The quiet hills and cobbled lanes of the Dales may look serene, but next week’s Emmerdale episodes (22–26 September 2025) promise anything but peace. Secrets are cracking wide open,

lies are circling every household, and loyalties are being tested in ways that could redefine relationships across the village. From Charity’s high-stakes DNA test to Caleb’s secretive mission,

and from Paddy’s sharp instincts to Liam’s heartbreaking confession, the week is brimming with tension, revelation, and emotional gut-punches. Here are the biggest storylines set to grip viewers.

Charity’s DNA Gamble: A Countdown to Heartbreak

Charity Dingle has long been the master of deflection, jokes, and bravado, but this week she takes a step she’s been avoiding for months: booking a DNA test. The question of her unborn baby’s paternity looms larger than ever—was this child conceived through surrogacy for Sarah and Jacob, or is it the result of her reckless night with Ross?

The hospital visit is stark and clinical, the polar opposite of the emotional storm raging within her. In just ten days, the results could either reinforce Sarah and Jacob’s hopeful dreams or tear apart three generations of the Dingle clan. For Sarah, who is already painting nurseries in pastel colors and imagining her future as a mother, every passing day feels like a promise. Yet for Charity, each tick of the clock feels like a countdown to disaster.

Chas, ever perceptive, notices the tension between Charity and Ross. Their whispered conversations, their strained silences, and the atmosphere that chills a room—she knows something is wrong. And in true Dingle fashion, the truth has a way of finding daylight whether Charity is ready or not.

Why it matters: Charity’s dilemma is not just a question of biology—it’s a moral crossroads. Will love and loyalty matter more than bloodlines? And when the envelope finally arrives, will the result fracture a family or forge a new, unexpected bond?

Ray’s Grip Tightens on April and Dylan

Elsewhere, April finds herself increasingly entangled in Ray’s dangerous world. What began as attempts to mend fences spirals into something far darker when Dylan’s new depot job catches Ray’s eye. For Ray, access to trucks means opportunity, and he wastes no time grooming Dylan as an “inside man.”

The grooming is insidious, packaged in administrative tasks, burner phones, and small “favors” that make escape seem impossible. April, trying to protect Dylan, finds herself ensnared in a web of threats, fear, and manipulation. Ray shows her the brutal consequences of disobedience—a beaten young man used as an example—and places the tools of her entrapment directly in her hand.

Ross begins to notice April’s light dimming, her evasive answers concealing a deeper danger. Yet she refuses to admit the truth, terrified of the consequences. Dylan, meanwhile, mistakes Ray’s false generosity as genuine kindness, unaware that he’s being turned into a pawn.

Why it matters: April and Dylan believe they are building better futures, but in reality, they are becoming dependent on Ray’s every move. The storyline is a chilling reminder that exploitation often doesn’t begin with violence—it begins with a text message, a promise, a spreadsheet.

Caleb’s Secret Mission and Ruby’s Suspicions

Caleb has never been one to lay all his cards on the table, but next week his evasive behavior sparks suspicion. Jai is baffled by his lack of attention to the depot, while Ruby catches him sneaking out of Mill Cottage on a mission he refuses to explain.

Ruby’s quiet persistence cuts through Caleb’s carefully maintained swagger. She knows when a secret is more than just strategy—it’s a ticking time bomb. Viewers are left to wonder whether Caleb’s clandestine activities will intersect with Ray’s growing operations, potentially tightening a web of danger that could ensnare the entire village.

Why it matters: Caleb’s mystery mission may appear small now, but in Emmerdale, secrets rarely stay buried. If his actions collide with Ray’s trafficking schemes, the fallout could ripple across multiple families.

Liam’s Hidden Fear Comes to Light

Amid the village’s criminal undercurrents, another storyline hits closer to home. Liam, always the village doctor with a steady hand and a calm voice, can no longer ignore his own health. He cancels his prostate appointment, but Claudette and Chas refuse to let him retreat into silence.

When his façade finally cracks, he confesses his fears—symptoms that could indicate prostate cancer. The admission devastates Chas, who is both heartbroken and furious that he waited so long to open up. This storyline strips away the gloss of soap opera melodrama and exposes something raw, real, and painfully familiar: the quiet stubbornness that stops men from seeking help until it’s almost too late.

Why it matters: Liam’s storyline highlights the importance of health awareness and the role of loved ones in encouraging difficult conversations. His journey will not be about sudden heroics but about the courage it takes to sit in a waiting room and face the unknown.

Mackenzie’s Fate Hangs by a Thread

Fans hoping for a swift end to John Sugden’s reign of terror may be disappointed. With Aaron still in a coma, Robert behind bars, and Mackenzie trapped in a bunker in the woods, John continues to manipulate events to his advantage.

The only thing standing between John and complete freedom is the possibility of Aaron waking and remembering everything. But will he recover in time, or will amnesia prolong the nightmare? The speculation among fans is growing intense, with many fearing the storyline could drag out until Christmas.

Why it matters: Mackenzie’s survival remains uncertain, and Aaron’s condition holds the key to everything. Until the truth is revealed, John remains a dangerous man walking free, and the entire village is at risk of his deceit.

The Bigger Picture: Secrets, Lies, and Collisions Ahead

What ties all of next week’s stories together is a central theme: the cost of silence. Charity hides her DNA test. April conceals her entanglement with Ray. Caleb slips away on secret errands. Liam masks his health fears. Mackenzie is literally silenced in a bunker. Each storyline, in its own way, asks the same question: how long can the truth be hidden before it erupts?

Emmerdale has always thrived on the tension between personal struggles and communal life. In a village where everyone knows everyone else’s business, secrets rarely last. Yet when they do, they explode with a force that can reshape entire families.

As viewers brace for the week of September 22–26, one thing is certain: every revelation will come at a cost. Whether it’s love, loyalty, or life itself, someone in the Dales is about to pay dearly.