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As Celia and Ray’s plans for April become clear, Emmerdale teases a sad twist for the teenager and a gunshot drives fans to fear the worst for two of the soap’s most beloved characters

A horrifying twist leaves April Windsor’s future uncertain on Emmerdale in the Christmas Eve episode, as fans are left fearing the worst for two more beloved characters.

For months, fans have watched as crime duo Celia (Jaye Griffiths) and Ray (Ray Absolom) have manipulated troubled teen April (Amelia Flanagan) into working for their drug ring and prostitution network.

Though April seemed to have gained some distance from the pair in recent weeks, tonight’s episode saw Celia issue a terrifying ultimatum.

The criminal mastermind met April in a cafe, where the youngster said she would start working for Celia again if she stopped blackmailing her father, Marlon Dingle (Mark Charnok) ,alone.

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But Celia had other ideas. She told April that she and Ray would be leaving the Dales soon to start up their business somewhere new – and that April would have to come with them, or else.

Celia told April she would need her answer by the end of the following day. When April pointed out this was Christmas, Celia, the village’s resident Scrooge, said: “What difference does that make?”

April is not the only character fans fear will be leaving the soap. Elsewhere in tonight’s episode, Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller) and Robert Sugden (Ryan Hawley) were left fearing for their lives after Kev Townsend (Chris Coghill) took a shot at them… literally.

Evil Kev, who fans have deemed as “psychotic”, has been stalking the couple and is clearly not over Rob choosing to be with Aaron instead of him. While Rob and Aaron were busy affirming their love for each other, Kev ruined the happy moment by aiming a rifle at them from the shadows. Thankfully, he hit a post behind Rob rather than either of the love birds.

Though the police said it must have been poachers, Rob and Aaron knew the truth, especially after they received an envelope with Kev’s wedding ring and a bullet inside it.

Fans were horrified by the danger Rob and Aaron are in and quickly argued the villainous character had lost his mind. One wrote online in all capitals: “Kev U f***ing nutter.” Another added: “Kev is a psycho he needs locking up.”

A third said that they hoped this would show Rob just how “psychotic” Kev was: “Hopefully our boy has realised now there is no reasoning with this crazy psychotic idiot and it’s time to fight back!”

Another felt Kev was now beyond saving. “I can’t see how they can redeem Kev after this…he’s attacked them with a sword, shot at them and that’s just for starters. I really can’t see how ED could keep him after all this.”

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Actress Roxy Shahidi’s final scenes aired earlier this year with fans heartbroken at the character’s exit, when she bid farewell to Leyla Harding after several years in the role

One Emmerdale star admits she lost her identity following her exit from the soap. Former Emmerdale actress Roxy Shahidi has spoken candidly about the emotional impact of leaving the ITV soap, admitting she struggled with her sense of identity after her character was written out.

Roxy played Leyla Harding, a long-standing and much-loved character on the show, first appearing in 2008 before returning full-time in 2013. After more than a decade on screen, Leyla met a tragic end earlier this year in dramatic scenes that saw several characters plunged into icy water following a limousine crash.

Although Leyla initially survived the accident, viewers later learned she died in an ambulance before reaching hospital, marking the end of Roxy’s 17-year journey on the soap.

Nearly a year on from leaving Emmerdale, Roxy has reflected on the transition and how it affected her personally. In an emotional Instagram post, she admitted stepping away from the role was far more challenging than she anticipated.

“This time last year, I was coming to terms with having to leave this lot behind. Not just colleagues, but friends and family,” she wrote.

She went on to explain how deeply intertwined her character had become with her own sense of self, adding:

“Playing Layla wasn’t just a job; she was a huge part of my identity, and some days I spent more time being her than being myself.

“Losing that sense of identity was hard, but long walks with Mr Cooper [her pet cockapoo] gave me space to breathe, reflect and stay hopeful.”

Since leaving the soap, Roxy has shifted her focus towards wellbeing and has been teaching yoga online. She revealed the practice helped her process the emotional fallout of the change.

“Yoga once again became my anchor on the hardest days, moving my body helped me move through grief, loss and uncertainty,” she continued.

Adding that her yoga platform has helped her build a new chapter in her life, she went on: “Now YogaRox has grown into a new home, a new family, and a new sense of self.

“I don’t know exactly how I’ll get there, but I know where I’m going. Thank you to everyone who’s supported me through a year of challenge, growth, and transformation; here’s to 2026.”

Her post was quickly flooded with supportive messages, including from former Emmerdale co-stars. Laura Norton, who plays Kerry Wyatt, commented: “You’re amazing. You are very missed. Sky is the limit.”

Fellow soap stars Claire Sweeney, Isobel Hodgins and Ross Adams also shared messages of love.

Fans echoed the sentiment, with one writing: “You are still so missed by us Emmerdale fans. But you are smashing it now with your new projects, you are amazing!! Xx”

Another added: “I miss seeing you shine on my screen every night but being able to see you absolutely smashing the yoga is everything, heres to an amazing 2026 and I hope the new year brings you nothing but happiness and big achievements.”

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Abbey Clancy shared the sad news that her family pet – her cat Maggie – has passed away at the age of 20 just weeks after they welcomed a new puppy

Abbey Clancy has said she is ‘heartbroken’ after the death of her beloved cat Maggie. The 39-year-old model took to social media to share the sad news their family pet had passed away at the age of 20.

Posting a photo of two of her children cuddling Maggie to her Instagram stories, she wrote over the top: “‘Goodnight my beautiful baby. You were one in a million. 20 years with you I’m heartbroken.”

In another snap the mum-of-four posted a pic of one of her sons cuddling Maggie on what looked like the kitchen floor and wrote: “Lost without you baby,” followed by a red love heart.

Her sad news comes just weeks after Abbey – who shares daughters Sophia Ruby, 14, Liberty Rose, 10, and sons Johnny, seven, and six-year-old Jack with football pundit husband Peter Crouch, 44 – welcomed a new furry friend into the family.

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Speaking on The Therapy Crouch podcast she does with Pete, Abbey revealed she’d recently got a new pet dog for her daughter Liberty. This is in addition to their black labrador, cavapoo, tabby cat, a stray kitten they recently adopted from Portugal and a lizard, which was a birthday request from her youngest son Jack for his fifth birthday.

The latest addition is a ‘teacup’ Maltese dog called Bambi, which is the same breed as Abbey’s mum’s dog, Bella. She said: “Lib was saying please, mummy, can I get a Bella? And I just thought, you know what? I’m going to get one.”

Though Pete protested he didn’t want any more pets in the house, Abbey didn’t listen and came home with Bambi in November. He recalled: “I’m sitting there on a Sunday, and Abbey walks in with it under her jumper, saying ‘It’s arrived!’ I just couldn’t believe it. We talk about losing the dressing room, right? I’ve lost the household.”

Abbey has insisted her love of having animals in the house stems from her own childhood when she wasn’t allowed pets. And the one pet she did have – a kitten – was given away by her mum to a policeman. She shared: “I’ve still got PTSD from my childhood because I was never allowed a pet. The one kitten I had, my mum gave away to a policeman.”

In a chat with OK! magazine, Abbey said: “I wasn’t allowed pets growing up. My mum was a bit of a clean freak, too – so I’m reliving my childhood through my kids. Every time they want a pet, I’m like ‘yeah’.

“I’m surprised Pete let us bring the stray cat home. He’s often said that if we introduce another human or animal in this house, he’s running away.”

Abbey also has a horse called Enzo that she rides every day and is in talks with animal charities to offer mistreated horses a new lease of life in the grounds of her sprawling country estate in Surrey.

Husband Pete joked: “I’m worried that, you know, we’re basically opening up a horse sanctuary.” It’s said that animal-mad Abbey is just waiting to be vetted before their new houseguests can move in.

She said: “Some have been rescued, they’ve been treated badly, they are rehabilitated but are homeless. You won’t be able to ride them, they’re just companions. But what better way to live out their remaining years than in the Crouch clan?”

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