7 Unlikely friendships in Emmerdale: From Kim and Seth to Cain and Liam, those surprisingly successful double acts
Unlikely friendships in Emmerdale
Some of the best and most enduring friendships in Emmerdale are those between two unlikely characters. On paper you wouldn’t put them together as mates, but on screen they shine.
The secret to these brilliant partnerships is chemistry. Backgrounds, age, gender, personality, none of these things have to match when it comes to a creating solid friendship.
Here are seven surprising bonds, both past and present, that the fans took into their hearts…
Emmerdale unlikely friendships: Kim Tate and Seth Armstrong
Seth Armstrong and Kim Tate were the definition of an unlikely pairing, but their bond stood the test of time. As lady of the manor, Kim employed Seth to work as a gamekeeper at Home Farm. But what began as a business arrangement turned into a proper friendship.
When Kim’s lover Dave Glover perished in a blaze at Home Farm, Seth defended her to the locals. He helped her get through the loss of her soulmate, and told everyone else to mind their own business.
Their sweetest moment came in 1998 when Kim asked Seth if he would give her away at her wedding to Steve Marchant. He looked pleased as punch as he walked Kim down the aisle to husband number two.
Kim departed the Dales the following year, but she never forgot her old friend. And when Seth sadly passed away in 2003 Kim paid for a crate of alcohol to be sent to his funeral.
Cain Dingle and Liam Cavanagh
Cain’s never really been one for mates, which is probably what makes his friendship with Dr Liam so adorable.
It all began back in 2021 when Liam was grieving the loss of his daughter, Leanna. The teen was one of serial killer Meena Jutla‘s victims and her death left Liam utterly bereft. Unable to listen to folks’ cliched sympathies, Liam needed someone to sit in silence with over a beer. And that’s what he found with Cain.
Liam returned the favour last year when Cain needed a supportive ear in the aftermath of Moira’s brain tumour diagnosis.
But it’s not all doom and gloom – Cain and Liam are genuinely really funny together without even trying. The perfect mixture of posh and rough.
Long live their bromance!
Emmerdale unlikely friendships: Kim Tate and Lydia Dingle
You couldn’t get more chalk and cheese than ice queen Kim and warm-hearted Lydia, but somehow it just works.
The ladies hit it off after Lydia started cleaning Kim’s house and have gone on to forge a firm friendship. Theirs is a honest relationship, and Lydia is one of the few people that gets to see Kim’s more vulnerable side.
Sam’s wife has also helped Kim loosen up and have fun. Who remembers when Lydia organised a Neil Diamond tribute act for Kim’s hen do so she could get back to her working class roots?
But it’s not all been fun and laughter. Their friendship almost collapsed after Kim confessed to Lydia that she’d left rapist Craig Reed to die after he was trampled by her horse. Lydia was initially disgusted with Kim for not calling the police, but found it in her heart to forgive her.
Val Pollard and Finn Barton
Lovely Finn was a friend to all, but we particularly enjoyed his partnership with vivacious Val Pollard.
The unlikely duo hit it off when Finn started working for Val and husband Eric as a cleaner at The Grange. Having just graduated from university with a degree in Economics, scrubbing toilets and making beds was far from Finn’s dream job. But his banter with Val made the time pass and Finn grew fond of her.
In turn, Val took Finn under her wing and became something of a surrogate mum to the lad. Because Finn was so polite and compliant, she often recruited him to take part in whatever mischievous scheme she’d cooked up.
Tragically, Val and Finn were killed within a year of one another, but we like to think she’s still leading him astray, somewhere.
Emmerdale unlikely friendships: April Windsor and Ross Barton
Ross Barton started out as a one-dimensional bad boy, but his cute friendship with April Windsor showed he had a heart. The duo entered each other’s lives in 2014 when Ross started going out with April’s mum Donna.
Even after Donna’s tragic death Ross remained in April’s life. We still remember how he dressed up as a pirate to make April’s first Christmas without her mummy a happy one.
When Ross returned to the village in 2024 he and April reconnected. But the teen found herself caught up in Ross’s trouble with boxing promotor Jade, which led her to learn Donna’s death was suicide, not accidental.
Now April has gone missing, Ross is out there, searching the streets for his friend. We hope she’s found safe and sound and that Emmerdale will carry on investing in their friendship.
Aaron Dingle and Paddy Kirk
Paddy has been a constant in Aaron’s life and is like a surrogate dad and big best mate all in one.
In the early days Paddy often found himself on the receiving end of Aaron’s fury. The troubled Dingle used him as an emotional, and sometimes physical, punchbag. But no matter what Aaron has thrown at Paddy, he’s always supported him.
He was the one who helped Aaron come to terms with his sexuality and the person he confided his affair with Robert to.
Aaron has been there for Paddy too. He was the one dishing out sensible advice after Paddy discovered Bear was his real father. He also was firmly team Paddy when Chas’s affair with Al Chapman became public knowledge.
We adore their on-screen chemistry, which is testament to Dominic Brunt and Danny Miller’s acting abilities.
Emmerdale unlikely friendships: Eric Pollard and Kerry Wyatt
2025 is about to see the arrival of Emmerdale’s latest unlikely friendship – Kerry and Eric.
The pair had a spectacular falling out last year after Kerry discovered Eric had deceived her over the value of a necklace. Cunning Pollard proved there was life in the old dog yet when he tricked Kerry into thinking the jewellery was worthless, then sold it behind her back for a small fortune.
But now it seems all that is forgiven and forgotten. Eric finds himself opening up to Kerry over his guilt at not paying Brenda back. He admits he’s considering torching the shop to claim the insurance, which leads Kerry to reflect on the arson attack she carried out which claimed Frank Clayton’s life. Will she confide her deadly secret to Eric?
We’re all here for this new double act. Eric always works well with a feisty female sidekick and they don’t come much feistier than Kerry.
I’m A Celebrity viewers accuse ITV of ‘planting’ contraband butter ‘to create drama’ as Shona McGarty is dethroned
The allegations come as Shona confessed to scoffing the small sachet behind her campmates' backs.
In scenes that played out last night, the former EastEnders star stepped down from being Camp Leader after admitting to her 'crime'.
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I'm A Celebrity fans have accused bosses of 'planting the contraband butter' Shona McGarty ate (Credit: ITV)[/caption]
But Shona insisted she had "no idea" where the butter had come from. The star told her campmates she had simply found it in their trunk of cooking utensils.
I'm A Celebrity: Shona McGarty's butter confession
Shona said in the Bush Telegraph: "I found some butter in the trunk. I don't know where it came from. True story. But I saw it and my eyes lit up. And I used it."
Back in camp, mutiny broke out. Kelly Brook squealed: "She didn't even share it! Someone took the risk and you ate it."
Angry Ginge added: "So she saw the butter and she took it for herself!" The camp then began chanting: "Dethrone, dethrone, dethrone!"
In the Bush Telegraph, Kelly said aghast: "I just can't believe the fall from grace. Shona has gone from sleeping in the most comfortable bed in the treehouse and she threw it all away for a little sachet of butter."
Kelly then went on to discover the empty butter packet in the trunk by the campfire. She held it up to show everyone, as Shona said she was stepping down as Camp Leader.
Ruby Wax was then voted in by the others to be the new leader.
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There was mutiny as Aitch and the campmates discovered what Shona had done (Credit: ITV)[/caption]
I'm A Celebrity bosses accused of 'planting' contraband
The campmates shared their thoughts on where the butter had come from, with some plumping for Alex Scott. The Lioness has already left the jungle but was caught with salt sachets before her exit.
Alex has since admitted she smuggled the salt into the camp in her sock after picking the sachets up at a service station.
But writing on X, fans have accused show bosses of being behind the butter mystery.
"Do we think the producers give them the contraband to create drama? Surely they’re not eating 2 week old butter that’s not been in the fridge," one said. Someone else agreed: "Obviously!"
And another viewer added: "Ok so the producers are 100% planting contraband to force story and punishment. Everyone who goes in there knows it's not allowed and they already got punished before for having it. This is dumb now lmao."
TVGuide has contacted ITV for comment.
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Alex Scott admits she smuggled salt into this year's camp in her sock (Credit: ITV)[/caption]
Alex Scott: 'I put salt down my sock'
Alex was the first celebrity this year to be rumbled with contraband in camp. She was caught on camera sprinkling salt into a crocodile feet dinner.
Shona then admitted to sneaking in a giant can of air freshener. Host Declan Donnelly later accused Shona of pinching it from the trial area and putting it up her jumper.
That also caused outrage among the camp at the time. Angry Ginge had to forgo one of his meal stars from his Bushtucker Trial.
Alex, who was booted out of camp in the first elimination last week, has since spoken about the incident. Alex told the Daily Mail: "We didn't have luxury items this year so on the way in, I stopped and got a chicken salad, how boring.
"And then there was all these sachets of salt and pepper, so I was like, 'Let me just pick up a few, and see if I can manage to get them in camp'. And I put them down my sock on the coming in day and managed to get it in."
Read more: I'm A Celebrity fans fear for presenter Ant McPartlin as he loses his voice live on air
I'm A Celebrity continues at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX on Monday December 1, 2025.
Read more: Who’s who in the 2025 Emmerdale cast
Emmerdale usually airs weeknights at 7.30pm on ITV, with an early release at 7am on ITVX.
Classic Emmerdale usually airs weekdays at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm on ITV3.
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