Emmerdale Steph and Ruby (Credit: ITV/Comp Emmerdale Insider)

In a heartbreaking episode of Emmerdale tonight (Thursday May 1), Steph Miligan went to extreme lengths to change her appearance when she held a broken bottle to her face.

Desperate to help her daughter, Ruby made a huge decision: she is going to hand herself into the police. Caleb begged her not to, but will Ruby listen?

Also, Cain made a decision about missing Nate, and Dawn gave Billy false hope. Here’s all that happened in Emmerdale tonight.

Ross tries to help Steph in Emmerdale
Steph sees red when Ross tries to comfort her (Credit: ITV)

Steph lost control

After having her surgery stopped, Steph was refusing to eat. Despite Ruby wanting to get her proper help, Caleb insisted John would help her; he has trauma experience after all.

John told her that changing the way she looked would not change the way she feels. But Steph was not interested in being talked out of surgery. And then her phone rang to confirm her next surgical procedure. John grabbed it and answered telling them she was in no fit state to have surgery.

John insisted they would call every clinic in the country to stop them seeing Steph and they’ve taken her passport so she can’t go overseas.

Steph admitted defeat and told him she wanted to be alone. But then she smashed up the kitchen and hit the vodka.

Steph does not want to look at her face any more (Credit: ITV)
Steph does not want to look at her face any more (Credit: ITV)

Steph hit rock bottom in Emmerdale tonight

Ross found out Steph was not on holiday after all and raced round to find out why she had lied. Steph broke down on him and admitted what she had tried to do.

But as Ross comforted her, she turned on him. She called him a freak because of his acid attack scars and then continued to rain down the insults. But Ross stayed calm, even when she started physically attacking him, begging him to hit her back. He insisted he would never hurt her.

She then grabbed the vodka bottle and fled, full of shame for how she’d acted. Ruby and Caleb were alerted and raced off to look for her. Joe overheard and drove Ross to help find her too.

However it was Ruby and Caleb who found her in her car at the depot. She had locked the doors and was holding a broken bottle, ready to disfigure her face so they would have no choice but to give her plastic surgery.

Ruby managed to smash the car window and get inside, as they helped their struggling daughter home. Joe followed and gave them a card for a therapist, saying she was descreet. But Caleb didn’t trust him and thought he was trying to get dirt on them.

Ruby however insisted they need to get Steph proper help. She found Caleb crying in the kitchen and he admitted she was right. Ruby decided to hand herself in so Steph could speak to a therapist without fear. But Caleb told her no, they would get through this together. Can they really do it without Anthony’s death being found out?

Tracy gives John some worrying news in Emmerdale
John was horrified when Tracy revealed Cain is off to Shetland to find Nate (Credit: ITV)

Cain decided to track Nate down

Tracy has used Nate’s credit card to buy Frankie a whole new wardrobe. Moira popped round to watch Frankie’s fashion show and Tracy lied she had found Nate’s emergency fund and used that.

Meanwhile, Cain confided in Moira that Nate had answered his phone. She encouraged him not to give up, so he went to see Tracy. Tracy said she was starting to worry something had happened to Nate – hallelujah!

But wait, Cain said he was fine as Nate had answered the phone. Nooooo, it was John!

Tracy then confessed she had been behind the toy camera Nate sent for Frankie’s birthday. Cain insisted he didn’t believe Nate would abandon them. Is he finally going to sniff out the truth?

We’re one step closer as Cain decided to go to Shetland to track Nate down. But then Tracy told John and we’re not sure he’ll let that happen…

Also in Emmerdale tonight…

Billy was reassured by Dawn, but thought it meant they could work things out (Credit: ITV)
Billy was reassured by Dawn, but thought it meant they could work things out (Credit: ITV)

Dawn’s bubble burst

Dawn was loved up with Joe when Kim burst in and told her Evan was in hospital. Billy was beating himself up and Dawn comforted him saying it was not his fault.

Evan was stablised and Billy and Dawn hugged and she told him they will always be a team, giving Billy hope for their future.

Gail’s unrest in Emmerdale tonight

Gail was feeling underappreciated and has been offered a job in Devon running a B&B with her mate, Fanny. She told Ryan she wasn’t going to take it, but she was fed-up.

Later, when Charity left her in charge of the pub to go shopping and then came back drunk, Gail stropped off. Ryan fought her corner and asked Charity to hear Gail out.

But Gail’s pitch fell flat (although drunk Charity was hilarious!) when she pitched back the same idea Charity had already come up with.

John turned on the charm with Claudette (Credit: ITV)
John turned on the charm with Claudette (Credit: ITV)

John pulled all the strings

Liam has put John back on reception as Claudette is only part time. John wasn’t happy at all, although he feigned nonchalance. He then managed to manipulate both Liam and Claudette into having her in the position full time.

Read more: Who’s leaving Emmerdale? All the cast exits, arrivals and returns

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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