Friday’s ITVX release of Emmerdale opened with a devastating reminder of just how far Vinny Dingle (Bradley Johnson) has fallen into secrecy and shame.

After weeks of torment at the hands of a manipulative blackmailer named Mike, Vinny now finds himself not only bruised and humiliated, but also ensnared in a web of lies so tight he risks losing everyone he loves.

Vinny’s nightmare began when he questioned his sexuality in private online forums.

What seemed like harmless exploration quickly morphed into something sinister when Mike latched onto him.

Exploiting Vinny’s vulnerability, Mike threatens to expose him unless he handed over extortionate sums of money. The threats soon turned violent, culminating in Vinny being beaten and forced to hand over £10,000 for silence.

But instead of seeking help, Vinny’s instinct was to cover up his shame. When his friend Kammy Hadiq (Shebz Miah) raised concerns, Vinny doubled down on the decade by claiming Kammy had attacked him. The betrayal cut deep, yet Kammy, known for his loyalty, refused to abandon him.

In this week’s shocking scenes, Vinny finally cracked and confessed the truth to Kammy. He admitted the blackmail, the beatings, the mounting fear. Kammy, horrified, urged him to go straight to the police. But Vinny’s terror of being exposed was too great. “I can’t,” he whispered, desperation dripping from his voice.

That refuses to mark a turning point not just for Vinny, but for Kammy as well. Watching his friend suffer in silence, torn apart by fear, Kammy resolved to act. “If you won’t stop him, I will,” he warned. It was the start of a dangerous plan that would change everything.