The Dingles have been part of the Emmerdale furniture for 30 years and are one of TV’s most iconic families. But it’s fair to say, they’re not the best behaved bunch, with many serving time in prison.
Following on from Tom King‘s snide comment that prison is a ‘rite of passage for the Dingle men,’ we take a look back at all the Dingles who have spent time behind bars.
Cain has turned his life around (Credit: ITV)
Emmerdale Dingles in prison: Cain Dingle
Resident bad boy Cain has spent less time in jail than he perhaps should have.
However, he has served jail time. Most recently, he spent time behind bars for a crime he didn’t even commit. After son Kyle shot Al Chapman, Cain decided to take the rapt.
Cain admitted that the thought of doing 20 years in prison was killing him. Fortunately, Kyle decided to come clean and all charges were eventually dropped.
Sam spent time behind bars (Credit: ITV)
Sam Dingle
When he arrived in the Dales, Sam Dingle had just been released from a young offenders institute. He obviously hadn’t learnt his lesson though as he continued to get involved in his family’s dodgy schemes.
One such scheme saw him take part in an armed robbery with his uncle Albert in 1998. They were caught and served time in prison. Sam was released after two years.
However, that wasn’t the only time he spent time in jail. He served another short stint behind bars for accidentally knocking over Edna Birch in 2004.
She has also served time (Credit: ITV)
Charity Dingle
Charity has been in prison on more than one occasion. In 2004, she was sentenced to life in prison after Zoe Tate testified in court that Charity had killed Chris Tate.
The truth was that Chris had ended his own life. After Charity gave birth to Chris’s baby while behind bars, Zoe struck a deal with her – she wanted custody of Noah in return for handing the police evidence that Chris ended his own life.
Charity was acquitted and released from jail and was eventually reunited with her son.
In 2015, to fit in with Emma Atkins’ maternity leave, Charity was sent to prison for two years for perverting the course of justice. She was released just over a year later.
Marlon has seen the inside of a cell (Credit: ITV)
Emmerdale Dingles in prison: Marlon Dingle
In 2020, poor Marlon was arrested and charged for the murder of Graham Foster.
Eventually, Marlon was made a free man as the truth came out about who really killed Graham – Pierce Harris.
Lisa Dingle
One Dingle you wouldn’t expect to have served time in prison is devoted mum and wife Lisa.
But back in 2010 she was arrested for punching a policeman and was sentenced to three months imprisonment.
Belle accidentally killed her friend (Credit: ITV)
Belle Dingle sent to prison
Zak and Lisa’s daughter Belle famously ended up behind bars after accidentally killing her best friend, Gemma Andrews.
Belle and Gemma had been involved in an argument over a boy they both liked. After Gemma slapped Belle, Belle retaliated by pushing Gemma to the ground. Gemma hit her head on a rock and later died from the injuries.
Belle was remorseful for her actions and won an appeal reducing her sentence from three years to just one.
Aaron served his time (Credit: ITV)
Emmerdale Dingles in prison: Aaron Dingle
Another member of the Dingle family who has often flirted on the wrong side of the law is Aaron. He was eventually sentenced to 1 year in prison in 2017 for the brutal attack on Kasim Sabet.
He struggled behind bars and one particular scene where Aaron faced homophobia from fellow inmates sparked hundreds of complaints from viewers.
Aaron was released after just a few months but he struggled with his demons following the violent and psychological abuse he suffered while inside.
Noah was sent to prison for stalking (Credit: ITV)
Noah Dingle
Back in 2022, Noah was sentenced to three months in jail for stalking and spying on ex-girlfriend Chloe Harris.
Noah installed a tracker onto Chloe’s phone, installed microphones in her house and used a drone to spy on her while she was sleeping.
He served around half his time before being released for good behaviour. Upon his release, he shunned his mum Charity due to her being the one to report him to the police – which is usually a big Dingle no no.
Samson made the mistake of teaming up with local thug Josh Cope. The pair of them carried out a robbery at The Hide. Samson ended up being accidentally stabbed in the scuffle, but lied that waiter Matty Barton had done it on purpose.
Matty was subsequently jailed for the crime, before Samson eventually came clean and faced the music.
Tina was wearing an ankle tag when she returned (Credit: ITV)
Other Dingles who have misbehaved
Debbie Dingle has come close to jail on numerous occasions. She was originally arrested over the murder of Shane Doyle, before Jasmine Thomas handed herself in. In 2018, Debbie was arrested again for her part in the acid attack that scarred Ross Barton, but she was found not guilty in court.
Earlier this year, Tina Dingle returned to the Dales for the first time in nearly 30 years. It was soon revealed that she was wearing an ankle tag, meaning she’d recently been released from prison. Though it’s unknown for what.
Back in the 1970s, Cain, Caleb and Chas’s mum Faith Dingle served a short stint behind bars and actually gave birth to son Caleb while in prison.
Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm, with an early release on ITVX at 7am.
Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm.
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Steph is described as, “smart, confident and completely reckless” and is said to share the “best and worst parts” of her parents with her “narcissistic need to win at all costs.”
Steph hadn’t seen her parents in over a decade, but it was recently revealed that she’d been in touch with her grandmother after Ruby’s mum Helen left everything in her will to Steph.
Speaking to Emmerdale Insider and other media about her character, actress Georgia Jay said: “She’s definitely not there to stay. It’s a kind of ‘come in, I want something, and I’m gonna leave’ kind of thing.
“She wants nothing to do with them [Ruby and Caleb]. She just wants to get the [inheritance] money and go.”
Steph arrived in Emmerdale last week (Credit: ITV)
Steph’s arrival in Emmerdale
Steph’s first appearance aired on Friday, November 15. While Jai had Caleb pinned against a pile of planks following the revelation that Caleb had conned him, Steph made a timely entrance.
She revealed to her father that she’d been in touch with Nicky. She had only came to visit while Ruby was staying with Nicky, so that she didn’t have to see her mum.
But it wasn’t necessarily good news for Caleb either, as Steph shared that she didn’t particularly want to see him either. She was just stopping to sort out her grandmother’s inheritance and then she’d be leaving again.
However, romance with Ross Barton appears to be on the cards, so perhaps she’ll be persuaded to stay longer.
Steph does not have a good relationship with her mum (Credit: ITV)
Why did Steph fall out with Ruby?
It was previously shared that Steph was sent away to boarding school when she was a teenager and has suffered abandonment issues. Although both parents agreed to send Steph away, it was more Ruby’s decision.
In Monday’s episode (November 18), as Steph and Ruby shared a war of words, more was revealed about why Steph seems to hate her mum more than her dad.
As Ruby said she stands by the decision to send Steph away, Steph responded: “You couldn’t be bothered, mum, just own it.” With Ruby screaming back: “You stole a car! You were 14 and out of control. You try owning that!”
Steph explained to her mum that she was only acting up because she wanted attention. She said she was “desperate for someone to give a toss.” She expanded on her feelings of abandonment by explaining, “Other kids had mums. I had this cold-hearted fake that couldn’t stand to have me near her. Oh, Mummy’s busy. Mummy’s tried. Mummy’s got a headache.” Steph added that her mum was a “selfish [bleep].”
Steph hit a nerve with Ruby and promptly received a slap. But she wasn’t finished, as she told her mum: “I grew up thinking it was all my fault, that I must be really unlovable.” And on her experience at boarding school, Steph revealed: “I had no friends, was bullied, begged you to come home.”
Ruby remained in denial though and claimed she had no memory of that.
It wasn’t a happy family reunion (Credit: ITV)
Steph’s relationship with her dad
During a heart-to-heart with sister Chas, Caleb revealed that he and Steph had had a good relationship when she was young. He told Chas: “She was my little mate, you know? She was like my shadow. And I let her down. And this is why I never talk about her because it hurts so much. It’s easier to just pretend she didn’t exist.”
It was revealed that Steph had caught her dad with another woman and that resulted in her bad behaviour. Caleb blames himself for Steph’s resentment and told Chas that he wished he’d fought her corner more.
Speaking about Steph and Caleb, Georgia said: “She was much more of a daddy’s girl. I think growing up, being quite similar to Ruby, the clash was there and naturally Caleb and Steph had a very good relationship. And, when she went to boarding school, it was very much the decision of Ruby.”
So while Steph is more amicable with her father, it remains to be seen if there is any way to repair the damaged relationship with her mother.
Will Steph stick around? (Credit: ITV)
Who plays Steph Miligan in Emmerdale?
Steph is played by Georgia Jay, also known as Georgina Philipps. Little is known about her life off-screen, but on-screen, Georgia is best known for her role as Dianne Vickers in BBC’s Giri/Haji.
She also has acting credits for historical drama Glow & Darkness and film The Devil Sits on Both Shoulders.Â
Speaking about joining Emmerdale, Georgia said: “I am thrilled to be joining the cast of Emmerdale. The cast and crew have all been so welcoming and I’m very excited to see what lies ahead for Steph, given her intriguing backstory.”
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! Or find us on Twitter @emmerdaleinside
Elsewhere, Caleb opened up to Chas over his guilt about Steph, and Tom continued to rub the Dingles up the wrong way.
Here’s what happened in Emmerdale on Monday, November 18.
Ruby slapped her daughter (Credit: ITV)
Ruby and Steph came face-to-face
Caleb invited Steph over to the house for breakfast. Things got more frosty once Ruby arrived home, earlier than expected. Caleb left the two women to talk – but that perhaps wasn’t the wisest decision.
Ruby and Steph both went on the attack, with Steph revealing that she had been in touch with her grandma a lot and the reason she left her all the money instead of Ruby was because of Ruby’s “histrionics.”
As they got onto the real issue – Steph being sent away to boarding school when she was a teen, Ruby insisted it had been the right decision. Steph felt differently, however, and responded: “You couldn’t be bothered, mum. Just own it.†Ruby shot back: “You stole a car! You were 14 and out of control. You try owning that!â€
Steph wouldn’t take this lying down though and claimed she was just acting out as she was “desperate for someone to give a toss.†She really dug deep in an attempt to hurt Ruby, as she told her: “Other kids had mums. I had this cold-hearted fake that couldn’t stand to have me near her. Oh, Mummy’s busy. Mummy’s tried. Mummy’s got a headache.â€
After being called a “selfish [bleep]”, Ruby snapped and slapped her daughter. Doesn’t seem the best way to make amends…
How long will Steph stick around? (Credit: ITV)
Steph met Ross
In Emmerdale tonight, after leaving her mum, Steph was shown on the phone, where she told the mystery caller that her mum had totally lost it. She then sighed and said: “Yes, I know what’s at stake.†Is she just talking about the inheritance, or is she up to something else?
We then saw Steph having a drink with Ross Barton in The Hide. After opening up to him, he cheekily told her he is an “expert on women… with estrangement issues.”
Despite not even knowing each other’s names, Steph took Ross back to the B&B.
Caleb shared his guilt over daughter Steph (Credit: ITV)
Caleb unburdened on Chas in Emmerdale tonight
After leaving Ruby and Steph to slang it out, Caleb visited half-sister Chas, who was shocked to discover she had a niece that Caleb had never mentioned.
Caleb sadly told Chas: “She was my little mate, you know? She was like my shadow. And I let her down. And this is why I never talk about her because it hurts so much. It’s easier to just pretend she didn’t exist.â€
After Caleb told Chas about Steph stealing a car and trying to run away, Chas quipped: “Sounds pretty standard Dingle.” But Caleb was in no mood for jokes and he made the big revelation that Steph playing up was all because of him. “She caught me with this woman that I’d been seeing,” he said. Steph started playing up after Caleb had her lie to her mum, resulting in Ruby deciding to send her away to boarding school.
Later, Caleb reassured Ruby that they’d get their daughter back, but is Steph planning on sticking around?
Tom previously forced Paddy to give him his job back at the vets (Credit: ITV)
Tom pushed Cain’s buttons
Mack called Paddy at the vets for someone to come and look at Moira’s prized bull. Much to Cain’s annoyance it was Tom who turned up.
Cain said “You’re not going anywhere near my cattle,” which sounds like a euphemism but isn’t. Cain then called Tom a smug git, which is pretty mild considering what Tom has put Cain’s sister Belle through.
However, Tom pointed out that the farm’s insurance wouldn’t pay out if they declined medical care, so Cain had to relent and let Tom see to the bull.
Later, Tom overheard Sam telling Cain that Samson was having a bit of trouble in prison. Tom being the cruel person that he is couldn’t resist another dig, and asked Cain if prison was a rite of passage for Dingle men. “Samson, Noah, even Kyle. Must be a bizarre kind of family that considers that normal,” he said, before adding: “Belle didn’t have a chance.”
Cain couldn’t resist pushing Tom to the ground, with Tom responding he’d add a new set of overalls to the vet bill – despite the fact that no damage had been done to the set he was wearing.
Sam warned Cain to be careful with Tom as they didn’t want to ruin the trial. They were interrupted by Moira, who arrived home early from her break. She accused Cain of struggling to cope without her – but with Moira’s operation booked in for this week, can he pull it back together and be there for her?
Meanwhile, following the big reveal that Caleb had conned Jai, he decided to offer him a job as a manager. Jai told him to stuff the “poxy job.” However, after a few choice words from Laurel, Jai started to reconsider.
Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm, with an early release on ITVX at 7am.
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! Or find us on Twitter @emmerdaleinside
In Classic Emmerdale spoilers for episodes airing on ITV3 on Monday, November 18, Sam comes to terms with Alice’s cancer decision as they take to the altar and become husband and wife.
Alice recently made the decision to stop undergoing chemo for her cancer. And, as she and Sam prepare to become man and wife, they make a brave decision about their future together.
Meanwhile, Debbie and Jasmine grow closer in the aftermath of the fire – to Ashley’s ire. And, with the house sale in doubt, Matthew and Sadie decide to make a deal with Jimmy.
These episodes originally aired on April 23 and 24, 2006.
It’s Sam and Alice’s big day (Credit: ITV/ Shutterstock)
Classic Emmerdale spoilers: Alice and Sam tie the knot
At Alice’s hen night, the girls are enjoying a round of shots when a stripper arrives. Alice is shocked, but Chas and Del take her under their wing. She grows upset when she realises that Del has told Chas that the cancer is terminal – but decides to enjoy her night regardless.
The next day, Tom drives Alice to the church, where Zak walks her down the aisle. In a private moment after the ceremony, Sam maturely comes to terms with the fact that Alice is going to give up chemo. The pair decide to treasure what time they have left together as man and wife.
Debbie and Jasmine grow closer
After learning that the fire was started by a bottle of vodka, Debbie takes the blame to protect Daz. After leaving the hospital, Debbie argues with Cain and storms out in search of Jasmine.
Ashley tries to keep the pair apart, but Jasmine runs into Debbie’s arms – telling her how much she misses her. When Ashley arrives, he tells Jack that Debbie has admitted to starting the fire. Remembering Daz’s confession, Jack is confused. Later, a grateful Daz asks Debbie why they protected him.
The next day, at a fairground, Cain watches Debbie and Jasmine together. He blows Jasmine a kiss, which creeps her out – causing her to cling closer to Debbie.
Finances are dire for the Kings
Worried about the business’s opposition, Jimmy realises that he may need to pay over the odds to secure a haulage deal. Matthew tells Sadie that they can’t sell the house as quickly as they wanted to.
Realising that their only option to save the haulage yard is to sell their shares, they reluctantly go to see Jimmy.
Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm, with an early release on ITVX at 7am.
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! Or find us on Twitter
In Emmerdale spoilers for tonight (Monday, November 18), Ruby gets a shock when her and Caleb’s estranged daughter appears. But is everything good between the pair?
Elsewhere, amid his ongoing health problems, Eric gives a suggestion to Brenda that leaves her stunned.
All of this and more in tonight’s episode of Emmerdale.
Emmerdale spoilers tonight
Steph gets a right slap (Credit: ITV)
1. Steph shocks Ruby
The village is getting some new additions, as Ruby and Caleb’s estranged daughter Steph has made her appearance.
Someone who is shocked to see her however, is her mum, Ruby. After getting Caleb out of the way so they can have some mother-daughter time, Steph amazes her mum by announcing she was in contact with Helen.
Things heat up between the pair, as they seem to disagree on Steph’s upbringing. Ruby, convinced she gave her daughter a good childhood, can’t seem to understand Steph’s side. It comes to a blow when Ruby slaps Steph.
Steph doesn’t appear to want her mum’s apologies and instead storms out. When Caleb finds Ruby, she is evidently upset, trying to work out what Steph could mean.
He reassures her that in time Steph will come round, but it looks like Ruby could still be hiding something. What could it be?
Eric proposes a Christmas wedding to Brenda (Credit ITV)
Recent episodes have seen his Parkinson’s get so bad that he couldn’t get himself out of bed. In a turn of events, it was Caleb who came to his rescue.
But, despite his struggles, Eric tries to look to the future tonight. He suggests to Brenda that they should get married – at Christmas.
This is obviously very spontaneous for Brenda, as Christmas is only a month away. However, as Eric continues to keep his struggles a secret, it looks like he’s got no plans on changing that.
With Brenda’s exit looming, the question remains; will the couple get a happy ending? Or, will they be driven apart?
Jai is angry at Caleb (Credit: ITV)
3. Caleb offers Jai a job
Ruby isn’t the only parent dealing with Steph’s appearance, as Caleb is trying to adjust to having his daughter around too.
He admits to his sister, Chas Dingle, that he can’t face the possibility of losing Steph again. So he’s determined to do what he can to get her to stick around.
To satisfy his daughter, he offers Jai a proper job after all of his scheming. But it’s safe to say Jai doesn’t trust him and quickly turns him down.
When Laurel hears about it, she’s not pleased at all. She tries to convince Jai that he should put his ego to the side and take the offer.
Will Steph stick around? And what will come from Caleb’s offer to Jai?
Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm, with an early release on ITVX at 7am.
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! Or find us on Twitter @emmerdaleinside
Emmerdale actors, past and present, have swapped village life for the Aussie jungle as contestants of I’m A Celebrity.
The iconic ITV show has been on air for over two decades and seen hundreds of well-known names take part, including eight Emmerdale stars.
These plucky lot have faced their fears and taken part in terrifying Bushtucker Trials.
But how did they all get on? What were their memorable moments? And who went all the way to claim the crown?
Emmerdale stars who’ve appeared on I’m A Celebrity
Jai Sharma actor Chris was in a very earlier series of the jungle contest (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Chris Bisson
Chris Bisson, aka Emmerdale’s Jai Sharma, appeared in the second series of the jungle, way back in April 2003. His campmates included former footballer John Fashanu, dancer Wayne Sleep and eventual winner, cricketer Phil Tufnell.
On day one, Chris received medical attention after he banged his head while trying to help kill a spider. The actor was second to be eliminated and finished in eighth place.
In his exit interview with Ant and Dec, Chris admitted he’d found the experience tough. He also confessed it had been a struggle to go without his normal morning cup of tea.
Tricia actress Sheree was popular (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Sheree Murphy
Sheree Murphy, aka Tricia Dingle, faced some of her greatest phobias when she competed in the fifth series of I’m A Celebrity. She also delighted audiences by discussing her husband Harry Kewell’s peachy bum on national TV!
Going into the jungle in November 2005, the actress admitted she was terrified of creepy crawlies. The public forced Sheree to face her fears by voting her to take part in a live Bushtucker Trial. During the ordeal, dubbed Rocky Horror, Sheree dealt with snakes, eels and green ants amongst others.
Sheree’s bravery won her the hearts of millions, who voted her the series runner-up, behind winner Carol Thatcher. Sheree went on to present an ITV spin-off series for I’m A Celeb with Phillip Schofield in 2006.
Malandra’s Jungle challenges have helped her in real life (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Malandra Burrows
Emmerdale icon Malandra Burrows, who played Kathy Glover, was a late addition to the 2006 I’m A Celebrity gang. She made a very dramatic entrance on day seven, hanging from a tightrope. Fellow contestants Matt Willis and Lauren Booth came to Malandra’s rescue and took her back to camp.
Her first night was also one to remember, when Malandra fell out of the hammock she was sleeping in. Malandra competed in several Bushtucker Trials – her most memorable one being Skyscraper. The trial required Malandra and fellow contestant Myleene Klass to clamber on a 200ft high seesaw platform and collect flags.
Having been in the bottom two a couple of times, Malandra became the sixth celebrity to be evicted.
Malandra was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022 and credited her jungle experience for helping her through the difficult days.
More Emmerdale stars on I’m A Celebrity
Fresh-faced Gemma took part in I’m A Celebrity before joining Emmerdale (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Gemma Atkinson
Future Emmerdale star Gemma Atkinson took part in the seventh series of I’m A Celebrity, eight years before she joined the soap as Carly Hope. Already a household name due to her role in Hollyoaks, Gemma charmed the nation with her down-to-earth attitude.
But despite being a real team player, she was only voted in to do two Bushtucker Trials over 18 days. Gemma finished up in a very respectable fifth place, behind supermodel Janice Dickinson and eventual winner, Christopher Biggins.
Tedwood became the star of the show (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Lorraine Chase
Series 11 welcomed Emmerdale actress Lorraine Chase, aka Stephanie Stokes, as one of its contestants. The series was best remembered for the bromance between McFly’s Dougie Poynter and Towie’s Mark Wright, but also Lorraine’s teddy. The star chose her beloved bear, Tedwood, as her luxury item. However, drama ensued when fellow campmate Pat Sharp threatened to kidnap and burn the toy! Poor Lorraine was left in floods of tears, and thankfully Tedwood was unharmed.
Lorraine was the fourth celebrity to get eliminated, finishing in ninth place overall.
Straight-talking Lucy was a hit with viewers (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Lucy Pargeter
Lucy Pargeter really threw herself into jungle life when she took part in the 2013 series. The Emmerdale legend, who plays Chas Dingle, quickly established herself as a strong team player and smashed a series of gruesome trials.
Lucy also infamously clashed with fellow contestant, Amy Willerton. The soap actress felt the beauty queen didn’t always pull her weight in camp, and made her feelings known. Lucy’s straight-talking made for great telly, and viewers kept her in right until the final. She finished in a very respectable third.
Mr Bushtucker Trial himself presenting a spin off show following his I’m a Celebrity stint (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Adam Thomas
Adam Thomas, who played Adam Barton in Emmerdale, was in the I’m A Celeb class of 2016. Remembered as the year where all the campmates just really loved one another. Adam was the series’ self-proclaimed Mr Bushtucker Trial, after taking part in a whopping 11. These included Game of Thrones: Gates to Hell and the rather revolting Pick ‘n’ Critz.
Adam lasted 22 days in camp and made it all the way to the final. He finished in third place, after comedian Joel Dommett and winner, Gogglebox star Scarlett Moffatt. The following year, Adam was invited back to Oz as the new co-host of spin-off show I’m A Celebrity: Extra Camp. Sadly the series got axed the following year.
The Emmerdale star who won I’m A Celebrity!
Danny Miller was all smiles when he was crowned King of the Castle (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Danny Miller
Who could forget the moment when Danny Miller was crowned King of the Castle in 2021? I’m A Celebrity had been forced to relocate Gwrych Castle because of Covid travel restrictions. Danny had recently left his job at Emmerdale playing Aaron Dingle and become a new dad.
The actor openly admitted his decision to go on IAC was to provide a future for his son. On December 12, Danny was declared the winner, triumphing over Coronation Street’s Simon Gregson. He went on to reprise his role on Emmerdale, coming back as part of the soap’s 50th anniversary celebrations. He then came back for a permanent return in October 2023.
Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm, with an early release on ITVX at 7am.
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! Or find us on Twitter@emmerdaleinside
Weddings in Emmerdale are never boring, that’s for sure! From committing bigamy, death on the big day and being jilted at the altar, there’s always plenty of drama.
And that’s only the beginning! Here’s some of the best and most memorable Emmerdale weddings.
Kerry never married Dan (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Kerry and Dan’s bigamous wedding
When Kerry and Dan tied the knot, everyone was delighted – except Kerry’s other husband that is! Kev showed up at the reception and announced he was Kerry’s husband, baffling the wedding guests, the groom AND the bride in equal measures! It turned out, he and Kerry had tied the knot in Las Vegas.
Kerry hadn’t believed their marriage was genuine and had forgotten all about it. A punch up ensued, obvs, but Kerry and Dan eventually reconciled – they never made it down the aisle properly though.
Meena kidnapped Dawn and Billy on their wedding day. (Credit: ITV)
Dawn and Billy’s murderous chauffeur
If you’re looking for dramatic wedding days, then look no further than Dawn Taylor and Billy Fletcher’s big day.
Serial killer Meena Jutla was on the run when she returned to Emmerdale on ex-boyfriend Billy’s wedding day. She posed as the wedding chauffeur, kidnapped Dawn and Billy and held them at gunpoint on the viaduct.
Evil Meena claimed she’d hurt Dawn’s surrogate mum, Harriet, as well as her little boy, Lucas. Meena fled, shooting Leyla as she went. Harriet and Lucas were fine, and Meena eventually went to jail for her crimes.
Tina humiliated Luke at the altar (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Tina’s revenge on Luke in Emmerdale weddings
In 1994, Ben Dingle had a fight with Luke McAllister. Ben died, though it was later discovered that he had an undiagnosed heart condition.
With the families at war, everyone was surprised when Ben’s sister Tina got together with Luke a year later. She announced her pregnancy and the pair planned their wedding. Luke gave up his A levels, Tina spent all his money and encouraged him to sell family heirlooms.
As the Dingles came round to the relationship, the wedding day loomed. And on the big day, Tina announced she wasn’t actually pregnant and she wasn’t going to marry Luke – it had all been revenge for Ben’s death!
Luke eventually died in an accident, after Tina rejected him, and wracked with guilt, Tina left Emmerdale.
Tina’s wedding day was also the arrival of Tina’s cousin, Mandy Dingle!
Carl didn’t suspect a thing at his wedding to Chas (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Chas jilts Carl at the altar
Perhaps she was inspired by her cousin’s revenge plan because 15 years later, Chas Dingle took very similar revenge on Carl King. He’d cheated on her with Eve Jenson and Chas knew everything.
Careful with that gas, Paul. It could… oh, never mind (Credit: ITV)
Emmerdale weddings: Mandy and Paul’s big, explosive day
The viewers knew that Paul Ashdale was a nasty piece of work, but bride to be Mandy Dingle was oblivious. When brave Liv Flaherty went to confront abusive Paul at the wedding venue, there was a shock in store. Jimmy King accidentally drove a haulage truck into the barn, and Paul was pinned under debris, and Liv refused to help. As she walked away, the barn exploded and Paul was killed.
Betty and Seth’s non-wedding
Seth Armstrong and Betty Eagleton had been sweethearts in the past and rekindled their romance after 50 years in 1994.
They decided there was no point in getting married after so long but instead they just had the party in 1940s costumes, with the whole village turning out to wish them well.
Poor Butch only just managed to say his vows (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Emily and Butch’s tragic deathbed wedding
Cute couple Emily Wylie and Butch Dingle were planning a wedding when tragedy struck. When the brakes failed on a minibus run by Tate Transport, the bus ploughed into a haulage lorry. Butch Dingle was so badly injured in the crash and doctors told him the sad news that they couldn’t save his life. He and Emily said their wedding vows on his deathbed. Sob!
Butch’s big Dingle funeral introduced the characters of Cain, Charity and Shadrach.
Nicola was fuming with sister Bernice when she found out she was sleeping with the groom (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Carlos and Nicola’s bouquet battle
Nicola Blackstock came to Emmerdale to track down her long-lost sister Bernice. It wasn’t long before she’d fallen head over heels for chef Carlos, fallen pregnant, and they got engaged. Except Nicola’s pregnancy was made up, and Bernice was also sleeping with Carlos.
When Bernice found out the truth about the pregnancy, on Nicola’s wedding day, she wanted Nicola to fess up. But when her own secret romance with the groom was revealed, things got physical. Nicola and Bernice had a tussle in the churchyard, and the bride beat up the groom with her bouquet.
Matthew and Anna’s car crash of a day
Matthew King was tying the knot with Anna De Souza despite him watching her dad die in front of her. When his brother Carl revealed the truth, Anna fled. The brothers brawled and Matthew tried to run Carl over. When Anna appeared, he swerved, and crashed into the gatepost. He was thrown through the windscreen and died in Anna’s arms.
Andy and Jo had a very romantic prison wedding in Emmerdale(Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Jo and Andy’s prison ceremony
Talk about toxic – Jo Stiles lied and manipulated her way into a relationship with Andy Sugden. The pair had a prison wedding – just like every girl dreams of – because Andy was banged up.
Things got very dark after his release, when he began abusing Jo and even put her in hospital with broken bones. He told the village she had abused him and when everyone believed him, she left Emmerdale forever.
Jonny and Paul tied the knot (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Paul and Jonny’s historic day
Paul Lambert fell for handsome Aussie Jonny Foster. Their relationship was full of ups and downs, but their civil partnership in 2008 was the first in any prime time soap.
FINALLY Robron made it official but there was no happily ever after for this fairytale couple (Credit: Shutterstock/ITV)
Emmerdale: Robron’s long awaited wedding
After a lot of drama along the way, fan faves Robert Sugden and Aaron Dingle – Robron – tied the knot in 2017. It was the day after the birth and death of Aaron’s baby sister, Grace, but mum Chas urged him to go ahead. Finally the pair made it official in the pagoda in the village.
Debbie’s wedding to Pete ended in death and destruction (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Debbie’s lies bring her wedding day crashing down in Emmerdale
We’ve saved the most dramatic wedding until last! When Debbie Dingle and Pete Barton got engaged they planned a gorgeous country-fair themed wedding. Except Debbie was having a steamy affair with Pete’s brother Ross and all was about to be revealed!
At the reception, a recording of Debbie and Ross admitting to their affair was played to the stunned guests. But that was just the beginning of the drama. At the haulage yard, Chrissie White was confronting cheating husband Robert about his behaviour. She set fire to his car in revenge, and some nearby cans of propane exploded. One of the gas canisters shot into the air, and hit an approaching helicopter. Despite the pilot’s best efforts the chopper plummeted into the village hall.
Ruby Haswell died, Cain rescued son Kyle in the nick of time, and Val Pollard, trapped in the mirror maze with sister Diane Sugden, told rescuers to save her sister first. But Val’s selflessness came at a price as she was impaled by a shard of broken glass.
Bride Debbie was injured and taken away to hospital while Pete and Ross fought seemingly to the death. Pete thought he’d killed his brother, and buried him in a shallow grave, only for Ross to show up again a few weeks later.
Definitely the most dramatic wedding Emmerdale has seen – so 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.
Visit our Facebook page @emmerdaleinsider for all the latest Emmerdale news, gossip and spoilers and let us know what you think! Or find us on Twitter @emmerdaleinside
Emmerdale have given us some fantastic, and unforgettable couples over the years. From red-hot romances, to toxic marriages, and lifelong friendships, here are our 11 of all time favourite pairings. Let’s see if your favourite has made our list…
Moira and Cain have been married for 10 years (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Cain and Moira Dingle
With 10 years of marriage under their belt, Cain and Moira have achieved iconic couple status. What started as a lusty affair has developed into a deep love, but it’s frankly a miracle Mr and Mrs D are still together given what the last decade has thrown at them.
Coira have overcome terrible tragedy (the loss of Moira’s daughter Holly to a heroin overdose), affairs (on both sides, including Moira’s icky fling with Cain’s long lost son, Nate), a stint in prison (him), and an alcohol addiction (her).
But despite all this they’ve been able to create a life together and have worked hard raising their blended family.
The couple are now faced with an uncertain future since Moira’s brain tumour diagnosis. We’re keeping everything crossed Moira will make a full recovery, and Cain has vowed to be by her side, no matter what.
Emmerdale just wouldn’t be the same without them together.
Emmerdale fans are still praying for a Robron reunion (Credit: ITV)
Best Emmerdale couples: Robert Sugden and Aaron Dingle
Robron definitely win the award for Emmerdale’s most shipped couple. Fans could not get enough of this handsome duo.
Aaron and Robert’s love story started on a country lane back in 2014, where they shared their first kiss. At the time, Aaron was out and proud, but Robert was engaged to heiress Chrissie White and still in the closet.
Their affair quickly turned toxic as Robert refused to leave Chrissie, and ended up killing Katie Sugden to keep his secret safe. Aaron eventually snapped and outed Robert, causing his life to implode.
Even when the couple finally made it official, they were faced with obstacle after obstacle. Robert supported Aaron after he revealed he’d been abused by his father, Gordon. And Aaron forgave Robert for fathering a baby with Rebecca White while he was in prison.
Their wedding in 2018 remains one of the soap’s most memorable occasions. The couple, who looked dapper in their matching suits, wrote their own vows which they exchanged in front of their family, friends and millions of viewers.
But after everything, Aaron and Robert never did get their happy ever after. A year after their nuptials Robert was jailed for murdering his sister Victoria’s rapist, Lee Posner. Instead of expecting Aaron to wait for him, Robert decided to set his husband free and filed for divorce.
Will he come back for Aaron once those 14 years are up? We can only hope!
Cain and Charity go way, way back (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Cain Dingle and Charity Dingle
Before Moira there was only one woman for Cain – his second cousin, Charity. Partners in crime and in the bedroom, Emmerdale fans know these two share a whole lotta history.
They had their first fling when they were just 14 and 13, which resulted in the birth of the daughter, Debbie. Charity and Cain gave her up for adoption and the trio weren’t reunited until Debbie came to the village years later.
Shortly after Debbie’s return, Charity and Cain got back together. They had an on/off relationship and got engaged in 2009. However, the wedding never happened because Charity decided she wasn’t ready for marriage.
Despite their red-hot chemistry, Charity and Cain’s romantic union finally ran its course and they split. Over the years they’ve had the odd cheeky bunk-up. In 2016, Cain nearly wrecked his marriage to Moira by getting jiggy with Charity.
But these two have never been able to resist one another, and we reckon they’ve got another affair in them!
Chas and Paddy have decided they’re better off as friends (Credit: ITV)
Paddy Kirk and Chas Dingle
Chas has always had a thing for bad boys, but changed type when she got together with Paddy.
Unlike her previous toxic exes, including the likes of Carl King and killer Cameron Murray, Paddy was a true gent. He treated Chas with care and respect and made her feel secure.
The unlikely duo really were happy for a while. They supported one another through the devastating loss of their daughter Grace in 2018, and the arrival of little Eve the following year gave them reason to smile again.
In 2020, the couple cemented their union with a gorgeous Christmas Day wedding.
But then along came Al Chapman. Chas ended up breaking Paddy’s heart when she strayed with the sleazy businessman. The discovery of his wife’s betrayal drove Paddy into a deep depression and he contemplated taking his own life.
Chas begged for forgiveness, but there was no going back. Post-divorce, Paddy and Chas are back on friendly terms, but she definitely lost a good guy there.
The Tates in happier times (Credit: ITV)
Frank and Kim Tate
Kim and Frank were the ultimate power couple in the days when they were lord and lady of Home Farm.
Frank had made his fortune in haulage, and everyone (including him) probably knew Kim had only married him for the money. Kim had previously worked as Frank’s secretary, but had managed to seduce her way into his bed.
Their marriage was volatile and littered with betrayals. Frank had a drink habit and violent temper, while Kim had an appetite for younger lovers. Her affairs with gamekeeper Neil Kinkaid and farmhand Dave Glover made for addictive viewing.
In 1996, Kim and Frank welcomed a son, James, although there was a question over the tot’s parentage for a while. Kim had hoped James was her lover Dave’s, but he turned out to be Frank’s.
Just months after James’s arrival, Frank tried to have Kim killed. She responded by faking her own death and framing Frank for the ‘murder’. It wasn’t your average tit-for-tat with these two!
When Kim ‘returned from the dead’, the shock of seeing her again caused Frank to suffer a fatal heart attack. Kim stood by and watched as Frank died on the living room floor at Home Farm. Then as a final insult she used her compact mirror to check whether he was still breathing.
With Frank a goner, Kim finally got her greedy mitts on Home Farm. Well, you can’t say she didn’t play the long game.
Val was the love of Eric’s life (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Best Emmerdale couples: Eric Pollard and Val Lambert
Clearly fans of mixing business with pleasure, Eric and Val set up their own fabrics company together. That particular venture proved unsuccessful, so the couple decided to try their luck at being hoteliers.
Shortly after their 2008 wedding, they purchased The Grange B&B, and two years later Val and Eric became foster parents when they took in teenage runaway, Amy Wyatt (now Barton).
Their marriage hid the skids after Val cheated on Eric while they were on a break and contracted HIV. Eric left Val after he found out what she’d done, but they found their way back to one another.
By 2015, Val was facing a prison sentence after committing fraud. She and Eric hatched a plan to fake her death so they could run away abroad together. But the scheming duo never got that far when Val became one of the victims of the village helicopter crash.
A few days after her passing, Val appeared as a spirit and bid Eric a final goodbye. It was fitting ending for such an iconic partnership.
It was second time lucky for Seth and Betty (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Seth Armstrong and Betty Eagleton
Emmerdale golden couple Seth and Betty showed us all the joys of good old fashioned romance.
The pair had been sweethearts when they were young, before going their their separate ways. Betty went on to marry Walter, while Seth made a life with his wife, Meg.
Following Wally’s death in 1994, Betty came to the village in search of Seth. He too had also been recently widowed. It was second time lucky for the former lovebirds, who reconciled and threw the locals a 1940s Christmas party.
Betty definitely was the boss in their relationship, but Seth was her rock. When her no-good ex Reggie Wilkie came to the village looking to cause trouble, Seth saw him off. Shortly afterwards, Seth was the victim of a mugging and Betty nursed him back to health.
Yes, they had their fallings out – who remembers when Betty dumped Seth after discovering he was broadcasting her to the village via a secret webcam – but their love always won over.
Seth and Betty left the Dales together to start a new life in Australia. Homesick Betty soon returned and Seth was set to join her, but died on his flight home.
Lisa and Zak were blissfully happy together until tragedy struck (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Zak Dingle and Lisa Clegg
Soulmates Zak and Lisa were the heart of the show for many years.
She was brave enough to take on his crazy family, and Zak worshipped the ground she walked on. The couple survived an attempt by Lisa’s ex-husband, Barry Clegg to split them up, and went on to marry on January 28, 1998.
Eleven months later, the couple experienced their very own Christmas miracle when Lisa gave birth to daughter, Belle, in a pigsty. Belle’s shock arrival made Zak faint, which is hardly surprising given he and Lisa didn’t even know she was expecting.
There were ups and down in the marriage, but Zak and Lisa always found a way to work through things. But in 2015, the Emmerdale writers caused uproar by making Zak have an affair with their lodger, Joanie Wright. Fans were aghast over Zak’s betrayal and felt the show had destroyed its strongest marriage.
Zak divorced Lisa and married Joanie, but it didn’t last. After Joanie was killed off, Zak and Lisa fell in love again. When Lisa became terminally ill, she and Zak decided to remarry. The couple exchanged vows in a tearjerking ceremony, but just hours later Zak returned home to find Lisa had peacefully slipped away on the sofa. Sob!
Jack and Diane made a great team (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Best Emmerdale couples: Jack and Diane Sugden
Jack and Diane were a refreshingly normal couple, whose stable partnership we really miss.
The pair had been friends for many years before romance blossomed after Woolpack landlady Diane supported Jack through the death of his second wife, Sarah. They married on September 21 2004, but the day was bittersweet as Diane was undergoing treatment for cancer.
She went on to make a full recovery, but life was rather stressful dealing with Sugden kids, Robert, Andy and Victoria. Their constant drama drove a wedge between Jack and Diane and caused them to break up for a bit.
The couple did reconcile and were happy again, but their life together was about to be cut short. In 2009, Jack died while in Spain visiting his elderly mum, Annie. The character was written out of the soap after the passing of real-life actor Clive Hornby.
Diane was devastated at the sudden loss of her husband, but soldiered on in her usual stoic way. She remained living in the village for another 13 years before leaving for a new life.
Katie and Andy on their second wedding day (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Andy Sugden and Katie Addyman
Andy and Katie first locked eyes during a detention session at school. The teens fell hard and fast for one another, and at 16 decided they were mature enough to start a family. Katie fell pregnant, but sadly lost the baby. When Andy took over the tenancy at Butlers, farming started to take over his life. Katie was left feeling neglected and started a secret affair with Andy’s brother, Robert.
The love triangle kept viewers gripped. Katie went ahead and married Andy, but couldn’t deny her love for Robert. When Andy found out about their betrayal he tried to kill Robert, then divorced Katie. It was no surprise that Katie and Robert’s relationship also ended very badly.
In the years that followed Andy and Katie both married again – he to Jo Stiles, her to Declan Macey, but they never forget their first love.
In 2014, a decade after their first trip down the aisle, Andy and Katie said I do again. But sadly they never even made it to their one year anniversary. Katie reignited her bitter feud with Robert and threatened to out his affair with Aaron Dingle. Robert responded by pushing Katie to her death through the floor of a derelict barn, leaving poor Andy a widower.
Paddy and Marlon are the ultimate double act (Credit: ITV)
Best Emmerdale bromance: Marlon Dingle and Paddy Kirk
Okay, so Paddy and Marlon aren’t a romantic couple, but they are inseparable.
The Dales double act have one of the most enduring friendships in all of soap – 27 years and still going strong. These two have shared everything – including the ladies – yes, Rhona, we’re looking at you!
There have been plenty of laughs and comedy capers, but also darker times. When Marlon suffered a stroke, Paddy was instrumental in his recovery, and the chef returned the favour when his best mate battled depression.
But whatever life throws at them, we know these guys have always got each others’ backs. Long live their bromance.
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! Or find us on Twitter @emmerdaleinside
The famous Woolpack pub is at the centre of Emmerdale village life. It’s the second home to many of the locals and the place of dramas, affairs and fights. Those four walls have seen and heard it all!
There’s rarely a dull moment to be had in The Woolie, and the boozer wouldn’t be the same without the powerhouse landlords and landladies at the helm.
The iconic pub has changed hands several times over the years, but what names have been above the door?
Let’s take a trip down memory lane and have a look at the licensees, now and then….
The owners of the Woolpack pub in Emmerdale
Mr Wilks and Amos – the original Woolpack landlords in Emmerdale (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Amos Brearly and Mr Wilks 1972–1991
In the beginning there was Amos Brearly and his trademark bushy sideburns.
Amos became landlord of The Woolpack way back in 1948. He had already been at the helm for almost quarter of a century by the time viewers met him in 1972. He was a terrible gossip, prone to moodiness and something of a loner.
In 1973, Henry Wilks – who Amos always referred to as Mr Wilks – joined Amos behind the bar. The men went into business together and created an iconic partnership.
Henry first came to live with Amos after his own house was destroyed by a fire, but ending up staying on.
Although they frequently bickered and Amos’s most used catchphrase was “Nay, Mr Wilks” the pair managed to stick it out for 19 years.
The Woolpack changed premises in 1976 after the original building was found to have subsidence. Henry and Amos purchased a new site for the pub, where it remains to this day.
Having survived being held hostage in an armed robbery, a stroke and subsequent fall ended Amos’s days as landlord.
Henry stayed on for a while, but didn’t see eye to eye with the pub’s new owner, Alan Turner, and left shortly afterwards.
Turner didn’t make himself popular at first, but locals grew to love him (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Alan Turner 1991-1999
Ruthless businessman Alan Turner was one of the most unpopular men in the village when he bought The Woolpack in 1991.
However, running the local boozer actually mellowed Alan and the punters grew to love him.
He was joined behind the bar by his wife, Shirley, who was sadly shot and killed just months after they had married.
After Shirley’s untimely demise, Alan employed a series of locals of manage his pub, including Terry and Britt Woods and Bernice Blackstock.
Alan suffered a heart attack in 1999, after which he decided to sell up to his close friend and Bernice’s mum, Diane Blackstock.
In the years that followed he remained living the village and would frequently prop up the bar.
The first female Woolpack owner in Emmerdale
Diane and her daughter Bernice worked in the Woolpack together (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Diane Sugden 1999-2010
The first female owner of The Woolpack was Diane Sugden, who was a complete natural behind the bar. Her firm but fair approach meant that the locals always knew where they stood.
The gregarious Geordie originally co-owned the pub with her daughter, Bernice. After that Aussie Louise Appleton became her new partner and there was a brief (and tumultuous) time that Diane’s sister Val came on board.
It was also during the Diane years that The Woolie’s chef Marlon Dingle served up his first bar snacks.
Diane put the pub on the market in 2010 after planning to relocate to France with her then-partner Charlie Haynes. She wasn’t gone long though…
Diane sold to Nicola and Jimmy, but their reign was short lived (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Jimmy and Nicola King – 2010
Jimmy and Nicola King‘s time in charge of The Woolpack was brief to say the least.
The couple took over the business from Diane, but were never really cut out for managing a busy pub.
Affable Jimmy did a better job of charming the customers, but the locals couldn’t really warm to his spiky wife.
Nicola quickly realised she had quite enough on her plate caring for their young daughter Angelica, so with that the Kings reign was over.
Fortunately Diane was back behind the bar before you knew it with Chas beside her (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Diane Sugden (again) 2010-2016
Diane hotfooted it back from France after discovering Charlie was a conman and reclaimed her rightful place behind the bar.
Realising she couldn’t do it alone, Diane accepted an offer from long-serving barmaid Chas Dingle to buy into the business and the ladies proved to be a formidable duo.
Diane very nearly quit the UK for Oz in 2013. She was on the brink of giving Chas the whole pub, but ended up changing her mind at the last minute.
Then three years later she received the shattering news she was suffering from cancer. The shock diagnosis made Diane look at her priorities in life. She decided it was time to step down and sell her share of The Woolie to Chas. Which she did.
The Dingles take charge of the Woolpack in Emmerdale
Chas and Marlon were forced to accept Al’s help – and it ended in disaster (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Chas Dingle 2016-2021
Once Diane retired, Chas was finally able to make the Woolpack her own. Her cousin, Charity Dingle, bought into the business, but their partnership was far from harmonious.
While Chas was a natural with her punters, Charity was rude and abrupt and made it evident she couldn’t be bothered to put in the hard graft.
After growing sick of Charity’s attitude, Chas persuaded her to sell her share to Marlon, the pub’s long-standing chef.
Marlon proved to be a much more reliable partner. However, tough financial times resulted in Chas agreeing to allow Al Chapman into the business. It was disastrous mistake and one that cost Chas dearly.
Bent Al went on to torch The Woolpack as part of an insurance scam and Chas was forced to sell up.
Ryan and Charity now own the Woolpack in Emmerdale (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
2022-present day: Charity Dingle and Ryan Stocks
The Woolpack is currently co-owned by mum and son team, Charity Dingle and Ryan Stocks.
After Al’s plans to convert The Woolpack into swanky flats went up in the flames (quite literally), the pub was put up for auction.
In a shock twist, the highest bidders – and new owners – were revealed to be Charity and Ryan.
This time, Charity seems more willing to get stuck into the day to day running of the watering hole, while Ryan manages the financial side of things.
And Chas still has her hand in, working as the Woolpack’s bar manager.
Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm, with an early release on ITVX at 7am.
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! Or find us on Twitter@emmerdaleinside
This week’s Emmerdale review is a bit emotional, we’ve got to be honest. Not Piper levels of emotion, obvs, but we have found ourselves a little misty-eyed at points.
Much to our surprise!
Here’s what set us off this week in our Emmerdale review.
Eric was ever so cross with Caleb (Credit: ITV)
Eric’s ordeal
Yes, yes, we know that Eric Pollard is a grumpy git with a fondness for a scam and a general air of crossness but how sad was his plight in this week’s episodes? That’s why this Emmerdale review is so teary!
As we know, Eric was diagnosed with Parkinson’s a while ago, and though he’s been managing well, there have been signs that he is beginning to struggle.
His tremors have become more obvious, though he’s been trying to hide them, and this week he lost his temper when he couldn’t get an appointment at the doctor’s surgery.
He also lost his temper, more than once, with Caleb who launched his new business and sent lorries hurtling past Pollard’s house.
Thankfully he eventually recovered enough to get outside and head off to find someone who could come to his aid.
Sadly for him, that someone turned out to be Caleb! Bickering all the way, Eric let him drive him to find Liam.
Pollard and Brenda are making wedding plans (Credit: ITV)
Plucking our heartstrings!
All this drama resulted in Pollard realising he wanted to marry his long-term partner, Brenda. So he got down on one knee (admittedly with a bit of difficulty) and proposed. And Brenda said yes. And we found ourselves welling up at the sweet moment.
Chris Chittell has played Pollard since 1986, making him Emmerdale’s longest-serving cast member. Sometimes when actors have played the same role for a long time, it’s easy to take them for granted. But this week Chris reminded us just how good he is.
Caleb’s nicked all of Jai’s money but Laurel’s been shafted too (Credit: ITV)
Caleb v Jai in our Emmerdale review
Elsewhere in Emmerdale, things weren’t so interesting. We are not the biggest fans of a business-focused storyline at the best of times, and this whole thing with Caleb and Jai left us more than a little confused.
What exactly is Caleb’s business? Is it the haulage business? Or are there two haulage firms in Emmerdale now?
Why is Billy turning up at work wearing a suit? What is Kerry being paid to clean? We have a lot of questions, but we’re not that bothered about the answers, to be honest.
BUT saying all that, we are very pleased that Jai’s got his comeuppance. All that swaggering around and not playing fair over his divorce has finally come back to bite him, and we are very pleased.
Except, we wish he hadn’t shafted Laurel in the process, and we really wish it wasn’t Caleb who’d come out on top. Because he totally doesn’t deserve it either.
Steph is wondering why her brother is a Geordie, just like we are (Credit: ITV)
Steph’s arrived in our Emmerdale review!
We’ve been desperate to meet Caleb and Ruby’s daughter, Steph. We really like Ruby now and we’re looking forward to getting to know more about her daughter, too.
Georgia Jay seems to be perfectly cast as Steph. She’s physically similar to Ruby, and she’s even got similar mannerisms.
And she’s also perfected Caleb’s steely stare which she greeted her long-lost dad with. Altogether she’s great.
One thing that puzzled us a tiny bit though – and let’s be honest, this isn’t the first time the Miligan family have left us scratching our heads in this respect – was Steph’s accent.
We’re not sure where she’s been but she is super-posh. More so than her southerner mum, who apparently grew up alongside her Mancunian dad. And quite where Geordie Nicky fits into this rich family tapestry of accents, we don’t know.
But so far, we like the look of Steph. And we can’t wait to find out more about her!
YAWN (Credit: ITV)
Tina’s a damp squib
We were SO excited that Tina Dingle was returning but so far, she’s not filling us with excitement.
We might be more interested if it turns out Vinny really does have some siblings he’s never met, but that’s only a maybe. Frankly there are more than enough Dingles in the village already!
Our heads were spinning with the speed of Vinny finding out the truth, falling out with Mandy, falling out with Tina, then forgiving Mandy, all in the space of four episodes.
Where will Tina go from here? We’re still willing to give this return a chance, because we loved Tina Mark 1 back in the 90s, but we need something exciting to happen really 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.
Visit our Facebook page @emmerdaleinsider for all the latest Emmerdale news, gossip and spoilers and let us know what you think! Or find us on Twitter @emmerdaleinside
![At the end of his tether, Jai Sharma [CHRIS BISSON] demands back the money Caleb Miligan [WILL ASH] hid for him in an offshore account.](https://tvguide.co.uk/emmerdale-insider/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/13_11_emm_jai_caleb_02-1-e1730385661398.jpg)
