Emmerdale's Kev Barton announces shock quit decision – crushing Nicola

Emmerdale's Kev Barton upsets Nicola King next week when he quits the café for a new job – but are they both fighting their true feelings?

After Kev's snoring soothed a grieving Nicola and helped her back to sleep, there's an awkward spark between them. But is Kev's new job his way to avoid confronting his growing feelings for her?

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"It's obvious to everyone that there's a connection," explains our Dales insider.

"So soon after losing her beloved Jimmy, Nicola's not ready to move on and she doesn't want to complicate her close friendship with Kev. But is she already starting to see him in a different way?"

Following Nicola's peaceful night at Woodbine Cottage with Kev, Laurel Thomas notices something in the air between her best friend and the ex-con. She mentions it to Nicola, wondering if Kev has feelings for her, but the widow is shocked by the implication.

Laurel doesn't buy Nicola's naïve response, and remains suspicious of Kev's true intentions even when her best mate downplays their connection. But is Nicola kidding herself?

"Kev tells Lewis he's felt a spark," reveals our spy. "Of course Lewis wants his dad to be happy, but Jimmy's barely cold! It would be typical Kev to go all-out wooing Nicola and scare her away! Kev could totally destroy his friendship with Nicola if he handles it wrong."

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After Lewis expresses his concerns about Nicola, Kev ends up finding a way out of the awkward café environment when his cooking skills impress Robert. Desperate for a chef, Robert reluctantly gives Kev a trial run – and despite their past grievances, Robert hires him at the Smokehouse. But will Robert and Aaron live to regret hiring such a reckless employee?

While Lewis is proud of Kev's new role, the change of career is bittersweet as it takes him away from the café. Worried about Nicola's reaction, Kev shares his news with her as he hides the extent of his upset. But when emotional Nicola suggests they share one last cuppa for old time's sake, uncomfortable Kev breaks her heart by turning her down.

With their real feelings buried, is this the end of Kev and Nicola's friendship? Or will he risk confessing how he really feels?

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Emmerdale producer Sophie Roper recently told us: "That dynamic is really beautiful. In the immediate future, we invest in Kev and Nicola's friendship. I think we're seeing them grow a really important bond.

"That's not to say that it won't evolve as we go into the future! But right now, Kev is just going to be Nicola's rock and a stoic support as she navigates her grief. That's really important, because Jimmy and Nicola were our beloved couple for so many years on this show.

"For Nicola to move on, that would be a huge decision and she's certainly not in the mind frame for that now. But what you will see is an incredible friendship that will have real depth and bring so much joy in the coming weeks and months."

Emmerdale airs on weeknights at 8pm on ITV1, and streams on ITVX.

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