James Hooton reveals ‘innovative’ episodes not done by Emmerdale before

Sam has had an emotional few weeks (Picture: ITV)

Focus turns to the Dingle family in upcoming Emmerdale episodes as Lydia (Karen Blick) tries to work out which member of the clan murdered rapist Craig (Ben Addis).

In a special week, a Dingle Court will take place in the Woolpack as Lydia listens to her loved ones, who all explain where they were before Craig was killed.

First up, Cain (Jeff Hordley) and Sam (James Hooton).

After their discussion a few weeks ago about making Craig pay via the ‘Dingle Law’, it’s no surprise we will see them in an abandoned barn with Craig tied up during some flashback scenes.

But are either of them capable of committing murder?

Mandy (Lisa Riley), Belle (Eden Taylor-Draper) and Caleb (William Ash) are also among the family members within the meeting. Every single one of them has a story to tell about what they’ve been up to, but they’re also not being entirely honest.

Speaking about these upcoming instalments, James Hooton told us that the flashbacks scenes will begin new storylines for some iconic characters.

‘It’s not something we’ve done in Emmerdale before. I’m not privy to how all these story strands pan out and whether they all come to fruition beyond the telling of Craig’s death story, but I think it’s quite an innovative way of drawing an audience in to what is quite a harrowing storyline’, he said.

Lydia wants answers (Picture: ITV)

‘It’s amazing how it’s filmed and Gary Williams was amazing with us all and got us through quite a massive block of episodes mainly centred around the Dingles in the Woolpack environment, but what’s different about this I suppose is the flashbacks.

‘The spotlight is on various individuals throughout these episodes and it centres around the idea that everybody in the room, the 12 Dingles in the room, everyone’s concealing some kind of secret, which may or may not lead to Lydia discovering who has actually killed Craig.’

During Super Soap Week, Lydia sat down with Sam, Belle and Mandy and revealed her attack. James reflected on this moment and explained why Sam reacted the way he did in the initial aftermath.

Flashbacks will confirm Chas and Charity had a discussion about Craig (Picture: ITV)

‘I think it was a mixture of things because Sam was devastated thinking that his wife didn’t love him any more and whether she was going to leave him’, he said.

‘There was this question mark over whether she’s had an affair or not. So when it came to pass that he found out that she’d actually been raped it’s obviously shock and all the emotions that come along with finding out something like that. he’s a bit lost at some points but he just wants to make sure his wife’s ok and to salvage her sanity and her ability to move through it, and his own, I think.

‘That is what leads to Sam and Cain taking things into their own hands and kidnapping Craig and putting him in that farmhouse building. he’s quite an emotional character.’

‘He always wants the best for his wife. he loves her beyond belief and is extremely loyal, to a fault almost’, he added.

What is Caleb hiding? (Picture: ITV)

‘But he doesn’t always follow the requests that she’s given him. Lydia was quite clear that she didn’t want Dingle law, mob law, to rule and for us to exact our own revenge against Craig. She’s very clear on that and there’s a dilemma as to whether Sam goes beyond her requests or not.’

Pondering over whether Sam is capable of killing Craig, James said: ‘It’s an existential and philosophical question, isn’t it? Do any of us have it within us to kill? I would say that any one of us, given the right circumstances, has it within them to kill.

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‘Craig’s body is found and it’s reported to the police. From the police’s point of view they want to eliminate people from their enquiries. Anyone who has any link, axe to grind or potential reason for killing Craig – if indeed he has been killed. So they’re on the scene quite quickly, I think.’

‘It’s very difficult to say, isn’t it?’, he added, discussing his thoughts on the possibility of Sam being responsible.

‘I don’t think I could say without giving anything away that would be essential to this storyline unfolding…’

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It’s going to be a huge week.