Emmerdale Shock Twist: Celia’s Ruthless Move Stops April From Being Saved
The Truth About Celia Daniels
Emmerdale fans were left reeling this week after the shocking revelation that Celia Daniels (Jaye Griffiths) is not just connected to the village’s drug trade — she’s the one running it.
Introduced earlier this year as a straight-talking landowner with ties to Paddy Kirk and Moira Dingle, Celia had managed to keep her true nature hidden behind a respectable façade. But Thursday’s episode shattered that illusion in dramatic fashion.
After comforting April Windsor (Amelia Flanagan) at the hospital, Celia seemed to play the part of a sympathetic stranger. But when April confided in her — revealing she had been dealing drugs and that her little brother had been hospitalised after ingesting them — Celia’s mask finally slipped.
In a shocking moment, Celia slapped April across the face and revealed that she’s the real boss behind Ray Walters’ (Joe Absolom) operation.
“She’s not involved — she’s the boss,” Jaye Griffiths confirmed. “It’s her domain. She has overseers who do the work, but she runs everything. Everyone assumes it’s Ray, but he’s a child compared to Celia.”
April Spirals After Family Fallout
Friday’s episode brought even more heartbreak. During a tense meeting with a social worker about Leo’s hospitalisation, April — under pressure from Ray — lied that her parents constantly push her too hard.
Her stepmother Rhona Goskirk (Zoe Henry) overheard and exploded in anger, ending the confrontation with the devastating words: “I hate you.”
Distraught, April suggested moving out to give her family space. Rhona, still furious, agreed — much to Marlon Dingle’s (Mark Charnock) horror. But while he begged for calm, the damage had already been done.
Celia Pulls the Strings
As April considered leaving home, Ray offered her a place to stay — a move that would have placed her directly under the control of Celia’s drug empire. Luckily, Bob Hope (Tony Audenshaw) intercepted her at the bus stop and convinced her to move into the B&B instead.
Still, Celia wasn’t done. Learning that April was drifting further from her family, she inserted herself back into the Dingles’ lives. Overhearing Rhona and Moira’s discussion about April, Celia manipulated the situation — assuring Rhona that she’d done the right thing.
Her words only deepened the divide between April and her parents, ensuring the young girl remains isolated and vulnerable, unable to expose Celia’s secret operation.
The Villain We Didn’t See Coming
Speaking about her character’s dark turn, Jaye Griffiths teased more chaos ahead:
“There’s so much more to come. It’s delicious! I know I shouldn’t enjoy it this much, but I do. I’m just going to say there’s a stunt coordinator — that’s all I’m going to say.”
With April’s life unraveling and Celia’s influence growing stronger, it seems the Dingles’ world is about to be shaken once again.