Hands up who enjoys a good old Emmerdale love triangle? Three might be a crowd, but there’s no denying they’re completely addictive to watch. And the village has seen plenty of them over the years – from brothers fighting over the same lass, to a one-night stand that caused death and destruction.
Now after Cain Dingle slept with his sister-in-law Ruby Fox-Miligan, he is struggling with his guilt. Their shocking liaison occurred while Cain’s wife Moira was undergoing life-saving brain surgery and has left fans disgusted by their betrayal.
While we all pick up our jaws up on the floor over this moment of complete madness, let’s take a look at 10 of the most tangled love triangles in Emmerdale history…
Emmerdale love triangles: Robert Sugden, Katie Addyman and Andy Sugden
Katie Addyman found herself torn between two brothers when she began an affair with Robert while she was engaged to Andy.
Robert’s initial motive for seducing Katie was revenge. He was jealous of Andy, who’d been adopted into the Sugden family, and never forgave him for starting the fire that claimed their mum Sarah’s life.
But as the fling developed, so did Robert’s feelings for Katie. They enjoyed secret romps all over the family farm, while oblivious Andy was planning his future with Katie. The dirty duo even slept together the night before Andy and Katie’s wedding. After marrying Andy, Katie tried her best to resist Robert’s charms, but it was no use. She made plans to run away with her lover, but then Andy found out what was going on and all hell broke loose.
Andy tried to shoot Robert, but their dad Jack was caught in the crossfire. Katie shacked up with Rob for a while, and they even got engaged. But their love story came to an acrimonious end when Robert strayed with Sadie King.
Years later, the rivalry between the Sugden siblings ramped up again when Robert tried to sabotage Katie and Andy’s second wedding. Weeks later, Robert pushed Katie to her death after she discovered his affair with Aaron Dingle. But more on that later.
Ross Barton, Debbie Dingle and Pete Barton
Debbie Dingle was another Emmerdale lass who didn’t mind keeping it in the family.
The mechanic was engaged to marry stable, dependable Pete Barton, but it was his younger brother Ross that got Debbie’s engine going. She even described him as her ‘best sex ever’. Blimey!
Ross and Debbie couldn’t get enough of one another and hatched a plan to run away. But then Cain put a spanner in the works when he revealed Ross had fathered a son with Debbie’s mum, Charity.
Deciding Pete was probably a better option, Debbie went ahead with the wedding. But as the couple took to the floor for their first dance, a recording of Debbie and Ross discussing their affair was played to all the guests. Understandably Pete did not react well to the news his wife had been screwing his brother.
He attacked Ross, and dumped his body in the woods, believing he was dead. But unbeknownst to Pete, and the viewers, Ross was still alive. He returned months later and tried to have Pete murdered. The idea of being with someone so dangerous no longer appealed to Debbie. Fearing for her kids’ safety, she put an end to their affair there and then.
Chas Dingle, Cameron Murray and Debbie Dingle
Once a cheater, always a cheater. That was Cameron Murray.
Having left his wife and kids to start a new life in Emmerdale with Debbie Dingle, Cameron’s head was turned by her Auntie Chas. Their high risk affair set in motion a chain of events that would lead to death and destruction.
During a temporary split from Cameron, Chas had a short-lived marriage to dependable Dan Spencer. While Cameron tried to stay faithful to Deb (who was pregnant with Andy Sugden’s son – a saviour sibling for sick Sarah). Are you keeping up?
But then Chas’s ex Carl King found out about the affair, and Cameron had to kill him. Debbie realised Cameron had been sleeping with Chas and dumped him – but they ended up in bed together. This time behind Chas’s back.
Cameron claimed a further two victims (Gennie Walker and Alex Moss) in order to protect his murderous secret. When Debbie and Chas discovered the truth they worked together to bring their twisted lover to justice. Cameron was arrested and sent to prison. He escaped a month later and returned to the village, where he took the locals hostage in a terrifying siege.
Cam’s reign of terror finally came to end when he accidentally electrocuted himself. While Debbie and Chas were left wishing they’d never dropped their knickers for him.
Emmerdale love triangles: Moira Dingle, Nate Robinson and Cain Dingle
Back in 2019, Moira and Nate sent shockwaves through the village with their passionate affair.
Farmhand Nate had already bedded Amy Wyatt and flirted with other local ladies when he set his sights on married Moira. Fans were in uproar over their fling, but there was a very specific reason Nate had seduced Cain’s missus.
Viewers found out that Cain’s love rival was in fact his son, who he never knew existed. But Nate had been brought up by his mum to believe Cain had abandoned him as a baby and wanted revenge!
All hell broke loose when Cain was informed by Pete Barton that his wife was sleeping with Nate. On the warpath, Cain tracked the cheating duo down to a hotel then lured them onto a boat, with murder in mind.
As punches were thrown, Nate revealed his true identity, and Moira fell into the water, nearly drowning in a tangle of weeds. Nate very nearly was killed too, but Cain decided to save him at the last minute.
In the aftermath, Cain and Moira split for a while, but eventually found their way back to one another. And Cain even found it in his heart to forgive Nate for everything he’d done.
Dave Glover, Kim Tate and Frank Tate
This love triangle was more of a quadrangle as it involved Dave’s other half Kathy too.
Kim and Dave’s affair began back in 1994. He was engaged to marry Kathy, but she’d imposed a ban on sex before marriage. Frustrated by the lack of action he was getting, Dave found himself seduced by Kim. She was looking for a distraction from her ailing marriage to Frank, and became hooked on the handsome farmhand. Kim and Dave fell in love, but their secret was outed after Frank paid a private investigator to follow them.
Weeks after being caught in the act, Kim found out she was pregnant. She didn’t know who the father was, but hoped it was Dave’s. In 1996, Kim gave birth to son James, and was gutted when a DNA test confirmed the tot was, in fact, a Tate.
Meanwhile, Dave went on to marry Kathy, but his heart was still with Kim. The lovers decided to run away from the village together, but never made it that far when Dave was killed in a fire at Home Farm.
Emmerdale love triangles: Aaron Dingle, Robert Sugden and Chrissie White
All Robron fans wanted was for their boys to be together, but there was a Chrissie-shaped obstacle in the way.
Robert was engaged to the Home Farm heiress when he started his affair with Aaron. While it was clear who he really loved, Robert was addicted to the lavish lifestyle he had with Chrissie. For months, he deceived his other half by hooking up with Aaron all around the village. Chrissie almost caught them in a hotel together, but Robert talked his way out of it.
The day of Robert and Chrissie’s wedding, Aaron summoned him to a barn, where he confessed his love. They were caught in the act by Katie Sugden, who threatened to expose their betrayal, but Robert accidentally killed her.
While Robert went on to marry Chrissie as if nothing had ever happened, the stress of covering up Katie’s death caused Aaron to have a breakdown. Unable to carry on living a lie, Aaron finally snapped and told Chrissie everything!
Robert found himself kicked out of Home Farm, and Chrissie swiftly divorced him. But despite everything, Aaron still loved Robert. They eventually reunited, going on to marry. And even though Robron are currently not together, there’s a sense it isn’t the end of their story.
Zoe Tate, Charity Dingle and Chris Tate
Zoe and Charity’s lesbian fling caused quite the stir back in 2001.
At the time, Charity was engaged to Home Farm millionaire Chris Tate, but his sister Zoe did not approve of her brother’s choice of bride. She made numerous attempts to split the couple up, and then it transpired Zoe actually wanted Charity for herself.
The pair embarked on a lusty affair behind Chris’s back. But then Zoe ruined it by going all bunny boiler on Charity. When Charity decided to end things, Zoe made a recording of her admitting to cheating and used it to blackmail her.
Charity refused to be controlled, so decided to tell Chris on her own terms. Bizarrely, given the double betrayal, he forgave Charity and went ahead with their wedding. And as for Zoe, she was left off the guest list.
Emmerdale love triangles: Chloe Harris, Mackenzie Boyd and Charity Dingle
These three created one of the messiest love triangles Emmerdale has ever known.
Mack ended up in bed with teen Chloe following an argument with wife Charity. He hoped no one would ever find out about their one-night stand, but then Chloe revealed she was pregnant.
Baby Reuben was born and Charity dumped Mack when she realised he was the father. Mack tried to make it work with Chloe, but quickly realised she wasn’t the one he wanted to be with. So what did he do? He started sleeping with Charity again, that’s what!
His betrayal broke Chloe’s heart and left her in a vulnerable state. Days later, Chloe, Mack and Charity were involved in a terrifying car accident after a van ploughed into their vehicle, leaving it teetering on a clifftop edge. Mack managed to escape the wreckage and had to decide whether to save Charity or Chloe. He chose Charity, and Chloe fell with the car. She was in a coma for weeks, but miraculously survived.
Events reached a terrifying climax after Chloe’s gangster dad Damon kidnapped Mack. He was determined to make him pay for everything he’d put his daughter through. Charity came to Mack’s rescue and ended up shooting Damon dead.
Was it all worth it?!
Tracy Robinson, Caleb Miligan and Nate Robinson
Last Christmas, Tracy was in over her head, caught up in a love triangle with husband Nate and his uncle, Caleb Miligan. Their hot and heavy fling frankly made little sense. Fans couldn’t get why Tracy would cheat on Nate given the fact they seemed so happy.
But she fell under Caleb’s spell and couldn’t get enough of the sexy businessman. After several very close calls, including nearly getting rumbled by Nate, it was Caleb’s missus Ruby who worked out what was going on. She took her revenge by outing their affair during Belle and Tom King’s wedding reception.
It was curtains for Robinsons’ marriage, and Tracy realised how stupid she’d been when Caleb went straight back to Ruby.
Read more: Tracy Robinson’s chequered past
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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