Emmerdale Insider for spoilers, breaking news, first-look pictures, previews and fan theories

Author: Kerry Barrett

  • What’s wrong with Moira Dingle? 5 theories on why she’s acting so strangely from menopause to a brain tumour

    What’s wrong with Moira Dingle? 5 theories on why she’s acting so strangely from menopause to a brain tumour

    Moira Dingle has been acting very strangely lately. She’s aggressive, saying some awful things to her family – especially husband Cain, she threw a glass at the wall, fell asleep during the day and strangest of all, she doesn’t seem to remember any of these incidents properly.

    So what’s going on?!

    Well, it won’t surprise you to know that the Emmerdale fans have been busy coming up with some ideas about what’s up with Moira Dingle.

    And we reckon they’re all pretty plausible.

    Here’s our round-up of the best theories about what’s up with Moira.

    Moira looks annoyed as she lashes out in Emmerdale tonight
    Could Moira be developing dementia? (Credit: ITV)

    1. Dementia

    Moira’s forgetfulness could be symptoms of dementia, some fans believe. It’s definitely up there among the theories with legs, but let’s not forget Emmerdale have done a high-profile dementia storyline before. Ashley Thomas’s struggle with vascular dementia was less than ten years ago. Would they really repeat a similar storyline so soon?

    Moira confronts the Dingles over Samson’s travel plans
    Is Moira’s aggression a symptom of menopause? (Credit: ITV)

    2. Menopause

    Since Davina McCall tackled the topic, it seems everyone’s talking about menopause. Emmerdale has already taken on one female hormones story with teenage Cathy Hope’s Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder. And Bernice’s menopause was also covered in recent years. But it’s definitely something to think about.

    We can’t help thinking though that Moira’s symptoms are so extreme that instead of raising awareness about the menopause, such a storyline could end up terrifying every woman over a certain age!

    Moira smiles as she touches Cain's face in Emmerdale
    Moira is suffering from extreme mood swings (Credit: ITV)

    3. Brain tumour

    Tragic Lola Pearce lost her life to an aggressive brain tumour in EastEnders last year earning praise from viewers for the performances the actors involved gave. Could Emmerdale bosses be hoping for a similarly successful story if Moira is seriously ill?

    “She had a very dazed look about her on Thursday’s episode,” one concerned fan pointed out. And they added: “Her mood is very erratic.”

    Moira looks incredulous as she takes a sip of coffee in Emmerdale
    Is it really tea in that mug, Moira? (Credit: ITV)

    4. Is too much booze what’s wrong with Moira in Emmerdale?

    Moira’s been hitting the bottle hard recently, leading some viewers to be convinced she’s got a drinking problem.

    “The way she’s been knocking back the scotch lately I’d say it’s obvious,” said one confident fan.

    But could Moira’s drinking be a symptom rather than a cause? Is she on the booze as a way of coping with something else?

    Adam Barton on the phone looking worried
    If Moira’s ill, could Adam return to the village? (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)

    5. Is Adam returning?

    This is a bit of a cheat as it’s not a reason for Moira’s odd behaviour, but it could be a silver lining to Moira’s cloud! Could her struggle with whatever she’s battling bring her son back to the village? Let’s hope so!

    Though, Adam returning could see Moira banged up for killing Emma Barton, so perhaps it wouldn’t be a good thing for him to come back after all!

    What do you think is wrong with Moira? Let us know your theories!

    Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm.

    Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm.

    Visit our Facebook page @emmerdaleinsider for all the latest Emmerdale news, gossip and spoilers and let us know what you think!

     

  • Review of the week: Belle’s terror, Tom’s abuse worsens, and a handful of change goes very far indeed!

    Review of the week: Belle’s terror, Tom’s abuse worsens, and a handful of change goes very far indeed!

    There is a lot to review in this week’s Emmerdale, even though most of the episodes focused on one storyline – Tom and Belle and their disastrous trip to Wales.

    They set off, with Belle unaware that Tom was planning a new life for them in the isolated rural setting. Meanwhile, Charity and Cain were worried about Belle and were trying to track her down.

    Here’s what we thought of the dramatic events in this week’s Emmerdale review.

    Outside as the sun rises Belle King [EDEN TAYLOR-DRAPER] and Tom King [JAMES CHASE] are excited to have arrived at the holiday cottage.
    Belle and Tom arrived at their holiday cottage full of joy (Credit: ITV)

    Claustrophobic and tense in our Emmerdale review

    As Belle and Tom set off on their holiday, things already felt tense. Tom had hidden Belle’s phone and he was being Very Nice Indeed. But we know now that his mood can change in an instant.

    And we weren’t wrong. The episode focusing on the newlyweds in the isolated holiday cottage was tense and dramatic. The claustrophobic feeling of the cottage closing in on Belle as Tom locked her inside – and poor Piper outside – had us holding our breath.

    Tom’s manipulation stepped up over the days in the cottage. He was gaslighting Belle, lying about his job interview, and even claiming to have taken an overdose.

    The passing days, with each morning beginning with the toast being buttered by Belle, precisely as Tom liked it, was a clever touch. Especially on the final day when her bandaged hand made her awkward, and the toast was burned.

    Tom chasing Belle as she fled was thrilling and the relief when she managed to get on the bus was immense! Especially as a whole busload of passengers saw what Tom was like as he roared his fury at the departing bus!

    Outside as the sun rises Belle King [EDEN TAYLOR-DRAPER] and Tom King [JAMES CHASE] are excited to have arrived at the holiday cottage.
    Belle was nervous about whether Tom’s good mood would last (Credit: ITV)

    Going downhill

    But after the brilliance of the cottage episode, things went downhill quite fast.

    Belle appeared in Emmerdale clutching Piper, with no explanation as to how she’d got there with no money or phone. No one so much as asked how she’d done it. We were left wondering how her handful of change that was just enough to pay her bus fare, stretched to a train ticket back to Yorkshire.

    She also didn’t seem to have scratch on her, despite Tom whacking her round the face hard enough to send her sprawling on to the floor of the cottage.

    Cain and Charity look horrified as she take in the state of the holiday cottage
    Cain and Charity were shocked when they arrived at the trashed holiday cottage (Credit: ITV)

    Changing direction in our Emmerdale review

    When Charity and Cain broke into Tom and Belle’s house earlier in the week, they were all over Tom’s abusive behaviour. They clocked the cameras, the book detailing all Belle’s spends, Belle’s phone hidden in a drawer and they realised all was not as it seemed with the pair.

    BUT as soon as they caught up with Tom at the cottage and found out Belle had an abortion, they totally changed their stance. Suddenly Tom was the put upon, martyred husband, while Belle was the baddie for having a termination. And that’s a stance that left us feeling a little uncomfortable. It’s 2024, people. No woman has to stay pregnant if she doesn’t want to – even a Dingle woman – and no one should judge her for that decision.

    Emmerdale review Belle pushes Tom to the ground and screams at him in Emmerdale
    Tom’s managed to make himself the victim again, just as he did before (Credit: ITV)

    Glimmers of hope

    With Cain and Charity now firmly Team Tom, things looked bleak for Belle. But she’s managed to find enough strength to tell her abusive husband she doesn’t want to be with him. That’s one positive.

    And she started to tell Vinny what had happened. Though when he pointed out it was abusive, she denied it. Vinny’s a smart cookie though, and – as he himself said – he knows what it’s like to be abused. Fingers crossed he’s a friend for Belle in her time of need.

    Let’s hope Tom doesn’t manage to manipulate things even further in his favour as this storyline progresses.

    Read more: What we want to happen next for Belle and Tom

    Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm.

    Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm.

     

  • Leanna Cavanagh: Her sad family history and tragic murder

    Leanna Cavanagh: Her sad family history and tragic murder

    Leanna Cavanagh seemed like the girl who had it all – a doting father, a handsome boyfriend, and big plans for her bright future.

    But her life was cruelly taken away when she was murdered by Dales serial killer Meena Jutla.

    So what was Leanna’s story and what happened to her?

    Leanna Cavanagh was played by Mimi Slinger
    Leanna Cavanagh played by Mimi Slinger (Credit: ITV)

    Early days in Emmerdale for Leanna Cavanagh

    Leanna was introduced to the Emmerdale viewers in early 2018, as the troubled teenage daughter of Dr Liam Cavanagh.

    As a little girl, Leanna had lost her mum, and though when she was first on screen she was mean and unkind, her backstory made her seem more sympathetic.

    Tipsy Leanna Cavanagh [MIMI SLIONGER] embarasses herself when she tries to make a move on Billy Fletcher [JAY KONTZLE].
    Leanna caused a lot of trouble in the village (Credit: ITV)

    Jacob and Leanna

    Leanna and Jacob hit it off straightaway but their first night together ended in disaster, when Jacob was nasty to Leanna.

    They did reconcile, but Jacob went to stay in Portugal for a while, leaving Leanna feeling lonely.

    Making friends – or not!

    Leanna was a difficult person to like at first. She used Amelia Spencer’s disappearance to her advantage and when Amelia returned, made her life difficult and bullied her.

    And she started a rivalry with Gabby, too, trying to get her fired from her job as a waitress.

    Leanna on the bridge before she died
    Leanna uncovered the truth about Meena (Credit: ITV)

    Leanne causes trouble for dad Liam Cavanagh in Emmerdale

    Of course, the real focus of Leanna’s scheming and troublemaking was always her dad’s partners.

    She loathed Maya Stepney – her dad’s partner who cheated with David Metcalfe (and who later groomed and abused Jacob).

    And she also took against Bernice – Liam’s new girlfriend – taking increasingly nasty steps to cause trouble for her.

    But when Leanna made snide remarks that encouraged Bernice to buy dodgy Botox online, things began to change.

    Meena gets hold of a scared Leanna
    Meena brutally murdered poor Leanna (Credit: ITV)

    Sad story

    Bernice had an anaphylactic shock reaction to the Botox, she nearly died. Leanna’s mother died from an allergic reaction, and the storyline revealed a new side to the troublesome teenager.

    After that, Bernice and Leanna rubbed along quite nicely – until Liam snogged Leyla!

    Leanna tried her best to split her dad and Leyla, until she succeeded, when she did an about-turn and focused all her attention on getting them back together!

    Meena looks at Leanna's body
    Meena left Leanna to die (Credit: ITV)

    Leanna’s death

    By summer 2021, Leanna had become a much more popular member of the Emmerdale community. She was happily loved-up with Jacob, and the pair were planning to go travelling.

    On the day of Leanna’s 18th birthday, stepmum Leyla was getting a party ready for Leanna.

    But unfortunately for Leanna, she discovered that Meena was the one who’d stolen the money from the Pride event. And then she worked out that Meena had killed her friend Nadine, too.

    Underestimating just how dangerous Meena was, Leanna legged it with the Dales killer in hot pursuit.

    After a confrontation on the bridge between the pair, Meena threw her former friend over the wall and sent her crashing into the river.

    Meena looks at the charity collection
    Meena took the charity collection – and murdered five people! (Credit: ITV)

    What happened to murderous Meena?

    Meena went on to kill Andrea Tate and Ben Tucker. After a LOT of drama she was eventually apprehended and is currently in prison for life.

    Who played Leanna Cavanagh in Emmerdale?

    Leanna was played by actress and model Mimi Slinger. She’s since appeared in Masters of the Air on Apple TV+ and has signed with modelling agency Storm.


    Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm.

    Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm.

     

  • Kim and Rose plot leaves fans ‘so angry’ as they say they can ‘barely watch’

    Kim and Rose plot leaves fans ‘so angry’ as they say they can ‘barely watch’

    Emmerdale fans are not happy about the latest twist in Rose and Ruby‘s campaign to make Kim Tate’s life a misery!

    And they’re demanding that things change soon or they’ll be turning off their televisions!

    Rose [CHRISTINE TREMARCO] receives a mysterious message and heads to the outskirts of the village where she meets a dealer who gives Rose a vial of tranquilliser telling her to await further instruction.
    Rose took delivery of some sedatives (Credit: ITV)

    Revenge for Rose and Ruby!

    Rose is working for Ruby, who seems to be out for revenge on Kim, for reasons that aren’t completely clear.

    And that means she’s taking every opportunity to drive a wedge between Kim and husband Will. Most recently she took delivery of some drugs – paid for by Ruby – that she intended to use to spike Will’s drink, and then take advantage of his snoozy state to make it look like she’d seduced him.

    The plot backfired when the glasses got muddled up and Dawn drank the spiked drink.

    Everyone thought Kim was to blame – especially after Ruby arranged for the drug dealer to march into Home Farm and demand payment from a bewildered Kim.

    Rose dug the knife in further with daughter Dawn, encouraging her to blame Kim, and Kim – realising she couldn’t win – moved out of her own home and into the B&B.

    Rose [CHRISTINE TREMARCO] saves the day when Dawn Fletcher [OLIVIA BROMLEY] forgets Clemmie’s birthday, successfully pulling off a spontaneous birthday party, leaving Dawn and Will Taylor [DEAN ANDREWS] grateful but Kim Tate [CLAIRE KING] excluded and uninvited.
    Kim’s fuming with Rose but she’s giving her enough rope to hang herself – at least that’s what the viewers hope! (Credit: ITV)

    The winner takes it all

    It looks like Rose and Ruby have won – for now – but Kim’s playing the long game. At least, we hope that’s what she’s doing!

    The viewers, though, are NOT impressed.

    They’re fuming that Kim has had to move away from her own home and they’re ready to take action if things don’t change!

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by Emmerdale (@emmerdale)

    “My blood is boiling with the Kim storyline,” said one disgruntled viewer. Another agreed: “It’s getting me so angry I can barely look at the screen when Dawn, Rose or Will are on.”

     

    “The Kim and Rose storyline is the most ANNOYING thing,” fumed another fan.  “After everything Kim’s done for Dawn and she believes Rose who’s only been there for five mins!!”

    Another viewer said the storyline was “stupid” pointing out that Kim would never leave her own home.

    Just as Will Taylor [DEAN ANDREWS] is about to take a drink from the spiked drink, Dawn Fletcher [OLIVIA BROMLEY] and Kim Tate [CLAIRE KING] return home and two more drinks are poured meaning Rose [CHRISTINE TREMARCO] loses track of which drink is spiked.. She panics as her plan has gone badly awry...
    Kim didn’t spike the drinks – Rose did (Credit: ITV)

    Biding her time?

    But one fan – who has clearly been an Emmerdale fan since the glory days of the Tates ruling Home Farm – had some advice for other viewers.

    “Stay calm!” the knowledgeable fan reassured everyone. “Kim will have the last laugh, she always bides her time.”

    There was even a prediction that Ruby could end up at the bottom of the stairs!

    While we’re not sure the all new, softer Kim Tate would go that far, we are hoping that Ruby and Rose get their comeuppance soon!

    Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm.

    Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm.

  • Review of the week: Kim betrayed, Samson grows a backbone, and Tracy’s got a LOT to say

    Review of the week: Kim betrayed, Samson grows a backbone, and Tracy’s got a LOT to say

    Emmerdale this week has been an easy one to review because it’s been all about people making some very questionable decisions!

    Kim’s been dropped right in it by the people who are supposed to have her back, Samson’s finally done the right thing, but at what cost, and Tracy’s not exactly happy to see Ella.

    Here’s our review of the week in Emmerdale.

    Kim Tate in a blue dress poses smugly by a car
    We loved the flash of the old Kim we saw this week (Credit: ITV)

    Kim betrayed in our Emmerdale review!

    Since she arrived in the village, Rose has been on a mission to split Kim and Will up. She’s working on behalf of vengeful Ruby. We have no idea how Ruby and Rose ever crossed paths, how Ruby even knew who Rose was, or why Ruby’s so bothered about Kim when it seems Caleb’s not fussed now.

    But that’s beside the point. This week, Rose put her plan to make Kim think she’d seduced Will into action, when she was given drugs to drop into his drink. Except, the plan went a bit awry as Dawn and Kim arrived just as Rose was pouring the drinks, Will got the glasses muddled up and it was Dawn who ended taking the drugged drink.

    She crashed her car on the way to hospital but luckily wasn’t hurt. But she immediately decided it had to have been Kim who spiked her drink.

    We’re not completely sure how she came to that conclusion because as far as we could see, Kim was nowhere near the bottle when it was opened and poured. But Dawn pointed the finger, Rose went with it and even paid the drug dealer to come and demand cash from a bewildered Kim as evidence. Now everyone thinks Kim’s guilty and she’s moved out.

    Frustration!

    It’s all a bit frustrating to be honest, except for one thing. When Kim arrived at the B&B and mentioned Will paying for his betrayal, we saw a glint of something in her eye that we liked! We spotted a flash of the old Kim Tate. Remember her? The one who left a man to die and who wouldn’t let a loser like Rose walk all over her.

    So we’re not totally on board with this badly plotted, confusing Ruby/Rose revenge story. But if it brings back the legend that is Kim Tate, then we’re giving it a big thumbs up!

    Emmerdale review. Samson and Josh share a charged interaction
    Is Josh really that scary? (Credit: ITV)

    Samson did the right thing – finally!

    While we’re on the subject of things not making a whole lot of sense in this Emmerdale review, here’s something else confusing.

    Samson’s determination to leave his sort-of-cousin Matty behind bars in case he upset his new friend of six weeks, Josh, had been making us scratch our heads.

    Except this week Samson casually mentioned that Josh has scary brothers (erm, Samson – you’ve got an entire scary family, babe). We’re not sure if these scary brothers are the ones Dr Liam saw off by himself outside the pub? If so, we reckon Samson’s going to be just fine.

    Anyway, thank goodness, the young Dingle has finally seen sense and admitted what happened when Matty was stabbed. That means Matty’s out of jail and it looks like Samson’s going to be banged up himself. But will Josh and his – ahem – terrifying band of brothers also face justice? We hope so!

    Emmerdale review. Tracy Robinson [AMY WALSH] continues to berate Ella [PAULA LANE] about her suitability for the receptionist role.
    Tracy’s got real beef with Ella (Credit: ITV)

    Tracy got a bee in her bonnet

    Ella’s back in Emmerdale and frankly we’re delighted! We love Paula Lane. And we quite like the idea of a child killer living quietly in the village with everyone waiting on tenterhooks to see what she might do next. (Though it would probably be more dramatic if Emmerdale wasn’t already home to not one, not two, but THREE murderers who’d killed before they’d done their GCSEs).

    Anyway, pleased as we are to see Ella back, we’re a bit bewildered by Tracy Robinson‘s reaction. She’s got a right bee in her bonnet about the one-time killer being welcomed into the village. Plus she’s upset about Ella stealing the vet receptionist job from under Tracy’s nose! Which would all be totally understandable were it not for the fact that Kerry Wyatt and her daughter Amy KILLED Tracy and Vanessa’s dad, Frank.

    They were completely, unquestionably responsible for the factory fire that led to Frank’s death. They have Frank’s blood on their mucky hands. And yet, Tracy seems totally fine with that. She’s not fussed about those killers wandering round the village. (Actually, now we’re thinking about it, there are a LOT of murderers in Emmerdale. It’s quite a dangerous place to hang out). Maybe someone needs to remind her what the Wyatts did?

    After they break the news to the kids, Laurel [CHARLOTTE BELLAMY] asks Jai Sharma [CHRIS BISSON] to leave and move back into Holdgate
    Laurel’s way too good for Jai (Credit: ITV)

    Hooray for Laurel!

    Lauren can often seem like a bit of a wet blanket. We know though, that behind her sweet exterior is something different. She has a rock-hard, steely determination that saw her nurse Ashley through his dementia, and beat her alcoholism. And this week, she finally realised just how awful her deadbeat husband Jai is – and turfed him out! YAY, Laurel!

    Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm.

    Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm.

  • Paddy Kirk in Emmerdale: The loveable vet’s troubled love life and mental health battle

    Paddy Kirk in Emmerdale: The loveable vet’s troubled love life and mental health battle

    Paddy Kirk in Emmerdale is one of the soap’s best loved and iconic characters. His friendship with Marlon Dingle, rollercoaster love life, comedy moments and hard-hitting emotional storylines have made Paddy an Emmerdale legend.

    Now he’s busy planning his second wedding to ex-wife and rekindled old flame, Mandy Dingle.

    Paddy and Mandy have a serious chat in Emmerdale
    Paddy and Mandy are planning their wedding (Credit: ITV)

    Who is Paddy Kirk in Emmerdale?

    Paddy’s the son of Barbara, and Bear Wolf – a former wrestler who only reconnected with his son in recent years.

    He has one daughter – Eve – with ex-wife Chas Dingle. Their first baby girl, Grace, lived only for an hour after she was born.

    He’s also a father figure to Chas’s son, Aaron.

    Paddy and Mandy in the pub in 1997
    Paddy and Mandy hit it off straightaway (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)

    Paddy’s arrival

    Paddy came to Emmerdale way back in 1997 as a locum vet to cover for Zoe Tate. He hit it off with Mandy, though his mum Barbara didn’t approve.

    When Mandy married her cousin Butch as a way to stop the family being evicted, Paddy was heartbroken. But they eventually got it together and tied the knot.

    Paddy gives his wedding ring back to Emily
    Paddy and Emily broke up when he cheated (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)

    Paddy’s love life

    Paddy and Mandy were happy for a while but when her dad got ill she had to spend time away looking after her half-siblings. And she eventually began an affair with her dad’s carer. She and Paddy split.

    Paddy found comfort in sweet Emily Dingle – Butch’s widow – and they started a romance. They walked down the aisle and became foster parents, caring for many children including Debbie Dingle.

    But Paddy had an affair with Viv Hope. And when Emily found out, she left the village for good.

    Next, Paddy started a romance with Chas Dingle – nothing like keeping it in the family, eh? He got close to her son, Aaron, and helped him when he was struggling with his sexuality.

    Chas cheated on Paddy and the pair split.

    Paddy moved on, falling for fellow vet Rhona Goskirk, who’d been in a relationship with Paddy’s bestie Marlon. Awks! Oh, and she was pregnant with Marlon’s baby.

    Somehow, the trio made it work, though, despite Rhona’s painkiller addiction.

    But when Paddy cheated with Tess Harris, it all fell apart.

    And eventually, Paddy got back together with ex-girlfriend Chas.

    Paddy and Chas say goodbye to their baby girl, Grace
    Paddy and Chas said a heartbreaking goodbye to their baby girl, Grace (Credit: ITV)

    Baby Grace

    Chas and Paddy were surprised but delighted when they found out Chas was pregnant. But their joy turned to devastation when they were told their unborn baby had bilateral renal agenesis and wouldn’t survive long after birth.

    They decided to continue the pregnancy, and in heartbreaking scenes, their baby was born, only to die shortly afterwards. The pair imagined the life their daughter Grace would have had.

    Later, the pair were nervous but thrilled to discover Chas was pregnant again and their daughter Eve was born in 2019. Chas and Paddy tied the knot in a Christmas wedding in 2020, but their marriage fell apart when Chas cheated with Al Chapman.

    Paddy Kirk [DOMINIC BRUNT] hits rock bottom in tonight's Emmerdale - with scenes depticting Paddy's suicidal thoughts.
    Paddy considered taking his own life (Credit: ITV)

    Paddy’s depression

    Last year, after the collapse of his marriage, the death of Aaron’s sister Liv, and losing baby Grace, Paddy fell into severe depression. He even considered taking his own life.

    With the help and support of his friends, he’s got through the darker times.

    He’s now engaged to Mandy and the pair are busy planning their second wedding.

    Who plays Paddy Kirk in Emmerdale?

    Paddy is played by Dominic Brunt. Dominic is married to actress Joanne Mitchell (who played Liv’s mum, Sandra) and the pair have two children.

    In real life, Dom is close to his co-star Mark Charnock, who plays his on-screen best friend Marlon. The pair share a love of zombie films and run a zombie film festival each year in Leeds.

    Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm.

    Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.30pm and 2.05pm.

  • All the Emmerdale stars who have appeared on Celebrity MasterChef

    All the Emmerdale stars who have appeared on Celebrity MasterChef

    Emmerdale stars have been wowing in the kitchen since the early days of Celebrity MasterChef.

    Though the stars of the soap haven’t managed to lift the Celebrity MasterChef trophy, they’ve all clearly picked up some tips from Marlon along the way, and showed off their culinary skills to perfection.

    Here’s our round-up of who’s been cooking up a storm in the MasterChef kitchen.

    Emmerdale stars on Celebrity MasterChef

    Jai and Suni Sharma look shocked in Emmerdale. Actor Chris Bisson has appeared in Celebrity MasterChef.
    Jai Sharma might not be a whizz in the kitchen like his brother Suni, but is alter ego Chris? (Credit: ITV)

    Chris Bisson

    Chris appeared in the second series of Celebrity MasterChef in 2007. Strictly speaking that was before he joined Emmerdale as Jai Sharma, in 2009, but we still reckon he belongs on this list! At the time, Chris was best known for playing Vikram Desai in Coronation Street, Kash Karib in Shameless, and Saleem Khan in the film East is East.

    Viv Hope (Deena Payne), Lesley Meredith (Sherrie Hewson) look concerned in Emmerdale
    Sherrie Hewson was in Emmerdale for a while (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)

    Sherrie Hewson

    The same series saw Sherrie Hewson in the MasterChef kitchen. She’s known for playing Maureen Holdsworth in Coronation Street, and also her appearances on Loose Women.

    But from 2004 until 2006, Sherrie played Lesley Meredith in Emmerdale. Lesley was mum to fishmonger Simon Meredith. She caused all sorts of trouble for poor Simon, and his girlfriend Nicola, and generally made a nuisance of herself!

    Hazel and Aaron are shocked when Jackson tells them it's time to die
    Pauline Quirke played Hazel – mum to Aaron’s boyfriend, Jackson (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)

    Pauline Quirke

    Competing in the same series was Pauline Quirke, who played Hazel Rhodes on Emmerdale from 2010 until 2012. Hazel was mum to Jackson Walsh.

    He was Aaron Dingle‘s partner who was paralysed in an accident and who eventually chose to end his life. Of course Pauline is best known for playing Sharon Theodopolopodous on comedy Birds of a Feather alongside Linda Robson and Lesley Joseph.

    Carly Hope, as played by Gemma Atkinson, feels for Marlon Dingle, as played by Mark Charnock, when she hears about Belle but agrees to go for a drink with Pete Barton, as played by Anthony Quinlan in Emmerdale
    Gemma starred as Carly Hope in Emmerdale (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)

    Gemma Atkinson

    Another future Emmerdale star took part in the same series of Celebrity MasterChef – Gemma Atkinson. At the time she was known for playing Lisa Hunter in Hollyoaks. After MasterChef she went on to play Tamzin Bayle in Casualty and then Carly Hope in Emmerdale.

    Lawrence White, as played by John Bowe, turns up at Tim's, as played by Mark Moraghan, house with a thuggish associate
    Mark, who’s best known for his role in Holby City, played Tim in Emmerdale (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)

    Mark Moraghan

    Scouser Mark took part in Celebrity MasterChef in 2008, and made it all the way to the final. He competed against Andi Peters and series winner Atomic Kitten’s Liz McClarnon.

    Mark was known for his roles as Greg Shadwick in Brookside, and Owen Davies in Holby City as well as being the narrator for the animated series Thomas & Friends. In 2017, Mark appeared in Emmerdale as Tim Richards. He was the uncle of Chrissie White. He came to the village to accuse Chrissie’s dad, Lawrence, of killing her biological father John – Tim’s brother.

    Carrie Nicholls is shocked when Carl King confesses he killed his dad
    Linda Lusardi played Carrie Nicholls – a thorn in the side of the King family (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)

    Linda Lusardi

    In 2011, glamour model and actress Linda Lusardi took part in series six of Celebrity MasterChef. She appeared in Emmerdale for a year from 2008, playing Carrie Nicholls. Carrie was a former girlfriend of Tom King Sr, and mother of his daughter, Scarlett.

    Linda, who’d already wowed her guests on a celebrity series of Come Dine With Me, made it to the last five of Celebrity MasterChef but lost out to  eventual winner, rugby player Phil Vickery.

    (804671bd)<br />'Emmerdale' - Lily Butterfield (Anne Charleston) and Edna Birch (Shirle Stelfox)<br />
    Neighbours icon Anne Charleston played Lily Butterfield in Emmerdale (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)

    Anne Charleston

    Fan fave Anne Charleston appeared in Celebrity MasterChef in 2012. Of course Anne had already won the hearts of soap lovers playing Madge Bishop in Neighbours for many years, but she’d also spent three years as Lily Butterfield in Emmerdale. Lily was the estranged, trouble-making sister of uptight villager Edna Birch.

    'Emmerdale' - Tricia Stokes (Sheree Murphy) Marlon Dingle (Mark Charnock)<br />
    Tricia was Marlon Dingle’s first wife (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)

    Sheree Murphy

    National treasure Sheree Murphy took part in the 2015 series of Celebrity MasterChef. She’s known for being delightfully ditzy Tricia Dingle in Emmerdale. Tricia was married to Marlon, but met a sorry end when the chimney of the Woolpack collapsed during a storm, crushing her. Bad times. Sheree’s also had roles in Hollyoaks and Neighbours, as well as presenting many TV shows including Yes Chef and Morning Live. Sheree is married to former footballer Harry Kewell and they have four children.

    Emmerdale father and daughter on Celebrity MasterChef in 2023

    Michael Praed poses on Celebrity MasterChef
    Michael took part in MasterChef alongside on-screen daughter Amy Walsh in 2023 (Credit: BBC)

    Michael Praed

    Robin of Sherwood and Dynasty star Michael Praed competed in Celebrity MasterChef in 2023. He played Frank Clayton in Emmerdale from 2016, until 2019, when Frank was killed in an explosion at the Sharmas’ sweet factory. Frank was the dad of Vanessa Woodfield and Tracy Robinson, and was killed when a money-making scam by Kerry and Amy Wyatt went wrong.

    Amy Walsh in the MasterChef kitchen
    Amy made the final in 2023 (Credit: BBC)

    Amy Walsh

    Tracy Robinson actress Amy Walsh plays Michael Praed’s on-screen daughter. The father-daughter due appeared in the same series of Celebrity MasterChef in 2023.

    She certainly showed off some impressive skills in the kitchen and reached the final of the competition. Amy didn’t win, though – that series was won by actor Wynne Evans, best known as the Go Compare singer!

    Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm.

    Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm.

  • Emmerdale spoilers: Charity and Cain hunt for missing Belle but they could be too late

    Emmerdale spoilers: Charity and Cain hunt for missing Belle but they could be too late

    Next week’s Emmerdale spoilers have revealed Charity finally acting on her worries. She’s been fretting over Belle’s marriage for a while and now she’s taking action!

    But as she enlists Cain’s help to get to the bottom of what’s going on, will they be too late to save Belle from Tom’s manipulative clutches?

    We really, really, really hope not!

    Emmerdale spoilers Belle looks confused and upset as Charity worries about her in Emmerdale tonight
    Charity tried to get Belle to talk to her, but Belle wasn’t ready to open up (Credit: ITV)

    Emmerdale spoilers: Charity reveals all to Cain

    Charity has been worried about Belle for a few weeks. She tried to talk to her about her marriage to Tom a while ago, but Belle shut down all Charity’s attempts to get her to open up.

    Luckily for Belle, Charity hasn’t given up. She’s been keeping an eye on the younger Dingle and making sure things are okay from a distance.

    So when Charity hears about Tom’s job interview in Wales, she’s not happy. And when she realises that he and Belle have gone away from the village, she frets about what’s really going on.

    She can’t shake her worries, so she calls Cain and tells him that Tom reminds her of Bails – the dodgy policeman who abused her as a teenager.

    Charity suffered badly at the hands of Bails, and eventually turned the tables years later as an adult when she testified against him in court and saw him banged up for what he did to her.

    But she’s still haunted by his abuse which is why when she tells Cain what she sees in Tom, Cain takes her worries seriously.

    In fact, the next day, when he can’t get hold of Belle either, he’s soon concerned about his younger sister, too.

    Cain Dingle [JEFF HORDLEY] and Charity Dingle [EMMA ATKINS] arrive at the trashed holiday cottage in Wales to find blood on the wall and no Belle in sight.
    Cain and Charity are frantic (Credit: ITV)

    What’s going on?

    Determined to work out what’s up with Belle, Charity does some digging. She calls Belle’s mental health team and she discovers that Belle’s been missing her mental health appointments. That’s definitely not a good sign!

    So with both Dingles increasingly uneasy, they decide it’s time to act.

    Taking matters into their own hands, they break into Tom and Belle’s house. They rummage through their belongings, determined to find out where they’ve gone.

    But they’re alarmed by Tom’s surveillance equipment – creepy! And when Charity finds Belle’s phone shoved in a drawer, she’s even more concerned.

    Cain Dingle [JEFF HORDLEY] and Charity Dingle [EMMA ATKINS] arrive at the trashed holiday cottage in Wales to find blood on the wall and no Belle in sight.
    The cottage is trashed and Cain and Charity are worried for Belle’s safety (Credit: ITV)

    Trashed!

    Luckily, they find an address for a cottage in Wales where Belle and Tom are staying. They decide the only thing they can do is head off there themselves.

    But they’re frantic when they arrive at the cottage to find it trashed with blood on the walls!

    Belle’s nowhere to be found, though. Where is she? Where is Tom? And have Charity and Cain arrived too late?!

    Cain Dingle [JEFF HORDLEY] and Charity Dingle [EMMA ATKINS] arrive at the trashed holiday cottage in Wales to find blood on the wall and no Belle in sight.
    Cain and Charity find blood on the walls (Credit: ITV)

    Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm.

    Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm.

  • Emmerdale spoilers: Belle’s torment revealed as flashbacks see her in serious danger

    Emmerdale spoilers: Belle’s torment revealed as flashbacks see her in serious danger

    Emmerdale spoilers for next week reveal Belle’s torment at the hands of abusive husband Tom, as the show airs flashback scenes.

    Find out more in Emmerdale spoilers that reveal what Tom’s next frightening move is!

    Outside as the sun rises Belle King [EDEN TAYLOR-DRAPER] and Tom King [JAMES CHASE] are excited to have arrived at the holiday cottage. Seemingly happy and loved-up as they anticipate a good holiday.
    Belle and Tom arrive for their holiday in Wales (Credit: ITV)

    Dream holiday

    Belle and Tom have gone to Wales for a break. What Belle‘s not aware of though, is that Tom’s actually planning on moving them away permanently.

    She’s been walking on eggshells since she told her husband she had aborted their baby. She knows he’s unstable, aggressive, even violent, but she’s been broken by his manipulative behaviour and now it’s clear she blames herself for his abuse.

    Meanwhile Tom’s determined to get his new wife away from her friends and family in Emmerdale – a common tactic used by abusers.

    Cain and Charity arrive at Belle's holiday cottage
    Cain and Charity arrive at Belle’s holiday cottage and they’re shocked what they discover (Credit: ITV)

    Emmerdale spoilers: soap airs flashbacks

    The story of Belle’s torment in Wales is told in flashback as we first see Charity concerned about Belle.

    Charity is uncomfortable about Tom because he reminds her of her own abuser, Bails. So when she finds out about Tom’s job interview in Wales she is really concerned.

    As she does some digging and discovers Belle’s been missing her mental health appointments she’s even more worried – so she enlists the help of Belle’s big brother, Cain.

    Charity and Cain break into the Kings’ house to see what they can find out. They spot all of Tom’s creepy surveillance equipment and realise, with growing horror, that Charity is totally right about what Mr King is really like.

    Outside as the sun rises Belle King [EDEN TAYLOR-DRAPER] and Tom King [JAMES CHASE] are excited to have arrived at the holiday cottage.
    Belle’s hoping the holiday will be good (Credit: ITV)

    Tracking them down!

    Luckily, after a bit of rummaging, where they come across Belle’s phone stuffed in a drawer, they find out where they are. Understanding that time is of the essence, the frantic pair head off to Wales to track them down.

    But when they arrive, it looks like they’re too late. The cottage Belle and Tom are staying in has been trashed, with blood on the walls, and they’re nowhere to be seen.

    The action then flashes back to when the couple arrived at the cottage.

    As the sun rises the pair arrive and seem happy and loved-up as they explore their holiday home.

    Belle is upset to have left her phone behind because she couldn’t find it before they headed out.

    Of course, it’s not long before Tom starts his manipulations. Belle though is still hopeful their holiday will get off to a good start.

    But when she overhears Tom arranging to rent the cottage for longer, she’s confused.

    And as the flashbacks continue we see the blissful holiday getaway turn into a terrifying ordeal for a frightened, lonely Belle.

    Cain Dingle [JEFF HORDLEY] and Charity Dingle [EMMA ATKINS] arrive at the trashed holiday cottage in Wales to find blood on the wall and no Belle in sight.
    Cain spots blood on the walls (Credit: ITV)

    Blood on the walls in Emmerdale spoilers

    We know the cottage has been trashed and there is blood on the walls. It’s definitely a shocking find! What has gone down between the pair? Has Tom attacked Belle – again? Or has she flipped and taken terrible revenge?

    It’s not looking good for poor Belle, whatever has gone on. But will Charity and Cain manage to find her. More importantly, will they reach the terrified newly wed before her abusive husband takes things way too far?

    Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm.

    Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm.

     

  • Review of the week: Dawn whinges, Matty left terrified and finally some laughs from Mandy and Rhona

    Review of the week: Dawn whinges, Matty left terrified and finally some laughs from Mandy and Rhona

    It’s been a complicated week in Emmerdale as we review everything that’s gone one. Things have been looking bleak for Matty in prison, Dawn is struggling to cope with Evan’s illness, and Lydia made an awful realisation.

    But there has been one unexpected moment of fun in among all the misery.

    Here’s what’s been going on.

    Dawn tells Kim to leave Clemmie's birthday party
    Dawn forgot Clemmie’s birthday because of all her moaning (Credit: ITV)

    Dawn and Billy’s anguish

    It’s been tough seeing Dawn and Billy coping with baby Evan’s leukaemia diagnosis. This week things got even trickier for the pair when Billy broke the protective ‘bubble’ at Home Farm and the little lad ended up back in hospital with a temperature.

    It’s not been easy for Dawn and Billy – and it’s not easy for us viewers either! In fact, this whole storyline feels like a slog. Dawn’s a devoted mum, doing her best, but she’s being a bit, well, annoying. Surely it’s unrealistic to expect a whole family to put their lives on hold for what could be years? Kim can’t run weddings at Home Farm, putting a big dent in their income. Billy can’t do his personal training, even Clemmie and Lucas are being half-heartedly home-schooled, by people who don’t know what a fronted adverbial is or how to calculate 10 per cent of something.

    And by the end of the week, Dawn had even forgotten Clemmie’s birthday (which seems unlikely, to be honest, as she loves her daughter fiercely), giving Rose a chance to save the day, while Kim was out in the cold.

    Sadly we feel Dawn’s constant whining is making us far less sympathetic to what should be a heart-wrenching story.

    As visiting time ends, Amy’s [NATALIE ANN-JAMIESON] glad Matty Barton [ASH PALMISCIANO] is more positive. As she watches him go, she’s approached by Robbo [JOHN O’NEILL], who she mistakes for Les.
    Amy dropped Matty right in it (Credit: ITV)

    Matty’s torment

    There’s not much happiness in the Dales this week and Matty’s prison horror is heaping misery on the misery. This week, his wife Amy accidentally landed him in it when she inadvertently revealed he was trans to prison bully Robbo.

    The next thing we saw was poor Matty battered and bruised in the prison infirmary. Though shockingly, he admitted he’d asked his cellmate Les to beat him up as hospital was the only place he feels safe. It’s a tricky situation for Matty, there’s no doubt. He’s determined to stay put in the cell, but frankly we reckon if it was us in that situation, we’d be running to that isolation wing as fast as our legs would carry us.

    And there is a bright side to Matty’s torment – at least while he’s banged up, he doesn’t have to listen to Dawn whining, eh?

    When Josh [OSIAN MORGAN] threatens Samson, putting pressure on him to continue lying to the police, Lydia observes their interaction
    Samson is more scared of Josh than he is of Moira, which frankly seems a bit stupid (Credit: ITV)

    Kidnap!

    Meanwhile ferocious mum Moira was on the warpath, trying to force the truth out of Samson. She even went as far as kidnapping the lying lad – with some help from brother Mack – in an attempt to get him to admit Matty didn’t stab him.

    But no, Samson’s staying schtum for now at least. In fact, he even managed to persuade Moira he was going to confess and instead he dropped her right in it with the police! What a snake!

    We can’t help thinking Samson’s not being especially savvy. Is he really more scared of Josh than he is of Moira? Moira who killed Emma Barton and let her son take the blame? That Moira? Foolish choice, Samson. Foolish!

    Lydia’s on to Samson now,  though, and she can be just as fierce as Moira, though a lot less handy with her fists, so we reckon it’s only a matter of time before Samson fesses up. Which is good news for those of us who are finding new, evil bestie Josh, intensely annoying!

    Mandy and Rhona staggering home drunk
    Mandy and Rhona have become firm friends overnight! (Credit: ITV)

    I’ll tell you what I want

    Rhona and Mandy’s odd feud seemed a bit forced at first and we weren’t totally on board with it. BUT! What we were totally on board with was the making up. The pair were set up by barmaid Gail after Marlon and Paddy begged her to sort out the beef between them.

    And it worked! Before long, the women were necking drinks and sharing stories, and heading into town. In fact, we didn’t see them again until they were staggering home in the early hours – crossing paths with Moira and Mack who’d been at the cop shop.

    When Rhona woke up at Paddy and Mandy’s later, she was in a bad way! She even discovered she had a sore back. “What did I do?” she asked. What she did – apparently – was get a tattoo of a Spice Girl! Possibly, Posh. Maybe Sporty. Mandy wasn’t sure. Either way, it was some much-needed light-relief in the midst of all this week’s misery!

    Zig-ah-zig-ah, indeed.

    Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm.

    Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm.