but is furious that Rhona has pleaded not guilty. He’s defensive when Rhona moves to see Ivy, and a scuffle with Marlon leads to Gus falling on the floor injured.
There’s soon chaos as angry Gus rejects Marlon’s apology for knocking him over and upset April runs off.
Later, reluctant Rhona’s stunned when he offers her a compromise where both of them change their statements, and work towards not guilty verdicts.
Soon suggesting he could give Rhona access to Ivy and cancel the house sale, Gus puts it all on the line for the sake of the kids, and leaves Rhona with a decision to make.
Chas reveals to her family the cause of her cancer is the faulty BRCA2 gene, and Cain, Caleb and Aaron are blindsided to learn there’s a high likelihood that they could have it too and are further rocked with the realisation that they could pass it on to their children.
Belle gets serious with Angel as the reality finally sets in. Belle soon opens up about what other children in the secure home might be like, and Angel’s fear grows. She worries she’ll face similar mental health difficulties to Belle.
Coming down the stairs in Victoria Cottage, Jimmy discovers them both upset, and comforts Angel as he admonishes Belle, who flees distraught.
Upset to have had her past brought up, Belle’s even more regretful when Tom reneges to the idea that he made her speak to Angelica. She’s grateful when he promises to protect her in future.
Friday March 1
As Chas to prepares to go and see Mandy for her birthday, she pushes Aaron to make an appointment for his gene test referral. He’s evasive and left uneasy at her unrelenting pressure.
Overhearing conversations about the faulty BRCA2 gene from gossiping Dingles in The Woolpack, Ruby’s insistent that Caleb tells her what it’s all about.
The Dingles look over as an argument brews and Chas wishes the ground would open up. Ruby and Caleb’s row soon escalates, and the commotion spurs Cain to intervene.
The confrontation ends with a knee to the groin for Cain and shocked Dingles all round…
Meanwhile, in the back room Chas is supported by her female friends and family as they talk about her cancer and how finding the lump early hopefully gives her the best chance.
Belle’s left feeling confused at Tom’s attitude as his gaslighting continues
Moira is worried about the potential of Cain having a faulty gene.
