Emmerdale boss confirms twelve MINDBLOWING Christmas twists that no one saw coming

Woolpack at Christmas in Emmerdale
There are some Christmas crackers heading for Emmerdale this festive season. (Image credit: ITV)

Christmas is always far from quiet in Emmerdale village, and this year is no exception as soap producer Laura Shaw reveals twelve festive storylines that are set to have us transfixed over Christmas and into 2024. 

The plot twists will see tragedy, forbidden romance, dark secrets, new characters, familiar faces returning and a baby arriving in the village... and that's just the tip of the iceberg. 

Below is everything you need to know about what will be happening in Emmerdale this Christmas... 

Chloe gets the ultimate revenge on Mackenzie

Emmerdale spoilers, Mackenzie Boyd, Charity Dingle, Chloe Harris, Amy Wyatt, Moira Dingle

Chloe's set for revenge.  (Image credit: ITV)

Mack's chopping and changing between Charity and Chloe reaches a chilling conclusion this Christmas with Chloe turning to her dad for help, and Laura promises this storyline will still be seeing repercussions long into 2024... "The Charity/Mackenzie/Chloe love triangle has been bubbling away for 18 months or so now, so at Christmas, we’ll see that reach a bit more of a crescendo where Mackenzie pushes Chloe to her absolute limit and what we’ll see is her reach out to her father for help. 

"Obviously, we know from previous stories that Chloe’s dad is not someone to be messed about with. We know that he was quite controlling with Chloe and that people are afraid of him, so obviously when she reaches out to him what we will see is him helping Chloe in his own unique way. 

"Is Mackenzie going to be able to talk his way out of this one? I’m not sure, we’ll have to wait and see but I think it’s pretty sure to say the repercussions of that are going to be long-lasting into the new year and beyond."

Rhona chooses baby Ivy over Marlon?

Rhona Goskirk is devastated.

Rhona finds herself between a rock and a hard place.  (Image credit: ITV)

Rhona has had her life turned upside down recently after baby Ivy came into the world, only for Lucy to die shortly after the birth - kickstarting a ginormous storyline for Rhona... 

"What we’ll see going forward is just Gus starting to struggle a little bit with his grief and with being a single parent to little Ivy and that’s going to hugely impact on Rhona and Marlon’s Christmas," teased Laura.  

"How is Marlon going to cope if Rhona wants to reach out and help baby Ivy? Will Gus let Rhona help with baby Ivy? And what are the repercussions going to be on Leo and April? We’ll see all that over Christmas.

"In the new year, we’ll see Rhona pushed to breaking point and she’s forced to make a really risky decision that threatens to affect her whole family and possibly change the dynamics of their family. As she’s pushed to the extreme can she be talked around or is she going to lose everything in the quest to help baby Ivy?"

Tracy and Caleb caught on Christmas Day

Emmerdale spoilers, Caleb Miligan, Cain Dingle, Tracy Robinson

Someone catches Caleb and Tracy, but who? (Image credit: ITV)

Tracy and Caleb have embarked on a forbidden affair, but as always secrets never stay hidden for long in soapland and soon someone will find out about their fling... 

"We’ve also started Tracy and Caleb’s dangerous affair. We’ll see a bit more of that in the run-up to Christmas and what we’ll see is the most awkward Christmas dinner ever where everyone is sat around the table at the Dingles’ together. Somebody on Christmas Day is going to find out their dark secret and threaten to blow that," reveals Laura. 

Nicky's mum finally arrives

Emmerdale Caleb and Nicky beside Frank Tate's grave

Nicky's mum and Caleb's wife is set to arrive.  (Image credit: ITV)

Fans' prayers have been answered because we are about to meet Ruby, Nicky's mysterious mum and Caleb's wife. 

Laura teased: "We’ve heard mention of Nicky’s mum and Caleb’s wife and we’ve just heard little bits from Caleb where he’s kind of said it’s all over between them and nothing is going on - but is that really true? 

"In the new year we will see Ruby bursting onto our screens. She’s going to be an absolute firecracker. She’s going to put a real spanner into the Dingles. Is her and Caleb’s relationship really as over as he’s made out? We’ll find out in the new year!"

Tragedy hits the village 

Emmerdale police

Tragedy is coming to the village.  (Image credit: ITV)

Laura also revealed that something will happen at the end of the festive season that will completely ruin life as they know it for two families... "There’s going to be a tragedy in the village in January that’s going to affect two of our most loved families. It’s ultimately going to tear friendships apart and change the dynamics of one of those families forever."

Kim's killer secret is revealed 

Emmerdale spoilers, Kim Tate

Time is running out for Kim.  (Image credit: ITV)

Another secret that refuses to stay buried is what happened to Craig... "Lydia is still struggling after her horrific ordeal at the hands of Craig and we’ll see that continue forward. Lydia and Sam will find out what happened that night that we saw in the big Dingles week with Kim, but how is Lydia going to cope with that news? How will Sam cope with that news?" questioned Laura.  

"It’s going to test Lydia and Kim’s friendship which I know we all love. We’ll see in the new year if they can get their friendship back on track. Similarly for Sam and Lydia - are they ever going to get through this? Hopefully, the new year’s going to bring some new hope for them."

Huge plot twist for Chas 

Chas Dingle by Grace's gravestone as she lights Faith's firework

Chas's life is about to be turned upside down.  (Image credit: ITV)

While she wasn't giving too much away about what is coming up for Chas, Laura did tease that whatever happens could be what brings her and her son Aaron back together again... "There’s a huge story coming up for Chas in the new year that’s going to be shocking for all her family and friends and villagers around her. 

"We know that she and Aaron have got quite a strained relationship at the moment and Aaron’s pushing his mum away, so this could be the story that maybe brings those two back together and bonds mother and son again."

Moira's secret past revealed 

Moira

Moira's past is about to catch up with her.  (Image credit: ITV)

Just when we thought we knew everything about Moira, that is all set to change when she reveals a dark secret from her past... "Moira’s going to make a big confession to one of our villagers," revealed Laura. 

"It’s a secret from her past that she’s going to reveal. She does it in a way to try to help the person that she’s talking to, but how is that person going to react when they find out Moira’s deepest, darkest secret? If they blow it, it could threaten Moira’s whole life."

Aaron and Cain fight to the death?

Aaron Dingle in a hood as he sits in a dark abandoned room on a chair.

Who will win in a fight between Cain and Aaron?  (Image credit: ITV)

The tension between Aaron and Cain is also set to reach boiling point. Laura told us: "Aaron and Cain are not getting on very well at all at the moment, I think it’s safe to say. We’ll see some tensions building there between those two leading to a really brutal physical fight between Cain and Aaron in the new year. Which one of those is going to come out on top? Who’s going to win the fight? We’ll have to wait and see if both of them come out still standing."

Belle and Tom's Valentine's wedding disaster? 

Belle

Will Belle's Valentine's wedding go to plan?  (Image credit: ITV)

Wedding bells are looming for Belle and Tom, but will they get their happy ever after? "I think we’ve already hinted a little bit that there may be more going on in their relationship, but what we will see is them building their relationship," says Laura.  

"Wedding bells come in on Valentine’s Day, of course, because we’re a soap so we have to do weddings on Valentine’s Day. But is it going to be their happy ever after? We’ll have to see."

Bob and Cathy pushed to the extreme

Emmerdale spoilers, Cathy Hope, Bob Hope

Bob and Cathy could be torn apart.  (Image credit: ITV)

A huge new storyline will also see a massive shift in Bob and Cathy’s relationship, teased Laura.  "They are going to be tested to the max. We’re going to see something happen that’s going to push them to the extreme. They’re going to hit rock bottom when this happens. Is it going to tear them apart or will it pull them together?  We’ll see how that plays out."

Familiar face returns

Emmerdale sign

Someone is coming back to the village - but who?  (Image credit: ITV)

A familiar face is returning to the village - but who is it? "We’ve got a familiar face returning in the new year," revealed Laura. 

"This person comes back to help one of our villagers who’s in a little bit of trouble. We’ll leave you to guess who the familiar face might be coming back in January."

Emmerdale continues tonight at 7:30pm on ITV1.

Claire Crick
Assistant Managing Editor at What To Watch

Claire is Assistant Managing Editor at What To Watch and has been a journalist for over 15 years, writing about everything from soaps and TV to beauty, entertainment, and even the Royal Family. After starting her career at a soap magazine, she ended up staying for 13 years, and over that time she’s pulled pints in the Rovers Return, sung karaoke in the Emmerdale village hall, taken a stroll around Albert Square, and visited Summer Bay Surf Club in sunny Australia. 

After learning some tricks of the trade at websites Digital Spy, Entertainment Daily, and Woman & Home, Claire landed a role at What’s On TV and whattowatch.com writing about all things TV and film, with a particular love for Aussie soaps, Strictly Come Dancing and Bake Off

She’s interviewed everyone from June Brown — AKA Dot Cotton — to Michelle Keegan, swapped cooking tips with baking legend Mary Berry backstage at the NTAs, and danced the night away with soap stars at countless awards bashes. There’s not a lot she doesn’t know about soaps and TV and can be very handy when a soapy question comes up in a pub quiz! 

As well as all things soap-related, Claire also loves running, spa breaks, days out with her kids, and getting lost in a good book.