Emmerdale is lining up dramatic scenes next week, which leave several village members floored.
Spoilers have revealed that the village will learn of sad death news next week, which leaves the residents tearful. Elsewhere, Jacob Gallagher is left reeling over a new bombshell about his dad David Metcalfe next week following the latter's exit last year.
Also in the village, Ruby Fox-Milligan goes too far next week when her temper lands her in very hot water with the Dingles. Here's the biggest moments happening on the soap next week...
Village tearful over sad death as legendary character dies
Emmerdale is set for sad death news next week, which leaves the village tearful. In upcoming scenes, Paddy Kirk, Rhona Goskirk and Vanessa Woodfield are left shocked to hear that Pearl Ladderbanks has passed away. Paying tribute to Pearl, an emotional Paddy wears the last jumper she'll ever knit for him in order to honour her memory.
It comes as Pearl Ladderbanks actress Meg Johnson sadly died aged 86 last year. At the time, Emmerdale paid tribute to the star - who played Pearl since 2003 - and hailed her as "kind and wonderful" in a joint statement with her family.
The statement read at the time: "It is with great sadness that we announce that actress Meg Johnson passed away peacefully yesterday evening surrounded by her family. Meg was a kind and wonderful lady, full of warmth and always with a twinkle in her eye. Meg had an outstanding career that ended with her playing Pearl Ladderbanks in Emmerdale from 2003.
"Meg had dementia for the last few years, but battled on personally and professionally regardless. She will be greatly missed by everyone who knew her." Meg's flamboyant and loud character Pearl made a huge impression when she first rocked up in the Dales back in 2003, branded a "trollop" by Edna Birch.
She went on to be involved in a number of big storylines, including the appearance of her rapist son and his shock death, and her various rocky relationships. More recently, she was a receptionist at the local vets and worked with Paddy and Rhona. In January 2020, Pearl moved to a static caravan in Demdyke to gain some independence.
Jacob Gallagher left reeling over new sad David Metcalfe bombshell
Emmerdale's Jacob Gallagher is left reeling over a new bombshell about his dad David Metcalfe next week. Soap fans will recall that David left the village last year after a heartbreaking betrayal. Prior to his final scenes, David got more than he bargained for when he found out about son Jacob and ex Victoria Sugden's romance.
The unlucky-in-love character had been celebrating his birthday but received a rather unexpected surprise from his son and ex-girlfriend. Jacob and Victoria had been keeping their controversial romance extremely low-key in a bid to not be caught out but their antics were finally exposed to a devastated David. In November before his exit, a hurt David confronted Victoria, calling her a slew of insulting names to which Jacob punched his father in retaliation.
Later, a shocked and devastated David broke down in the shop, where he had a heart-to-heart with his dad Eric Pollard, where he admitted it was only him keeping him in the village and he wanted to go to London so he could be with his young daughter Amba. After encouragement from dad Eric, David decided to leave the village.
However, before he made his exit, David spoke to Jacob, where things ended very badly after the punch. As Jacob called out for his dad, David cruelly suggested Jacob no longer call him that anymore. The episode ended with David emotionally driving out of the village as his family, minus Jacob who was secretly watching round the corner, waved him off.
In upcoming scenes, Jacob is left reeling after an update from his father. The character is left crushed next week to learn that his dad is never coming home. The bombshell leaves Victoria struggling with guilt as she finds it difficult to juggle her happiness with Jacob but upsetting others with their romance. It comes as actor Matthew Wolfenden confirmed back in September that he was leaving the ITV soap as David after 17 years.
Ruby explodes as she injures Chas after Caleb betrayal in dark twist
Emmerdale's Ruby Fox-Milligan goes too far next week when her temper lands her in very hot water with the Dingles. The fiery estranged wife of Caleb Milligan showed up in the village earlier this year and has wasted no time in creating a slew of enemies in the village, especially after learning about Caleb's affair with Tracy Metcalfe which she took delight in exposing to the stunned Dingles earlier this year.
In upcoming scenes, Ruby is furious to find out her carefully laid plans for a life away from the village with Caleb have been undone by a single conversation with his sister Chas Dingle. Chas recently discovered a lump in her breast which led to a diagnosis of triple negative breast cancer.
Chas, who has since learnt she has the faulty BRCA2 gene and has encouraged her family to get tested, has since undergone a double mastectomy and it has brought the Dingles even closer as they all rally around Chas. Following Ruby's discovery, Caleb receives a warm welcome in The Woolpack but it quickly sours with the arrival of Ruby, who is looking for a fight.
A slanging match in the pub between Ruby and the Dingles takes a dark turn when Ruby accidentally elbows Chas in the chest following her double mastectomy. In the fallout from Ruby injuring Chas, the character is left broken and alone when Caleb publicly rejects her, siding with his family the Dingles.
Later, Ruby is inconsolable as she sits outside the pub on her own and Dawn Fletcher is left worried for her when Caleb emerges from The Woolpack, incandescent with rage over her unacceptable behaviour. Will Ruby be able to convince Caleb that she elbowed Chas by accident and make amends with the angry Dingles?
Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7:30pm on ITV1 and ITV X, with an hour-long episode on Thursdays. *Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads.