It’s been another busy week for Emmerdale news, as we’ve brought you more sneaky spoilers and teasers straight from the show’s producer Laura Shaw.
The show’s boss recently caught up with Inside Soap for an in-depth preview of what’s ahead in the village in the next few months – if you missed that at the time, you can catch up by clicking here.
Read on, though, for all the bonus bits that we couldn’t fit into the first feature…
1. Gabby heads down a worrying path
Gabby Thomas’s self-esteem has been knocked by a string of romantic disasters over the past few years – with Nicky Miligan and Vinny Dingle among those who’ve left her heartbroken.
There’s another setback to come as she’s now set her sights on Ross Barton, who seems far more interested in her stepmum Laurel.
As Gabby starts to reassess what’s important to her, what initially seems like a positive decision soon takes a worrying turn…
“It’s going to be a big story for Gabby, where we delve into the dark side of obsessive healthy eating,” Laura explains.
“She lost Vinny and then being pushed away by Ross makes her start to become a little bit more obsessive about controlling what she eats.
“And while initially it’ll just look like healthy eating, we’ll see how an obsession can start to go wrong.”
2. Joe gets his last chance
Joe Tate is at a crossroads, as his fiancée Dawn Fletcher has threatened to leave him if he continues his petty war with the Dingle family.
The Home Farm businessman seemed genuine recently when he tried to make peace with Moira and offered to compensate her for all the trouble that he’d caused. Has he really turned over a new leaf? Or will he ultimately blow his last chance with Dawn?
“Dawn and Joe are a real love story for me,” Laura reveals. “While Joe’s done some dastardly things, Dawn sees something in Joe that not everyone else does.
“Joe’s a flawed man because of everything that’s happened to him as a child. Losing his father, and all those sorts of things, has made him the person that he is.”
She adds: “But I think what Dawn sees in him is hope – that there’s a person in there that does want to be a family man and a good person.
“She’s constantly hoping that she can win that side out of him, and if she can, those two can absolutely live happily ever after as a big family…”
3. Nicola leans on Kev
Nicola King striking up a friendship with crazy Kev Townsend certainly wasn’t something we had on our Emmerdale predictions list this year. But, when times get tough, support can often come from the unlikeliest of places.
“As we know, Nicola has taken on a motherly role with Lewis, so we will be seeing more of her and Kev,” Laura promises.
“Later on in the year, Nicola’s going to have a few troubles of her own that Kev is going to be supportive with…”
Could this tie in with the explosive return of Sadie King – and rumours of a shock exit ahead for Nicola’s husband Jimmy?
4. Farm wars aren’t over
Emmerdale bosses have worked carefully over the past 18 months to strengthen the Tate and Sugden families, after years of Dingle dominance. With all three families now in strong positions, it’s perhaps no surprise that their farm wars aren’t over!
“Emmerdale has always been built on a hierarchy,” Laura points out. “Robert is that tenant farmer who is still owned by the Tates up on the hill, looking down on him.
“The Dingles own their farm and the Sugdens own theirs, but the Tates owning all the land around is going to be important.
“We’re going for a Yellowstone vibe, which will bring us lots of story in the future.”
5. Kerry and Jai face new challenges
As Kerry Pollard’s relationship with Jai Sharma gets more serious, she starts taking on more responsibility for his teenage son Archie. No better time, then, for the usually-quiet schoolboy to start rebelling…
“With Kerry and Jai, his son Archie is going to be up to a few bad things, and we’ll see how their parenting styles differ,” Laura teases.
“It’s going to test Kerry and Jai as a couple but also cement them as a little family.”
And as for Kerry’s sham marriage to Eric Pollard? “They’re like father and daughter – and nothing is going to break that bond. If tested, Kerry’s going to pick Pollard every time,” Laura adds.
6. Matty’s caught between two families
With farm battles intensifying, spare a thought for nice guy Matty Barton, who may feel divided loyalties! He’s continuing to work for Robert, who isn’t his mum Moira’s favourite person at the moment…
“Matty’s up there working on Emmerdale Farm for Robert and Aaron,” Laura says. “Moira’s over there on the Dingle farm, so Matty is going to get caught between two worlds up there.
“He’s also going to be a great support for Moira as well while she’s coping with what Cain’s going through.”
7. Happiness at last for April
April Windsor has taken centre stage in some of Emmerdale‘s most emotional stories over the past 18 months, so the show has recognised that it’s time for a change of tone where she’s concerned.
“Marlon, Rhona and April are always going to be affected by everything that’s happened,” notes Laura. “It’s going to have long lasting effects, but I think I’d like to see April and Dylan happy for a little while now.
“I feel like they’ve had their fair share of drama, so hopefully there’s some happiness on the horizon for those two now. Both of those brilliantly talented young actors have done amazingly well.”
