Just as Christmas lights were beginning to illuminate Emmerdale, a shadow from the past returned – John Sugden, the notorious killer thought to have vanished forever.

On Christmas Eve, as the village gathered around the table, he silently emerged from the mist, carrying a cruel plan no one could have foreseen.

His target this time was Kev Townsend – a man with a dark past and a complicated relationship with the Sugden family.

In a shocking scene, Kev wakes up in an abandoned house, his hands bound, his mouth gagged, and John standing before him with a cold, icy smile.

No one knows if John has returned for revenge, or for a deeper conspiracy involving Robert Sugden and Aaron Dingle – two names that have always haunted him.

The climax comes when John sneaks into The Woolpack, leans close to the sleeping Aaron’s ear, and whispers, “2026 will be our year.” This statement sends chills down fans’ spines. It not only signals the return of a madman, but also opens a dangerous psychological battle between John, Aaron, and Robert.

The entire community of Emmerdale now lives in fear. The police begin reviewing old cases, and residents speculate, “Who will be next?” A bloody Christmas marks the beginning of an unprecedented dark period in the Dales.