Emmerdale is set for a turbulent week as Clemmie Reed mysteriously goes missing — igniting fury, suspicion, and emotional upheaval across the village. What begins as an uneasy domestic situation at Home Farm quickly spirals into a crisis, pushing Billy Fletcher to his breaking point and placing Joe Tate squarely in the firing line.

Joe Tate, who has been trying to step into the role of a family man following his scandalous affair with Dawn Taylor, finds himself overwhelmed by the demands of caring for children who don’t trust him — especially Clemmie. His relationship with her has been fraught from the start. Clemmie already caught Joe and Dawn in a compromising moment, confirming to Billy that his wife had indeed left him for another man. The betrayal devastated Billy and sowed the seeds of ongoing hostility between him and Joe.

To make matters worse, Joe’s attempt to control the situation with Clemmie only escalated the tension. He confronted her in a rather clumsy and coercive manner, trying to silence her. Clemmie, however, proved to be tougher than he anticipated — rejecting his bribery and biting him during the heated exchange. This altercation deepened the divide and marked Joe as a volatile presence in the young girl’s life.

The fallout from the affair came to a dramatic head when Joe was shoved out of a window at Lydia Dingle’s birthday party — a violent act that left villagers shocked. Although Dawn ultimately confessed to the attack, the incident revealed just how fractured things had become between the characters. Since then, Joe and Dawn have tried to smooth over their differences and rekindle their relationship, but the trust between them — and between Joe and the children — remains tenuous.

The situation comes to a head again when a social worker visits Home Farm following a safeguarding concern. The visit introduces a tense atmosphere, with both Joe and Dawn bracing for judgment. To their relief, the social worker concludes that no further action is necessary. But their sigh of relief is premature — the calm before the storm.

As Joe attempts to mend fences with Clemmie, his parenting skills come into question once more. Determined to build a connection with the child, he takes responsibility for watching over her — but this backfires in the worst way when Clemmie goes missing under his supervision. Panic sets in, and fingers begin to point.

Billy Fletcher, already distrustful and emotionally raw from Dawn’s betrayal, explodes with rage. He lays the blame squarely at Joe’s feet, furious that his daughter was put at risk. For Billy, this confirms everything he suspected about Joe’s lack of fitness as a caregiver. He confronts Dawn and demands that she leave Home Farm immediately, urging her to distance herself — and the children — from Joe before something worse happens.

Dawn, however, refuses. Despite the chaos, she insists on staying put, unwilling to uproot her children or abandon the progress she believes Joe is making. Her refusal infuriates Billy even more, leading him to accuse her of still being emotionally tied to Joe. The accusation stings, and Dawn is left emotionally drained, worn down by the non-stop battles between her current partner and ex-husband. Her attempts to build a blended family are unraveling before her eyes.

Meanwhile, Joe isn’t giving up. Rather than retreat in the face of backlash, he begins plotting. Aware that his relationship with Dawn is on shaky ground and that Clemmie’s disappearance may be the final straw, Joe decides to take matters into his own hands. He hatches a plan to win back Dawn’s trust — and potentially solidify his place within the family.

But what exactly is Joe planning? With his history of manipulation and impulsive choices, there’s no telling whether his next move will bring resolution or disaster. Is he genuinely trying to do right by Dawn and the kids, or is this another calculated move to protect himself and reshape the narrative?

The mystery of Clemmie’s disappearance is at the center of it all. Is she simply hiding to escape the tension around her, or is something more sinister at play? The village is left holding its breath as search efforts begin and tensions mount. Every moment that passes without news adds to the fear that something terrible may have happened.

This storyline taps into powerful themes of fractured families, trust, and the dangers of forced relationships. Joe’s struggle to connect with Clemmie speaks to a deeper issue: you can’t force acceptance or love, especially when children are already navigating emotional trauma. His attempts to take control have repeatedly backfired, and his inability to earn genuine trust may end up costing him everything.

At the same time, Dawn is caught between two volatile forces — her ex-husband Billy, who still clearly loves her and is desperate to protect the children, and Joe, her current partner whose chaotic presence continually places them in jeopardy. As she juggles conflicting loyalties, the stress threatens to overwhelm her completely.

With Clemmie missing, emotions at boiling point, and Joe devising a mysterious plan, Emmerdale promises a stormy week ahead. Will Clemmie be found safe and sound? Can Billy and Dawn find any common ground, or is their co-parenting relationship doomed? And is Joe’s next move the beginning of redemption — or the start of something much darker?

Viewers won’t want to miss what happens next as this emotional powder keg edges closer to explosion.