Emmerdale fans were left horrified during the latest trip to the Dales when Ethan Anderson suffered a brutal attack at the hands of a racist client he refused to represent. The character has been in a sticky situation as he fought between his career and his real feelings.
It came after Billy Fletcher was attacked by the same man, Jordan, in scenes aired in the ITV soap at the end of last month. Viewers watched as Billy headed out for drinks with his father-in-law, Will Taylor. But soon, his wife Dawn was receiving a phone call to inform her that her husband had been taken to hospital.
Seeing his injuries, Dawn demanded to know what happened and a broken Billy revealed that he had been racially attacked. Meanwhile, Ethan was defending the attacker at the police station. Billy has since shared his disdain at Ethan representing his vile attacker and his conscience has got the better of him.
During Thursday night's hour-long edition of the ITV soap, fans saw Ethan sharing his worries with his dad, vicar Charles Anderson, about taking on Jordan's case after hearing he appeared in the village and threatened Billy. He told his dad: "I'm pulling out. I hate who this is turning me into. I know it could mess up my career, but I can't carry on like this."
Tensions flared as Ethan shared the news with Jordan and his wife and, as a shaken Ethan made his way home to meet his boyfriend, Marcus Dean, he was approached by his former client who accused him of making him out to be a racist in front of his wife. Jordan began taunting Ethan and grew increasingly aggressive.
And when Ethan hit back, Jordan once again resorted to violence, pushing his former solicitor to the ground before violently beating him, leaving him barely conscious and bleeding on the floor. Luckily, Billy managed to find them and as he begged Jordan to let him phone an ambulance, the pair's vile attacker demanded Billy retract his statement which would let him off.
Billy agreed to as long as he could get Ethan the help he needed but Jordan demanded he leave. However, Billy had actually thought ahead and had already called the police before confronting him. As Jordan was arrested, Marcus arrived to find Ethan unconscious and being treated by paramedics.
But as Jordan was being escorted away, Marcus asked: "Is that him?" before turning his attention to his injured boyfriend. Emmerdale fans, however, think there is more to the attack than meets the eye and that Marcus is hiding something.
@deanobeanos tweeted: "Wonder if the bloke who attacked Billy is a relation or associate of Marcus #Emmerdale." @Jess_xHx said: "Still feeling that Marcus has something to do with the bloke who attacked Billy #Emmerdale #StampOutRacism." @AjEasmon replied: "Nah, the ending of tonights episode got me thinking again. Does Marcus know Jordan??? Didn't look that surprised #emmerdale."
@Charlotte_K13 commented: "Haven't seen tonight's episode yet but why do I have a feeling Marcus could know Jordan/be racist. I've had a bad feeling about him since he came into the show! #Emmerdale." @mallyb78 suggested: "#emmerdale So, hands up who thinks Marcus told Jordan where Ethan was?"
@JordanPhelps21 wrote: "Why do I have this feeling that Marcus and Jordan know each other. #Emmerdale." @Mammy_white And Marcus definitely knows Jordan that look said he does IMO [in my opinion] #emmerdale."
