Ella Forster’s (Paula Lane) campaign against Liam Cavanagh (Jonny McPherson) and Chas Dingle (Lucy Pargeter) is escalating exponentially in Emmerdale.
Having been thrown in a spin by Liam and Chas’ engagement, Ella went down a dark path, exhibiting some strange behaviour that saw her arrested for seemingly spiking Chas’ pain meds.
Liam accused Ella of drugging Chas after Chas ended up in hospital from an overdose, and though Ella denied this, being found with Chas’ lost engagement ring cemented the theory in Liam’s mind.
He called the police, she was arrested, then released pending further investigation.
In an odd move, Chas then tried to bargain with her to get her to leave the village, which Ella then took as evidence to Manpreet (Rebecca Sarker) that Chas was in fact drugging herself and framing Ella in a twisted plot to rid herself of Liam’s ex.
But Ella still lost her job at the surgery and is still obsessed with Liam.
The obsession has now hit harassment levels as Ella persistently messages and calls the pair. John Sugden (Oliver Farnworth) makes the somewhat obvious suggestion that Liam just turn off his phone, but it’s not enough to stop obsessive Ella.
Belle Dingle (Eden Taylor-Draper) receives an email cancelling Liam and Chas’ wedding and it’s clear Ella has sunk to new levels of crazy. At his Wit’s end, Liam calls the police.
But the harassment doesn’t stop there – next thing they know, a window is smashed in the pub. Liam and Chas know exactly who’s done it, with no idea she’s watching them.
Liam is completely perplexed by Ella’s behaviour and why she might want to hurt him in this way.
‘Her behaviour, and the things he thinks she has done, it’s incredibly confusing to him,’ explains actor Jonny McPherson.
‘He thought they were on fairly good terms. She’s doing things and saying things that are apparently malicious and vindictive, I think he’s struggling to understand or come to terms with why she’s behaving the way that she is.’
In the end, he believes it to be her mental health, and he just wants to help her.
‘I think the only explanation that Liam reaches is that she’s got serious psychiatric problems,’ he reveals. But is it the case or could someone be setting her up?
Ella is not backing off – her next move is to show up at Liam’s house where Mandy is home alone and demands to see him. When Mandy refuses, Ella holds her against her will. Liam resigns himself to having to face this head on, and goes to see her.
Once there, Ella makes an interesting move – she pleads with Liam that she’s being framed. Liam realises he can’t reason with crazy and tries to entrap her by pretending he wants her back in the hope he can trick her into confessing.
Once again, he’s underestimated Ella, who grabs a knife in response to his flagrant attempts to trap her.
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?
Explaining this tense scene, actor Jonny tells us: ‘Ella is at the kitchen table and sat next to Mandy. She’s got a Stanley knife, and the atmosphere is tense. He thinks that Ella’s gone off the deep end and all he can think to do is get rid of Mandy, so she can call the police, and then try and talk Ella off the ledge.’
Before Ella can do something stupid, and she flees, but a foolish Liam runs after her.
Rationalising this bonkers move, Jonny says: ‘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.’
He confronts her in the woods and, backed into a corner, Ella shoves him. He falls and hits his head, rendering him lifeless. After his recent head injury, it could well be traumatic.
Ella is left sobbing over his body. Will Swirling find her before she flees again? And was she actually innocent all along?
