Emmerdale’s Matty Barton, portrayed by Ash Palmisciano, is in a tight spot after being falsely accused of stabbing Samson Dingle (Sam Hall), leading fans to worry about his potential heart-wrenching departure from the show.

Matty, an employee at The Hide, recently married Amy Wyatt (Natalie Jamieson) but was quickly embroiled in a new dramatic plotline that underscores the challenges trans individuals face when dealing with legal and prison issues. This came about after an altercation resulted in him accidentally stabbing Samson.

Before this shocking turn of events, Matty was causing trouble with his new friend Josh (Osian Morgan), who made deeply transphobic comments about Matty’s marriage to Amy.

After Josh claimed that Matty had brutally attacked Samson, the police promptly arrested Matty. Upon his release on bail, his mother Moira Barton (Natalie J Robb), stepfather Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley), Amy, and her mother Kerry Wyatt (Laura Norton) all believed that Matty had been set up.

The group has attempted to persuade Samson to reveal the truth about his attack, but unfortunately, he remains under the influence of his new friend. In violation of his bail conditions, Matty tried to reach out to Samson by visiting him at Wishing Well Cottage.

Samson Dingle is under the influence of his troublesome pal (Image: ITV)

However, Samson stood his ground and called the police shortly after Matty’s visit, claiming that he had been threatened by him. The police quickly caught up with Matty and arrested him on the spot.

In the latest gripping episodes, a crestfallen Matty found himself hauled off to jail, battling to come to terms with his harsh new reality and the looming threat of transphobic violence from fellow inmates.

The plot has set tongues wagging among Emmerdale aficionados, who’ve been rife with speculation that this could mark Ash Palmisciano’s swansong in the beloved soap. A chilling fan theory surfaced on Twitter: “I think Matty might attempt suicide in prison #Emmerdale @emmerdale”, tweeted one concerned viewer.

A segment of the audience is also bracing for the possibility that Matty might end up languishing in prison, especially as actor Sam Hall, who plays Samson, is slated to depart from the show. Yet, there’s another twist that could unfold.

Upcoming teasers have let slip that Kerry, Moira, and Amy won’t rest until they see Matty free, with Kerry even attempting to coax a confession out of Josh.

Despite the risk of her plan going awry, Samson’s impending exit suggests he might be the one to take the fall, potentially facing charges for perverting justice alongside Josh, which could pave the way for Matty’s release.

Samson’s recent antics in Emmerdale have not gone unnoticed, drawing ire from fans, particularly for his treatment of Amelia Spencer (Daisy Campbell), with whom he fathered a child named Esther.

Could a spell behind bars be on the cards for him?

There’s been no official word on Ash Palmisciano’s departure from Emmerdale, sparking speculation that his character Matty Barton could remain in the village. But could viewers be in for a surprise with an unexpected death?

Emmerdale airs on weeknights at 7.30pm on ITV and ITVX.