Emmerdale’s show boss Jane Hudson has teased viewers they will have their "hands over their face" during the soap’s Christmas Day episode this year.
The ITV show is gearing up for a big surprise over the festive period, and Jane believes the programme’s viewers will be shocked about the events in the village on December 25th.
Jane said: "When Christmas Day is over and done with and you’ve opened all your presents, there’s a massive present when ‘Emmerdale’ comes on.
"There’s such a surprise box ready to be opened, I think all the viewers will be watching the screen with their hands over their face going, ‘No, I did not see that coming!’ I can’t wait for the Christmas Day episode."
This news comes as ‘Emmerdale’ is preparing to return to six episodes per week on Monday (14.09.20).
The soap has been airing at a reduced output as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, but the show will be back to full force next week.
Among the new plots, Moira Dingle’s (Natalie J. Robb) brother Mackenzie – who will be played by Lawrence Robb – will arrive in the village, and Dawn Taylor (Olivia Bromley) and Harriet Finch (Katherine Dow Blyton) are faced with the consequences of murdering DI Malone (Mark Womack).
Jane said: "I’m so proud of the tireless work that everyone has put into getting us back to six episodes a week.
"The commitment, loyalty and enthusiasm from our cast, crew and different teams has been phenomenal. I couldn’t be prouder of them."
Simon Lennon and Paige Sandhu are also joining the show as Aaron Dingle’s (Danny Miller) former fellow school pupil Ben and Manpreet Sharma’s (Rebecca Sarker) live wire sister Meena respectively.