Emmerdale‘s Paddy Dingle finds an unusual way to channel his frustration this week, thanks to a shock suggestion from his best mate Marlon in a special two-hander episode.

Fearing for his future and that of his family, the vexed vet takes Marlon’s advice and the pair end up going on a rampage with a sledgehammer – what’s going on?

“There’s no solution to what Paddy’s going through,” says Mark Charnock, who plays Marlon. “In that respect, Marlon feels helpless to make Paddy feel better. Paddy could be going to prison, which Marlon relates to, having been there himself.”

Unable to stand by and watch his dad Bear Wolf take full responsibility for Ray Walters’ murder, Paddy has admitted his and Dylan Penders’s part in covering up the crime which has incriminated them both.

With the investigation ongoing, Paddy has been suspended from practising as a vet, and is desperate for a distraction.

Begging Rhona Goskirk to let him return to help out with admin, Paddy is allowed to man the reception desk. Unfortunately, being on light duties only reminds Paddy of how his predicament has jeopardised a job he loves.

When he tries to intervene in a client’s issues with a sickly cat, angry Rhona is forced to remind her colleague not to overstep during his suspension, leaving Paddy feeling even more deflated.

More gloom awaits when Paddy gets a letter confirming his and Dylan’s upcoming court date, when their fates will be decided.

Panicking Paddy begins to spiral, triggering painful memories of his mental health crisis a few years ago, when he contemplated taking his own life.

Consumed by dark thoughts, there’s only one person he can turn to – as Paddy and Marlon’s special two-hander episode begins…

“Paddy turns up on Marlon’s doorstep, but he’s a ghost of his usual self,” points out Mark. “Marlon knows immediately something is deeply amiss.”

As Paddy opens up about the prospect of him, Dylan and Bear going to prison, he admits it’s hard to see a way out of this miserable mess. Caring Marlon pulls his vulnerable pal into a big embrace, and tries his best to make him stop catastrophising.

Reassuring Paddy that all is not lost, Marlon realises he can’t wave a magic wand to make the situation better. However, he does have a left-field thought that might lift his spirits…

“They play one of their zombie video games, but it doesn’t really work for Paddy,” reveals Mark. “Marlon then has the idea to make the game real, and suggests they go and smash things up at Ray and Celia’s farm! So they grab a pair of sledgehammers, like you do, and go and vent their rage!”

Breaking into the vacant property, the duo let rip and start defiantly trashing the site where so much misery took place.

Paddy’s low mood is boosted by the cathartic act of carnage, and it also acts as a release for repressed Marlon, who has endured his own living nightmare these past few months.

But could the fellas end up in even more trouble after their spot of vandalism, even if it does give them some much-needed hope?