SOAP bosses have lined up plenty of drama ahead of the new year and fans have started to fear for the fate of one favourite resident.
Emmerdale boss Laura Shaw teased massive tragedy in January, 2024, and viewers are begging for the show to spare the character.
Viewers have been warned by the producer that a tragic event is on its way to shake the Dales in early 2024 – and they’re expecting major heartbreak.
“There’s also going to be tragedy in the village in January that’s going to affect two of our most loved families”, Laura Shaw said.
“It’s ultimately going to tear friendships apart and change the dynamics of one of those families forever.”
Since then, fans of the Yorkshire-based program have been racking their brains to try and figure out who could meet their end in upcoming weeks and many of them are convinced that Eric Pollard will be killed off.
Firmly believing that the shop owner portrayed by Chris Chittell is doomed, many ITV viewers have taken to X, otherwise known as Twitter, issuing pleas to spare his on-screen alter ego.
“If Eric dies at Christmas, then so do I”, one viewer penned while another fumed: “Don’t you dare kill off Eric at Christmas.”
A third added: “This Eric storyline is going to be heart-breaking.”
“Eric is breaking my heart, it must be so emotionally overwhelming for people who get a Parkinson’s diagnosis. Difficult, scary, probably lonely in a way. Hopefully, this story will play out well, it’s been well portrayed so far.”
But will the longest-standing resident really be cast aside?
Lydia Dingle was playing detective after finding out Craig Reed had been found dead on the Home Farm estate.
While she was unable to get to the bottom of things, one heart-breaking secret emerged as Mandy Dingle (Lisa Riley) was revealed to know something about Eric Pollard.
The shop owner left viewers in tears when he broke the news he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
He admitted he was terrified of what the future held for him and, after initially rejecting the idea of letting his loved ones know his health was in jeopardy, Pollard decided to open up to his family and partner, Brenda Walker (Lesley Dunlop).
Pollard’s future in the eponymous village remains shrouded in mystery.
Although Parkinson’s disease doesn’t always affect one’s life expectancy, it can severely change a patient’s quality of life.
Everything you need to know about Emmerdale
After a decade, most people affected by the condition will have at least one major issue such as dementia or even a physical disability.
Could the reality of his illness push Pollard into following former lover Faith Dingle’s footsteps?
Could he be brought to the conclusion he’d like to die on his own terms?
Only time will tell.
Emmerdale airs weeknights from 7.30pm on ITV.
