Emmerdale fans were left on the edge of their seats after Chas Dingle collapsed and was later found to have high levels of codeine in her system – and they believe the “secret serial killer” is set to frame another villager.

During Wednesday’s (19th March) episode, it was the day after Chas and Liam’s surprise engagement party. While some spirits were still lifted, John Sugden was determined to have a chat with Chas after overhearing her disapproval over him marrying Aaron.

While Chas was alone in the Woolpack, she suddenly became lightheaded and as she attempted to steady herself, she collapsed as she hit her head on the side of the bar on her way down.

Knocked out cold and bleeding, John and Victoria Sugden found her lay unconscious after John dragged Victoria to the pub to have a word with Chas about his engagement to Aaron.

In upcoming episodes, Chas will turn to point the finger at Ella adding to the pair’s rocky history, with Ella having previously dated Liam before he decided to leave her for Chas. Ella accidentally bumped into her at Chas’ engagement party, and after accusing Ella of purposefully hurting her, the two women had a public showdown as Ella became determined to prove her innocence.

Later, Chas took more pills to deal with the pain in her back after the limo crash, but after she was admitted to hospital they confirmed she had high levels of codeine in her system, insinuating an overdose.

Chas wasted no time in telling her loved ones that she hadn’t developed a reliance on her painkillers, and Liam was seen telling Aaron and John that he would’ve noticed if she was taking more than she needed.

John expressed concern at the hospital but viewers aren’t convinced(Image: ITV)

As the villagers try and figure out what could’ve happened, fans are convinced that John has orchestrated the whole ordeal and will frame Ella in the process.

Oliver Farnworth made his Dales debut in 2024 after previously starring in ITV’s rival soap, Coronation Street where he was killed off by Pat Phelan – twice.

Fans have labelled him a “secret serial killer” as they’ve theorised that he’s responsible for Nate Robinson’s body being under the water, and some are also convinced he’s killed prior to his time on the Dales due to his sketchy military past.

On X (formerly known as Twitter), @ClaudiaBoleyn wrote: “John Sugden is such a red flag, he’s multiple red flags, thousands of them. I know he’s killed at LEAST ten people.” @Emmerdale2dae added: “Did John increase her medication just so he could be the one to save her? Coincidence how HE was the one to find her”.

Viewers on a Reddit thread had a similar train of thought, as u/Lost_Revenue8614 suggested: “Do we think they’ll blame Ella for Chas overdosing and then it’ll turn out it was John the secret serial killer, wanting to swoop in and save Chas to get in her good books?”

u/Current_Most7729 replied: “Yep. My prediction – John did it for the reasons you said. Ella will get the blame and this leads to her saying she’s leaving the village but before that she somehow finds out it was John and he kills her and everyone thinks she just left like Nate.”

u/Specialist_ask_992_ agreed: “John must have switched Chas’ painkillers to a different type or dosage so she’d overdose. Looks like he’ll plant it on Ella and everyone will hate her causing her to leave. Even Mandy is meant to turn her back on her. Everywhere she goes she’ll have tried to move on from her past but it keeps getting used against her. Maybe she finds something about John but no one believes her.”