Emmerdale fans were doing a double take as they thought they saw a classic Coronation Street villain in the Yorkshire-based soap's latest scenes. Viewers were left shocked during the latest trip to the Dales on Wednesday night (July 5) when Dan Spencer's latest actions looked set to have very serious consequences.
Dan lost his temper with his daughter Amelia’s stalker Lloyd after previously ordering him to stay away. While at work at the garage with Cain Dingle, the mechanic saw Lloyd leave the church with Amelia before the pair embraced after having what later transpired to be an emotional heart-to-heart.
But as Lloyd goaded Dan, telling him he can't control Amelia and that he was probably going to see 'a lot more' of him, Dan snapped and punched him in the face. Emmerdale fans saw the victim fall in slow motion before he hit his head on a rock, knocking him out cold.
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Witnessing the attack, Cain rushed over as Dan shouted a Lloyd to 'get up'. Cain ended up calling an ambulance before getting a distressed Amelia to take his dad back home. Jacob Gallagher, meanwhile, tried to use some of his medical training to help before the ambulance arrived and got a fitting Lloyd into the ambulance.
Soon after, the police arrived and were seen questioning the witness. And it appears one bared an uncanny resemblance to one of rival soap Corrie's best-known baddies. @homebrew19721 tweeted: "That bald geezer looks like pat phelan #corrie #Emmerdale." @MickJohnPNEFC echoed: "That extra was pat phelan.......#emmerdale."
Meanwhile, other Emmerdale fans were commenting on how history is repeating itself as they realised it isn't the first time the popular ITV soap has opted to cover a 'one-punch killer' storyline as back in 2018, Cain punched Joe Tate after he left his daughter at the altar and like Lloyd, Joe also fell back and hit his head on a rock.
@PaulPoeUK tweeted: "Can’t punch someone in #Emmerdale anymore with them hitting a rock on the way down. We’ve done this storyline. #Emmerdale." @adjalf1 commented: "I swear that rock moves around the village and is always placed where someone dies or almost dies outside. Serial killer rock. #Emmerdale."
@MattWi1kinson echoed: "They need to remove the rocks in #Emmerdale. This must be the tenth time someone fell and hit their head on a rock." @funkygibbons noted: "Dan punches him and he hits his head on a well-placed rock, much like when Cain punched Joe. #Emmerdale."
Emmerdale announced earlier this week that it would be exploring how one punch has the potential to kill. They confirmed that Lloyd will be left fighting for his life with Dan facing an uncertain future after confessing to the police that he was responsible.
Emmerdale producer Laura Shaw said: "We want to show the stark reality and devastating impact one punch can have. In a moment of madness, Dan’s world will be turned upside down. His actions could cost him his freedom and more tragically could cost Lloyd his life. As the story unfolds, we’ll see Dan battle with the guilt of what he's done and the impact this one violent act has on his family, friends and the wider community.”
Speaking about his latest storyline, Dan actor Liam Fox said: “This storyline is the best I’ve been a part of in all my time in Emmerdale. When it was first discussed with me, I just knew it was going to be something special. The producers have absolutely come up trumps with a story that really does mean something.
"So many of us have been in a situation where we could be put in the same position as Dan. Who wouldn’t want to protect their daughter from unwanted attention? Every day of the week somebody somewhere may strike out to hit someone not knowing what that punch could lead to. I just hope we’ve portrayed the story in a way that realistically shows the pain that can be felt on all sides."
