Seasons & episodes

Marc realises that it was Ollie who revealed he had run-away, but he is forgiving and understanding as he arrives at court with the other teenagers for their hearing. He is told that his case is being referred to the Crown Court and his agony is prolonged. But things go from bad to worse for him when Eve tries to save her own skin by laying the blame firmly at the door of Marc. The court is stunned by Eve's account of the night's events as the youngsters are told of their fate. Jack is on hand to support Robert and Andy but is distracted by a call telling him that there is a problem with the phone mast and it must now go to a public meeting due to complaints from villagers. Elsa confesses to Alan that she feels as though she has let Alice down and fears for the future.

Despite drumming up support for the phone-mast, Jack is under pressure as he faces the public meeting in the village and discovers that many of the locals have turned on him. Edna is cutting about Jack's motives and he is rightly concerned when the phone-mast representative becomes evasive, as to whether the mast will ever find a home on the farm. Jack tries to reason with Edna for the sake of the children, but is outraged when she uses his children as a reason why nobody should sympathise with him. The backlash of Eve's testimony is evident as the teenagers fail to hide their anger at her. She tries to explain that she didn't mean to pin the blame on Marc but Ollie is in no mood for listening. Kathy confides in Andrew that she thinks she has won Elsa round and is predicting a rosy future for the two of them together.

Kathy and Elsa find themselves at odds over the future of Alice, after Elsa takes her daughter on a Christmas shopping spree. On her return, Elsa reveals to an outraged Kathy that she intends taking Alice back to Australia with her. Andrew touches a raw nerve by telling Kathy that she is jealous of Elsa, but Kathy digs her heels in and she tells Elsa in no uncertain terms that she isn't going to give Alice up without a fight. As Jack rues losing his temper with Edna, the village finds itself divided into two camps over the future of his proposed phone mast. Diane is in one corner supporting Jack, while an enraged Viv is busy drumming up opposition. Latisha finds herself in the crossfire when she is forced to back both sides. Cynthia's worries mount and she is forced to tell her children that they will be facing a bleak Christmas and Paddy regrets offering to teach Emily how to drive after their first lesson with her at the wheel.

Kathy realises that she will never win the battle for Alice with Elsa and wonders if it is time to change tack. She admits to Andrew that she is going to miss Alice and wonders if it wouldn't be best for all concerned if she moved to Australia to be closer to her. But Kathy isn't prepared for Andrew's response when he opens up to her and reveals how he truly feels. Cynthia's money troubles are exaggerated when she and Danny argue over a shopping catalogue. She becomes suspicious when Danny later appears with £20 that he got from Ray. Viv's battle against Jack's proposed phone mast gets personal and she bans Bob from visiting The Woolpack because Diane is backing Jack. Things are looking up for Jack, though, when he receives a visit from a builder who wants to locate the best site for the mast. Maggie and Phil are pushing on with plans for the Christmas Grotto at the Holiday Village

Kathy makes a decision on her future - one that will change her life forever. After a heart to heart with Bernice, Kathy decides that she must put her love of Alice before Andrew and follow her to Australia - to live. Kathy bids farewell to Elsa and Alice, knowing that she will see her soon, but Andrew overhears and is devastated when he realises that she is going to follow them. Realising his family is cash-strapped, Danny asks Ray for a job but is disappointed to find nothing is available. Cain has his own ideas, though, and steps in to offer him work. Nicola tries to impress Rodney with her own plans for Christmas at the Holiday Village. But her idea of having Chloe and Craig dress up as elves and giving away free drinks could cause problems.

Diane goes on the warpath when Nicola coolly walks in to The Woolpack and hands out fliers advertising free drinks at the Holiday Park's bar. Dumbfounded by Nicola's cheek, Diane unceremoniously throws her out of the pub. Meanwhile, Craig and Chloe are less than enthusiastic about having to dress up as elves for Santa's Grotto, however, the same cannot be said for Seth, who basks in his role as Santa Claus. The event initially seems like a great success, but the bar's stock of alcohol is put under severe pressure when the Dingles arrive with the intention of drinking the place dry. The Daggert's financial problems deepen when they receive a demand from the gas company. Danny decides to help raise some money and offers to deliver a package for Cain.

The Christmas extravaganza is under way at the holiday village - but it isn't long before things start going disastrously wrong. Zak agrees to supply Santa Seth with beer before Betty rumbles Seth and drags him out by his ear and Maggie is furious to discover that Nicola has duped her into giving away an endless amount of free drinks that locals are making the most of. Rodney is forced to step in and have a heated heart to heart with Maggie about Nicola. Nicola wraps her dad round her little finger, but Maggie is glad to find an ally in Chloe.

Nicola is pleased when her father invites her to dinner, but her hopes of an enjoyable evening are dashed when she discovers that Bernice has also been invited. Tensions grow during the meal and it is clear that Nicola has no intention of forgiving Bernice for having an affair with Carlos. After Bernice leaves, Nicola turns on Rodney for tricking her into seeing her sister. Emily is concerned to hear what has happened and suggests that Nicola should go and speak to her father. But Nicola is in for a shock when she returns to the bed and breakfast, and finds Rodney hugging Diane.

Diane fears the worst when she wakes up in bed with Rodney. She is pleased when he admits that nothing happened. But her relief is short lived, when Louise walks into the room and immediately jumps to the wrong conclusion. Bernice doesn't help matters when she lets slip to Louise that it is the second time in recent history that her parents have spent the night together. Rodney visits Louise and tries to explain what really happened. But she refuses to listen and tells him that their relationship is over. Jack is mortified when he overhears Nicola talking about Rodney and Diane's liaison. Jess is frustrated that Phil will not let her go and see her mum for Christmas. Maggie decides to have a word with him, but will she be able to change his mind?

Diane is mortified that an innocent situation could be blown totally out of proportion. She tries to explain to Jack what really happened between her and Rodney. But he tells her that he is not interested in her excuses and calls an end to their relationship. Diane sees red when Rodney walks in to The Woolpack. She accuses him of ruining her life, before sending him to the floor with a punch. Edna goes on the warpath when she discovers that someone has stolen baby Jesus from the church's nativity scene. Tricia is thrilled when she wins a private performance from a popstar in a radio competition. She later curses her big mouth, when she lets slip to Kathy that the village is planning a surprise leaving party for her. Edna and Viv are delighted when Eric tells them that their anti-phone mast campaign has been successful.

The time has finally come for Kathy to bid farewell to her friends in Emmerdale and head for Australia. Fully aware that locals have arranged a leaving-bash in The Woolpack, Kathy feigns her surprise to spare their feelings. But she and everyone else gathered are genuinely shocked when singer Marti Pellow - Tricia's radio prize - emerges and serenades Kathy. Louise can't resist the chance to flirt with him and puts Tricia's nose out of joint by inviting him into the pub's back room. Fresh from their honeymoon, newlyweds Chris and Charity are quickly brought back down to earth when they return to the village. They are furious to discover that a bitter Zoe has changed the locks on Home Farm and put the place up for sale without consulting them.

With Christmas just days away, Bernice is becoming increasingly worried about Ashley and how he is coping. She resolves to make an effort to improve things between the two of them and decides to visit him at the vicarage. They reminisce about old times and before they know it they are in each other's arms. But Zoe interrupts their brief reunion and Ashley is left disappointed when Bernice leaves. Jack is disappointed to hear that the phone company has pulled its plans to erect a mast on his farmland and tells his lads that he has no choice but to sell the farm. Andy marches round to the Post Office and gives Viv a piece of his mind for destroying any hope that his father had of a brighter future.

It may be Christmas Eve but Ashley is having a crisis of faith. He confides in Zoe that he isn't sure why he kissed Bernice the previous evening and isn't convinced it is a good idea to pursue her. He dreads the approaching carol service and struggles to find the enthusiasm to conduct it. Things are made worse when Bernice arrives and Ashley knows he must confront his demons head-on. His head rules his heart and he tells Bernice that he wants nothing more to do with her. Bernice wishes that she and Ashley could sort out their differences and they both go into Christmas Day with a heavy heart. Chris and Charity have less important worries on their minds - where to find a housekeeper. Terry tries his luck at cooking dinner for them but the results are from far impressive.

Christmas Day hasn't brought much joy for Ashley and he prepares his solitary lunch at the vicarage, but an unexpected Christmas present is on the way for Bernice. She walks without purpose through the village but ends up at church where she discovers Ashley. They try again to resolve their differences, but it proves fruitless. But just as Ashley has given up and turns to leave, Bernice doubles up in pain - the baby is on its way! Ashley accompanies her to hospital where they meet Diane. He is hurt, though, when he discovers that Bernice has asked Diane to call Carlos. The Spanish chef receives a frosty reception when he arrives, not least from a rowing Rodney and Diane and a drunken Nicola who takes a swing at him in the waiting area. Bernice battles on in labour, oblivious to the trouble that is stirring outside.

As Bernice proudly cradles her new baby, the two fathers-in-waiting are confused about the previous day's events. Carlos shares his thoughts with Terry and wonders why Bernice summoned him to the hospital for the birth. He is convinced that he must be the father and visits Bernice in hospital to ask her to make a fresh start with him away from the pub. Ashley, meanwhile, is less sure whether he may be the father but does wonder why Bernice seemed keen to sort out their differences. Zoe lends support and reminds him that he could well be the dad. Diane warns Bernice not to leave Ashley in the cold, then persuades Carlos to take a blood test to settle the question of fatherhood once and for all. Charity convinces Chris to take on Cynthia as housekeeper, but he is surprised when she starts so soon and cooks them a special Boxing Day breakfast.

It is the day of reckoning for Ashley and Carlos as they wait to discover the results of the blood test. Bernice has got other problems on her mind, though, and admits to Diane that she is having trouble adjusting to motherhood. Diane advises her to sort out her own feelings before she discovers who the child's father is. Ashley has a heart to heart with Zoe and says that he doesn't know if he can find forgiveness in his heart for Bernice and Carlos and questions his faith and ability in his role as vicar. Carlos arrives at hospital with the results of the blood test and asks Bernice to move in with him but she has some hard-hitting news of her own

Ashley escorts Bernice and baby back to The Woolpack where Rodney has the champagne on ice to celebrate the homecoming of his daughter and grandchild. The celebration is muted, however, when Bernice quickly discovers that a pub isn't the perfect environment for a baby. She has problems putting the baby down for bed because of the noise. Ashley insists that they should both spend the night at the vicarage - for the baby's sake. Bernice takes the opportunity to try and talk things through with Ashley but he insists that she should concentrate on the baby instead. Marc's court case is just days away and friends and family are trying to do their best by him.