Emmerdale has aired a surprising, romantic twist for Sarah Sugden following the surrogacy plan.

In tonight’s hour-long episode, Jacob offered to take Sarah out to distract her from the chaos her baby decision had unleashed on her family.

After finding out through Eric Pollard, Mackenzie Boyd was hurt that Charity hadn’t told him that she planned to be her granddaughter’s surrogate and he moved out. Meanwhile, Pollard was equally upset over Jacob’s plan to be a dad to the baby.

At the store, Vanessa Woodfield offered to check in on Charity, while Jacob asked Sarah to go out and do “something fun”.

Related: 10 huge Emmerdale spoilers for next week

“I’m sorry this is getting you down so much,” Jacob told his ex, who gladly accepted his invite to spend some time together.

“If anyone knows how to cheer me up, you do,” she told him.

Later on, Jacob apologised to Mack for springing the news on him, while Vanessa advised Charity to make it up to her husband before it was too late.

For their date, Jacob organised a picnic for Sarah, who thanked him for being “a part of this crazy baby plan”.

“I want this baby just as much,” Jacob assured her. “I’m not in this out of duty.”

Jacob continued, saying he’d loved getting close to Sarah again. When Sarah said they could still be friends even if the surrogacy plan didn’t work, Jacob said he meant for them to be something more than pals.

Related: Emmerdale adds Slow Horses star to cast to “shake things up” in new mystery role

“I want to be with you,” he said. “I love you, Sarah. I’m head over heels.”

When Jacob went in for a kiss, Sarah panicked. “I can’t do this again,” she said, leaving Jacob alone.

He ran after her, with Sarah crumbling and admitting she’d never stopped loving him either, but hesitated due to how their relationship ended the first time.

“I haven’t got the strength for another heartbreak,” she told him, but he promised he wouldn’t hurt her again.

The pair shared a kiss in a meadow but it turns out that Jacob wasn’t done with his big, romantic gestures. As they walked back to the village, he suggested they take their relationship “one step further”.

Related: Emmerdale reveals one key clue that exposes John Sugden’s guilt

“I know this is quick, and it might seem crazy, but I want you to know I’m committed to this,” Jacob told Sarah.

He got down on one knee and apologised for not having a ring or a speech prepared, then popped the question to a shocked Sarah.

“All I know is how much I love you,” he told her. “And I don’t care what’s around the corner. Every single day we’ve got left, whatever life throws at us, I want us to spend together.”

Meanwhile, Mack and Charity cleared the air, with him agreeing to stand by her side whatever happened.

As Charity and Mack were cuddling on the sofa, Sarah and Jacob returned home to give them the good news.

Charity was shocked, insisting they didn’t have to rush into a big decision because of the baby. However, Jacob insisted that he genuinely loved Sarah.

As the two couples celebrated, Charity gave Sarah her own good news. “Mack’s fully on board with the surrogacy,” she said with Mack chiming in: “Yeah… It was either that or divorce, so no-brainer, really.

At the Woolpack, Jacob gifted Sarah his late mum’s ring as they told everyone they were engaged.

But how will Jacob’s grandpa Eric react?