Kim spent some time with Lydia (Picture: ITV)

When Emmerdale legend Kim Tate (Claire King) revealed that she knew more about Craig Reed (Ben Addis)’s death than she’d been letting on, her close friend Lydia Dingle (Karen Blick) was naturally appalled.

After Lydia was raped by Craig Kim was one of the first people she opened up to, and she offered her sanctuary at Home Farm when Lydia needed time and space away from the family to deal with what had happened.

So for Kim to admit to being on the horse that killed Craig was a huge betrayal in Lydia’s eyes, and was one of the reasons she spent Christmas away from the village, staying with her mum.

While Lydia reassured Sam (James Hooton) and Samson (Sam Hall) that she loved them and would definitely be returning to them, the same couldn’t be said for her feelings towards Kim. It seemed possible that the friendship between Lydia and Kim had been broken for good.

So it came as a huge relief when Kim’s attempt to make amends with her friend by taking her a posh food hamper actually worked.

Not because Lydia’s head is easily turned by a high-class chutney, but because when she saw Kim on her knees trying to clean up some spilled food with a pair of Zak (Steve Halliwell)’s old pants she couldn’t help laughing. Soon the two women were both giggling helplessly and it looked like a truce had been declared.

Following Lydia’s return, Kim desperately tried to fix their friendship (Picture: ITV)

Kim knew not to expect too much too soon, though, so she was pleasantly surprised at the start of Tuesday (January 9)’s episode to discover Lydia happily cleaning in the kitchen at Home Farm like she’d never been away.

There was a slight awkwardness between them, but it was clear that Lydia was back for good. She also had her work cut out sorting out the mess that’s accumulated (by her standards) since she’s been away.

Starting with the kettle, which needed de-scaling. ‘I’ll take your word for it,’ Kim said. ’You know, I don’t think I’ve once looked inside.’

Well. She either fills it through the spout without taking the lid off, or – more likely – she waits for somebody else to put the kettle on. Or just has brandy instead. And frankly we would expect nothing less from the lady of the manor.

Lydia had some wisdom to share that was only loosely based on what Kim had said about never looking inside the kettle. ‘They say it’s what’s on the inside that matters,’ she said. And she wasn’t talking about limescale build-up in electrical appliances.

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She picked up a pink cloth and a bottle of cleaning spray.

‘Tell me those aren’t Zak’s underpants,’ Kim said.

‘I’m not sure it’s really his colour,’ Lydia laughed – and all was right with the world again.

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Kim remains very much on brand.