Marlon Dingle’s death was one of the most heartbreaking twists Emmerdale has ever had.

Metro UK described it as: “Fans traumatised and screaming” – and indeed, the sight of Marlon taking his last breath left viewers in tears.

Marlon was the life of The Woolpack, always smiling, cooking and helping others.

But a cruel fate saw him fall victim to the conflict between Ray and Celia.

On the fateful night, when Marlon tried to stop a fight, he was shot by mistake – and the whole village erupted in horror.

The climax: Marlon lying on the floor of the pub, the lights flickering, the screams of his friends ringing out. Paddy rushes to hug him, shouting: “Marlon, open your eyes!”, while Chas continues to cry. The camera lingers on Marlon’s hand, which is clenched and released.

Marlon’s death left The Dales without a guarantor. The pub was cold, the villagers silent, only sobs and candlelight lingered in the night. Emmerdale fans unanimously called this “the most heartbreaking scene of the decade”, because it wasn’t just a character who died – it was part of the series’s memory.

The final question: Who really caused this death? Celia, Ray, or Bear himself – who was losing control? The answer will come in the next episode, but one thing is for sure: Emmerdale has entered the most tearful period in its history.