Jai and Laurel were not impressed (Picture: ITV)

Amit Sharma (Anil Goutam) has not made himself popular around Emmerdale since his arrival earlier this year – but not for the most obvious reason.

Viewers know that Amit is concealing a terrible secret, which is currently only shared with Suni (Brahmdeo Shannon Ramana) and Nicky (Lewis Cope). He was at Holdgate when his brother, Rishi Sharma (Bhasker Patel), died after falling down the stairs.

While the fall occurred during a bit of a tussle between the two men, Amit insisted that it had been an accident. But when he realised that Rishi was dead and nothing more could be done, he fled the scene.

After confessing this to Suni, his son was understandably having a hard time dealing with the news. He ended up telling boyfriend Nicky what Amit had told him.

Nicky confronted him and Amit punched him – which led to Caleb (William Ash) assuming that Amit’s assault on Nicky was because he’s gay. Although this wasn’t true, it was easier for Amit to let people believe it rather than risk the real truth coming out.

Another reason Amit was in Emmerdale was because Jai (Chris Bisson) recently found out that Amit is his biological father. But if Amit was hoping to be embraced into Jai and Laurel (Charlotte Bellamy)’s household, being branded as a ‘homophobe’ made it absolutely impossible.

Jai and Laurel are parents of a gay son, Arthur (Alfie Clarke), and when his friend Marshall (Max Fletcher) was being abused by his homophobic dad, Colin (Mark Noble), the couple did everything they could to support Marshall – with Laurel even being taken hostage by a deranged Colin at one point. Jai and Laurel pride themselves in being allies and there’s nothing more likely to provoke their fury than homophobia.

Laurel tried to find some answers (Picture: ITV)

So in Monday (November 27)’s episode Amit had a bit of a mountain to climb when he decided he wanted to make amends with his son and his wife.

‘Operation Friend of Dorothy – go!’ Suni nudged him in the Woolpack as Laurel sat on her own waiting for Jai, who was running late.

‘What am I meant to say?’ Amit asked him. Suni advised him to ‘keep it light’ and give it his ‘best bantz’ and nudged Amit towards Laurel.

Amit chose to open with a remark about how Laurel’s lunch was ‘A proper man-sized portion.’

‘As opposed to a girly one?’ she countered, already irritated. ‘I don’t know, Amit. What’s your definition of a proper man?’

As Suni cringed at the bar, Amit tried to plead that he wasn’t a dinosaur.

Amit told Suni that he was there when Rishi fell down the stairs (Picture: ITV)

‘Would a homophobe wear these?’ he challenged, hitching his trouser leg to reveal pink socks.

Suni, who was now cringing so hard he’d almost disappeared inside his leather jacket, called an emergency halt to Amit’s attempt at ‘bantz’ and it seemed like the project was doomed.

Amit was worried that all the time Laurel was hostile to him it was pushing Jai further away. Suni thought that he was trying too hard with the wisecracks and should just try to be nice.

So Amit tried to be nice and ordered a ‘bottle of prosecco for the lady.’ He said he never got to celebrate their wedding so it was long overdue.

Laurel was not as thrilled with this gesture as Amit had hoped – and for good reason.

‘I’m a recovering alcoholic,’ she said. ‘But you knew that, didn’t you?’

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As Amit tried to apologise, Laurel refused to believe that he’d forgotten that both she and Jai have addiction issues. Suni supported his dad in protesting that it had been an honest mistake, but the damage was done and both Laurel and Jai were furious.

And with his attempt to be friendly in tatters, Amit told Suni that he thought it was best for everyone if he went back to India.

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It didn’t go well.