Coming up next week on Emmerdale, Tom gets rid of crucial evidence, Billy’s risky secret job is exposed, Kim’s attempt to stir jealousy in Will backfires, and tensions rise as Charles and Jai clash.
1) Billy’s dangerous secret is uncovered
Next week, Billy’s (Jay Kontzle) hidden source of income is exposed, forcing him to decide whether to come clean to his wife Dawn (Olivia Bromley) about his side job.
The couple recently moved out of Home Farm with their children, after Dawn admitted she was aware of her father Will’s (Dean Andrews) deceit regarding the alleged disappearance of her mother, Rose (Christine Tremarco).
However, their move means they’re now struggling to manage their finances, especially with the high cost of living at Holdgate Farm, where the rent is a steep £2500 a month. Although they managed to cover the first four months using the £10,000 Dawn received from Rose, this is far from a sustainable solution.
“They realize the money they got won’t last forever,” Jay Kontzle explains. “Billy’s regular income won’t be enough to cover the rent, take care of the kids, and maintain a comfortable lifestyle. It feels like they’re fighting a losing battle and are in a desperate situation, which many people can relate to.”
Recently, Billy was caught stashing a large sum of money in a backpack, and when Dawn confronted him, he claimed he was saving up for a surprise holiday. While Dawn appreciated the thought, she reminded him that their bills should come first. Right after their talk, Billy made a suspicious phone call, asking the person on the other line if they had any more opportunities for him.
Next week, Billy continues making these secret calls, and it’s revealed that he’s hiding a pair of boxing gloves from Dawn. It turns out that Billy has been taking part in unlicensed boxing matches!
“Billy has been feeling pretty powerless lately,” Jay Kontzle explains. “Right now, he’s the only one bringing in income, as Dawn is staying home to take care of Evan and help out with the kids. Billy feels like the only way he can contribute is by working.”
“At the same time, he feels frustrated that he can’t do anything to help his sick child. So, along with needing more money, he also craves a sense of release. Fitness is something he’s always been good at, and he sees it as a quick way to earn the extra money they desperately need to keep the family going. It’s the only option he feels he has.”
Dawn and Billy are thrilled to be bringing baby Evan (Malachi McKenzie) home after his latest treatment, but Billy urgently needs a new car to make it happen. He reaches out to Mackenzie (Lawrence Robb) for help in finding one, though Mack is suspicious about both Billy’s budget and a mysterious injury he’s noticed.
The following day, Mack tells Billy that he’s found an affordable car, just in time, as Dawn reminds Billy they absolutely cannot be late to pick Evan up from the hospital.
However, Dawn is furious when Billy doesn’t show up as planned, leaving her stranded. In the end, it’s Gabby (Rosie Bentham) who steps in and gives Dawn a lift to Hotten General.
Meanwhile, a battered and bruised Billy appears at Mack’s back door, seeking help. He opens up to Mack about his secret involvement in unlicensed boxing matches, revealing the source of his injuries.
“It doesn’t end well for Billy in one of his fights,” Jay explains. “He takes a bad fall, injuring his side, and finds himself unable to gather the courage to tell Dawn what really happened. Since he had already spoken to Mackenzie about getting a new car, Billy feels like Mack is the only person he can turn to for help at this moment.”
“There are two main reasons Billy seeks Mack out – to get cleaned up and hide the truth from Dawn, and to have someone to confide in. Whether it’s the right choice or not, he needs someone to talk to.”
“It doesn’t end well for Billy in one of his fights,” Jay explains. “He takes a bad fall, injuring his side, and finds himself unable to gather the courage to tell Dawn what really happened. Since he had already spoken to Mackenzie about getting a new car, Billy feels like Mack is the only person he can turn to for help at this moment.”
“There are two main reasons Billy seeks Mack out – to get cleaned up and hide the truth from Dawn, and to have someone to confide in. Whether it’s the right choice or not, he needs someone to talk to.”
“It’s not great keeping secrets in the first place,” Jay adds. “Everyone always says that they will die for their family, but would you live for them? Would you keep healthy for them? And what Billy’s doing is risking his life and something bad does happen to him.
“If the injury was in any other place, like a vital organ, or a puncture in a certain part of his body, he’s gone. If Dawn was made aware of what’s actually happening here, I think she would hit the roof.”
2) Tom destroys the evidence
Meanwhile, Tom (James Chase) is in a desperate race against time to retrieve his tablet, which holds incriminating evidence of his abuse towards his wife, Belle (Eden Taylor-Draper). Tom had purposely left the tablet out of the inventory of electronic devices he was required to submit to the police, but Belle has since alerted them to its existence.
Earlier in the week, the tablet ended up in the hands of 7-year-old Isaac (Bobby Dunsmuir), who took it from Tom’s cousin Carl (Charlie Joyce) while they were playing a game together in the café.
When Moira (Natalie J Robb) stumbled upon the tablet, she uncovered surveillance footage from Dale Head and realized it contained the crucial evidence that Belle needed.
Moira sent Belle an urgent message requesting a meeting, but sadly, she later experienced a seizure that erased her memory of both the message and what she had discovered. Meanwhile, Mack had set the device on the bookshelf at Butlers while cleaning up, leaving Moira unaware of its significance.
Next week, Tom manages to find Isaac alone in the village and quietly asks him to return his tablet. Isaac tells him it’s at home and reveals where the spare key is hidden, allowing Tom to retrieve it himself.
Once inside Butlers, Tom must hide when Matty arrives home unexpectedly—will he get caught?
Meanwhile, Belle is still anxious to learn what Moira discovered, convinced it holds vital information for her case. Unfortunately, Moira still cannot remember the reason for her call.
Later, when Belle encounters Tom, he taunts her arrogantly about his impending victory in court, leaving her feeling shaken. After bravely reporting Tom for his crimes, she’s terrified he will once again manipulate the situation to his advantage.
Later, with the tablet back in his possession, Tom believes he’s alone when he takes it to the back patio and shatters the screen with a rock. However, he is unaware that Carl is watching from an upstairs window and has witnessed the entire incident…
3) Kim gets under Will’s skin
At Home Farm, the rivalry between Kim (Claire King) and Will (Dean Andrews) has intensified as both try to provoke jealousy in one another.
This comes in the wake of the shocking revelation that Kim was the one who blackmailed Will for £50,000, having been aware of his affair with his ex-wife Rose all along. Their relationship has become increasingly strained as they face what appears to be the impending end of their marriage.
Instead of complying with Kim’s demand to move out, Will has firmly decided to remain in the house, determined to fight for what he believes is rightfully his.
Next week, Will hosts a lads’ night at Home Farm, inviting Jimmy (Nick Miles) over to unwind. After feeling guilty about pushing Jimmy to sell his shares in Home James Haulage, Will aims to lighten the mood and assures him that work won’t be on the agenda. Jimmy is eager for a break from his own troubles and joins Will for some drinks in the living room.
However, when Kim returns home to find the two men lounging amidst empty lager cans, she is far from pleased. Determined to get back at Will, she has a clever plan in mind.
Later, Kim descends the stairs, dressed to the nines for a dinner date with her financial advisor, Peter (David Michaels). As a shocked Jimmy watches, Kim revels in teasing Will, making sure to provoke him before she heads out for the evening with her new companion.
Kim is satisfied that she’s successfully provoked Will, but she’s soon caught off guard when he unexpectedly punches Peter, knocking him to the floor!
Later, when Lydia (Karen Blick) discovers Kim lost in thought, Kim reveals that getting the upper hand on Will didn’t bring her the sense of triumph she had anticipated.
Lydia suggests they maybe it’s because she and Will, despite all the games, are actually still in love with each other.
It seems the ice queen could be thawing as she considers Lydia’s theory, but will any plans to make things up with her estranged husband go out of the window when Kerry (Laura Norton) finds Will looking miserable in The Woolpack…?
4) Arthur and Laurel quarrel
Elsewhere, the fallout from Arthur’s (Alfie Clarke) lie about sleeping with John continues to be felt in Mulberry Cottage.
Having developed a crush on the new arrival, who is more than twice his age, 17-year-old Arthur tried his hand at a bit of flirting this week. Arthur’s attempts went unnoticed by John, but he tried to save face in front of April (Amelia Flanagan) by claiming they’d just hooked up in John’s van.
Unfortunately Arthur’s mum Laurel (Charlotte Bellamy) overheard everything, and confronted John in front of everyone in The Woolpack. Mortified as John claimed his innocence, Arthur was unable to admit that he had made it all up.
Next week, it’s impossible for the mum and son to meet eye-to-eye over his supposed love life as their relationship reaches a new low.
However, Arthur soon confides in Nicola (Nicola Wheeler), who patiently helps him share his feelings. After coming out to her in heartfelt scenes back in December 2022, Arthur feels he can trust her without fear of judgment.
Nicola urges Arthur to mend his relationship with Laurel, but will her efforts ultimately complicate matters further?
5) Charles and Jai face off
The drama with Laurel, John and Arthur in the pub also inadvertently led to Laurel’s secret hook-ups with vicar Charles (Kevin Mathurin) being made public, with estranged husband Jai (Chris Bisson) there to witness it.
Jai is infuriated to discover that Laurel appears to have moved on so quickly, leaving his ego feeling bruised.
Next week, when he runs into Charles in the village, Jai can’t resist confronting his romantic rival, and tensions escalate as they nearly come to blows.
Seeing the altercation unfold, Manpreet (Rebecca Sarker) chastises her ex-partner Charles for his actions, leaving him feeling humiliated by the entire situation.
When Charles later mentions his confrontation with Jai to Laurel, she expresses a desire to delve deeper into their relationship. However, she feels let down when Charles insists that things have gone too far, firmly ending their romance.
6) Amelia Attempts to Mend Fences
Next week, the troubling situation between Tom and Belle begins to cast a wider shadow, especially now that Tom is dating Amelia (Daisy Campbell).
Sam (James Hooton) and Lydia are caught in a dilemma as Amelia, who is the mother of their granddaughter Esther, remains oblivious to Tom’s manipulative behavior, which affects her perception of the Dingles.
Realizing that she has upset Sam and Lydia, Amelia later offers them a photo of Esther as a peace gesture to pass along to incarcerated Samson (Sam Hall).
Sam and Lydia hold onto the hope that their relationship with Amelia might improve, but as she prepares to leave, she can’t resist defending Tom and his behavior, convinced that the Dingles are mistaken about him.
Will Lydia manage to change Amelia’s perspective before it’s too late?
