A secret explodes. A fight to the death. Several major characters in mortal danger. Happy 2026, Emmerdale!

It’s been quite a year in the Dales. People trafficking. Love triangles. A serial killer. Secrets, lies and a limousine crash. As another New Year dawns, the biggest stories of the year reach their climax, with deadly consequences for some beloved fan favourites in danger.

To paraphrase the great Walter White “Who is the danger?”

First up is everyone’s favourite car-crash couple, #Robron. Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller) and Robert Sugden (Ryan Hawley) have had a rocky relationship this year thanks to the arrival of Robert’s secret prison husband, Kev Towsend (Christopher Coghill).

To say Kev is a little bit unhinged is like saying fellow Dales resident Bear Wolf (Joshua Richards) has a little bit of facial hair. After a failed attempt at winning Robert back ended with the crazed ex-con attacking him and Aaron with a sword, Kev ran from the police and fled Emmerdale. But is he gone for good… or merely biding his time?

That’s not the only threat that faces #Robron. Since Kev’s departure, the couple have solidified their bond and decided to have more of a relationship with Robert’s infant son Sebastian White, a result of his fling with the late Rebecca White (Emily Head). This does not go down well with Ross Barton (Michael Parr), Rebecca’s former partner and the closest thing baby Seb ever had to a dad.

So the finger of suspicion will fall squarely upon the Baddest Barton when Aaron’s windscreen is smashed and the trees outside the flat are set on fire.

Whilst Ross claims to have an alibi, is this merely part of his plan? Or is Aaron and Robert’s mystery attacker someone far more sinister? One more suspect springs to mind. Someone with a serious score to settle…

That’s right. I’m talking about the murderous medic. The one. The only. Big Bad John Sugden (Oliver Farnworth). A serial killer with a twisted hero complex, John’s traumatic experience serving in the British army compelled him to place people in fatal situations – just so he could swoop in and save them. Not only is the sociopathic Sugden Robert’s half-brother, but Aaron’s ex-husband.

Twice the grudge, twice the revenge! John was last seen on the run early in the year after Caleb Milligan (William Ash) helped him escape a murderous Cain (Jeff Hoardley), who wanted revenge for the murder of his son Nate (Jurrell Carter.)

Whilst Emmerdale bosses have not given any indication that this killer is making a comeback, eagle eyed Coronation Street viewers spotted that Sugden’s face on a wanted posted on the notice of the Weatherfield police station; a possible hint that John will make an appearance in the much-anticipated Corriedale crossover. Is Big Bad John coming home in time for New Years’ in time for a fatal showdown?

Speaking of fatal showdowns, Charity Dingle’s (Emma Atkins) baby bombshell is set to blow for the New Year. Since agreeing to be Sarah (Katie Hill) and Jacob’s (Joe-Warren Plant) surrogate, Charity has been keeping the secret that ‘their baby’ may be a result of a one-night stand she had with Ross Barton – mainly so her husband Mackenzie (Lawrence Robb) doesn’t find out. Emmerdale has teased that a ‘secret explodes’ and ‘the truth is delivered.’

What else could it be?  Ross has already smelled a rat and started an unlikely bromance with MacKenzie just so he could keep an eye on Charity. Whilst the devious Dingle was able to throw him off the scent for now, she’s confided her dilemma in old flame Vanessa (Michella Hardwick)… and guess who’s coming to Christmas dinner?

Secrets, exes and mulled wine are a potentially explosive cocktail. If the secret comes out, will the ‘fatal showdown’ be Ross versus MacKenzie?

Finally, there’s Ray (Joe Absolom) and Celia (Jaye Griffiths.) The mother and son criminal team have been causing misery since they set foot in the Dales, grooming April and Dylan into county lines drug dealing whilst forcing Bear Wolf into domestic slavery on Butler’s farm. But the police are already onto them.

With the net closing in, Celia wants to run and start again elsewhere. However, Ray has a reason to stay – Laurel (Charlotte Bellamy).  She’s everything he never had, representing the stability and warmth that you just don’t get from an ice-cold gangster mama. The emotional connection between this unlikely pair is so real that Ray can’t bear to depart

Emmerdale without having a fake Christmas lunch with ‘Laurel.’ If Celia finds out her son is showing signs of weakness, she’s not exactly going to approve of her son’s new girlfriend. We already know that Jaye Griffths is set to depart Emmerdale at the end of December. Will the son kill the mother… or vice versa?

One thing’s for sure. There’s never a dull moment in the Dales!