Emmerdale’s Laurel to risk Gabby’s fury in Ross fling twist

Emmerdale‘s Laurel Thomas and Ross Barton give into temptation next week, as they get hot and heavy behind closed doors. But for how long can they keep their lusty liaisons from their neighbours?

At Dale View, Laurel steals a steamy moment with Ross, who is chuffed to have the restaurateur all to himself. But when Sam Dingle turns up at the lads’ pad looking for more dance lessons, Ross is forced to pretend that Laurel is there to help with his training…

“Ross and Laurel come about because we start these dancing lessons, which are really funny,” explains Charlotte Bellamy, who plays the smitten mum.

“Unbeknown to anyone, Ross is a really good dancer, and that’s how Laurel gets in with him. They salsa, and it all gets a bit steamy. But it’s all really light-hearted and fun, which we need.”

“I think it’s that Strictly Come Dancing thing,” Charlotte continues. “When you’re dancing with somebody and they can move their hips and everything, you don’t realise you’re in it!”

The week begins with Gabby Thomas drowning her sorrows while confiding in Dawn Fletcher about Ross’s recent rejection. Afterwards, Dawn has a word with Ross in the café, where he declares that there’s only one woman he has eyes for right now.

It isn’t clear to Dawn exactly what Ross means, but for nearby Laurel, it’s blindingly obvious – and she soon falls into his arms…

“It’s a small village – we have to go through everybody!” laughs Charlotte. “Well, Laurel has anyway! Ross is kind of her therapy, really. It’s a surface relationship after falling for Ray and getting burnt. It happens very quickly and it’s quite intense for a bit.”

Later in the week, Nicola King is lapping up the fact that her best friend is sleeping with the village hunk, so much so that she nearly lets it slip to Manpreet Sharma.

Elsewhere, Ross looks forward to another tryst with Laurel, before they snatch a flirty moment together. But when Sam comes knocking, the two lovebirds are forced to keep up appearances…

Later at the Hide, Laurel is secretly buzzing from her recent rendezvous. And things get even better for the waitress when Gabby announces that she’s ready to put Ross behind her. Now guilt-free, will Laurel dial things up a notch with Ross?

“Laurel’s having a bit of fun,” grins Charlotte. “She’s clearly going through menopause or a kind of sexual awakening. And why not?

“She’s been stung. So maybe a frivolous affair will see her through. But I’m sure it won’t carry on like that…”

Can Laurel and Ross keep their secret under wraps? And could their lust for each other develop into real feelings?

As Ross Barton and Laurel Thomas continue sneaking around behind closed doors in upcoming scenes of Emmerdale, their fiery connection threatens to spiral into something far messier than either of them expected. What started as harmless dance rehearsals and stolen kisses soon turns into a full-blown secret affair — and the cracks are already beginning to show.

Following their passionate encounter at Dale View, Laurel finds herself completely distracted. Although she tries to carry on as normal at the café, it’s obvious to those around her that something has changed. Nicola King quickly notices Laurel’s unusually cheerful mood and wastes no time teasing her friend about her mysterious “glow.” Laurel desperately attempts to brush it off, but Nicola isn’t fooled for a second.

Meanwhile, Ross is equally consumed by thoughts of Laurel. Despite putting on his usual carefree front, he’s clearly developing stronger feelings than he’d ever intended. During another round of dance lessons with Sam Dingle, Ross struggles to focus, leaving Sam baffled by his strange behaviour. When Sam jokingly asks whether there’s a woman distracting him, Ross laughs it off — but the panic in his eyes says otherwise.

Things become even more complicated when Gabby Thomas starts noticing Ross acting awkwardly around her mother. Already nursing a bruised ego after Ross rejected her, Gabby grows suspicious when she catches Laurel and Ross exchanging lingering glances at the Woolpack. Although neither of them gives the game away completely, the chemistry between them becomes impossible to ignore.

Laurel, however, convinces herself that nobody will uncover the truth. After years of heartbreak and disappointment, she feels entitled to a little happiness — even if it comes wrapped in secrecy. Confiding in Nicola later in the week, Laurel admits that being with Ross makes her feel alive again.

“She’s forgotten what excitement feels like,” Charlotte Bellamy recently explained about Laurel’s emotional state. “Ross brings out a playful side in her that’s been buried for years. Laurel knows it’s risky, but that danger is part of what makes it thrilling.”

But while Laurel sees the affair as an escape from reality, Ross begins struggling with genuine emotions. During a quiet moment outside Butler’s Farm, he opens up to Mackenzie Boyd about feeling unexpectedly attached to someone. Though Ross avoids naming Laurel directly, Mack immediately senses there’s more going on than Ross is willing to admit.

As the days pass, the pair continue arranging secret rendezvous whenever they can. One particularly steamy meeting almost ends in disaster when April Windsor unexpectedly returns home early. Forced to hide while Laurel scrambles to cover her tracks, Ross barely escapes being spotted. The close call leaves Laurel badly shaken, but instead of ending things, the adrenaline only seems to pull them closer together.

Elsewhere in the village, gossip starts spreading after several residents notice Ross and Laurel disappearing at suspiciously similar times. Manpreet Sharma becomes curious after overhearing Nicola make a cryptic comment about Laurel “robbing the cradle,” while Charity Dingle begins wondering whether Ross is hiding another secret romance.

The tension reaches new heights during a village fundraiser at the Woolpack. Laurel and Ross both attend separately to avoid suspicion, but keeping their distance proves harder than expected. After a few drinks, Laurel lets her guard down and accidentally touches Ross’s hand in full view of several villagers. Though the moment is brief, Gabby notices instantly — and her expression darkens.

Later that evening, Gabby confronts Ross privately and demands answers about his strange behaviour. Ross insists she’s imagining things, but Gabby isn’t convinced. Already hurt by Ross’s rejection, she begins piecing together the truth and becomes increasingly disturbed by the possibility that her own mother could be involved.

Back at home, Laurel starts experiencing guilt for the first time. Seeing Gabby upset forces her to acknowledge the potential fallout if their affair becomes public knowledge. Yet despite her concerns, she finds herself unable to walk away from Ross.

“Part of Laurel knows this could end badly,” Charlotte Bellamy teased in a recent interview. “But she’s addicted to how Ross makes her feel. After everything she’s been through, she doesn’t want to lose that.”

Ross, meanwhile, becomes frustrated by all the secrecy. Used to living life on his own terms, he hates sneaking around and constantly worrying about being caught. During another passionate encounter, Ross suggests they stop hiding and admit they’re seeing each other. Laurel is horrified by the idea, immediately pointing out how devastated Gabby would be.

The disagreement creates the first real crack in their whirlwind romance.

Feeling rejected, Ross throws himself into work at the garage and begins avoiding Laurel’s messages. Laurel quickly realises she may have deeper feelings for Ross than she originally admitted to herself. When Nicola encourages her to fight for what she wants, Laurel becomes torn between protecting her family and pursuing her own happiness.

However, the situation takes an explosive turn when Gabby finally uncovers evidence that confirms her worst fears.

While borrowing Laurel’s phone, Gabby accidentally stumbles across a series of flirtatious messages from Ross — including one arranging another secret meeting. Shocked and betrayed, Gabby confronts her mother in a furious showdown that leaves Laurel devastated.

Gabby can barely process the betrayal, accusing Laurel of humiliating her after knowing how strongly she once felt about Ross. Laurel desperately tries explaining that the relationship developed unexpectedly, but Gabby refuses to listen.

The fallout sends shockwaves through the village.

Ross later arrives at Dale View hoping to speak with Laurel, only to find Gabby throwing him out in front of horrified neighbours. As raised voices echo through the street, it quickly becomes obvious that the pair’s secret is finally out.

Even worse, several villagers begin taking sides. Nicola defends Laurel’s right to move on and enjoy herself, while others question whether Laurel crossed a line by getting involved with someone much younger — especially someone Gabby once pursued herself.

Despite the chaos, Ross refuses to apologise for his feelings. In emotional scenes, he admits that what started as fun has become something real for him. Laurel is left stunned when Ross openly confesses that he’s fallen for her.

But whether Laurel is ready to risk everything for a real relationship remains unclear.

With Gabby refusing to forgive her mother and gossip spreading rapidly across the village, Laurel faces an impossible choice. Can she rebuild her fractured relationship with her daughter while continuing things with Ross? Or will the pressure of public scrutiny destroy their romance before it truly begins?

One thing is certain — this scandalous affair is only just getting started, and the consequences could change everything for Laurel, Ross, and the entire village.