Seasons & episodes

Jan can hardly believe her eyes when she take a cup of tea up to Biff's room. Downstairs Roy has been excitedly telling his parents how he's splashed out on a small diamond pendant as a birthday treat for Kelly. But his dreams are about to be shattered. It's unlikely the wayward Windsor girl will enjoy this particular birthday - and Biff can hardly remain welcome in the Glover household, especially as it is only months since Linda tragically died. When Jan is late for work at the vets, Zoe and Paddy decide they have to sack her. But neither has the heart when they hear of Jan's shock discovery. Lady Tara is first past the winning post at the races - and in her knowledge of horses. She gambled her £1,000 on a 25-1 outsider and it came in. Steve has hardly broken even. He's still nursing his bruised ego when a stranger gives him something else to think about. Zak is thwarted in his attempts to raise a few quid busking when Barry shops him to a council official.

Biff has only himself to blame for the mess he's in. It's only months since his wife died and now he's been caught in his marital bed with teenage temptress Kelly. To make matters worse the shock discovery was made by Linda's mum! Confused and feeling like an outcast Biff decides he needs time away to get his head together. Billy and Marlon hatch a plot to rip off Eric on an illegal booze run. Steve reveals the secrets of his family background to Lady Tara - secrets that even Kim doesn't know. Sarah accuses Jack of taking valuable family heirlooms and even threatens to call in the police. Jack denies all responsibility, although at the moment his wife is not to be reasoned with. Paddy and Lisa make up their differences with a kiss in front of The Woolpack regulars. And Jan has made one mistake too many for the liking of Paddy and Zoe.

Jan has made one mistake too many for the liking of Paddy and Zoe and gets the heave-ho - as if she hasn't had enough worries on her plate. First she sent the wrong samples to the MAFF lab from the vets surgery and now another mistake means she's got to go. Young Andy makes a shock discovery and realises his dad's been thieving again. Lady Tara invites Steve for dinner as a consolation for losing their bet. She hopes he's got the temporary nanny in place so he can't refuse. Marlon's carefully hatched plan to rip off Eric goes wrong and he and Sam end up bruised and battered. Doug is lectured by Kathy when he reveals he's organising a Christmas party for Alice and her friends. Zak and Barry go into town to their busking pitch and when Barry begins to sing about going off for a beer, Zak carries on making up a song and soon a crowd forms, pouring their money at the two buskers.

Eric visits Sam and Marlon in hospital. Marlon realises it will only be a matter of time before he works out what's happened. A bit of smart thinking is required. Tony tackles Steve in his search to fund a dream outdoor activities centre. Alan decides to throw a special Woolpack Xmas Lunch - and with Mandy's help starts to draw up a guest list. Kim is not amused when she returns early from her business trip to New Zealand. Not only does she find a new nanny looking after James, but also her fiance Steve enjoying Lady Tara's company.

The kid's party is going down a treat. Eric has his arm twisted into playing Santa and Rachel is helping Kathy make sure the children are properly looked after. But when Sarah arrives and sees Rachel holding Victoria she flies off the handle. She screams Rachel's already had her man, and for her to take her hands off her child. Kim is unhappy about the attentions Lady Tara is paying her fiance Steve. She warns him to be careful. Eric confronts Billy about the booze hi-jack and threatens him with the Dingle's if he doesn't cough-up some money. Marlon and Lisa set to work making a huge Christmas cake based on a recipe by Marlon's favourite chef Nigel Hibbart. But is a cement mixer really the best way to mix the ingredients? The tramp dubbed 'Mr. Magic' has astounded the Dingle brothers Sam and Butch with his fortune telling - but when they take him to the tea rooms to raise money for charity the paying customers are less than happy.

An audio cassette tape in a plain envelope spells big trouble for Kim as the past finally catches up with her. The tape is from a blackmailer who says he knows all about Kim's involvement in the death of the 'lady of the lake' - and who the dead woman was. Lady Tara corners Steve with a sprig mistletoe and demands a kiss - only to be interrupted by a gleeful Chris. Billy finally arrives back at the caravan and Andy jokes he thought his dad had done a runner. Billy gives his son a small dog as an early Christmas present but then drops the bombshell that they're leaving Emmerdale. Jack gets the wrong signals from his estranged wife after they've been to Robert's Christmas school play. Marlon's cake is proudly displayed on a huge table in The Woolpack - and goes down a treat. Roy and Ned reflect on the deaths of Dave and Linda. And Mr. Magic lives up to his name and creates a real impression on Alice.

Steve has Lady Tara very much on his mind - but would like to get her out of it. When she arrives at Home Farm to distribute invites to her Christmas staff party Steve tells her their kiss was a mistake and he certainly doesn't want an affair. He loves Kim. Steve overhears an angry phone call involving Kim and wants to know who it was - Kim says it was just business. It is the blackmailer! Tony goes over his business proposal with Steve for the outdoors activities centre and outlines his plans for a special Christmas challenge. Kathy feels let down when Doug informs her she cannot go to his grand opening of the Golf Club. He tells her his wife has unexpectedly insisted on going and that it would be tempting fate if the two were there together. Viv tells Vic that the Post Office is virtually the only thing holding them together. He promises that he's going to make a big effort to improve their home life and Viv promises to try to save their marriage.

Kim is keeping the blackmail threats a secret from her fiance Steve, but how long can she keep up the charade? If she thought things were bad there's an even bigger shock in store when she and Steve return home from the Oakwell Christmas bash to find a frantic nanny and no baby James. Could this be the work of the blackmailer? Kathy is in for a real shock when she discovers who her lover Doug's real wife is! She and her mate Rachel decide to crash the golf club do even though Doug insisted she mustn't. But the pair sneak into the glamorous party, only to leave hot-foot when the truth dawns. Mandy is just a girl who can't say no. And when Paddy proposes marriage in front of whooping regulars at Pollard's Wine Bar she says yes. But will she feel the same way the morning after?

Tearful Kim watches as Ned, Roy and Seth join police in a grim fingertip search for baby James. And when they discover the child's bobble hat the police are in no doubts they are dealing with a kidnapping. Kim swears she'll die if anything happened to her precious child. Steve tells her it's time to come clean, he knows she's been receiving threatening phone calls. The Dingles and Eric suss that Marlon and Billy were responsible for the booze hi-jack. But there's no sign of Billy when they visit the caravan - only Spot, Andy's puppy. Worried when he hears the news, Jack goes to the caravan and discovers Andy, hidden in a tiny corner, unconscious. The near tragedy brings Jack and Sarah closer and she invites him to join the family for Christmas dinner. Finally Rachel gets some news to cheer her up after the collapse of her affair with Jack she's offered a job as the local school secretary.

Kim is rarely so vulnerable - but now finds herself between a rock and a hard place. Her baby is missing presumed kidnapped - and there's a strong possibility the blackmail calls she's been receiving are tied in. She's desperate not to tell the police the details of the blackmail which is about her involvement in the death of the 'lady of the lake' last Christmas. But all is not as it seems and after an unexpected visit, Kim, Steve and the police chase a new lead. Will baby James be all right? Young Andy wakes up in hospital surrounded by the Sugdens. Social worker Carmel is angry Billy deserted his son. But can the Sugdens keep their marriage difficulties under wraps and take Andy home with them for Christmas? Jan thinks baby James is her late son Dave, and that it is 1977, and that Ned is down The Woolpack chatting to new barmaid Dolly Acaster. Doug is desperate to win Kathy's affections again - despite her discovery about his wife.

Kim can hardly believe the true identity of James's kidnapper. Steve tells Kim he will stand by her despite the blackmail threats. Sarah worries about getting Andy back.

Jack acts like a new man when Sarah agrees to take him back. Kim wants to meet her blackmailing tormentor. Ned visits Jan in a psychiatric ward after her breakdown.

Kim meets her blackmailer. Roy is upset when he visits his mother in hospital. Robert can't wait to tell Rachel that his dad is coming home.