Sarah's baby dream destroyed - but fans are convinced she'll find another way to become a mum
The surgery didn't go to plan.
Sarah was given the devastating news that she won’t be able to carry a baby in Emmerdale tonight (Thursday, June 26), but fans think she’ll find another way to achieve her baby dream.
As Sarah Sugden prepared for an operation to rid her of cancer, her mind was firmly on her plan to become a mum. She admitted to Charity that she was desperate for the operation to be over so that she could start IVF.
Sarah also shared her worry that something might go wrong during the operation. Unfortunately for her, her worst fears were confirmed when a doctor revealed some devastating news.
Sarah’s operation doesn’t go to plan
In hospital, as she prepared for the operation, Sarah told Charity Dingle she was manifesting a happy future. As she confided her worries to her grandmother, she realised that Charity wasn’t fully on board with her baby plan.
Charity admitted she didn’t think the IVF was a good idea. She told Sarah: “After the operation, you should be out there exploring the world, making the most of it.”
Having previously told Charity that she had been more of a mum to her than Debbie, Sarah took the words back and told Charity she was rubbish. As Sarah was wheeled into theatre, Charity responded by telling Sarah it was about time she manifested some common sense and accepted that she can’t be a mum.
As Charity and Cain waited for news, Charity said she felt guilty for leaving things on a bad note with Sarah. Their chat was interrupted by a doctor, who told the pair: “I’m really sorry but things haven’t gone to plan.”
Charity and Cain then stood by Sarah’s hospital bedside as doctors delivered the terrible news.
They attempted to soften the blow by telling Sarah that there was no indication that the cancer had spread. The doctor then explained that they discovered during surgery that her blood vessels are very fragile, probably due to her Fanconi anaemia.
Sarah was devastated as the doctor told her: “Unfortunately , we couldn’t tie off the vessels that supplied the uterus. As a result, you had a massive haemorrhage during surgery. We were left with no choice. We had to perform an emergency hysterectomy.”
As Sarah broke down over the news that she wouldn’t be able to carry a baby, she ordered Cain and Charity out of the room.
Fans think Sarah will still get her baby in Emmerdale
One fan on Reddit suggested that Sarah will have a baby via surrogacy. “I think it’s going the way of a surrogacy storyline. Sarah carrying a pregnancy was already incredibly risky and unlikely even before having her cervix removed. Sure after the complicated operation she will have to rethink it?” they wrote.
Other fans agreed, and suggested a family member will be the surrogate.
One fan wrote: “Charity might offer to be a surrogate.” With a second fan responding: “That was my thinking too. Or if the actress who plays Sarah wanted time off, she could have Debbie do it in Australia.”
A third fan wrote: “I definitely think most likely is Charity being surrogate. It does sound crazy but plenty of women in the UK have become pregnant in their 50s through IVF whether it be surrogacy or their own baby.”
Will Sarah achieve her dream of becoming a mum?
Read more: Who’s leaving Emmerdale? All the cast exits, arrivals and returns
The Neighbourhood: First look at KeepYourEnemies Close in Graham Norton's new ITV reality game show
Six real life families will move into KeepYourEnemies Close, a fictional road in a picture perfect English village.
Graham Norton will host the show as the families begin battling it out in the "street-sized popularity contest".
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Graham Norton hosts the brand new reality game show The Neighbourhood (Credit: ITV)[/caption]
There's a lot at stake, with a huge cash prize on offer to the family that can stay living in the close the longest.
And there is even a village pub and cafe. It's giving Brookside!
Here's everything we know about The Neighbourhood, including how the game works, where it is filmed and when it starts.
The Neighbourhood first look: How does it work?
Six families will move into six houses in KeepYourEnemies Close. Each house will be colour-coded. The colours are Pink, Yellow, Green, Blue, Orange, and Purple.
There is a village pub, called The Uppin Arms and a local cafe, aptly named Room With A Brew.
The households will all head to Room With A Brew each day. ITV says it is the "primary hub where neighbours plot, scheme, and attempt to stay on side over a cuppa".
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Room With A Brew is the local cafe (Credit: ITV)[/caption]
They can later grab a pint at The Uppin Arms and "challenge their rivals to a friendly game of darts or pool". But the pub will also be where they size up the competition.
Elsewhere in KeepYourEnemies Close is The Neighbourhood Noticeboard. Here, residents will find all the latest community news.
Little else is know about exactly what the households will do each day. However, 'The Master of Ceremonies' - Graham Norton - says in the show's new trailer that they will be "competing in huge challenges".
What is the prize?
The prize up for grabs in The Neighbourhood is definitely worth competing for. The last household standing will win a whopping £250,000.
ITV says the show "marries high-stakes competition, epic challenges and relatable domestic drama, to offer a completely fresh flavour of reality".
The synopsis continues: "In The Neighbourhood, it’s not about keeping up with the Joneses - it’s about beating them. Bring on the ding dong!"
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The households can grab a pint in The Uppin Arms (Credit: ITV)[/caption]
The Neighbourhood location: Where is it filmed?
ITV's The Neighbourhood is filmed in the Peak District. However, KeepYourEnemies Close is not an existing residential street in real life.
The street has been purpose-built to mimic a genuine, tight-knit community, similar to those loved by fans of soaps including Emmerdale and Coronation Street.
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There is a £250,000 cash prize up for grabs (Credit: ITV)[/caption]
When does it start? How many episodes?
You don't have too long to wait, as The Neighbourhood starts later this month. The first episode airs at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX on Friday April 24, 2026.
And it's a bumper premiere. Episodes 2 and 3 will continue over the next two consecutive nights, on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 April.
In total, The Neighbourhood will comprise of 11 episodes. In comparison, this is just slightly shorter than this year’s series of The Traitors, which means we’ll have enough time to really get invested in the households.
Watch the trailer below and see what you think. Will you be tuning in? We will!
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