Tensions explode in Emmerdale next week as Mackenzie Boyd (Lawrence Robb) comes face-to-face with dangerous ex-con Kev Townsend (Chris Coghill) — and the encounter turns far darker than anyone expects. With Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller) struggling after a heartbreaking revelation about his ex-husband Robert Sugden (Ryan Hawley), Mack steps in to defend his best friend. But his loyalty could come at a terrifying cost.

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Aaron’s Heartbreak Turns to Fury

Aaron has never had an easy road when it comes to love, but this latest twist might just break him. After believing he and Robert were rekindling their relationship, Aaron is devastated to learn the shocking truth — Robert has secretly married fellow inmate Kev Townsend in prison.

At first, Aaron tries to believe Robert’s claim that the marriage was purely for protection. But when he catches the pair sharing a kiss, the illusion shatters completely. Robert admits he can’t be sure whether his feelings for Kev are entirely gone, leaving Aaron humiliated and furious.

Crushed by betrayal, Aaron storms out of the village — only to return days later, angrier than ever and determined to confront the man who “stole” the love of his life.

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Mack Steps In — and Walks Into Danger

Seeing how deeply Aaron is spiralling, Mack decides to step in. Still shaken from his own harrowing ordeal at the hands of his manipulative husband John Sugden (Oliver Farnworth), Mack is determined to protect his friend — even if it means putting himself in danger again.

Tracking Kev down, Mack finds the ex-con surprisingly calm and domestic, wearing an apron and baking a lemon drizzle cake. But the moment quickly turns sinister. Mack questions whether Robert is being honest with Kev, suggesting that Aaron and Robert belong together — a comment that instantly flips Kev’s switch.

Kev picks up a skewer, pressing it close to Mack’s face. Then, with chilling calm, he swaps it for a knife, warning Mack to back off.

“Tell Aaron to leave my man alone,” Kev sneers. “Unless he wants you drinking soup through a straw for the rest of your life.”

The threats escalate as Kev boasts that the last person who crossed him “still hasn’t woken up.” Mack tries to stand his ground, but Kev’s menacing glare leaves him shaken. Ultimately, he retreats — though not before Kev warns him to keep Aaron quiet if he values his looks.

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Will Kev’s Threat Push Aaron Over the Edge?

Mack may have escaped unharmed for now, but Kev’s threats are far from idle. When Aaron learns what happened, his fury only deepens. Haunted by the betrayal and now faced with a dangerous rival, Aaron issues a chilling vow of revenge — one that could reignite his darker impulses.

As Mack and Aaron’s friendship is tested, the question looms: how far will Aaron go to protect his pride and get closure from Robert’s betrayal?

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A Brewing War in Emmerdale

This intense showdown adds another layer to an already explosive web of drama for the Dingle clan. With Mack’s loyalty pulling him into yet another violent feud and Aaron teetering on the edge, Kev’s arrival could reignite chaos across the village.

Can Mack protect his best friend without losing himself again? Or will Kev’s threats spark a feud that no one in Emmerdale sees coming?