Emmerdale spoilers follow from Wednesday’s episode (24 December), which is available to watch now on ITVX and YouTube but hasn’t yet aired on ITV1.

Emmerdale supervillain Celia Daniels shocks April Windsor tonight by threatening to take her away from the village for good. As Celia and her son Ray Walters plan to move their criminal empire to Wrexham in the New Year, the time has come to fill in April over their intentions.

Celia and Ray are plotting a quick getaway in 2026, as life in the village has become too tricky for them. April’s parents are posing problems for Celia and Ray now they know the truth, and having Bear Wolf’s family so close by is another serious concern.

In a tense conversation at the café this evening, April informs Celia that she wants to return to working as a drug dealer for her. The teen suggests this is the easiest solution for everyone, as Marlon and Rhona can’t carry on paying £2,000 per week to keep her out of it.

But how will April feel when Celia makes it clear that the teen’s future would lie in Wales, not Emmerdale?

“Ray and I will be gone soon. Pastures new – literally,” Celia boasts. “It doesn’t pay to loiter in one place for too long.”

When April asks if that means she won’t see Celia anymore, the sly schemer replies: “Well, you will, obviously. You will be coming with us.”

“You are a very talented young woman, and in a few years’ time, you’ll be a very rich young woman,” Celia adds.

With April so worried about her parents, will she feel trapped into complying with Celia’s demands? Or could this be the push she needs to plan her escape? She may need to make a decision quickly, as Celia wants an answer by Christmas Day…

Jaye Griffiths, who plays Celia, recently explained: “Celia doesn’t mark Christmas. And this year she is planning on them leaving the area, as it has all got too complicated: April’s family are an irritant to her and things are also getting complicated business-wise as Moira is becoming troublesome by asking too many questions.

“But more alarmingly Ray has gone and fallen in love. So she’s extricating them to another area. It is clear that this is something they have done before – find another farm in another location and set up their enterprise again.”