Sam Dingle vows never to forgive Lydia after her decision involving Samson. At the start of Emmerdale’s episode on Monday, July 15, Sam plans to help his son, Samson, flee the country. With ferry tickets booked, Sam even considers pawning his wedding ring from his marriage to Alice to give Samson enough money to escape.
Overhearing the scheme, Lydia is furious. She knows Samson lied about the stabbing at the Hide and is enraged at the idea of him running away, leaving Matty Barton to face prison for a crime he didn’t commit. Sam argues that if Samson confesses, he could end up in jail himself and insists his son must come first.
Sam and Samson agree to meet separately to avoid suspicion, but Lydia volunteers to drive Samson herself. During the drive, Lydia tries to reason with him, asking if he can live with himself knowing Matty is in prison because of him. Her words get through, and Samson decides to go to the police and confess. He even exaggerates his own involvement to protect his friend Josh, making it sound like he was the main instigator.
When Sam hears what happened, he is furious. He recalls how Lydia previously went against the Dingle code by reporting Liv Flaherty to the police over Ben Tucker’s murder and vows never to forgive her for another betrayal. Despite this, Lydia believes she and Samson did the right thing and informs Moira and Cain at the Woolpack that Matty could soon be free.
By the time Sam arrives, Moira is cautiously optimistic, but Cain remains skeptical about whether the police will believe Samson. For Sam, the greatest concern is that he might lose his son. Cain accuses Sam of being too soft on Samson and taunts him, bringing up Alice. Sam, in a rare display of defiance, punches Cain, standing up to his brother.
Samson’s truthfulness has created a deep rift within the Dingle family, leaving them divided with brother against brother and husband against wife.