Emmerdale's executive producer has promised fans a 'feel good' Christmas following the devastating storm this autumn. It's set to be a difficult time of year for many of the residents of the village following the loss of multiple people just a few months ago.
The ITV soap went big with its 50th anniversary celebrations in October with a wind storm causing irreversible damage to the lives of multiple families following the deaths of Harriet Finch and Liv Dingle. Former village vicar and police officer Harriet succumbed to her injuries after being flung down a ravine and crushed by the quad bike she was riding in the woods in search of pregnant Amelia Spencer who had gone into labour in the middle of nowhere.
Harriet was able to be dragged from the quad bike by Kim Tate but as viewers started to see petrol spilling from the vehicle, it was struck by a lightning bolt and caused and explosion that caught Harriet and Kim in its wake. Meanwhile, Liv was struck by a caravan in the adverse weather and couldn't be saved due to her severe injuries, leading to a heartbreaking goodbye with her husband Vinny and brother Aaron.
And there had already been plenty of tears for viewers when Faith Dingle took her own life amid her terminal cancer diagnosis. Sally Dexter bowed out of her role as the Dingle matriarch in emotional scenes after her family surprised her by bringing the seaside to the village. She then made the decision to end her life alone before Cain found her and comforted her until her last breath.
And after all that devastation, it is likely fans will be looking for some lighter relief over the festive season. Teasing what's to come during a special Christmassy press preview at the Emmerdale village, Jane Hudson told the Manchester Evening News and other press: "Some of our Christmas episodes are feel good and it's the importance of togetherness and of family and friends and of checking in on each other."
But the soap's boss added: "It's not all like that..." That's because the joy of Christmas may be lost on some - particularly Chas Dingle and her husband Paddy Dingle as her affair is exposed. Chas' downfall truly begins, weeks after the shocking death of lover Al Chapman.
While fans were led to believe that it was Chas' brother Cain who shot Al in cold blood after he lured him to a barn upon discovering his secret relationship with his sister, it was soon revealed that it was Cain's son, Kyle, who (sort of) accidentally shot Al and killed him. Cain has since took the rap for the crime and kept Chas' affair a secret.
However, spoilers have since revealed that Belle Dingle will again confront Chas about her and Al's relationship after getting information from Chloe Harris who is eager to find out who Al was cheating on her mum Kerry Wyatt with. And Belle wastes no time in confronting Chas, revealing that she knows Chas and Al were at a hotel together the night Faith passed away.
Belle then suggests that this is why Cain killed Al in October, unaware that Cain's son Kyle is the real culprit. And while Chas is coming to the realisation that her secret may be about to be blown, Belle breaks down in front of Cain's wife Moira Dingle and tells her everything she knows. Moira is furious and blames Chas for kickstarting the devastating chain of events that led to Al's death and Cain's imprisonment.
Meanwhile, the following day, Chas prepares for a romantic trip away with Paddy and is happy they are escaping it all. But it has been revealed that Paddy will find out the truth. How though, it remains to be seen. "Paddy and Chas are in their absolute worst place [at Christmas] because the affair has been discovered and they are forced to spend Christmas day together," Jane told us.
"And it does not go well," she adds. As we move into 2023, viewers will see more of the fallout from Chas' infidelity and the impact on her family. "We are continuing our story with Paddy and Chas and how you navigate trying to be th best parents you can when you're marriage has fallen to pieces and one of you has had an affair.
"We'll watch them both go on their journeys and it will be very serious and quite heartbreaking as we watch what happens to what was one of our favourite couples until we tore them apart."
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