Births and deaths have been the theme for many a Christmas in Emmerdale. It’s a favourite time of year to welcome new life into the village, as well as killing off other characters.
Take last festive season for example. It saw the birth of Dawn and Billy Fletcher‘s son, Evan, then just days later, gangster Damon Harris was shot dead by Charity Dingle. And it’s not a new tradition either – the soap had its first Christmas Day baby back in 1998, and its first festive fatality over 30 years ago.
Here’s a full run down of all the Emmerdale hatches and dispatches that have happened at Christmas.
Emmerdale Christmas births: Belle Dingle
For Christmas 1998 Emmerdale gave fans the best surprise present – baby Belle Dingle.
But it wasn’t only the viewers who were shocked by the tot’s unexpected arrival. Mum Lisa Dingle didn’t even realise she was pregnant before her contractions kicked in while she was tending to one of the family’s poorly pigs.
Thankfully she wasn’t alone. Vet Paddy Kirk was by Lisa’s side and helped deliver Belle into the world. Paddy rushed back into Wishing Well and summoned the family outside. And there, lying in a manger (well, a pigsty) was Lisa cradling her newborn daughter.
Stunned Zak was lost for words at the sight of his seventh child and fainted on the spot!
Gabby Thomas
Bernice might look like a picture of serenity, cradling her newborn daughter Gabby, but there was a lot of angst and drama surrounding the tot’s arrival into the world.
The Woolpack landlady went into labour on the morning of Christmas Day during a row with her estranged husband Reverend Ashley Thomas. Their marriage was in crisis after Bernice had admitted to an affair with Spanish chef Carlos Diaz.
Unsure whose child she was carrying, Bernice allowed Ashley to accompany her to the hospital, but also requested Carlos’s presence there. As Bernice’s contractions intensified in the delivery suite, outside things were kicking off. Nicola took a swing at Carlos, while Bernice’s parents Rodney and Diane were tearing strips off one another.
Little Gabby was born that same day. Bernice was over the moon, as were the two potential fathers. A DNA test later confirmed Gabby was Ashley’s and Carlos quit the village not long after.
Emmerdale Christmas births: Evan Fletcher
Christmas came early for Dawn and Billy Fletcher with the birth of their beautiful baby boy, Evan.
Dawn went into labour on December 21, 2023 in the middle of the village Christmas fair. Billy was elsewhere, so Dawn had to lean on enemy Aaron Dingle for support as her contractions kicked in. Although to be fair to Aaron, he did a good job given the awkward circumstances.
The mum-to-be made it back to Home Farm in time to have the water birth she’d been longing for. Billy was by Dawn’s side as she delivered a son, who they named Evan, after his paternal grandfather.
The first year of Evan’s life has been a highly traumatic one after the tot was diagnosed with leukemia. But the brave little soul has proved what a fighter he is and even came home in time for Christmas.
Emmerdale Christmas deaths: Leonard Kempinski
The Emmerdale plane crash, also known as the Beckindale air disaster, marked a huge turning point in the soap’s history. The episode aired on December 30, 1993 and was watched by an audience of 18 million – its highest ever viewing figures.
The village was partly destroyed when an airliner crashed into the surrounding countryside. Farmer Joe Sugden was driving his mum Annie Sugden and her husband Leonard Kempinski to the airport when he had to swerve the car to avoid debris from the doomed plane. The impact of the crash killed Leonard, and left Annie in a coma for three months.
Leonard wasn’t the only local to lose his life that night. The plane crash also claimed three others – Elizabeth Pollard (Eric’s second wife), Zoe Tate’s former boyfriend Archie Brooks and local father Mark Hughes.
It also left Home Farm heir Chris Tate with life-changing injuries that resulted in him being wheelchair-bound for the rest of his life.
Emmerdale Christmas deaths: Dave Glover
Dave played with fire by sleeping with lady of the manor Kim Tate. And he ended up getting burnt. Very badly.
Kim and the handsome farmhand had an on/off affair behind her husband Frank’s back for two years. When Kim discovered she was pregnant in December 1995 she didn’t know who the father was. She loved Dave, but when Frank offered her a million pounds to ditch her lover, and put his name on the birth certificate, Kim chose the cash.
Baby James was born the following year, and a DNA test later confirmed he was Frank’s. Despite all this, Kim couldn’t give up Dave, and vice versa. The duo decided they’d run away and start a new life together, but never made it that far.
On Christmas Day 1996, a fire broke out in James’s nursery at Home Farm. Dave battled through the flames to save the tot and was able to pass him through a window, but he wasn’t so lucky. He made it to hospital, but died from his injuries the following day.
Emmerdale Christmas deaths: Vic Windsor
Christmas Day 1998 marked Belle Dingle’s first on earth, and postmaster Vic Windsor’s last.
The much-loved character was killed off in an armed robbery, carried out by Andy Sugden‘s jailbird dad, Billy Hopwood. The crook needed money for his new planned life abroad with Andy and decided to burgle the Post Office on its quietest day of the year. But he didn’t bank on Vic catching him red-handed.
The crook was armed with a shotgun and threatened to pull the trigger on Vic. A tussle ensued, Vic went crashing into a set of shelves and was fatally injured. He pleaded with Billy to call for help, but the thief scarpered, leaving Vic to die alone.
11.1 million heartbroken fans watched his passing and mourned his loss.
Ray Mullen
Evil stalker Ray Mullen met a grisly end on Boxing Day 2003, but we can’t say he didn’t deserve it.
The creepy businessman was the boyfriend of Woolpack landlady Louise Appleton. But what she didn’t realise was that he was also her stalker. For months, Louise had been bombarded by threatening letters from a mystery tormenter. Having made Louise terrified for her safety, Ray then persuaded her to move away with him to Italy.
After saying their goodbyes, the couple made their getaway on Christmas Day. But enroute Louise realised what kind of monster Ray really was. She fought back and their car careered off the road. Ray was knocked out cold and Louise fled the scene. But her nightmare was far from over.
The drama continued on Boxing Day when Ray reappeared at Mill Cottage for a final, deadly showdown. The pair fought and Louise ended up killing Ray in an act of self defence. Her pal Terry Woods discovered the scene of carnage, and helped Louise make it look as if Ray had died by accident to avoid her getting charged.
It worked and Louise got away with murder.
Emmerdale Christmas deaths: Tom King
As far as Emmerdale Christmas episodes go, Tom King’s festive murder in 2006 is one of the finest.
The King patriarch had just married gold-digging Rosemary Sinclair – much to the horror of his sons. The reception at Home Farm was in full swing, but the day was about to take a sinister turn.
Tom was upstairs when a shadowy figure entered his bedroom and attacked him with a bronze statue. Seconds later, Tom came crashing through the window in front of his horrified guests. He died of a broken neck.
His shocking murder sparked the soap’s biggest ever whodunit, with many of the locals in the frame. The investigation went on for months before Tom’s son Carl was unmasked as the killer.
Matthew King
Matthew met his maker on December 16, 2008 – the day of his ill-fated wedding to Anna De Souza.
The shocking events unfolded after Matthew’s brother Carl crashed the nuptials at Home Farm. Carl informed Anna that Matthew had watched her dad Donald die weeks earlier and refused to help him.
Shattered by the revelation, Anna fled the ceremony, while Matthew and Carl had a furious punch up. Matthew then got behind the wheel of a white van and attempted to mow his brother down.
Carl jumped out of the way and Matthew swerved the vehicle to avoid hitting Anna, but crashed into a wall and was catapulted through the windscreen.
Although fatally injured, Matthew was able to tell Anna he loved her one last time before he died in her arms.
Emmerdale Christmas deaths: Damon Harris
Last Christmas Charity Dingle became a killer when she accidentally shot gangster Damon ‘Harry’ Harris dead. And it was all Mackenzie Boyd‘s fault!
Mack had an affair with Harry’s daughter, Chloe. But when he dumped her to go back to Charity, Harry swore his revenge. He kidnapped Mack and held him hostage in a deserted warehouse. After torturing his victim, Harry plotted to kill Mack.
He pulled out a gun and was about to pull the trigger when Charity (who had tailed Harry to the warehouse) jumped in to protect her husband. In the scuffle the firearm went off and Harry took a bullet. He was instantly killed.
In the aftermath, Charity battled PTSD, which nearly led her to kill again when she stabbed Mack in a trauma-induced daze.
Emmerdale Christmas deaths: Heath Hope
Emmerdale fans were left in shock after long-term character Heath Hope was killed off last New Year’s Eve.
Heath, his twin sister Cathy and their friend Angelica King were desperate to see in 2024 at a house party in Hotten. So the trio decided to steal nurse Wendy Posner’s car to drive to the venue. But tragedy struck enroute when the vehicle came off the road.
Heath’s dad Bob and Wendy came across the scene of the accident, and found injured Angelica and Cathy in a state of shock. But there was no saving poor Heath, whose lifeless body was slumped in the back seat. He was just 16.
Cathy initially took the blame for causing the crash, but it later transpired Angelica had been behind the wheel. She confessed and was sent to prison for causing death by dangerous driving.
Read more: The live and loves of Bob Hope
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
