Emmerdale spoilers follow.
Emmerdale’s Jimmy King is left fighting for his life next week after he’s knocked down by a car – which just happens to be driven by his arch-enemy Joe Tate. As shockwaves ripple through the village, speculation is rife as to whether this was really an accident, or a calculated act of revenge from the Tates.
The recent incident between youngsters Carl and Clemmie has sparked a bitter feud between the wealthy Home Farm family and the King clan – but did Joe deliberately try to kill Jimmy?
What to Read Next
Early next week, despite Dawn Fletcher’s efforts to get Carl properly punished for sharing an indecent image of Clemmie, the police confirm they will be taking no further action.
This goes down like a lead balloon with Dawn, who’s devastated that Carl’s getting away with causing the little girl she sees as her own daughter such distress. And when Dawn’s partner Joe hears the news, he’s fuming…
ITV
Related: Emmerdale star confirms Nicola and Laurel feud in hard-hitting story – here’s why they fall out
“Joe reckons this is outrageous,” our Emmerdale source explains. “He knows how protective Dawn feels towards Clemmie, and how she blames herself for taking her eye off the ball and letting this incident happen in the first place. Joe wants proper justice for Clemmie – and he’s prepared to do anything to get it…”
Angry Joe is still seething when he’s later driving out of the village, to the point where he’s perhaps not paying as much attention to the road as he should be.
Distracted while his foot is on the peddle, Joe momentarily loses concentration and hits somebody. And when getting out of the car, the Tate tycoon realises, to his horror, he’s run Jimmy over.
“Joe is in a state of shock,” our insider explains. “The whole thing happened in a split-second. Jimmy is lying on the floor, battered and bruised – and it’s all Joe’s fault. Considering the beef between them, Joe will have some explaining to do. But there is a witness…”
ITV
Related: Emmerdale star explains special Dawn and April episode as two stories collide
Surveying the scene, Joe ponders his next move. If he quickly flees the scene, could he get away with this? Then he clocks that somebody has seen the collision from afar – none other than Caleb Miligan.
Forced into owning up to running over his rival, Joe dials 999 while suspicious Caleb wonders what exactly went on. Jimmy is rushed to hospital, where Joe faces some tough questions…
Nicola is informed of her husband’s condition and races to his sickbed. Desperate to understand how her other half ended up unconscious on the side of the road, she jumps to her own conclusions when she sees the police interviewing Joe.
Knowing he was driving the car, narked Nico becomes convinced this was a premeditated attack from the toxic Tates. Despite how it looks, shaken Joe denies this and insists it was genuinely accidental. But this doesn’t wash with the incandescent Mrs King…
ITV
Related: Emmerdale star reveals new Christmas spoiler – and there’s trouble ahead for Ruby
“As if Nicola needed any more reason to hate the Tates. She’s certain Joe did this on purpose, and plans to tell the police all about his vicious vendetta against her family,” our source says.
“Dawn hoped they could all draw a line under this unsavoury business, now Nicola’s telling everyone Joe tried to do away with her hubby.”
Can Joe prove his innocence? And if Jimmy doesn’t survive, will the war between the Kings and the Tates claim its first victim?
Emmerdale airs on weeknights at 7.30pm on ITV1, and streams on ITVX.
Read more Emmerdale spoilers on our dedicated homepage
The new edition of Living Legends is here! Buy Gaga in newsagents or online, priced at just £8.99.