Can John save Cain and cover his own tracks? What happens next as he returns to Emmerdale
The honeymoon's over for John
A shocked John Sugden returned from his honeymoon on Emmerdale tonight (Friday, June 6) to find Cain Dingle in the frame for Nate’s murder – and Tracy Robinson on the warpath.
Learning that Nate’s body had been found, John was on the backfoot. He was forced to watch from afar as Cain became prime suspect, while a volatile Tracy stormed over to Butler’s Farm to name Cain as Nate’s murderer.
Not what John had planned at all. Can he save Cain from a murder rap?
John returned to news of Nate’s death
Earlier in the episode, Cain had tried to reach out to Tracy, who still hadn’t shared the horrific news with Frankie. Still suspicious that he’d killed Nate, she gave him the cold shoulder.
At the same time, John and Aaron returned from their honeymoon to find Mack the bearer of bad news. John put on his best poker face as Mack informed them that Nate had been murdered – revealing that Cain was the prime suspect.
Elsewhere, Vanessa shared her theory with Mack that Cain had killed Nate. He, Aaron, John and Vanessa then looked on as she finally broke the news to Frankie, missing only a box of popcorn as she made a spectacle of devastating news.
Tracy accused Cain of Nate’s murder
Meanwhile, the police arrived at Butler’s as Cain shared a beer with sympathetic Liam. They were there to look for Nate’s phone, which they’d tracked to the village… and had definitely been used since his death.
Back in the village, Vanessa revealed that she’d seen the police at the farm. Tracy grew more convinced than ever that her theory was right, and stormed out of the house (the one with a grieving child in it).
At the farm, she accused him of lying about the phone call and faking his grief. “I know you are the one who killed Nate,” she snarled, “and you’re going to go down for it.”
Can John save Cain from taking the rap… while also protecting himself?
John tries to protect Cain in Emmerdale spoilers next week
With the police aware that Nate’s murderer is an Emmerdale local, the investigation continues next week. As the last person to speak to Nate, John is called in for questioning.
As he attempts to save his own skin, he also attempts to protect Cain. Back in the village, he comforts Cain, who has started to voice his own suspicion of Tracy. Determined to save Cain, he begins to formulate a plan…
The next day, the police arrive with a warrant to search Tracy’s home. She assures them it’ll be a waste of time, but is shocked when the police find Nate’s phone in Frankie’s playhouse. At the station, they then reveal that there’s no record of the man who supposedly took Nate’s things away to Shetland.
When the police reveal that they believe Nate was killed on the day he ‘left’ for Shetland, panicked Tracy tells them that she was with Vanessa all day. Later, in the cafe, she begs Vanessa to back up her false alibi.
When DS Walsh visits the Vet’s surgery later, she asks Vanessa to back up Tracy’s alibi. Will she go along with it?
Gone on ITV1: DS Annie Cassidy is tracking a killer, but is the real monster her husband?
Yes, there had been signs. But the mask well and truly slipped in the latest episode (Monday, March 16) revealing DI Craig Stanhope to be little more than a bully.
And, as his true character became clear, viewers learnt something very crucial about Annie. In a series centred around the death of music teacher Sarah Polly, with a side dish of toxic masculinity, the lead character was as much as a victim as anyone.
A people-pleaser at heart, Annie tries to keep her estranged husband happy, and is haunted by a case she wasn't able to solve – the case of missing girl Tina Bradley. But is the real villain the wolf in sheep's clothing at her very door?
***Warning: spoilers from Gone episodes 1 to 4 ahead***
[caption id="attachment_40663" align="alignnone" width="1720"]
Peter McDonald as DI Craig Stanhope in Gone (Credit: ITV)[/caption]
Who is Annie's husband DI Craig Stanhope in Gone?
At first, DI Craig Stanhope appeared to be an ordinary, unremarkable bloke. In fact, he even seemed to care for his estranged wife Annie. At the beginning of the series, we saw him attempt to rekindle things with her, wanting to prove himself to her without taking things too fast. Although some might call his behaviour love-bombing. All this after he ruined their marriage by having an affair with a younger woman.
More recently, he offered to help Annie out with a cold case that means so much to her. But his motivations here are becoming clearer. As Annie fixates on the present-day investigation, Craig finds himself unable to keep his jealous and manipulative sides in check, forcing Annie to reckon with the truth of their relationship...
Gone episode 4 recap: What happened in latest instalment?
In Monday's episode, Annie and her colleagues began to see things in a new light as fresh information emerged. The spotlight focused on two suspects – Sarah's husband Michael Polly, and her lover Stephen Sedgwick – as both were forced to account for their movements on the days surrounding Sarah's disappearance.
At first, Annie felt frustrated in her role as Family Liaison Officer. But she soon started to realise how she could use it to her advantage. Her strange bond with Michael deepened as he began to share his regrets about the difficulties of his marriage. But is he telling her the full truth?
Meanwhile, Annie began to let her guard down with estranged husband Craig. Knowing exactly how to win her back, he offered to help her on the cold case haunted her from years before. But his behaviour soon turned hostile.
In episode 4, his 'good behaviour' well and truly changed for the worse. When Annie missed a restaurant date with him because of an important development at work, he showed his nasty streak. He accused her of "playing games", when in fact he of all people should understand the unpredictable schedule of a copper. He even lashed out at another punter in the restaurant.
As if we hadn't guessed already, Craig wasn't a nice guy. Not at all. And it might have taken a heart to heart with Michael Polly for Annie to realise...
At the end of the episode, Craig showed up at Michael Polly's house demanding to see Annie – putting her professional life on the line. In shocking scenes, Michael tried to protect Annie from an angry Craig, and the pair ended up fighting. Of course, Craig abused the situation by arresting Michael for assaulting a police officer.
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Annie's husband Craig arrested Michael Polly in Gone episode 4 (Credit: ITV)[/caption]
Could Annie's husband Craig be the killer in Gone?
One thing is for sure, DI Craig Stanhope is not a pleasant person. He cheated on Annie when they were married, and appears to be controlling her now. Turning up at her work and demanding to see her is an abuse of his position - both as a DI and a husband.
But is Craig capable of murder? And could he somehow have been involved in Sarah Polly's death? Some TV viewers think so.
One viewer wrote on X: "It's Craig! He's the guilty one #Gone."
On Reddit, someone said: "What's the story with the ex-husband ? At the start, he was a mystery man. Then he was an ex. Then he was an ex who ran off with a younger woman. By the end he's a complete psychopath."
A third had an interesting theory , saying: "I assumed the ex-husband was going to end up being the one who had killed Tina 20 years ago. Especially with him flirting with the young waitress. He had cheated with a young woman, his temper, and then Annie mentioning to Tina's mum that her and Tina were friends. Just kind of fit nicely and then I was confused when it didn't go that way. But, I suppose if there is a season 2 they might be setting it up?"
That's a very good theory!
Read more: Gone on ITV: Did Michael Polly really kill his wife Sarah? Top 5 suspects in the frame
Gone continues with episodes 5 and 6 on Sunday and Monday, March 22 and 23, 2026 at 9pm on ITV1.
Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm, with an early release on ITVX at 7am.
Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm.
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