The TRUTH about THIS missing Emmerdale character is finally revealed next week

Emmerdale
(Image credit: ITV)

Next week's Emmerdale returns to the pre-lockdown storylines...

Emmerdale fans have been treated to special lockdown episodes for the last three weeks after the ITV studios were closed thanks to the coronavirus pandemic.

But next week will see the soap return to normal, with the storylines that were last aired at the beginning of June are finally picked up again.

Andrea Emmerdale

Before the Emmerdale break Andrea was seen hiding in a hotel with daughter Millie (Picture: ITV)

One of the biggest storylines that left Emmerdale fan guessing over the unavoidable break was Andrea Tate's disappearance - but next week sees everyone's questions answered.

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At the end of May fans watched Andrea and her friend Leyla Harding get the ultimate revenge on cheating Jamie Tate by revealing the truth about his affair with Belle Dingle in the middle of a pub quiz.

While Andrea pretended she was shocked by the news her husband had been cheating with his colleague from the vets, Jamie blamed Belle for the shock revelation.

Leyla arrives at the hotel in Emmerdale

Leyla calls Andrea and persuades her to come home next week (Picture: ITV)

Andrea vanishes

But Jamie's week went from bad to worse when he then discovered not only had Andrea fled the village, but she had also taken their daughter, Millie, with them.

However, things seemed to take a sinister turn when it was revealed Andrea didn't take her car, purse or phone with her.

As the plot thickened and the police got involved, it seemed that Jamie was the one who might get the finger of suspicion pointed at him the longer Andrea was missing for.

Jamie and Belle look at one another in Emmerdale

Things are back on between Jamie and Belle (Picture: ITV)

However, at the end of the episodes before the break, Andrea was seen hiding in a hotel with Millie, but the question on everyone's mind is who was helping her pay for the stay if she didn't have any money?

Is Andrea Tate leaving Emmerdale?

Next week sees police track Andrea down at her hotel hideaway, and she assures them she is safe and well.

But while Jamie is relieved that his wife and daughter are okay, he is left frustrated when the police refuse to reveal their location.

Leyla soon gets a call from her friend, and she manages to persuade her to come back to the village...

But just as Andrea returns, she sees Jamie and Belle together, declaring their undying love for one another.

Andrea spots Jamie and Belle in Emmerdale

Andrea catches Jamie and Belle together and flees the village once again (Picture: ITV)

Realising she has lost Jamie for good, Andrea escapes once again without anyone even realising she was back.

However, this time she leaves Millie behind, and Jamie is stunned to return home and find his daughter in the kitchen.

Jamie is stunned to find Millie alone in Emmerdale

Jamie is shocked to see Millie in the kitchen, but Andrea is nowhere to be seen (Picture: ITV)

With Andrea still nowhere to be seen, it seems she might have actually left for good this time.

Or is this all part of her game plan to win Jamie back?

Emmerdale will temporarily air a reduced schedule of three episodes a week. Watch on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 7pm on ITV.

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.