Seasons & episodes

As Marlon packs for his picnic with Donna, Bob complains that Viv has been badmouthing him to Avril. Marlon convinces him that it's only jealousy and then asks him to help him carry the picnic hamper. Donna is furious when her step-father stays for a beer and can’t believe it when her mother turns up as well. She is certain that it's all Marlon's fault. Over in the bar, Louise rushes to the back to avoid Matthew and it is clear that he relishes the power he has over her. Meanwhile, Jarvis complains about his contract with the Kings and decides to call a union meeting with his colleagues. Later that day, Carl invites Ivan into the office for a chat and warns him that Jarvis is putting the future of the whole team in jeopardy.

Viv thinks Marlon needs to get his priorities right and decides to get revenge on Donna’s behalf. Getting ready for Newcastle, Marlon realises Mack, his beloved knife, has gone missing. He accuses Donna, who is unable to convince Marlon of her innocence. Meanwhile, Steph shows her father the positive comments written in the book at the B&B and asks him to take it off the market so she can run it permanently. Alan isn’t sure so confides in Ethan.

A run-in with the law brings Marlon and Donna together. When Donna and Viv arrive in Newcastle to hand over Marlon's treasured knife, Mack, for the cooking competition, they are shocked to find they've managed to misplace it somewhere. Marlon and Donna go in search for it and finally find it at the Metro lost property office. Marlon jokingly threatens to kill Viv in front of police officers who take him seriously and lock him in a cell. Eventually they release Marlon who is now extremely late for the competition. Whilst rushing back Donna admits it was her mum who vindictively stole the knife so she'd have an excuse to come and see Bob. Marlon is furious causing Donna to call it a day on their relationship. Marlon is left to decide between Donna or the competition, he chooses Donna and proposes. Viv tries to win back her man by showing off her chef skills.

Tony Christie isn't Diane's only blast from the past in Toon. At the hotel Diane confesses to Paul that she once had a fling with Tony Christie. Diane makes Paul swear to secrecy. Later that evening Viv attempts to chat Tony Christie up but miserably fails when he notices Diane across the room. They have a brief catch up then he has to rush off to start his concert during which he dedicates a song to her. After the concert Diane literally bumps into Jimmy Pepper, Val's ex. He and Paul have a brief conversation resulting in Jimmy Pepper finding out the truth - he isn't Paul's father. A double proposal leads to drunken decisions in Newcastle.

Diane confronts Val over Paul’s revelations that as a child he was beaten by Jimmy Pepper. Val claims she did the best she could and bursts into tears. Jimmy later arrives in the village and, when he finds Val, pins her against the wall and demands to have the money back for the wedding he paid for that she lead him to believe was for Paul. Elsewhere, Donna confronts Kelly and asks why she isn’t happier for her and Marlon. Kelly promises she’ll make the effort but can’t help but point out that Donna doesn’t have an engagement ring. Taking Kelly's words to heart she confronts Marlon who worries that she's expecting too much.

Jimmy waits for Val demanding the five grand, but unable to find the money, she offers herself to Jimmy. With Jimmy still after the cash, Val hides in the pub until Donna alerts her to a removal van outside Pollard's factory. Elsewhere, a worried Marlon sets off to the shops to buy Donna an engagement ring. He arrives back with a rather large rock - it's made of glass and is a promise ring until he can afford a better one. However, when Diane tries it on and it gets stuck. Also, Carl hears on the grapevine that their rivals, the Garrets, are about to go bust. Jimmy tells Carl that Tom wouldn’t make an offer and to leave it alone. Undeterred, Carl tells Tom and he tells Carl to go ahead with the offer. Carl mentions that Jimmy isn’t keen on the idea and a disappointed Tom says he’ll have a word.

Matthew has set up a secret meeting with Andrew Raftry regarding access through a field. Matthew arrives back to hear that Tom is selling their land to concentrate on the haulage and plant hire. Matthew declares that he will take his dad on as he has found a great way to access the development. He asks the others to out vote his dad. Elsewhere, Val arrives at the factory and is shocked to see the room bare. She receives a threatening phone call from Jimmy demanding the money. She tells him to stay away from the village and Paul if he wants his money. Also, Ivan fears Jarvis’s working days are numbered when Tom points out to Carl that his bins weren’t emptied on time, and later when Carl finds Jarvis in the pub with Ivan and reminds him he's supposed to be working. Later, Carl catches Ivan and tells him he knows he is covering for Jarvis and taking on the work load.

Scared that their father is going to find out about their plans to sell the haulage business, Matthew and Jimmy divert their attentions to keeping him out of the office. Meanwhile, Sadie has convinced the brothers she is on their side but is quick to head off to Holdgate Farm to inform a shocked Tom of what his sons are up too. Later, Tom informs Jarvis that he is being taken off the bins and he interprets this as being sacked. Tom convinces him that they just want to offer him a job in the office but Jarvis is offended and storms out. Elsewhere, Rodney is pleased to hear that Zoe has dropped the price of Home Farm and asks her to give him time to raise the money.

Jimmy tells Matthew that Don Clough is interested in buying the haulage business. Later on, Edna informs Tom of Jimmy's meeting with Don Clough, confirming to Tom that Sadie was telling the truth. However, when Tom lets Sadie know that he still can’t trust her, she tries another tack to earn his respect by helping him buy Home Farm. Elsewhere, Effie asks Callum to take Joseph on his rounds with him, much to Zoe’s concern. Whilst out on the estate, Callum spots Shadrach poaching and as he tries to catch him, Joseph gets pushed over into the mud. Meanwhile, in The Woolpack, Jarvis soaks up the sympathy by playing the victim and telling everyone that the Kings have sacked him.

Over dinner, Effie tells Zoe that she will not be going with her to New Zealand. As Zoe tries to persuade her, Effie realises that Zoe wants them to go as partners and she make it clear that she is not interested. An upset Zoe asks her to leave. Callum later finds Zoe and as she explains what has happened Callum asks her to take him instead. Elsewhere, Tom is concerned about the business and offers a shocked Carl a directorship. A vote in the office is unanimous and a delighted Carl is on the board. Jimmy and Matthew are left wondering why their dad has appointed Carl as a director but they decide that they can turn Carl around to their way of thinking. Meanwhile, there is stunned silence at Donna and Marlon’s engagement party when Bob arrives back from his holiday and explains that because of a mix up Viv has been arrested for possession of drugs and is in a Caribbean jail.

Sadie arrives at Home Farm armed with champagne and the gossip on Viv’s arrest. Zoe is warming slightly to Sadie until she reveals that she would like to buy Home Farm. Zoe quickly makes it clear that she will never sell to the King family. Later, in the village, Zoe takes great delight in telling Sadie that she has sold Home Farm before heading off to ask Rodney if he is still interested. Meanwhile, Jimmy strikes a deal on the Haulage business with Don Clough. On his return to the office he tells Carl his plans to sell. Carl is feeling guilty about their father being kept in the dark. Simon and Nicola are feeling positive about their business plan and she later suggests they should ask Rodney to invest.

Jimmy and Matthew reluctantly put the sale of the haulage business proposal to Tom. They are surprised to find out that he was already aware and they suspect Carl and Sadie. Tom reads the proposal and the Kings take a vote - Tom and Sadie are against and Jimmy and Matthew are in favour. When it comes to Carl with the casting vote, he goes in favor - leaving Tom incredibly disappointed. Meanwhile, at the garage, Scott tells Cain that he is no longer needed. Cain doesn’t take the news well and drops a car bonnet on Scott's hand, conveniently enabling him to keep his job until Scott has recovered. Elsewhere, it dawns on Rodney during his lunch that Simon is asking him for a loan.

After telling his brothers exactly what he thinks of them for deceiving their father, Max returns home to find Tom struggling to get up after a fall. Tom clearly still hasn’t forgiven Max and lets him know he holds him responsible for the fall as it was him who had put him in this situation. Elsewhere, Debbie and Sarah arrive at the garage for Cain to give them a lift to the clinic but he isn’t around. Robert seizes the moment and offers to take her instead. When Louise finds an anonymous present she becomes convinced that it is from Matthew and freaks out, confessing to Diane that she cut up his clothes. Diane tells Louise to be careful, pointing out that Matthew is not Ray Mullan.

A drunken Louise is increasingly wound up by Matthew’s presence in the pub and she blurts out that she's not going to be intimidated and almost reveals that she killed Ray Mullan. Diane manages to calm her down, but not before Louise broadcasts her suspicions about Sadie and Matthew. That evening, Louise is alone and Matthew creeps up and grabs her. She is terrified as he warns her never to talk about him or his family again. Meanwhile, Tom is displeased of his son's behaviour and doesn’t buy it for a second when Matthew tells him that it was Jimmy’s idea to sell the haulage firm. Elsewhere, Val knows that she stands a good chance of winning the mystery voice competition on Hotten FM, but is gutted when Louise - already frightened of Matthew - cuts off her call to the radio station. The DJ announces later announces that Frank Skinner was the mystery voice and Val is devastated as she had the right answer all along.

Louise is still worried after Matthew’s threatening behaviour the previous night and she decides to call the police. Denzel investigates the situation, but is convinced that it's all a misunderstanding when Matthew explains that he went back to the pub as he had left his phone. When Denzel reports back to Louise, she furiously goes to confront Matthew. As he intimidates her, she spots a knife and - with visions of killing Ray - resists temptation to stab him. Louise heads back to The Woolpack and realising that everything is getting to her she decides to fly to Australia to visit her mum. Elsewhere, Debbie tells the Dingles that she wants to go back to school. However, Cain disagrees saying she should stay at home and look after her daughter. Emily offers to look after Sarah, but Cain meanly replies that she is a sad case and should get her own life.

Val is desperate to raise the funds that she owes Jimmy Pepper and after Rodney refuses to give her a loan, she thinks asking Diane is her only option. When she arrives at the pub, a busy Diane asks Val to go to the bank with the week's takings and with the money in her hands Val can’t help but see it as the answer to all her problems. She takes the money to Jimmy and asks him to hit her. He initially refuses, but she winds him up so much that he punches her in the face harder than she had expected. Val returns to the pub with a black eye, lying that she has been mugged. Meanwhile, Cain is adamant that Debbie should stay at home with Sarah, but when she comes home drunk after a drinking session with Jasmine, he realises that school might keep her out of trouble and agrees that education will be the best thing all round.

Eric returns to Emmerdale and is shocked to discover that Val has been mugged. She convinces him she's alright and before long they head upstairs for a steamy session. They are interrupted by a knock on the door and Val is horrified to find a bailiff officer on her doorstep. Meanwhile, Tom struggles to get in a taxi with his crutches and Terry rushes over and offers his assistance. They later return to the office and Tom brags to Carl that he managed to secure a better deal with Don Clough than Jimmy had agreed. Tom takes Terry aside and offers him a job. Terry agrees on the basis that he will take orders from Tom but not from any of his sons. Elsewhere, Laurel is confused when Jasmine receives a parcel from her Grandpa Thomas, as Ashley had led her to believe that his father was dead. Laurel later confronts Ashley, but at the mention of his father he gets angry and refusing to discuss the subject, he storms off.

Carl tells Max that Tom is frustrated over being unable to get on with his development due to the owner of the access road refusing to sell. Max sees this as an opportunity to get back into his father's good books and heads up to the farm. Max returns and tells Tom that Sandra and Craig Briggs now own the land and Tom tells his son that he wants him to get their signatures on paper. Max clearly feels uncomfortable. Meanwhile, Val is in a state over the bailiffs and she shows Delilah the letter. Val packs her bags with the intention of doing a runner and despite Delilah's attempts to convince her to stay, she insists that she has no choice as she’ll never raise the cash. As she is about to leave, Eric turns up and announces that he has just been given a cheque for £12,000 for a contract. Val hides her bags convinced that she is saved! Elsewhere, the villagers play dirty as they compete to win the £250 prize money for the village fete scarecrow competition.

Tom sends Max on his way to get Craig Briggs to sell his land and announces to the rest of the family that the deal with Don Clough is off as he may have a better offer. Later on, Max sees Sandra Briggs in the café and after turning on the charm he is thrilled when she invites him to the farm the following day to look at the calves. Robert witnesses the exchange and Max admits he needs to get them to sell their land. Robert suggests that he slip them a dose of foot and mouth. Elsewhere, Zoe tells Ashley that her biggest fear about going to prison is leaving Jean and Joseph. She asks him if he would consider being their guardian.

Paddy is informed by the police that traces of Scott’s blood have been found on two syringes, indicating Zoe may have had intent to inject the fated dose of the second syringe. Zoe pays Paddy a visit to find out what he told the police and bribes him with an offer of the vet's surgery. Later, Zoe tells Callum that she is convinced she’s going to prison. Callum holds her and promises he will do anything for her. Elsewhere, Max sets his plan in motion to sabotage Craig and Sandra Briggs’ farm. He gets Paddy to write out a prescription to put in the calves’ feed, then proceeds to dramatically increase the dosage. Also, Laurel tells Ashley of Jasmine’s wishes to stay in the village, but is furious when Ashley is dismissive of her parenting skills and seems reluctant to budge.

Effie suggests to Zoe that she does a runner before her trial, and despite initially laughing off the idea she begins to consider it as an option. Zoe tells Callum she may be fleeing the country and asks for his help. Callum is shocked when Zoe tells him that she would have killed Scott had Paddy not walked in, but he assures her that he is on her side. Elsewhere, the day of the summer fete has arrived and all the contenders of the scarecrow competition eagerly await the results. Also, Ethan takes delight in telling the Bishop that Ashley and Laurel aren’t getting on at the moment and spills the beans about Ashley's father who was supposedly ‘dead’.

Still on his mission to get revenge on Andy, Robert persuades Debbie to get in his car and they drive to a country lane. Robert flatters her with tales of how he would have stood by her if he were Andy and Debbie leans in to kiss him. Elsewhere, Laurel’s best efforts to persuade Ashley to let Jasmine stay, fail. Daz arrives to say goodbye, desperate for a farewell kiss. Also, Zoe confirms to Effie that she is going to run away but is stunned when Effie offers to go with her and confesses that she has feelings for her.

Zoe fears that Callum won’t help her plan her escape if he finds out Effie is going with her. Effie confronts Zoe about keeping it a secret but they end up sharing a passionate kiss and head upstairs to bed. Back downstairs, Zoe announces to Callum that Effie is going with them as a nanny and, despite the shock, he has no choice but to accept it. Zoe's escape is planned and Effie suggests that it would be less suspicious if she travelled separately with the children in case they are caught by the police. Zoe agrees and it is decided that Effie and the kids will get a plane to Ireland and meet Zoe there. Elsewhere, after a call from Craig Briggs, Paddy and Max rush to the farm to find scores of their calves dying, with many already dead. Paddy digs out the prescription and can’t understand why he would have written such a high dosage. Max feels terrible.

Max pays Craig a visit and, confessing him and Paddy were at fault for the dead cattle, tentatively ‘suggests’ that his father may want to buy the land off them. Smelling a rat, Craig heads over to the vets’ and pushes Max up against a filing cabinet, telling him he knows what he's up to. Max goes and tells Tom what has happened and is shocked when Tom proudly tells him he's now a fully-fledged member of the family. Self-loathing, Max struggles to accept he's truly joined the family by his evil deeds. Elsewhere, Jack aggressively tells Zoe that she could have told them that she was selling Andy’s farm from under them. Zoe is dismissive but later goes to Jack's house to apologise. She admits she just wanted a quick sale and tells Jack that she's sure Rodney will make a better landlord than Tom.