Emmerdale‘s Lydia Dingle is left devastated next week when she jumps to the conclusion that her husband Sam is having a secret affair with Laurel Thomas.
Spurred on by Kim Tate’s suspicions about Sam’s shifty behaviour, Lydia becomes convinced that her husband has been doing the dirty – unaware of the real secrets both Sam and Laurel are keeping…
“All that sneaking around Sam has been doing hasn’t gone unnoticed,” explains our Emmerdale insider. “Kim knows Sam is up to something, but in trying to be a good friend to Lydia, she ends up causing absolute chaos and almost destroys the Dingles’ marriage.”
The multiple misunderstandings begin when Sam has to find time for another clandestine dance rehearsal with Ross Barton, so he can impress Lydia with his moves.
Too embarrassed to fess up to boss Kim about what he’s really up to, Sam lies so he can have time off work. But canny Kim isn’t easily fooled…
Meanwhile, Ross and Laurel’s under-the-radar romance is cranking up a gear, and Ross wants to take his lady out in public.
Nervous of how quickly things are progressing, Laurel fears this bit of no-strings flirty fun is becoming too serious. She considers ending the fling before it gets out of hand – but it’s seemingly too late for that.
“Kim is stunned when she spies Sam coming out of Laurel’s house,” continues our insider. “That’s not where he said he was going earlier, so why did he lie? Loyal Kim then tells Lydia that she thinks Sam is having an affair with Laurel, setting off a chain of catastrophic events…”
Little does Kim know that Laurel has been dragged into helping Sam with his dance lessons and is keeping it quiet so he doesn’t spoil his eventual surprise for Lydia.
While Lydia processes the possibility her fella has been caught playing away, Ross is hoping that he and Laurel will take their romance to the next level.
So when his lover lets him down gently because she thinks he’s catching deep feelings for her, he’s completely thrown. Can he convince her they might have a future beyond their hot hook-ups?
Brimming with rage at Sam’s apparent betrayal, Lydia decides to confront her hubby to get the truth once and for all. Kim tags along for moral support, and the pals head to The Woolpack – where it appears their worst fears are confirmed…
“Lydia walks in to find Sam hugging Laurel,” reveals our insider. “She can’t believe they’re being so unashamedly public, and with Kim’s encouragement, Lydia unleashes a tirade of accusations and anger at the pair.
“You can hear a pin drop as the whole pub falls silent following Lydia’s rant, but who’s going to tell her she has completely the wrong idea?”
Will Sam finally admit that all he wants to do is sweep Lydia off her feet with his ballroom skills? As for Laurel, could she be forced to go public about the man she’s actually been seeing in secret – and is their romance really over?
