ITV/Shutterstock Share By Carena Crawford Jan 16 2026 By Carena Crawford Jan 16 2026 Praise for Charlotte Bellamy in 'career best' performance over baby Daniel death: 'BAFTA worthy' Laurel lost baby Daniel to cot death in 2008 Ashley Thomas Charlotte Bellamy Laurel Thomas Share By Carena Crawford Jan 16 2026 By Carena Crawford Jan 16 2026 Heartbreaking scenes have aired in Classic Emmerdale on ITV3 this week as Laurel and Ashley Thomas (Charlotte Bellamy and John Middleton) have seen their seven-month-old son Daniel die from cot death. Charlotte in particular has been praised for giving a “career best” performance, with many lamenting the fact she didn’t win a BAFTA for it. And in present-day Emmerdale Laurel is embroiled in a murder plot being a prime suspect in ‘who killed Ray’. It means actress Charlotte is once again bringing the emotion to the screen. Laurel was distraught when she lost baby Daniel in Emmerdale (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock) What happened to baby Daniel in Emmerdale? In 2007, Laurel gave birth to her first child with Ashley, a son named Daniel. In the hospital she met Melanie Doland, who had also given birth to a baby boy. The family settled into life with a newborn, but devastation hit when Laurel discovered Daniel dead in his cot. She had left him crying as suggested by her mother, but when she went to check on him, she found him not breathing. article continues below Read all the latest spoilers Laurel was uanble to accept his death and couldn’t be around Ashley any more. She moved out and even kissed Melanie’s husband, Greg. However, before too long Laurel’s mum Hilary Potts suspected Melanie and Greg’s son was actually Laurel and Ashley’s. She refused to let it go, despite Laurel’s pleas for her to stop betraying Daniel’s memory. A DNA test eventually proved Hilary right and there had been a baby swap at the hospital. Laurel still wanted nothing to do with her son, despite Ashley starting a custody battle. He told his wife he would raise the boy alone if she didn’t attend the custody hearing. She went and they won, but Laurel found it hard to bond with Arthur. When she feared he had died, however, she soon realised how much she loved and accepted him. And now in 2026 she is thought to be covering up for an 18-year-old Arthur as fans believe he killed Ray! Now Laurel’s embroiled in another dramatic storyline (Credit: ITV) Charlotte Bellamy praised for Emmerdale performance over baby Daniel’s death Those watching the Classic episodes have found themselve bowled over by the performance of Laurel actress Charlotte Bellamy. “Unbelievable performance by Charlotte Bellamy. Her best performance on the show for me that scene,” said one on social media. Another added: “A raw, emotional gut punch of a performance and a career best by Charlotte Bellamy in today’s Classic Emmerdale. She should have won a BAFTA for this.” “Charlotte bellamy actress of all time!!” a third simply said. A fourth stated: “Tonight’s episode of Classic Emmerdale was heart-shattering with the death of Baby Daniel. I remember when this episode came out.” Do you remember these scenes? Read more: Who’s leaving Emmerdale? All the cast exits, arrivals and returns Share Good to Know Share By Carena Crawford Jan 16 2026 By Carena Crawford Jan 16 2026 Previous Story Next Story
