Evan makes a long-awaited return, but frustrated fans spot one huge flaw in his comeback

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By Carena Crawford

24 Feb 2026, 14:02

By Carena Crawford

24 Feb 2026, 14:02

Emmerdale viewers were treated to a rare sighting of Evan Fletcher last night, Dawn and Billy’s son. It’s been an age since we last saw the now two-year-old, but one thing is baffling fans.

Little Evan is no longer the babe in arms we last saw, he’s now a full-grown toddler. But what about his leukaemia?

Evan’s leukaemia battle

Evan was born to Billy and Dawn Fletcher on December 21 2023. It was all smiles when he arrived in a water birth at Home Farm.

But things quickly turned bad when Evan was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia in May 2024. At just five months old, Evan spent the rest of the year in and out of hospital as he underwent chemotherapy and fought off various infections.

To protect him, Home Farm and its residents had to go into isolation. Siblings Clemmie and Lucas were pulled out of school and home schooled and Billy couldn’t even go for a pint with his mates.

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At the time, the doctors suggested this would likely go on for years.

However, soon enough, the isolation was over without explanation, Evan was never seen and Dawn seemed to be going about her daily life as normal. She certainly didn’t worry about germs when she was hooking up with Joe Tate behind her husband’s back!

Evan returns in Emmerdale

Despite not having been seen or mentioned for months (who’s been looking after him?!) last week Dawn and Billy were seen ‘celebrating’ the ‘monumental news’ that Evan’s treatment is working.

On Monday (February 23) Dawn and Kim talked about it and low and behold Evan was actually seen in the shot! Dawn told Kim: “I just feel like I can enjoy him as a normal toddler, not a toddler going through leukaemia care.”

So just like that Evan is cured. But has he been going through treatment for all these months? Who’s been taking him to the hospital? Who’s been caring for him while he suffered the horrendous side effects?

It feels like Emmerdale forgot he had leukeamia and then remembered so threw in a scene to wrap it up asap.

Fans question Evan storyline

Viewers certainly feel the same, calling out the fact they haven’t done anything with the storyline. They felt the soap dropped it as soon as Dawn’s affair with Joe took over.

“Is it just me or was Evan’s leukaemia storyline completely abandoned? In today’s episode we see Dawn relieved its all over, but we haven’t seen her or Billy struggle with managing this in months. I’m a bit confused but it’s nice to see Dawn smiling for once!” shared one on social media.

Another questioned: “Evan a baby, disappears now a toddler and all gets the all clear, did we miss episodes?”

“Tthey dropped it as soon as Joe and Dawn got together, so annoying,” responded a third.

A fourth added: “Finally Evan appears, good news but feel like they have not done much with the storyline.”

“So how is Evan now after his leukaemia? Is he all better? They seem to have forgotten about that,” sighed one more.

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