We love to point out that it’s always far from quiet in the country where Emmerdale is concerned, but the last 12 months of plots have been in a different league. Joe Tate’s kidney heist, the limo crash, Ray and Celia’s slavery operation and Kev’s karaoke are just some of the highlights, so how are Dales chiefs going to top all of that?
Producer Laura Shaw recently caught up with Inside Soap to preview a scorching summer of drama – and we’re bringing you the highlights below!
1. There’s hope for Graham and Kim
Graham was revealed to be secretly scheming against Kim last month, as he nearly killed her by meddling with her pain medication! But this bickering ex-couple always knows how to surprise us, so this may not be a deal-breaker when the truth comes out…
“Kim and Graham are always going to be one of those couples where there’s a fine line between love and hate,” shares Laura. “So, while they are plotting against each other, there’s still deep love and understanding between them, and they will always have that.
“Hopefully, through this story, we’ll see them coming out of it stronger than ever before…”
As for who Graham was on the phone to when he lamented his failed murder attempt? “You won’t find out who that is for a little while!”
2. More new arrivals are on the way
Emmerdale is all about feuding families right now, and with everyone double-crossing each other, the main clans probably need all the help they can get! Is there a chance that their numbers could be boosted further, ahead of more battles?
“At the start of last year, I wanted to cement the families in our show,” explains Laura. “Everyone always talks about the Dingles, but I felt like we needed to build up some of the other families – that’s probably what I’m most proud of.”
Asked whether we could see characters like Kim’s son Jamie back, Laura replies: “Well, as I said about building the clans, I’ve been trying to do the same with the Sugdens as well as the Tates. Obviously, Isabel [Hodgins, who plays Victoria] is on maternity leave, but Sarah’s married Jacob – he’s taken the Sugden name – and what I want to do over the course of the next few months is remind everyone that Sarah’s also a Sugden.
“But, to answer your question – yes, there’s going to be a couple of new arrivals to strengthen both the Tate and Sugden clans.”
3. Caleb has revenge in mind
Joe’s daring decision to steal Caleb’s kidney was one of Emmerdale‘s most outrageous stories last year! We haven’t forgotten it – and unsurprisingly, neither has Caleb…
“We have a story coming up at the depot with Caleb trying to get his groove back, which leads to some problems up there,” reveals Laura.
“Going forward, we’ll reach a point where Caleb begins to see an opportunity to get Joe back. He’s not forgotten that Joe stole his kidney, and an opportunity will present itself in the summer that means Caleb and Ruby are working together to get the ultimate revenge on Joe. “
4. Charity’s secret will cause devastation all round
The clock is ticking on Charity’s ongoing deception over who the biological parents of baby Leyla really are. Could Dr Todd expose the truth after her fearsome threats? Whichever way it all comes out, expect fireworks for Charity, Mack, Sarah and Jacob.
“It’s going to be huge and tear them apart,” warns Laura. “You really feel for Sarah and Jacob, especially now Leyla has been born as they’re just so happy as a family. It’s going to be very difficult to come back from, and maybe at that point Sarah will remember that she’s a Sugden and gravitate more towards that side of her family for a little while.”
Could this mark the end for Charity and Mack’s marriage? Laura adds: “It could do… They’ve been through so much, and because we know the audience love them as a couple as well, I really hope they can find a way through it.
“The idea of Charity and Ross getting together has been talked about a lot, but we’ve never actually seen them as a couple. I think while Ross is always going to play a part in everything, Mack and Charity is a big love story for me.”
5. Gabby discovers her unexpected love rival
Brace yourselves for Thomas family turmoil as Gabby realises that her stepmum Laurel is her new love rival! Gabby makes a failed attempt to seduce Ross next week, but it’s only a matter of time before she finds out that he only has eyes for Laurel…
“Funnily enough, we know Ross loves an older woman, so there’s going to be a little dalliance between Ross and Laurel,” laughs Laura.
“But what we’re also seeing is Gabby beginning to get a little bit smitten with Ross – so we’ll see how she reacts when she finds out that the other woman in Ross’s life is her stepmother!”
6. Kev is back for one reason only
The shocking revelation that Kev is Lewis’s long-lost father is one of Emmerdale‘s biggest unresolved storylines. The repercussions will finally be explored when Kev returns in the coming weeks, ready to tell Lewis the truth…
“When he comes back, he’s very much back for Lewis and it’s going to be about building a father and son relationship between them and building on the Barton family as well,” confirms Laura.
“Robert and Aaron are happy, and Kev will kind of leave that alone. The door is closed between Robert and Kev, certainly for the foreseeable future.”
And could there be a repeat of Kev’s infamous karaoke scene? Laura continues: “When I rang Chris [Coghill, who plays Kev] up and asked if he’d be interested in coming back, he said, ‘As long as you put a clause in my contract that says I’m not doing any more karaoke’. And I said, ‘Absolutely no chance!’ So, yes, it is scripted that there will be more karaoke!”
7. Cain has more tough times ahead
We’ve seen a different side to Cain this year following his prostate cancer diagnosis, with a series of powerful episodes. Emmerdale will continue to sensitively explore the storyline as Cain deals with the aftermath of his recent operation.
“We’ll be exploring the side effects of the surgery with regards to erectile dysfunction, incontinence, and how someone like Cain navigates his way through that,” says Laura.
“It’s going to impact the whole family. They’re all living in that tiny house, squashed in the Dingles’, sharing one bathroom and Cain has nowhere to hide. It’s also about how the kids deal with it as well, when they realise that their hero, their dad, has got this problem and how it affects them.”
8. There’s a summer stunt on the way
Don’t worry about Emmerdale going quiet over the summer – it’ll be a major time for storylines peaking. That includes a stunt with a difference…
“What we’re planning for the end of summer, I don’t think I’ve seen a stunt done quite like this before, so it’ll be something a little different,” shares Laura.
“We have a big summer planned that we’re going to start shooting in a couple of weeks that’s going to be a big peak for us. It’s going to drop a big, massive bombshell on the village that will change lives forever, put it that way!”
