ITV Share Add as preferred source on Google Add as preferred source on Google By Carena Crawford 4 Mar 2026, 12:03 By Carena Crawford 4 Mar 2026, 12:03 New grooming hell for Jacob as fans predict Dr Todd bullying will turn sexual Dr Todd has shades of Maya Stepney about her Dr Caitlyn Todd Jacob Gallagher Maya Stepney Share Add as preferred source on Google Add as preferred source on Google By Carena Crawford 4 Mar 2026, 12:03 By Carena Crawford 4 Mar 2026, 12:03 Jacob Sugden is really up against it in Emmerdale with his tough boss Dr Todd and his marriage struggles to Sarah. The storyline will go down a path exploring workplace bullying as Todd increasingly puts the pressure on Jacob to perform. However, viewers can see signs similar to another of Jacob’s storylines: when he was groomed by Maya Stepney. Is Todd’s behaviour taking a dark turn into sexual harrassment as well? Jacob is finding Dr Todd hard work (Credit: ITV) Jacob and Dr Todd in Emmerdale When Dr Todd first began mentoring Jacob in January 2025 it was clear she was a firm but fair type. She was tough with him when it needed it – for example when he told Marlon and Rhona April was dead when it wasn’t actually her – but also compassionate when his mum died on his shift. However that demeanour now seems to have changed and Dr Todd is clearly singling out Jacob. She is laying into him one minute and all smiles the next. article continues below Read all the latest spoilers Jacob is struggling with her treatment of him and now she’s put him on her mentor programme it means double the amount of work and double the amount of time spent with her. She is encouraging him that it’s all because he shows such potential. But her manner and her attitude towards him is stressing him out big time. The soap has already revealed that this is a workplace bullying storyline that sees Todd continue to find fault and criticise Jacob, pushing him to the edge. But is that all that’s going on here? What is Dr Todd really doing with Jacob? (Credit: ITV) Is there more to Dr Todd’s treatment of Jacob? As the bullying kicks up a gear many think Dr Todd isn’t just mean, but actually wants more from Jacob. They are comparing her to his teacher Maya Stepney who groomed him when he was just a teenager.Don't miss a single story! Add us as a Preferred Source in Google for all your Emmerdale newsIt's important to us that you never miss our articles when searching for stories! We have all the latest TV news & schedules to share with our community of loyal readers. Click here and tick TVGuide.co.uk to ensure you see stories from us first in Google Search. “Dr creepy is either trying to get Jacob trouserless, trying to overload him to get him to quit or she’ll turn out to be his real mum and Leyla didn’t actually have Jacob after all,” one fan shared on social media. “Is that Dr after Jacob??” questioned a second. A third quipped: “I think Dr Todd wants Jacob to do more than a little research for her!” “His boss is harder on him than on the other student,” mused another. “I’m getting Maya vibes – he’s obviously older now, but to me he’s still young.” “Another Maya situation, in terms of Jacob going with much older women I mean,” added one more. Someone else agreed: “She might give him all these career opportunities then way want sexual favours from him…If he refuses she might either blackmail him or just make his life really terrible there at the hospital.” Is Jacob being lured into another dark trap by an older woman? And is he now wise enough to find a way out of this? Jacob and Maya Stepney in Emmerdale: A history When Jacob in Emmerdale was 15 he became infatuated with his teacher Maya Stepney - who also happened to be his dad David Metcalfe's girlfriend. Jacob started dating Liv Flaherty who was really into him. But it was just as a cover to keep his feelings for Maya a secret. In reality, Maya was grooming Jacob. She convinced him that they were in love and that they were meant to be. Maya convinced Jacob they were in love (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock) Maya and Jacob found out in Emmerdale Maya resisted having sex with him, despite his desperate badgering. But when Jacob turned 16, the pair slept together for the first time. Liv walked in on them having sex and blackmailed them for £10,000. But eventually she decided against taking the money and instead decided to report Maya for what she was going to Jacob. However Maya threatened her into keeping quiet. Meanwhile Maya's relationship with David was in a state and when she caught him kissing his ex-wife Tracy, she called Jacob to meet her. They kissed, but it was witnessed by Priya, who told Leyla, Jacob's mum, and Tracy. Together, during the Big Night Out episodes, they forced Maya into a car. She insisted Jacob had sexually assaulted her, but they knew she was lying. After she got out of the car, they tracked to a shed and she admitted to having sex with him, but said it was consensual. Leyla chased after her and attacked her with a rock, believing she had killed her. But Maya had survived and run off to a hotel with Jacob. Maya was sent down (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock) Maya arrested and sent down Maya was finally arrested for abusing Jacob and broke things off with Jacob. But he refused to accept it. It took him a while to realise that their relationship was based on Maya's manipulation and he struggled to get over it. Maya was later jailed for exchanging inappropriate text messages with Jacob and sent down for 12 months. In November 2019 Maya was released from prison early and was revealed to be pregnant. She gave birth at Christmas and left the baby on David's doorstep. A DNA test then confirmed David was the dad, not Jacob. Read more: Who’s leaving Emmerdale? All the cast exits, arrivals and returns Share Add as preferred source on Google Add as preferred source on Google Good to Know Share Add as preferred source on Google Add as preferred source on Google By Carena Crawford 4 Mar 2026, 12:03 By Carena Crawford 4 Mar 2026, 12:03 Next Story
