Emmerdale airs explosive Dingle drama as Samson confirmed not to be returning in early ITVX release

The character has been locked up for the last two years, having been charged with perverting the course of justice and assault.

His predicament kicked off when Samson was accidentally stabbed. His transphobic friend Josh Cope (Osian Morgan) pushed him into a knife that Matty Barton (Ash Palmisciano) was holding, and he was subsequently threatened into telling the police that Matty had done it purposely.

Of course, with this being a soap opera, the truth eventually unfolded.

Recent episodes have shown his dad Sam (James Hooten) and stepmum Lydia (Karen Blick) excitedly preparing for his return. They made the spare room up for him - unaware that Moira Dingle (Natalie J Robb) had invited Matty to come and live in it.

After a series of arguments, Matty knew that he'd be better staying at Emmerdale Farm with the Sugdens and willingly handed over the room to Samson.

But the animosity wasn't to end there. In today's episode, Sam, sister Belle (Eden Taylor-Draper) and her boyfriend Kammy Hadiq (Shebz Miah) placed a "Welcome Home" sign up in the living room of Wishing Well Cottage.

Belle was pleased that a window cleaning round had been organised for him, while Sam was thrilled to be finally having a pint with his son after so long.

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A knock at the door spelled trouble. Charles Anderson (Kevin Mathurin) broke the news that Belle's abusive ex-husband Tom King (James Chase) had been brutally attacked in prison - just weeks before his release - and that he'd been hospitalised.

She wasn't sorry that it had happened to her, but it had definitely shaken her.

When Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) returned, he was less than surprised to hear of the assault. His attempts to keep quiet proved pointless, as Sam then received a call from the prison to say that Samson wouldn't be released as he'd beaten up someone on the same cellblock.

When Sam realised that this was Tom, Cain was forced to come clean. He'd called his nephew and asked him to call in a favour from another prisoner, though he'd actually committed the crime himself.

An explosive argument ensued, with Sam launching himself at Cain and grabbing him by the neck. The family rushed to stop them, and later, Moira warned her husband that the consequences of his actions would be far-reaching.

Will we ever see Samson again, and will Tom survive the brutal attack?

Read more:

• Emmerdale confirms return of classic rogue Steve Marchant after 27 years away from ITV soap
• Emmerdale airs surprise and unannounced return of legendary character eight months after exit in early ITVX release
• Emmerdale star teases "rocky road" for Sarah Sugden - and reveals hopes for Debbie Dingle return

Emmerdale airs weeknights at 8pm on ITV1 and from 7am on ITVX.

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Authors

Michael Adams is the Soaps Editor at Radio Times, covering all of the hot gossip and spoilers from Weatherfield to Walford, Emmerdale to Hollyoaks and everywhere in-between. He joined the team from Metro, where he spent two years as a Soaps Reporter and previously worked on the sets of both Coronation Street and Emmerdale.