DALES residents are celebrating Christmas this week but there’s no break from any fresh drama.
Emmerdale tough man Cain Dingle gets a blast from the past with the arrival of a new and mysterious character. Get the lowdown.
The Dingle clan will welcome a new face
But what is the new character hiding?
1. Cain’s brother arrives
Cain (portrayed by Jeff Hordley) spends Christmas in prison after pleading guilty for the murder of Al Chapman.
But he gets a huge shock this week when his long-lost brother Caleb Miligan (Will Ash) shows up in the eponymous village.
On Christmas day, Cain is faced with a shocking visitor, a man named Caleb.
The pair eye each other without saying a word but eventually break the ice… with Caleb revealing he was surprised to learn their mother Faith recently died.
It’s soon clear that Caleb, who will be portrayed by acclaimed actor Will Ash, is none other than Cain’s brother.
Caleb continues by revealing Cain had told him their mother Faith passed away three decades ago and confronts him.
He goes a step further by blaming Cain for taking away his choice to get to know his family – and the latter’s protective streak makes an appearance.
Cain gives his brother a stern warning to stay away from his family.
The following day in prison, Cain prepares himself to see Moira (Natalie J. Robb), knowing he has to come clean about another secret he’s been keeping from her.
ITV will be airing a flashback to 1991, where viewers will finally know more about Caleb and Cain’s story.
Paddy is still reeling from the shock of Chas’ affair
2. Paddy struggles to cope
Meanwhile, Paddy Dingle’s (Dominic Brunt) marriage with Chas (Lucy Pargeter) is on the rocks after her affair with Al Chapman was finally exposed.
Things take a turn for him this week as he’s involved in a drug overdose horror.
While the spouses agreed to a cease fire in an attempt to spare their daughter Eve, it becomes clear that Paddy is really struggling with the knowledge that his wife is a cheat.
Stress levels rise for him when he accidentally gives Vinny Dingle’s dog an overdose of sedative.
Overwhelmed, Paddy sits hopelessly in his car and tears begin to fall.
Liam and Leyla Cavanagh called time on their marriage
3. Old flames reunite
Love is in the air this Christmas in the Dales for one freshly single resident.
Liam Cavanagh (portrayed by Jonny McPherson) is keeping his mind off of his separation with his wife Leyla by working.
On Christmas day, the village GP starts his first visit of the day at the Dingles and he tries to turn down a plate of food, knowing he has more trips to make throughout the Dales.
But this is to no avail and he soon feels stuffed as he arrives at Holdgate for his second visit of the day.
Things are no better there as Liam faces piles of food and has to haul himself down the street after eating and drinking too much.
He then bumps into his former flame Bernice Blackstock (Samantha Giles) who lets him know they’ve saved him some food.
Bernice takes a tea towel off a plate piled high with food and Liam knows what he has to do.
But Christmas takes a turn for Liam at Brook Cottage when the pair share a charged moment… which ends in a kiss.
What will Bernice and Liam do?
Has Liam bitten off more than he can chew?
What’s in store for Leyla?
4. A fan favourite is left alone for Christmas
Times have been hard for Leyla Cavanagh (Roxy Shahidi) and have been made more difficult by her separation from her husband Liam.
Just as Liam is enjoying his Christmas with fellow villagers, the reality of their situation is hitting Leyla hard.
As she closes the door behind her in Tug Ghyll, she overhears the sounds of a party nearby… before tucking into a tragic Christmas meal for one.
How will she cope?
David Metcalfe will be hit with some major heartache
5. David is humiliated
Times have been hard for David Metcalfe (Matthew Wolfenden) as the shopkeeper tried to keep his business and finances afloat.
Willing to stoop to many lows to save himself from bankruptcy, he eventually accepted the help of his other half, Victoria Sugden (Isabel Hodgins).
However, their relationship hit another low point after he framed her for a crime she never committed.
To make matters worse for David, his adoptive son Jacob (portrayed by Joe-Warren Plant) will be giving him a hard time and humiliating him.
Coming up, Jacob lies to his friends and tells them that Doctor Liam Cavanagh (Jonny McPherson) is actually his father.
Unfortunately, the shop owner later overhears Jacob’s friend refer to Leyla and Liam as Jacob’s mother and father.
David is heartbroken while Jacob is left mortified.
Ethan Anderson confronts his boss Greg
6. Ethan is in danger
Ethan Anderson (Emile John) takes on his boss Greg after the latter progressively showed his true colours by trying to seduce Marcus Dean (Darcy Grey).
But with Christmas, the Anderson family are ready to celebrate, forgetting all the tough times they’ve had to go through this year.
Ready for better days alongside his family and his partner, Ethan takes the PA church system and puts it in the street along with a basic set of disco lights.
This triggers a street party but the festivities are abruptly interrupted.
For several weeks, Ethan has been on edge because of his boss, Greg.
The latter threatens to ruin Ethan’s reputation if the complaint made against him isn’t dropped.
Matters go from bad to worse when Ethan realises Greg has review bombed Marcus’ business.
Not willing to take any of Greg’s abuse, even if it’s directed at his other half, Ethan decides to confront Greg once and for all.
But how will their exchange pan out?
Chas is shunned by members of her family
7. Chas gets a mysterious visitor
Chas Dingle is walking on eggshells after her affair with Al Chapman was exposed to her husband Paddy.
But she may find comfort in the form of a mysterious stranger rocking up Emmerdale.
The Woolpack pub manager played by Lucy Pargeter tries to navigate through life in the Dales with a series of angry eyes turned to her following her illicit romance with the late Al.
Ahead of Christmas, Chas drops off some presents for her family as well as a small birthday present for Belle (Eden Taylor-Draper), who is responsible for her being exposed.
But nothing goes as Chas wishes and she’s left feeling sad and alone when Belle and Mandy Dingle (Lisa Riley) give her the cold shoulder.
Reeling from their encounter, Chas goes to find solace in the closed and empty Woolpack – but she’s met with her husband Paddy (Dominic Brunt) and their daughter Eve.
The pair of them are sat with Marlon’s family for Christmas.
While Paddy may want to show off his own icy streak, him and Chas agreed to a ceasefire out of consideration for their daughter.
Unfortunately, the atmosphere is too awkward to bear for Chas when Marlon thanks everyone who was there for him as he recovered from his stroke.
Chas makes herself scarce, leaving with her mother’s firework in tow to visit her daughter’s grave.
While there, she reads out the card given to her by her mother Faith and her pain grows as she misses both her mother and her daughter.
But a stranger soon approaches her in the cemetery with some bombshell news just as Faith’s firework takes off.
Chas is stunned – but what could the stranger tell her?
Emmerdale airs weeknights on ITV.
