Emmerdale has introduced a new villain, Josh Cope, this month, adding to the existing chaos caused by Tom King. Josh quickly proved to be a bad influence on Samson Dingle, leading to a disastrous new storyline. Josh and Samson teamed up to threaten Matty Barton during an attempted robbery at The Hide. The situation spiraled out of control when Josh pushed Samson, causing him to be accidentally stabbed by a knife Matty was holding.

Since the incident, Josh and Samson have lied, claiming Matty deliberately attacked Samson. The big question remains: how long can they maintain this deception? Emmerdale bosses have not specified how long this storyline will last, but it seems it will continue for several weeks. Official spoilers for episodes airing through next week do not mention Samson’s lies being exposed, indicating that the drama will persist for a while.

The storyline also focuses on Matty’s experience in prison, where he is held on remand. Matty decides to keep his transgender identity a secret, fearing it will make him a target. Ash Palmisciano, who plays Matty, commented on ITV1’s Lorraine that this situation is terrifying for Matty, as he has been sheltered by his family. The fear of prison is compounded by the fear of transphobia, adding an extra layer of anxiety.

Natalie J. Robb, who plays Matty’s mother, Moira, emphasized the importance of tackling such a topical issue, highlighting the real-life challenges faced by transgender individuals in similar situations. This indicates that Josh and Samson’s lies will not be resolved quickly, but there may be an end in sight.

Rumors about Samson Dingle’s departure from Emmerdale circulated in April, suggesting he might be killed off. However, actor Sam Hall denied these rumors, stating that Samson has significant storylines ahead, though he did not rule out a possible exit. If Samson does leave, it could be connected to the exposure of his lies about Matty.

Next week’s episodes will continue to focus on the Samson, Josh, and Matty storyline. Various villagers will attempt to uncover the truth. Cain Dingle’s efforts to persuade Samson fail, leading to tension with Moira, who resorts to intimidating Samson in a tense showdown. This conflict strains Cain and Moira’s marriage. Meanwhile, Kerry Wyatt tries to charm Josh at The Woolpack while secretly recording their conversation, hoping to catch him saying something incriminating, but her plan backfires.