Seasons & episodes

Kim receives a large cheque and saves Frank's neck while Sarah refuses to be beaten by mere males as sheep-shearing gets under way. Kathy and Tony discover Elsa's deceit.

Kathy quizzes Elsa on whether she's having an affair. Kim tries to find out what Frank would have done if he had not received the cheque and mentions that Chris implied they had a deal. Frank denies any knowledge. Elsa furiously tells Kathy that she isn't having an affair. Kathy encourages her to tell Nick what she was really doing before somebody else does. Frank confronts Chris on what he said to Kim. He admits he slipped up but didn't give anything away. Joe decides to cook the Sugdens a special meal. Seth informs Henry that there is an article on Rachel in the newspaper again. Kathy asks Alan for a job at The Woolpack as she needs the company.

Frank and Kim rush to hospital to see Chris - he has cuts, bruises and concussion. Kathy sends Nick back to bed when he wakes with Alice, she insists on helping Elsa. Chris accuses Frank of going through with the hijack idea, forcing Frank to admit what their plan was before the cheque turned up to Kim. Kathy lays into Elsa for allowing Nick to guiltily take her out for the night last night, thinking she doesn't get out much. They argue over her lies to Nick. Frank angrily rings the contact he was going to use for the hijack, Terry Prince, and discovers that the message didn't filter down that the job had been cancelled.

Nick is cool with Elsa as he heads off to work. Sam tries to get out of going to school again. Dolly tells Kim that the kids are now teasing him about Matt not being around for the father's race at the school sports day. Rachel worries to Sarah that she feels guilty of her engagement to Michael saying she doesn't even want to wear the ring. Sarah informs her that Jack has proposed to her a few times but she's always declined as she doesn't want to spoil things. Rachel tells her she feels the same and realises she needs to talk with Michael. Frank informs Chris that there should be no way anyone can trace the hijack back to them. Tony asks Kathy to give him horse-riding lessons, explaining he's a complete beginner. She agrees to take him for his first lesson tonight and he invites her for a meal afterwards. Joe is disappointed when he and Michael take their lambs to the market and only make £35

Henry and Annie are pleased as they see Rachel and Michael all loved up in the kitchen. Elsa promises Nick a special night in to make up for her lying about the evening classes. Sam tries to get out of going to school again. Sarah and Jack believe Rachel mustn't have called off the engagement when they witness Michael in an upbeat mood. Tony arranges to take Kathy on a picnic after work. Chris watches them together from inside and complains to Kim. The organic lambs draw in £6 more at the market.

It's Annie's birthday and she's disappointed that news will have to be broken over Michael being let go. Nick insists on he and Elsa having a quiet night in and actually enjoying themselves. Joe breaks the news to Rachel that they will need to let Michael go at the end of October. She's furious. Alan's uneasy when Caroline shows no signs of wavering over going out with Eric. Dolly asks Archie if Sam can help out on the ice cream van again after school. She asks him to have a word with him about his bullying in the hope he'll open up to him. Frank is inspired as Chris goes over the figures and comes up with ideas for cutbacks. He begins thinking about ways they can cut back at Home Farm and suggests to Kim that they let Dolly go

Elsa persuades Nick to go out and enjoy himself at The Woolpack, he isn't so enthusiastic at the idea at first but later agrees. The Sugdens aren't happy when Michael's nowhere to be seen and he's supposed to be doing the milking. Dolly comforts Archie after the humiliation with the ice cream. Tony and Kathy decide to be seen together in public, considering the fact that gossip has probably already flown around the village, Chris isn't too happy to see them and takes his retaliation out on the punters in The Woolpack. Alan becomes exceedingly overprotective and jealous when he discovers that Caroline is going out for the night with Eric. Rachel and Michael decide to leave the farm behind for a short while and go on holiday. Archie gets his revenge on his rival ice cream worker, by having Mark among others handing out leaflets for special officers on the pricing, causing ructions.

Joe is preoccupied as he prepares to pick Kate up from Leeds Station later in the afternoon. Elsa accuses Nick of being rude and possessive in front of Louise. He tells her that she never seems to enjoy spending time in with him like she did with Louise. He decides to get a bottle of wine in for them both tonight. Joe nervously sets off for Leeds. Alan and Caroline put the finishing touches to the restaurant. He gives her a special opening night present and she is grateful. Chris tells Kim that rumours are starting to spread around the village about Kathy and Tony. She notes that he's jealous.

Joe sets off to see Kate again, taking Lucy in a bid to help cheer Kate up a little. Kim walks in on Kathy and Tony kissing in the kitchen. Kate is pleased to see Lucy and walks her with Joe. Elsa gets Elizabeth to babysit for her and Nick when she insists on going out for a meal to Nick's dismay. Seth arrives with Alan's next order of vegetables. Kate confides in Joe on how horrible prison was. He tries to persuade her to return to Emmerdale even for one visit. She agrees to think about it for next week. Kim quizzes Kathy on Tony. She sharply informs her that she's fond of Tony and thoroughly enjoys his company, adding she can pass that along to Chris if she chooses as well.

Elsa tells Nick she's decided she wants them to start having separate nights out weekly - starting with him tomorrow. He reluctantly agrees. Alan plans the menu for the evening but rushes off when he realises he's late for a council meeting. Kathy gives Tony another riding lesson. She offers to help him with the over 60's bingo night at the Village Hall. Frank decides to take over the town twinning, deciding on France, knowing it will benefit the haulage firm. He decides to form a new committee. Chris invites Kathy for a ride on his motorbike but she refuses. Annie is shocked to take a call from Kate. Alan dashes back to the pub to work on the menu for the restaurant. Elizabeth tracks him down and tells him there is a phone call for him at Victoria Cottage and reminds him he has a meeting at the fish farm in fifteen minutes.

Kathy helps Chris win an important contract. Kate makes a surprise visit to Emmerdale Farm and Nick and Elsa panic over Alice's disappearance.

Rachel and Michael return from Cornwall. She tries to persuade him to call in at Emmerdale and speak to Joe about keeping his job until October but he is adamant he's not returning. Nick is furious with Elsa and tells her to start acting like a mother to Alice. Joe and Annie prepare the farmhouse for Kate's return for the night. Rachel arrives and Joe breaks the news that Kate is out of prison and returning. She is ecstatic. Frank receives a letter from Terry Prince informing him that one of the biggest engineering firms in Europe might be interested in using the haulage company. Rachel is puzzled as Joe explains about Kate staying with her father since leaving prison but is delighted that Kate is returning.

Joe hasn't told the family about seeing Kate in the taxi outside. He insists that he's not going to call her. Caroline makes a doctors appointment for Alan. It's Michael's first day at the Fish & Game Farm. Rachel brings him a birthday present. Frank and Kim aren't pleased when Dolly calls to say that she's staying in Norfolk for a few more days. She takes on Dolly's role ahead of Frank's meeting with Arthur Bright. Elsa frets to Elizabeth over her and Nick's unopened bills. Elizabeth encourages her to open them before they continue to pile up. Kate calls Joe apologising for not turning up at Emmerdale yesterday

Annie is less than thrilled when she takes Kate and Joe breakfast and learns Joe has had to sleep in another room. The reaction encourages Kate to isolate herself throughout the day. Kathy agrees to fill in for Dolly as the Tates have their meeting with Arthur Bright. Chris continues to tease her about her new relationship. Nick plans a surprise holiday for Elsa even though it will come from baby Alice's money. Archie is depressed as he makes plans to dig a grave for Bill Whiteley. At the meeting, Chris speaks up to Arthur after he repeatedly makes sexist comments toward Kathy. Kathy is surprised when Chris lies that he's her fiance in order to make Arthur back down.

Kate starts out the day unhappy that she wasn't told about Bill Whiteley's passing, and things don't get any better when she gets a very cold shoulder from Annie over Joe continuing to stay out of the marriage bed. With Annie's ire increasing, Henry finally convinces her to go to Tuscany with him, which they tell the family. Frank is pleased that Arthur Bright still wants to make a deal with the haulage firm, but when he asks Kathy to keep up the ruse of being Chris' fiancee, she says she won't stop them, but she also won't participate. Seth hears a voice from the grave while walking Smokey - Archie, digging a plot for Bill

Archie buries a time capsule of Bill's personal effects and uncovers evidence of an old indiscretion via a photo of Bill and a woman who wasn't his wife. Seth is less than pleased to realise it was his wife! Bill's funeral has a sparse attendance, with even the vicar, Tony, having left town without telling anyone, necessitating a replacement. Alan is annoyed as he had a large spread at The Woolpack, but he soon has more serious problems when he collapses from pain. He takes some ribbing when his doctor tells him it's his allergies, and he can only eat mashed potatoes and pears, and can no longer drink alcohol.

Dolly is outraged by a request from Frank while Chris declares his love for Kathy and Kate tells Joe he'd be better off without her. Eric takes to the saddle.

Alan is struggling with his restricted diet ahead of his appointment with the specialist. Joe assures Kate that he still loves her. Archie tells Lynn that he'll shift his things as soon as he can but Lynn assures him he can stay as long as he likes and invites him out for dinner to say thanks. Sarah notices Joe and Kate are getting on better but Jack believes Joe is putting on an act. Sarah suggests they invite Joe and Kate for a night out. Frank and Chris celebrate the Bright contract. Alan reports to Elizabeth that the specialist ordered him to rest and change his lifestyle so Elizabeth packs him off to bed. Dolly can't believe her slapping down of Arthur Bright could've potentially won the Tates the contract. Dolly feels like a tart and declares she's had enough of being treated like dirt

Chris and Frank seem to expect Kim to take over Dolly's duties in her absence. Kate is in a foul mood the following morning. Kathy tells Lynn she thinks Chris was genuine in his concern for her. She decides to try and track down Tony at his old parish in London. Kate accuses Joe of bringing up her prison sentence every time they have a disagreement. Chris and Frank agree to work together in future, acknowledging that they risked ruining their business with their rivalry against each other. Alan is concerned he will be missing a town twinning meeting due to his illness. Archie plans his revenge on Eric for Alan's birthday present by hitting him in the wallet whilst carrying out repairs to his car. Kim decides to put an advert out for Dolly's job. Rachel asks Kate why she is being so nasty to Joe and demands to know what's going on.

Elizabeth reaches the end of her tether, and accuses Elsa of behaving like a spoilt brat and tells Alan enough is enough! Jack and Sarah are horrified by Frank's latest plan, and are determined to stop it. Meanwhile, Rachel, Mark and Annie tiptoe around Joe following Kate's departure, which has set off the village gossips.

Rachel gets a surprise when she meets her new flatmate only to put her foot in it. Meanwhile, Henry orders Alan out of the bar, after Elizabeth forces him out of the cottage. Seth puts his dog Smokey to the test and Charlie attempts extortion, whilst Jack finds himself preoccupied with Frank's plans.

Jack attempts to thwart Frank's planning application and argues with Joe over the future of Beckindale. Lynn makes a discovery in the churchyard and humiliates Rachel in public. Seth continues training Smokey, and Eric attempts to get the villagers behind the twinning of the village.

Rachel and Joe walk with the cows, with Rachel telling Joe how much she'll miss it after she moves to Leeds. She also says she needs a desk. Their talk is interrupted when they find a dead cow. Elsa talks with Nick over the phone, as he and Kathy are still with their ill grandmother. She wishes him a happy birthday and chooses not to tell him about the catalog she got in the mail. Kim reads Frank an account of Sarah's and Jack's protest at the council meeting for the holiday village, and Charlie's insults to Frank. Chris teases him.

Eric asks Kim and Frank to let Toril Bokelund, who is arriving in Beckindale via a "town twinning" system set up by the council, stay at Home Farm while he gets a good look at the farms and businesses in the village; they decline. Kathy and Nick return home and bemusedly watch Seth lay a beer trail for Smokey. Elsa greets them with two surprises - Alice in a new dress, ordered from the catalog, and a letter from London for Kathy. Rachel is in the kitchen with Annie and Michael, cleaning her new desk, when a photo falls out. Michael tries to keep it from her, but she soon sees that it's an old snap of Pete and Lynn Whiteley. Elsa gives Nick late birthday presents with a new shirt and pair of jeans, insisting it costs little as they pay in weekly installments.