Next week on Emmerdale, the tension between the Dingle brothers will escalate into a catastrophic family rift. Lydia Dingle and her husband, Sam Dingle, have conflicting views about their son, Samson’s actions. Sam wants Samson to escape justice, while Lydia is uncomfortable with their son evading the law.
Fans will recall that Samson’s friend, Josh, made transphobic remarks, leading Matty Barton to defend himself. In the scuffle, Josh pushed Samson into Matty, causing Samson to be accidentally stabbed by the knife Matty was holding. Josh falsely accused Matty of attacking him and Samson with the knife, leading to Matty’s arrest.
In scenes yet to air, Lydia instructs Samson to go to the police station, where he ultimately confesses to the stabbing. This enrages Sam, who directs his anger towards his wife. The rest of the Dingles are also drawn into the conflict, though Moira Barton is relieved that the truth about Matty has finally emerged.
Sam’s anger soon reaches a boiling point, resulting in a physical confrontation with his brother, Cain Dingle. In a fit of rage, Sam punches Cain to the ground, raising questions about whether the family can mend this rift or if it will tear them apart for good.
Actor James Hooton, who plays Sam, shared with the Express and other media whether his character believes Cain has broken the Dingle code by supporting Matty. He explained, “I don’t think so. Sam sees it as Cain always having his own best interests at heart. Sam finally stands up to Cain, which is a significant moment.”
While Cain is known for his many brawls, mild-mannered Sam rarely resorts to physical violence. However, in this instance, Sam’s rage leads him to knock Cain to the floor in the Woolpack. James described the scene, “It’s quite satisfying that Sam gets a bit of comeuppance. It’s a one-off rather than the start of a bare-knuckle fighting storyline.”
When asked if this could permanently divide the Dingles, Samson actor Sam Hall expressed hope, “I don’t think so. In the end, they will see that Samson was trying to do the right thing, influenced by a terrible friend.” James added, “Given the numerous fallouts within the Dingle clan over the years, we’ll likely end up working together on some job. It’s how the Dingles are; eventually, it will be water under the bridge.”
Whether the family can reconcile and respect each other as the actors predict, or if this marks the beginning of a deeper conflict, remains to be seen.
