Emmerdale‘s Billy and Dawn suffered a huge setback after their previous united front to keep their joint alibi.

The former couple agreed to pretend they were back together again after Dawn confessed to pushing Joe Tate, with the pair agreeing to claim they were in bed together when the incident happened to provide both with a false alibi.

In tonight’s episode, however, Dawn made a confession to Billy that resulted in devastating consequences — and even blackmail.

At Hope Farm, a snooping Billy listened in on a conversation between Kim and Dawn in the kitchen. The pair discussed Joe’s condition, with Dawn clearly concerned about him (despite being the one who pushed him).

Kim suggested that Dawn join her on her visit to see Joe in the hospital, but Dawn reluctantly declined.

“But you’d like you,” Kim challenged her, with Dawn replying: “Am I that obvious?”

“…That you love him, yes,” Kim continued, though she was confused having heard from Billy that the two were making a go of it again, in line with their secret pact.

Dawn told Kim that her feelings for Joe no longer mattered, with her needing to focus on Billy and the kids now.

Later, Billy confronted Dawn about her private conversation with Kim and confessed that he overheard everything.

An angry Billy asked Dawn if she still loved Joe, to which, after some hesitation, Dawn replied yes.

Billy immediately said that their false alibi pact was over and heartbroken, admitted he wanted away from Dawn and his current living arrangement.

“I don’t trust you anymore Dawn,” he said. “You’ve lied to me, you’ve lied to the kids and you’re happy to live here with a guy who threatened our daughter.

“I do not know you anymore,” he added, before threatening: “If you don’t want to go to prison, I want full custody of the kids.”

Dawn made it clear that he would not be taking Clemmie and Lucas away from her, but Billy left with a final word of warning: “If Joe doesn’t throw you to the wolves, I will.”