When a karaoke party goes dark and the money vanishes, Emmerdale fans are left asking: will Lydia ever smile again?

In Emmerdale next week, the Dingle clan pulled out all the stops for Lydia (Karen Blick), only for their well-meaning surprise to go disastrously wrong. But just when it seemed like all hope—and her dream—was lost, an unexpected real-life icon is about to walk into the village and change everything.

A Surprise from the Heart… and the Fuse Box

Lydia has never been one for extravagance. Alongside husband Sam (James Hooton), she lives modestly, scraping together spare coins in a tin to one day afford a ticket to see her musical idol—Jason Donovan—live in concert.

When Belle (Eden Taylor-Draper) and Sam discovered Lydia’s dream, they decided to fast-track the plan. Secretly adding to her savings, they set out to buy her the coveted concert ticket. But the plan crumbled when the concert sold out before they could seal the deal.

Desperate not to disappoint her, Belle enlists Mandy Dingle (Lisa Riley) to create a charming alternative: a Jason Donovan VIP karaoke night at home. Complete with blonde wigs, ‘Too Many Broken Hearts’ on loop, and a blindfolded Lydia ushered into the surprise, it’s pure Dingle-style love.

Then—boom. The power cuts. And with it, Lydia’s joy.

A Costly Twist

Sam scrambles to fix the fuse, but it’s a bigger job than expected. Enter Noah (Jack Downham), who discovers the whole house needs major rewiring. With no other option, Lydia hands over her concert fund to pay for the repairs.

A beautiful gesture turns into another sacrifice—one more broken dream for a woman who never complains.

But what Lydia doesn’t know is that Belle has secured real tickets after all. Now all they need is the money to make it happen again. Sam and Belle hatch a new plan to raise the funds—but time is running out.

The Jason Donovan Cameo That Changes Everything

Just when it seems like Lydia might never get her moment, the real surprise is revealed: Jason Donovan himself will appear on Emmerdale.

Yes, the legendary Neighbours star and pop icon filmed a special cameo appearance—playing himself—after learning that Lydia is a superfan.

“I played myself,” Jason told Metro. “The only reason I decided to do that was because there was a connection with one of the characters, Lydia. She’s a big fan.”

The scenes were filmed earlier this year, and according to Donovan, the day on set was unforgettable:

“The whole crew, cast, production, couldn’t have been warmer and more amazing. What a great day I had filming that.”

So while Lydia’s lights may have gone out temporarily, her star is finally about to shine—and with Jason Donovan appearing in person, it’s a soap surprise fans won’t want to miss.