Emmerdale‘s Liam Cavanagh confirms Ella Forster’s replacement in Tuesday’s episode – and it’s bad news for John Sugden.

When Liam catches up with John during an informal meeting at The Woolpack, he shares his plan to fill the gap left behind by Ella’s acrimonious departure.

The Brook Cottage Surgery is currently one staff member down after Ella was forced out of the village amid her tensions with Liam and Chas Dingle.

Viewers know that John secretly caused all the trouble by slyly framing Ella for various crimes and misdeeds.

As the surgery now doesn’t have adequate funding to replace Ella on the reception desk, Liam shares his plan to have John officially take on the role for a while.

Liam explains: “As you’re aware, we’ve been struggling to hold things together since Ella left. Manpreet and I thought, as you’ve been covering reception so brilliantly, we’d like you to bridge the gap temporarily.

“You’d be helping us out enormously. No drop in salary obviously. I’m so sorry to even have to ask – it’s just, until we secure this funding, we’re in a bit of a bind.”

John is livid over the news, claiming that the new role is inappropriate for a “highly-trained medical professional”.

Accusing Liam of a vendetta, he adds: “So when you assured me that what happened with Kerry was behind us, you were lying? I either ‘do it’ or I ‘do one’, that’s what you’re saying?”

The shake-up at the surgery could have bigger consequences for the entire village, as John has already secretly endangered several of the residents while trying to obsessively prove his skills as a medic.

Now feeling doubted again, could John target someone else to claim the glory of ‘saving’ them?

Emmerdale fans can see these scenes tonight at the earlier time of 7pm on ITV1, or right now on ITVX.