What happened this week in Emmerdale: April’s back, Joe’s got our attention and Ross is wasted

It was another bleak week in Emmerdale as April came home after running away on Christmas Day and giving birth to a stillborn baby, but what else happened in Emmerdale this week?

There were more developments in the Joe Tate story, Leyla admitted she was lonely, and the knowledge of next week’s limo crash left us wondering who’s for the chop…

Here’s what we thought of it all in this week’s Emmerdale review.

What happened in Emmerdale this week: April’s back!

Of course the big story this week was April. In a standalone episode we saw the troubled teen resort to sleeping in a squat, with her new friends Bex and Dylan.

We watched poor Bex get stabbed and then die, and watched the harsh reality of Dylan surviving on the streets.

And then in heartbreaking scenes, pregnant April gave birth to a stillborn baby and nearly died in the process.

It was a lot. Actress Amelia Flanagan, who’s played April since she was five, held the whole episode together brilliantly.

She’s so talented and she made April’s torment very believable.

Why did she stay away?

We didn’t love it all, though, great as it was. Mostly because we kept wondering why April didn’t just go home!

Even new friend Dylan pointed out that April had a home and a family who were looking for her.

Obviously Rhona and Marlon aren’t perfect and things haven’t been easy, but they love her. She’s got Bob, and Mary, and Ross, and loads of people looking out for her.

We know that had she told any one of them that she was pregnant, they would have (eventually!) all stepped up to support her.

And while not knowing the real circumstances of mum Donna’s death isn’t ideal, it didn’t feel huge enough for her to put herself through that ordeal.

Though, saying all that Marlon is extremely annoying. So perhaps April had her reasons.

Main character Marlon

As we were watching this week’s eps, it struck us that April has proper ‘main character energy’, managing to make everything about her and her ordeal. Somehow she even managed to make Becca’s death about her, wailing that it was her fault (it clearly wasn’t).

And we reckon we know where she gets it from – her dad Marlon.

April hadn’t been home more than a matter of hours before he was whinging that she’d told Ross about the baby when he’d agreed they weren’t telling anyone, and grumbling that he’d let her down… It’s not always about you, Marlon.

Is Ross wasted?

Speaking of Ross, we still love his friendship with April. But we can’t help thinking he needs more. We’re pleased to see him back in the village, but he’s wasted just being someone for April to moan to.

And now Joe Tate’s back too, it seems even more disappointing that Debbie Dingle isn’t! We’d love to see her – and Jack – back in the village. Recast if necessary, but bring her back!

What’s Joe got planned for Noah?

Debbie was, of course, legendary for being a misery guts – just like Dawn. So it seems Joe’s got a type!

We’re really enjoying Joe’s return. It feels like it’s been paced just right, with his secrets being drip-fed to us perfectly.

We were already intrigued about what he was up to, when we discovered Kim didn’t trust him either and now Charity’s got Kim’s laptop and we’re all in. Loving the mystery!

Though we’re genuinely concerned about what he’s got planned for Noah and we’re not convinced this job in Dubai really exists…

Worries about naive Noah aside, we also loved Joe’s sarky comment about Dawn’s hoodie.

And the little glimpse into Charity and Ryan’s relationship – they’re a good pairing and we’d like to see more.

Emmerdale review: Is Billy doomed?

One thing we were wondering was whether Billy could be the one to die in the limo crash next week. Him dying would make things both better and worse for Dawn – which is the best kind of plot complication.

What else happened in Emmerdale this week?

Our favourite soap friendships are the unlikely ones – Kim and Zak Dingle for example. Or Ross and April. So we’re really keen on Ruby and Aaron’s blossoming friendship. They’re supporting one another and we’re here for it.

Meanwhile our top fave Leyla is lonely and having a rotten time of it and we’re not happy.

She’s such a delight, and we’re really nervous she might die a sad lonely death in the limo crash.

So we’re crossing our fingers and hoping instead she could meet a handsome firefighter/paramedic/doctor as a result of all the drama instead, be whisked off her feet and spend the rest of her days in romantic bliss.

Cutie of the week in Emmerdale

And finally we need to take a moment to appreciate the absolute cuteness of little Thomas.

Bertie Brotherton, who plays the toddler, clearly adores James Hooton, who plays Sam – those giggles were definitely real.

But also Sam’s long convoluted description of a cartoon with a sneaky mouse and a silly cat? It’s Tom and Jerry, Sam. That’s the name of the cartoon. We reckon Thomas could have told you that!

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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