Seasons & episodes

It's the day of Jack and Sarah's wedding, but who will catch the bridal bouquet? Luke declares the depth of his feelings; Chris finally swallows his pride; and the McAllisters grapple with their u-bend.

A dramatic event unfolds and Joe's attempt to be a hero is ill-advised. Shirley's journey from the cash and carry is interrupted.

Amos and Michael restrain a screaming Vic who believes Viv is still in the shop. Police officers drag a dazed Joe away from the flames. Zoe worries as she needs to call at both the Dingles and Glovers farms, knowing that she'll be crucified if the feuding families find out she's called at the others' farm. The robbers force Viv to flag down Shirley along the roadside on her return from the Cash & Carry. They force their way into her landrover, pointing a gun at her. PC Wilson gives Joe a ticking off for involving himself in the situation. The police discover that Viv wasn't in the shop when it exploded but is currently a hostage. The two men try to force Shirley into aiding their escape but Shirley, being new to the area, is unable to help their quick getaway. She gets them lost somewhere between Robblesfield and Hotten. Police find the getaway car the first two men were in abandoned with the 3rd raider badly hurt in the passenger seat.

The police secure the area of the shooting at Pencross Fell. Vic worries and blames Joe for getting involved and preventing the raiders escape. The raiders drag Viv and Shirley over the moors. Seth is confused to arrive in the village and find the area cordoned off. Michael explains about the robbery, Alan being shot and Shirley and Viv being held hostage. Sarah phones the police when she notices someone in the yard at Emmerdale Farm attempting to steal the landrover. Joe recognises that it's the 4th raider and dashes out to park the tractor in front of the landrover to prevent his escape. The 4th raider gets out of the landrover and points his gun at Joe and Jack as he makes his escape on foot. Joe attempts to chase after him but Jack stops him. Viv realises who one of the raiders is when he quotes a Psalm.

It's night fall and the police surround Home Farm, complete with armed response. Shirley tries to persuade Reg to move the body of the 4th raider. Vic explains to the police that Reg had come to find Viv a few weeks prior, having been released from prison, believing that once God had united a man and woman in marriage they were together forever - dead or alive. Joe feels guilty as he goes to see Vic in The Woolpack. Amos tries to reassure him his intentions were right. Vic tells Joe that he feels his reaction to the raid triggered Viv being taken hostage and tells him while he doesn't blame him, he can't forgive him either. Joe offers Vic his cottage as a place to stay for when the siege is over. Vic follows the police up to Home Farm as it becomes clear they've made contact with Reg. Clive tries to question Lynn on what she knows about the siege. Reg holds a gun to Shirley's head and warns police not to shoot or he will shoot her as the 2nd Raider,

The next morning, the police wait patiently outside Home Farm, making Reg suspicious. Elsa arrives in the village and is relieved to find Alice safe but blames herself for leaving her with Nick, insisting that he's not safe to be around. A hostage negotiator, John Jarvis, tries to talk to Reg. Reg insists that no-one is going to take Viv away from him now he has her back. Shirley tries to talk Reg down as Viv keeps winding him up. Reg and Viv become involved in an argument as he blames her for taking away everything he had but she insists the blame lies solely with him as he threw it away. She tells him she hopes he returns to prison for good. He moves to shoot her but Shirley tries to intervene and ends up being shot. Colin turns on Reg as Shirley lies dead on the floor. He covers that he heard a noise outside and makes his escape. Reg is furious to see him being handcuffed outside and attempts to shoot him but misses.

Now that the crisis is over, the media spotlight focuses on the village once more. Life for Alan Turner will never be the same again.

The burden of guilt weighs heavy on Joe Sugden. Michael delves deeper into Pollard's murky past.

Michael goes off to dig more dirt on Eric. Lynn purposely sends Clive to the wrong crematorium for Shirley's funeral. Elsa's delighted when she notices Nick is late taking Alice to nursery and uses the situation to score points. He worries that she is planning to use the rumours of he and Archie being gay as a way to get residency of Alice and asks Zoe if she would put the rumours straight if it came down to it. She agrees. Frank fears her coming out publicly may affect business. Clive realises Lynn's sent him to the wrong crematorium when he arrives in Skipdale to find no-one there. Nick receives a call from the nursery saying Alice is ill. He asks Frank if he can go to pick her up but Frank asks him to mow the lawns first as he is expecting some important visitors. Samson lets one of the horses out of the stable when Frank and Kim go to lunch. Shirley's funeral gets underway.

Rachel comes running out of The Woolpack in time to see Michael speeding off in a car. Bernard remains concerned over electricity when he receives a bill. Jess interrupts him to say that Rachel has called requesting he go over to Victoria Cottage as she believes Eric is dead. Bernard discovers Eric still has a pulse. He calls an ambulance and the police. Seth is concerned about Alan and finds him upset in the pub cellar. He tries to comfort him and encourages him to contact Terence and Shirley's daughter. Kathy tries to get Chris to sign the contract so Frank can sell Mill Cottage but he refuses to, knowing Lynn will get it. Amos has gone to Dundalk to stay with a landlord friend of his. Rachel walks into The Woolpack upset. Frank buys her a drink while Kim tries to comfort her. She explains Michael has attacked Eric and left him unconscious in hospital and now the police are looking for him.

Sarah, Jack, Robert and Victoria return from France. Seth informs Biff and Luke that he has a trick up his sleeve in beating them at the cricket match - Sven. Annie thinks the farm should subcontract work such as sheep-shearing. Jack realises that Sven is back. Vic asks Viv not to go to Reg's funeral but she insists she has to. Scott has decided he doesn't want to go anymore. Alan collects Shirley's ashes. Nick's concerned what Elsa and her solicitor will make of Alice's bruise. He decides to ring and tell her that Alice is best left with him today what with Michael's situation. Chris takes delight in telling Lynn that under no circumstances will he sell Mill Cottage to her. She accuses Chris of fancying her and taunts him at how he'll never be able to satisfy her now he's in a wheelchair. She insists she'll end up with the cottage. Jack introduces Sarah, Robert, Frank and Kim to Sven. Alan scatters Shirley's ashes at her favourite beauty spot.

Seth arrives at The Woolpack to find it closed. Caroline suggests Nick ask Alan to provide a statement for the residency case, thinking him being a councilor would work in Nick's favour. Joe receives a court summons for a fortnight over the business with the tractor. Caroline suggests Nick also approach Eric for a character reference. Seth gets no response from Alan as he knocks on the pub door. Elsa visits Eric in hospital and informs him of his fight with Michael. He still doesn't remember. She doesn't want her part in it to affect her in court and asks him not to involve the police. Seth, Nick and Caroline attempt to break into The Woolpack to make sure Alan is alright. Elsa explains to Eric that she shouldn't have left Alice and gone off on her own and has learnt that Alice belongs with her now. She explains she doesn't feel vindictive to Nick but needs to do everything she can to make sure she gets residency of Alice, even if that means tarnishing his name in the process.

Sven is continuing to help out at Emmerdale Farm. Zoe pushes Chris to complete the rest of her advertising campaign and forces him to get out of the cottage and up to the surgery. Nick anxiously waits for Elsa's statement to come through from the solicitor. Chris enjoys helping Zoe at the vets. Biff and Luke remind Seth that he owes them a day out in the country. They're taken aback when he wants to start with them the following morning - at first light. Zoe takes Chris and Nick for a drink at The Woolpack. They're both grateful. Annie calls a family gathering down at her cottage. Sarah decides to give the meeting a miss, wanting an early night. Sven takes a shine to Zoe. Annie announces to Jack and Joe that she's going to stay in Leonard's villa in Spain for a couple of months. Alan asks Seth if he can stay with him after the pub closes as he doesn't feel like being alone.

Lynn shows interest in Sven as she watches him outside The Woolpack. She's jealous when Zoe mentions she's been out for dinner with him. Nick is still preoccupied with the upcoming residency case. Elsa arrives to pick up Alice for the day. Caroline meets with Eric. He shows her the memorial bench for the crash victims and explains the idea is to have a garden surrounding it with a stone to remember those who lost their lives. Biff and Luke swerve school. Sven's disappointed when Zoe declines a second meal with him. Biff and Luke set about vandalising the 'Emmerdale' village sign. They plan to start the rumour that the Beast of Beckindale doesn't like the name change. Eric purchases a necklace at auction apparently worth £250,000 for £20,000. Lynn tries to track down Frank wanting to know if she can rent one of the holiday cottages as she'll soon be homeless. Chris tells her that he and Kim are away at a conference in Geneva.

Luke is amused when an article appears in the Hotten Courier questioning whether the Beast of Beckindale has made a return. Nick dresses Alice for nursery, aware it could be the last time he does so. Sarah continues to worry about Victoria. She decides to stay home and look after her. Caroline wakes Alan, reminding him that he promised her and Nick a lift to court. She's aware he's been up the majority of the night drinking and tries to make him see that he's not helping himself. Sven insists on taking the day off from the farm and helping Lynn to move into the holiday village. Luke and Biff try to generate more ideas for the Beast of Beckindale's rampage. Joe visits Bernard in order to acquire some anti-depressants but Bernard refuses to prescribe them for him. Nick's anxious as the case is delayed in court. Biff is interested when Luke mentions he saw Eric throwing a bag into the river some months back. Sven and Lynn kiss.

As Nick prepares to take the stand in court on the second day of the case, Kathy does her best to settle his nerves. The Beast of Beckindale makes front-page news of the Hotten Courier. Viv has returned from London. Vic shows her plans he's been making for the new-look shop. She tells him Reg has left a will with £10,000 in a trust fund for Scott for educational purposes. Luke takes Biff to the river where Eric threw away the suitcase. They flip a coin to see who goes into the river. Caroline asks Eric to try a different approach with Elsa in an attempt to win her round. Viv also tells Vic that Reg left £30,000 for her to cover costs if she decided to remarry, adding that if she didn't Scott would get the lot when he is 25. Luke finds the suitcase in the river. They open it up to discover a typewriter. Viv reveals that Reg left her the key to a safety deposit box in London. Lynn's thoughtful when Sven suggests she move away from Emmerdale to Sydney.

Elsa watches as Nick takes Alice to nursery, ducking down in her new hire car out of sight as he passes by. Interior designers arrive at Home Farm to carry out Kim's new look for the place. Elsa calls at Victoria Cottage to pick up Michael's things, apologising to Eric for her words outside the courtroom yesterday. Lynn invites Kathy out for a drink later that night. Bernard calls round to see Chris and is improved to see he is much more relaxed. Sarah is still concerned about Victoria and thinks she seems weaker. Jack informs Seth of Frank and Kim's plans for a dry ski slope. He agrees they need to stop them. Elsa picks Alice up from nursery. Sarah panics and calls Bernard when she notices Victoria having difficulty breathing. Biff and Luke begin playing practical jokes on some of the villagers to further drive the rumour that the Beast of Beckindale has returned

The Windsors decide to stand together; Pollard reveals his master plan to a colleague and Betty promotes alternative medicine.

Nick is frantic about Alice and Rachel is angered by Kim's plans for the countryside. The Windsors find a clue in a safety deposit box, while Luke and Biff find the tables turned on them.

Dinner for Joe gives Lynn food for thought, while Pollard provides a sympathetic ear. The Sugdens face another family tragedy.

Sven's return confuses Lynn and the Windsors reach the end of the trail.

The Windsors discover that crime doesn't pay, while Alan steps on to a slippery slope. Jack and Sarah are separated by Victoria's illness, and Lynn makes a momentous decision. Joe and Jack meet up with an old friend Ned Glover. Ned asks about the recent plane crash and Joe says wreckage fell all over. Joe points to a field nearby where he says a huge piece of wreckage landed on it. Ned goes back to his caravan.

Lynn and Rachel prepare for a final confrontation, while 'the nobbies' scandalise the village once more. The Glovers set up camp at Emmerdale Farm and Roy comes face to face with the 'beast'.

The peace of the village is shattered by a party, where Jessica is the object of unwanted attention.