Emmerdale airs devastation for Charity Dingle after prison release in early ITVX release

Charity Dingle's (Emma Atkins) life may never be the same again in Emmerdale.

For the last few weeks, she's been behind bars for the murder of Dr Caitlin Todd (Caroline Harker), her blackmailer and rapist. As viewers know, she didn't actually commit the crime.

Following an argument with the surgeon, Charity's granddaughter Sarah Sugden (Katie Hill) walked in and pushed her out of the way - causing her to whack her head on the side of a coffee table. Serena Sugden (Casey Al-Shaqsy) then stepped in to make the situation look like they'd acted in self defence, and Charity decided to take the blame.

She was adamant that Sarah wouldn't be sent down, as she'd already wronged her enough. While trying to act as a surrogate for her, Charity actually fell pregnant with her own daughter and didn't tell her.

Sarah and husband Jacob (Joe-Warren Plant) have subsequently raised the child, Leyla, as their own.

While Charity was locked up, Sarah changed her statement several times over. She was devastated to learn about Leyla's parentage, and told DS Thea Ramsden (Chelsea Edge) that Charity had purposely killed Todd.

Ultimately, the furious Dingle clan forced her to change her statement again, and Sarah was held overnight for perverting the course of justice. What she didn't realise was that Serena and Thea had been working together to try and get Charity a lesser sentence.

Upon learning the truth, she blackmailed Thea into doing whatever it took to free Charity. The copper was worried about the future of her career, and went into the station to destroy recent interview recordings.

In today's episode, Charity was surprised to hear that she was being released. There was no evidence to build a case around her.

She returned to Jacob's Fold and was thrilled to see her family waiting for her. Sarah was noticeably absent, though soon headed over to have an important conversation with her Gran.

The women tearfully told one another that they were sorry about what had happened, and admitted that they were both to blame for worsening the situation. Charity hoped that this was the breakthrough she craved, but it wasn't to be.

Sarah told her that although she was sorry, and glad that the situation was behind them, she couldn't trust Charity and wanted nothing to do with her.

She later told Jacob that Charity had agreed to sign papers that would transfer full parental responsibility for Leyla to them.

Will they ever make amends?

Read more:

• Emmerdale star teases "rocky road" for Sarah Sugden - and reveals hopes for Debbie Dingle return
• Emmerdale airs dangerous Sadie King and Robert Sugden alliance in early ITVX release
• Emmerdale legend confirms clashes between Cain Dingle and Sadie King amid dramatic comeback

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.