There’s a dramatic escalation in Ella Forster (Paula Lane)’s behaviour in upcoming Emmerdale episodes – and one show legend is left terrified for her life when Ella takes her hostage.
Ella’s jealousy over Liam (Jonny McPherson) and Chas (Lucy Pargeter)’s engagement led them to believe that she’d tampered with Chas’s pain medication, causing her to overdose and collapse.
Protesting her innocence, Ella tried to persuade Liam that Chas was addicted to the painkillers and had probably overdosed herself.
With her actions causing increasing stress and worry for Chas and Liam, Manpreet (Rebecca Sarker) asked her to move out immediately, causing Ella to retaliate by telling everyone about Manpreet’s racy pictures that led to her being blackmailed – something a horrified Manpreet had told her in confidence.
It’s now blatantly clear that Ella will stop at nothing, and when she starts harassing Chas and Liam by constantly messaging and calling them, they’re disturbed. John (Oliver Farnworth) advises Liam to turn his phone off, which seems to work for a while.
Ella has simply changed tactics, however, and the next thing that happens is that Belle (Eden Taylor-Draper) receives an email cancelling Liam and Chas’s wedding, and it looks like Ella’s work.
Not knowing where to turn, Liam calls the police for help. It’s not long before the pub window is smashed, an action which Chas is certain Ella is behind.
As she talks this over with Liam the couple are unaware that Ella is close by and listening to everything they’re saying, her rage only increasing.
Ella then turns up at Tenant House looking for Liam. Mandy (Lisa Riley) is home alone and refuses to go along with Ella’s demand for her to summon Liam back to the house.
So Ella takes Mandy hostage at knife-point, forcing her to stay at the house until Liam agrees to come over.
Metro’s Soaps Reporter Calli Kitson says…
Ella Forster’s time in the village has been full of ups and downs.
For the first time ever, she’s been welcomed into a community and accepted for the person she is, rather than being thrown out as soon as her past secret is exposed.
I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Ella. She is kind-hearted and after everything she’s been through, all she wants is a quiet little life free from drama.
Same, hun.
But with Paula Lane’s exit looming, Ella’s final storyline will see her spiral. She has tried so hard to keep a lid on the dark thoughts and emotions swirling round in her head, but being accused of drugging Chas have seen them resurface.
The most intriguing part about this? Ella is still adamant she wasn’t responsible but because of her history, people in the Dales are struggling to believe her.
If she leaves and the residents discover she was innocent all along, the game will certainly change if Chas becomes face to face with the person who really put her in hospital.
Have they been hiding in plain sight?
Rationalising this bonkers move, actor Jonny McPherson said: ‘I think he knows that if it came to it, he could overpower Ella. I think he just wants to help her, that plays out in the way that the scene evolves – he just wants to give her a cuddle and tell her that everyone will be alright.’
It’s clear that Ella is now beyond the point where Mandy can reason with her and, despite their previous friendship, Ella seems prepared to carry out her threats unless Mandy gets Liam to come to the house.
