EMMERDALE will be rocked by a huge murder mystery with MULTIPLE characters in the firing line as the village paedophile is shot dead.

In upcoming scenes on the ITV show, abuser Anthony Fox, played by Nicholas Day, will be discovered lifeless as he is shot dead by one of the

Dales residents.

With the secret that he sexually abused his daughter, Ruby, played by Beth Cordingly, as a child, beginning to be exposed, he finds himself as the village’s most hated – with even some unexpected residents finding themselves vowing to take action against the monster.

At the turn of the New Year, Emmerdale fans will recall five grisly flash forwards to showcase the five biggest stories to rock the show this year.

Now, the first will get underway as viewers will witness another flash forward to showcase a bloodied human tooth on the floor of the depot.

Next week, Anthony’s life becomes hell after being attacked BEFORE his murder.

With Caleb and Chas now being aware of what happened to Ruby, tensions are at an all-time high.

Unaware of his past, Laurel Thomas allows a drunk Anthony to stay with her on the sofa as he nurses a horror hangover.

Having already been charmed by him, Laurel and Nicola have wasted no time in allowing him to tutor their children.

This continues with Nicola allowing Anthony to tutor Angelica unsupervised as she works a shift in the cafe.

As Nicola sings his praises to Chas, the pub landlady was left shocked as she insisted to Nicola that Angel was not safe in his presence.

Clearly rattled by what Chas says, Nicola races over to order Anthony to leave as she rages that she has been told he is unsafe to be around kids.

Shocked, Anthony begins to realise his secret has been exposed.

Panicked, he becomes angry and irate with Nicola and a physical scuffle soon ensures.

Amid Anthony’s threat towards Nicola, Laurel makes a brave move and strikes Anthony with a candlestick.

Her drastic action leaves Anthony unconscious on the floor as Laurel and Nicola look on in horror.

As this is all taking place, Cain gets increasingly worried as he sees Chas acting strangely, unaware of Anthony’s past and what Chas has just discovered from Nicola.

As Cain panics the reason for her shiftiness is that his tryst with Ruby has been exposed, Chas soon tells him of the horrifying truth.

Later, Aaron Dingle finds himself watching an unnerving interaction between Anthony and Ruby outside the church.

When Caleb pulls up and demand Anthony gets into his car, it seems he has something planned, but just what is it?

Amid the ongoing turmoil, Steph is puzzled when Anthony is missing for their planned meet-up.

Things soon take a deadly twist, as a gun shot rings out.

Someone in the village then discovers Anthony dead.

Seeking answers, Nicola raises concern amid the hospital staff when she arrives to see if Anthony has been admitted but fails to disclose why she would think he has been.

As she seeks answers, she and Laurel are wrecked with guilt and Laurel struggles to hold it together.

Facing up to her guilt, Laurel seeks solace in religion for answers as to what to do next.

But just how much damage has Laurel done? And was she the one touting the gun?

Elsewhere, Steph asks Ruby and Caleb if they have seen Anthony as he remains missing for their meeting.

His bloodied tooth continues to lay undiscovered on the depot floor.

But just who killed Anthony?