Emmerdale fans have enjoyed plenty of drama in the Yorkshire village during 2020 – and it seems 2021 will be no different.
This year has seen murder, pregnancy surprises, baby heartache, devastating health concerns and plenty of scheming and backstabbing.
Producer Laura Shaw has promised lots of things to come for some of the show’s favourite characters.
She said earlier this year: “There are big storylines planned, 2021 is looking very exciting right now.”
And viewers have been sharing their thoughts about what might be to come in the future online too.
There are also a number of characters away from the village because of the actors taking time off for various reasons, so there could be some big returns to come.
Mandy, Vinny and Paul
There are big things to come for Mandy, Vinny and Paul (Image: ITV)
Earlier this year, Laura Shaw said: “We’ve storylined a massive chapter in the Mandy, Vinny, Paul story, so keep watching to see how that plays out.
“It will be one of our big stories in 2021 and lives are definitely going to be changed forever.”
At the moment, Paul (Reece Dinsdale) is trying to hide his gambling addiction and has been violent towards his son Vinny (Bradley Johnson).
Mandy (Lisa Riley) has been trying – and failing – to make a happy family environment for them – but it doesn’t sound like she’ll be successful any time soon.
Laurel and Jai
Could Laurel or Jai relapse into their addiction? (Image: ITV)
As for Laurel (Charlotte Bellamy) and Jai (Chris Sharma), they’re going to be feeling the effects from deciding to terminate their pregnancy.
Laurel and Jai discovered that the baby she was carrying was developing with Down’s syndrome, and after much thought they ended the pregnancy.
And Laura Shaw has said: “There’s more to come with Laurel and Jai. Their story does not end with the termination, they will feel the effects of their decision for quite a lot of next year.”
In an episode in early December, when Laurel and Jai were in hospital after getting the diagnosis, the question of their sobriety was brought up.
Both Laurel and Jai are addicts, with Laurel having struggled with alcohol and Jai with cocaine.
Laurel and Jai decided to terminate the pregnancy (Image: ITV)
And fans online have speculated that one of them could relapse, with their troubling storyline heading down that road.
Writing online, one fan wrote: “I can see after this storyline that the stress of what’s happened will probably make her turn to drink again. And we know the actress will be great doing those scenes.”
Another agreed, writing: “She was a brilliant drunk and it would definitely be a realistic story as well as the guilt she’ll be feeling mixed with the sadness/possible regret etc will definitely be enough to make her turn to drink.
“If any or her or Jai were to fall off the wagon again I hope it’s Laurel. She played the alcoholism story so well and it would be a great way of pushing her to the forefront of the show again.”
However another called for a more positive end to the storyline, writing: “As much as I loved drunk Laurel, I sincerely hope that her decision to have an abortion does not make her turn to drink.
“She has made her decision partly because of her alcoholism so I hope that she and Jai come to terms with this decision and don’t end up acting just as if they had decided to go ahead with the pregnancy. Basically I hope there is some kind of closure here.”
Jimmy and Nicola
Jimmy and Nicola are set for a big shock (Image: ITV)
After getting their own lockdown special episode, Jimmy (Nick Miles) and Nicola (Nicola Wheeler) will once again be brought to the forefront of Emmerdale.
Producer Laura said of the couple: “Jimmy and Nicola will get a really big shock in the New Year, which results in their whole lives being turned upside down.”
While the teaser was very cryptic, fans have been taking it to mean there could be the return of a classic character – Kelly Windsor.
Adele Silva played Kelly Windsor, the mother of Jimmy’s son Elliot (Image: GETTY)
Kelly, who was played by Adele Silva, is the mother of Jimmy’s son Elliot, but he has been living in the village since 2016.
Glamorous Kelly – who also has links to other characters in the soap such as April Windsor – went off to appear on a reality show back then.
Her return could definitely be surprised as “a really big shock” and her man-eater ways could cause tension between an already fragile Jimmy and Nicola – but how likely is it?
Back in 2018, Adele joked it was “disgusting” that Kelly hadn’t been to visit her son Elliot.
And hinting a return could be on the cards one day, she added: “Kelly really is the best character to play. I used to get to say and do things that you wouldn’t dream of saying or doing in real life.
“She’s not been killed off and her son is still in the village being looked after by Jimmy, so we always say never say never.”
However it seems she’s busy trying to land other acting roles, as she recently spoke of a self-tape she’d submitted.
Adele tweeted in October that feedback she’d got said she had been “too soapy” and it seems she can’t escape her time in Emmerdale.
She wrote: “I haven’t played the role of Kelly for 10 years and encounter this all the time.”
Luke and Victoria
Could Luke be set to expose his dark ways? (Image: ITV)
Moving to a younger couple, Laura Shaw said: “More secrets are revealed between Luke and Victoria, which will have a big impact on their relationship.”
Recently, viewers have been speculating that Luke (Max Parker) might have a dark streak to him like his dead brother, who raped Victoria (Isabel Hodgins).
A number of fans reckon Luke may end up backstabbing Victoria to get his hands on her inheritance.
And actor Luke teased drama too, when he told Inside Soap: “What’s great is that now Luke has settled into the village, there’s more freedom for him to make new connections.
“We’re going to see another side to his personality – a bit more fire, I guess – in a story coming up that involves me working with a few unexpected characters.”
Home Farm
Emmerdale producer Laura Shaw teased a ‘new heir’ for Home Farm (Image: ITV)
With Kim Tate (Claire King) back, there is plenty to come for Home Farm – including some big changes.
Producer Laura said: “There are some really exciting things planned for Home Farm and we’ll see a slightly more vulnerable Kim Tate, as well as a change in the dynamic of the Tate family – could there be a new heir to the throne? I can’t say!”
Fans have speculated that Kim’s son Jamie (Alexander Lincoln) could end up becoming the head of the family, and he’s definitely shown the devious ways Kim has previously displayed this year.
Will Jamie get a redemption storyline? (Image: ITV)
While others have wondered if the “new heir” could be a whole new Tate character.
As for Jamie, the jury’s out on what will happen to his character, after he turned evil and the village turned against him.
One person speculated: “I think he’s going to have a dumb redemption story where him and Dawn start dating. It’s like Debbie and Joe all over again except neither characters are interesting.”
And another said: “I don’t think he’s gonna get killed, just run out of town. The decay in his personality has been disappointing – a Tate is a Tate.”
Medical drama
Will Dawn have a troubling medical storyline next year? (Image: ITV)
Earlier in December, Dr Anthony Kearns – an emergentologist and the soap’s medical adviser – suggested there were some big storylines in terms of characters’ health coming up.
He tweeted: “Great lunchtime call with the Emmerdale story and script research team. Some exciting things ahead over the festive season and 2021.”
Characters and their health issues often become major plot points, with the soap tackling tough subjects.
Recently, Dawn (Olivia Bromley) was told she could have fertility problems after an STI developed into pelvic inflammatory disease.
Could there be more to come for that next year?
Jacob’s return
Jacob will return from Portugal early next year (Image: ITV)
Actor Joe-Warren Plant is scheduled to return in the spring after taking a six-month break from the soap in order to take part in Dancing on Ice.
Rather than work on both shows at the same time, the 18-year-old was written out to let him focus on training – and to avoid potentially risking both shows during the ongoing pandemic.
His exit was explained with his character Jacob going to Portugal to visit his mum Alicia.
Jacob’s last big storyline came to a surprising end last Christmas, when Maya – who had been grooming the teen – dumped a baby on his doorstep.
However a paternity test confirmed his dad David (Matthew Wolfenden) to be the father.
Could Jacob’s return to the soap be as dramatic as fans are used to?
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
