Five ITV Emmerdale theories: group plans revenge against rapist and mystery driver revealed
DALES residents and viewers are reeling from the events of another drama-packed Super Soap Week.
And while one Emmerdale villager’s fate remains up in the air, another decides to take action this week to avenge their wife.
1. Group revenge in the works
Lydia Dingle (played by Karen Blick) was raped in heart-breaking scenes after agreeing to work for her former boyfriend, Craig (Ben Addis).
The cleaner was left a shell of herself, feeling trapped in silence as Craig manipulated her into believing she had given him consent before he threw himself at her.
But in recent scenes of the ITV soap, Kim Tate got the truth out of Lydia and she opened up to her family about her ordeal as they believed she was having an affair with Craig.
Unfortunately, the path to healing is not linear and Lydia is still finding it hard to get back to a normal life after her rape.
To make things more harrowing, Craig has been taken into custody by the police for raping Lydia, meaning she could have to face him in court – another devastating prospect for any rape survivor.
This week, Lydia’s husband Sam Dingle (James Hooton) struggles just as much as he has no clue how to help his wife throughout her ordeal.
Sam’s gutted when Lydia turns down his offer of spending the day together.
As Lydia is insistent on cleaning the house, Sam’s feeling lost and helpless, scared to touch his traumatised wife.
Lydia’s immediately on edge when a police officer arrives to update her.
Sam is angry and Lydia struggles to hide her disappointment when the officer tells them Craig has been released pending further investigation.
Later on, Sam, sits alone and when Rhona Goskirk (Zoe Henry) passes, he is desperate to unburden and invites her home.
Rhona herself has survived rape as she was attacked by her former husband Pierce Harris – but will she be able to help Lydia?
At home, despondent Lydia looks through the crisis leaflets just as a nervous Sam arrives with a concerned Rhona.
Supportive Rhona sits with her as a tentative Lydia unburdens.
Tormented Sam listens in, furious that Craig may go unpunished.
In later scenes, Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) supports struggling Sam.
With the tough man in his ear, Sam is left wondering whether he can bring Craig to justice.
Cain is known for his propensity for violence but will he resort to it once again to help his half-brother?
One common theory circulating online suggests that Cain could resort to his old tricks and attack Craig.
However, many fans of the Yorkshire-based drama believe that Kim Tate (Claire King) could be the one to avenge Lydia.
Could old foes Cain and Kim team up to bring Lydia justice?
2. Baby bombshell
Another theory emerged on Reddit as one fan of the long-running drama is fearing the worst for Lydia and Sam’s marriage.
Many viewers have speculated that Lydia’s rape ordeal could be harmful to her marriage and even guide it straight towards the rocks.
But what if Lydia was pregnant with Craig’s baby?
“Right, so we were told at the start of this year that there was going to be two pregnancies/births this year”, the fan commented.
“One of those pregnancies is obviously Dawn and Billy’s kid. The second pregnancy was hinted at being a “bombshell” (as if all Emmerdale babies aren’t accidents anyway) that is set to put a strain on a once-stable marriage.”
“The hint to the pregnancy affecting a marriage obviously narrows down the potential parents to be to just a few possibilities, and I’ve got this bad feeling that it’s going to be Sam and Lydia who will be affected.”
The viewer then emphasised that Lydia’s potential pregnancy could have a tragic undertone: “If Saint Lydia Dingle only gets her wish to become a mother granted via rape, rather than as a result of a happy marriage to someone she loves, it’ll be disgusting.”
However, other viewers could argue the second pregnancy teased may pinpoint to Chloe Harris who became a mother for the first time earlier this year, just as Mackenzie Boyd was tying the knot with Charity Dingle.
Speaking of which…
3. Shock new romance
Actor Danny Miller reprised the role of Aaron Dingle in the midst of Super Soap Week after trying to have a fresh start in Italy with a man named Marco.
Unfortunately, things didn’t go according to plan for Aaron, prompting Cain and Caleb Milligan (Will Ash) to save him from the mafia, from whom he stole a shocking amount of cash.
Aaron has clearly been affected by his recent run-in with a dangerous criminal organisation as well as by the tragic death of his half-sister Liv Flaherty.
Viewers were stunned to see him closed off and cold with his relatives in the village but could Mackenzie Boyd (Lawrence Robb) bring his smile back?
One viewer remembered Mack was to be introduced as a new love interest for Aaron as he was reeling from his husband Robert Sugden’s imprisonment – but the plot seemed to have been given up in favour of another storyline with Charity Dingle.
Could soap bosses backtrack?
“The original plan was for Mack to be Aaron’s love interest. He was cheeky, a flirt, bisexual and a rogue… but they dropped the idea for some reason”, the soap fan pointed out on Reddit.
“Could he get back to being the fun-loving, trouser-dropping, ‘Oh officer, Aaron and I have just been having sex in that field’ Mack as he once was?””
Another viewer jumped in to suggested that the events of this month’s Super Soap Week could be a “hard resent” for the show and push Aaron and Mack together.
“My theory is that this week is essentially a hard reset to write Aaron back into the village.”
“It is probably no coincidence that Aaron is back in the same week that the Chloe/Mack/Charity debacle is set to be resolved.”
“Unlike the Lydia storyline, Mack and Aaron’s fates have, potentially, always been connected narratively.”
Could they be on to something?
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4. Soap legend revealed as secret driver
One secret lingers after Super Soap Week – who crashed into Chloe Harris’ car?
The fiery redhead played by Jessie Elland was driving outside the eponymous village with the plan to ditch Mackenzie Boyd and Charity Dingle in the middle of nowhere.
But just as she was and tensions was brimming between her and Charity, a white van crashed into Chloe’s car.
Chloe, Charity and Mackenzie’s fates were all revealed but what happened to the second driver and, more importantly, who were they?
Many soap fans have speculated that it could be David Metcalfe, particularly as actor Matthew Wolfenden confirmed he would be leaving Emmerdale.
However, another fan theorised that Kerry Wyatt could have been on her way back to the village… before crashing into her daughter’s car.
“Actually what if the van driver was Kerry and she’s accidentally killed/seriously hurt her daughter”, the viewer penned.
“I’m sorry but where did the van that took them off the road disappear too”, another questioned.
A third fan added: “Before the episode ends I genuinely need to know who was driving that white van and why they drove off.”
Actress Laura Norton left the program in late 2022, in the wake of Al Chapman’s on-screen death as she was expecting her second child with former co-star and fiancé Mark Jordon.
The couple welcomed a daughter named Ronnie in October, 2022, and Kerry’s upcoming return to the Dales has been confirmed.
Could she be involved in Chloe’s fate?
5. Fake amnesia plot
As mentioned above, Chloe Harris was involved in a horrific car crash alongside Mackenzie and Charity.
But as their vehicle was hanging off a cliff, Mackenzie was left with the choice to either save the mother of his child or his former wife.
Chloe was left at death’s door when Mack made the choice to help save the latter out of the car wreck and went down the hill along with the vehicle.
She miraculously survived the crash but had to be airlifted to hospital immediately for emergency medical treatment and she was put in an induced coma.
Anything can happen in soapland and many characters go to extreme lengths to get revenge – could Chloe work out a plan to make Mack pay for his newest betrayal?
One could speculate Chloe may pretend to have lost her memory once she wakes up, to make Mackenzie believe all is well between them.
But at the last minute, Chloe could reveal she has been in cahoots with another handful of villagers to get revenge on Mack by making his life a misery or, worse, killing him.
With her sister Amy Wyatt (Natalie Ann Jamieson) threatening Mack in previous Emmerdale, viewers could suspect her to be involved in Chloe’s plan with her boyfriend Matty Barton (Ash Palmisciano).
Could Chloe’s vengeful streak take a villainous turn?
Emmerdale airs weeknights from 7.30pm on ITV.