There are serious and sinister developments in Emmerdale next week, with spoilers confirming that sick rapist Anthony Fox (Nicholas Day) will die in a murder storyline – and there is no shortage of suspects.

As more discover what he did to daughter Ruby Fox-Miligan (Beth Cordingly), fears mount over the danger he poses to other children.

Nicola King (Nicola Wheeler) fears what may happen to Angel, causing menacing Anthony to close in – but Laurel Thomas (Charlotte Bellamy) strikes to save her friend.

However, there are far more people in the frame. And another secret threatens to come to light as Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) worries about his marriage.

Meanwhile, there seems to be a thawing for Joe Tate (Ned Porteous) and Kim Tate (Claire King) as he makes a pledge.

But he also has his sights set on further scheming elsewhere…

Monday January 20

Steph is surprised to find her Ruby back together with Caleb and both acting as if nothing has happened.  Meanwhile, Anthony has slept on the sofa at Laurel’s and is nursing his hangover, his dark secret weighing heavily on his mind.

Before long, remaining ignorant of Anthony’s past, Nicola leaves him to tutor Angelica unsupervised. In the cafe, hearing Nicola has left Angelica on her own with Anthony, Chas lets her know Angelica is not safe around him.

Nicola arrives home and curtails the tutoring session telling him she’s heard he’s a danger to children; it doesn’t take long for Anthony’s panic to turn into a flash of anger.

Things turn physically threatening for Nicola until Laurel dramatically intervenes with a candlestick, leaving Anthony unconscious.

Meanwhile, in the pub backroom, Cain is concerned to see his sister Chas so emotional about something; he instantly fears his tryst with Ruby might no longer be a secret.

He does his best to get Chas to open up and Cain’s left ashen when Chas reveals a horrifying truth.

Outside the village hall, Nicola and Laurel continue to fret over Anthony’s welfare.

Aaron is unnerved to witness an unguarded interaction between Anthony and Ruby outside the Church.

Caleb pulls up and orders Anthony to get into his car.

In the graveyard, it’s comforting for Joe to see Kim genuinely misses Graham. Kim’s grief over Will remains raw but she feels bolstered by Joe’s oath of support.

Things are flat out for Dawn and Billy and soon Kim’s got an interesting proposal – for Dawn to give up her job at the vets and work full time for Home Farm Estates.

But soon Dawn learns that Joe is her new boss and is suspicious that he’s orchestrated the whole thing.

Tuesday January 21

Steph is confused why Anthony has failed to meet up with her as planned.

Meanwhile, a gunshot rings out.

Dawn fumes confronts Joe over the job but they end up kissing passionately

Wednesday January 22

Dawn and Joe tidy themselves up. When Charity spots Noah’s watch she knows Joe is involved.

Charity turns up at Home Farm to return the watch and order Joe to keep away from Noah. Later we see Joe struggling to maintain consciousness as he sits in his parked car on a deserted country road.

When Billy returns home from hospital with Evan after his first outpatient chemo appointment, Dawn’s guilt threatens to overwhelm her.

Thursday January 23

Anthony is found dead

Dawn finds Joe slumped at the wheel and a bottle of mysterious pills on the floor.  Dawn takes a deep breath and prepares to confess to Billy about cheating on him…

At the hospital, Nicola leaves a nurse suspicious after she awkwardly visits A&E to find out if Anthony’s been admitted. Laurel’s a wreck…

Friday January 24

Laurel seeks religious guidance in the face of her guilt.

Picking up on the tense atmosphere, Steph asks her parents about Anthony’s whereabouts.

Anthony’s tooth continues to lay undiscovered.