Emmerdale revisits Kerry Wyatt’s troubled past next week as Eric Pollard struggles to make amends with his estranged partner Brenda.
Eric threatens to commit arson as he continues to feel guilty for losing Brenda’s life savings in a risky cryptocurrency investment.
Viewers saw the couple break up last month in the wake of Eric’s big mistake.
Eric desperately tried to convince Brenda to give them another chance, but she insisted there was too much water under the bridge and ended their relationship.
Next week, Eric confides in Kerry Wyatt about how he feels like a failure as he hasn’t managed to sell the shop. He’d hoped to secure a quick sale and use the money to pay back Brenda.
Kerry reminds Eric of Brenda’s kind and understanding nature, pointing out that she’d much rather wait longer for the money than have him risk his health by pushing himself too hard.
Although Kerry encourages Eric to stop fretting over the situation, there’s a sense that she’s underestimating just how badly he feels.
Later in the week, Kerry is deeply worried when she finds a collection of matches and accelerants at the shop.
Eric admits that he now plans to burn down the business, hoping to then make an insurance claim and pay Brenda back that way.
Explaining his reasons, Eric foolishly claims that arson is a victimless crime.
Kerry fears otherwise, privately reflecting on the fire that she and Amy accidentally started when they damaged CCTV equipment at the sweet factory in 2019. This incident led to the death of Frank Clayton when he rushed in to rescue his daughter Tracy from the flames.
Kerry wants to warn Eric, but is reluctant to share the exact reason why she feels so strongly about this. Can she find a way to convince Eric to back down before it’s too late?
Emmerdale airs these scenes in the week commencing Monday, January 27 on ITV1 and ITVX.
