Departures for the year included Jasmine Thomas being jailed for the manslaughter of Shane Doyle. After their affair was revealed, PCs Ross Kirk and Donna Windsor-Dingle both requested transfers - Ross to Newcastle and Donna to Essex. Edna Birch's sister Lily Butterfield leaves with Alan Turner's old friend, Eddy Fox for a trip around the world. While, behind the scenes, Luke Tittensor, who played Daz Eden for five and a half years was sacked after he was charged with GBH. He was promptly written out of the series which saw Daz thrown out of the village by his brother Andy after his relationship with Andy's sister Victoria was exposed by Aaron Livesy. Also, due to the death of his portrayer Clive Hornby in July the previous year, long-running character Jack Sugden was killed off-screen in February; suffering a heart attack while visiting his mother Annie in Spain. This saw the returns of Sheila Mercier for the first time in 13 years and Karl Davies, who at the time, was the most recent actor to play Jack's son Robert.
The average viewing figure for the year was 6.72 million viewers, which was down 210,000 on 2008. It should be noted that this figure does not include the small percentage of viewers who watched on tablets, PCs and smartphones, which BARB did not include in the viewing figures until August 2018. The most-watched episode of the year was Episode 5211 (2nd February 2009), with 8.54 million viewers, while the least-watched episode was Episode 5306 (27th May 2009), with 4.50 million viewers. 9 episodes ranked within the weekly top 10 for all UK TV, which was 8 less than the year before.
Donna Windsor-Dingle confesses to her husband Marlon Dingle that she had an affair with Ross Kirk. Marlon is devastated by Donna's betrayal but tries to salvage his marriage on condition that Donna doesn't have any further contact with Ross. When Marlon learns Donna has broken her promise, he is crushed and throws her out of the house, ending their marriage for good. Subsequently, Donna decides to transfer to Essex. When Katie Sugden and Bob Hope get wind of Donna's plans, they try to talk her out of it but after Donna walks in on Marlon drunkenly kissing his cousin, Chas Dingle, she leaves Emmerdale.
Shane Doyle's murder investigation gets underway. Initially, Ross is the police's prime suspect after learning Shane was blackmailing Ross and that the pair fought shortly before Shane's disappearance. Despite Ross' protests of innocence, he is charged with Shane's murder. Whilst remanded in custody, Ross asks Donna to speak to Jasmine Thomas on his behalf as he suspects she knows more about the murder than she's letting on. After talking with Jasmine, Donna is also convinced Jasmine knows more than she's saying and her suspicions are confirmed when she overhears Debbie and Eli Dingle discussing the murder during Zak Dingle's surprise birthday party. Donna finds further evidence of Ross' innocence when she spots the same animal feed sacks that Shane's body was wrapped in in a barn at Wishing Well Cottage. Donna concludes Eli killed Shane and Debbie and Jasmine are covering for him and takes this to the police. Subsequently, Wishing Well Cottage is searched and Eli is arrested although he's soon released on bail pending further enquiries. Whilst the police are waiting on forensic results to come back, Jasmine confesses to Laurel Thomas how she killed Shane after he tried to rape her and then Debbie and Eli helped cover it up. Laurel urges Jasmine to go to the police, especially after Eli is rearrested, but instead Jasmine and Debbie decide to go on the run. As Debbie and Jasmine plan their escape, Eli confesses everything to the police who race to Emmerdale to arrest the girls. Jasmine manages to get away but Debbie is caught and charged with manslaughter. In the aftermath of Debbie's arrest and Jasmine's escape, Zak disowns Eli and throws him out of Wishing Well Cottage for dropping Debbie in it with the police, Laurel is charged with peverting the course of justice, and Ross transfers to Newcastle.
Carl tries to rekindle his relationship with Chas despite being in a relationship with Lexi Nicholls. Chas' son Aaron Livesy hates the thought of Chas and Carl getting back together so he warns Chas that if she reunites with Carl, she won't see him again.
Lily resolves to reunite Paul Lambert and Jonny Foster so she sends Jonny flowers and messages pretending to be Paul and arranging to meet. As Jonny is in Australia, Jonny's mother Patricia Foster intercepts the messages and ends up walking in on an unsuspecting Paul during his surprise divorce party. After speaking with Paul's mother Val, Patricia realises Paul still loves Jonny so gives him Jonny's phone number whilst Lily gives Paul the money for a plane ticket to Australia. Val can't bear the thought of Paul moving to the other side of the world so she lies that Paul's father Rodney is dying to make him stay. Lily arranges for Paul and Jonny to meet in a bar where Jonny invites Paul to move to Australia with him but Paul turns him down as he's still under the impression Rodney is dying. Soon the news that Rodney is dying spreads around the village until it gets back to Rodney who is shocked to learn of his supposed imminent demise. Rodney, Paul and Diane Sugden realise Val made it up to stop Paul leaving so Paul rushes to meet Jonny then the pair fly off to Australia together.
Scarlett Nicholls passes her GCSE resits. Jimmy wants her to go to college but Scarlett isn't keen as she'd rather work for him at Emmerdale Haulage.
The Thomas family's proposed move to a new parish in Leeds falls through at the last minute when the Wyldes buy St. Mary's and gift the church to the community.
Chas and Aaron move into Smithy Cottage after Lisa Dingle declares Aaron is no longer welcome to stay at Wishing Well Cottage.
Mark accidentally injures Jamie Hope with a ladder whilst Jamie is cleaning the windows of Pear Tree Cottage so he gives him a £1,000 cheque to forget about the incident. Jamie uses the money to get a flight to Australia to visit his girlfriend, Louise Appleton.
Nicola De Souza beats her father Rodney to the Home Farm Estate Manager job.
February[]
Carl pressures the Dingles for the money Debbie owes for the garage but backs off when Chas threatens to tell Lexi about their kiss at Christmas. When Natasha hears that Debbie may lose the garage, she visits Debbie in prison and offers to pay the rent arrears on the garage as well as the mortgage payments for the next six months without any strings.
After growing jealous of Carl and Chas' close relationship, Lexi proposes to Carl. Carl is hesitant but agrees when Lexi subtly reminds Carl she knows his secrets.
Aaron sells drugs.
Paddy catches Aaron selling veterinary drugs he stole from the Vets Surgery. When Chas confronts Aaron, he attacks her. Chas manages to get the upper hand and begins laying into her son until they're interrupted by Zak. Afterward, Zak decides Chas and Aaron should move back into Wishing Well Cottage as he doesn't believe Paddy will want them to stay at Smithy Cottage any longer before lecturing Aaron about family and the Dingle code. The following day, Zak decides to send Aaron to work at the garage to keep him out of trouble but it doesn't go to plan as Lisa catches Aaron clocking a car after Daz Eden instructs him to do it as a joke.
Paddy admits to Chas that he has feelings for her but Chas doesn't want to take their relationship beyond friendship. A few weeks later, Chas realises her sister, Gennie Walker, fancies Paddy and encourages her to tell him, but before Gennie works up the courage to do so, Paddy admits to Gennie that he's in love with Chas. Paddy tell Chas that she's everything he's ever wanted in a woman and they share a kiss. After the kiss, Chas begins to see Paddy in a new light so she decides to give Paddy a chance and the pair embark on a relationship, leaving Gennie devastated.
Andy Sugden decides to give up the tenancy of Butlers Farm but after talking to his grandmother Annie Sugden, he decides to keep the farm after all, disappointing Mick Naylor who hoped to take over the lease.
Leyla's new friend Skin robs Jacobs Fold. As Skin flees the house with a bag full of valuables, David Metcalfe unknowingly opens his van door at the opportune moment, stopping Skin and sending him falling to the ground. David is hailed a hero and Leyla rewards him with a kiss.
Annie returns to Emmerdale
Jack Sugden suffers a heart-attack and dies whilst staying with his mum, Annie, in Spain. Annie returns to Emmerdale for the first time since 1996 for the funeral. Robert Sugden also returns to Emmerdale but doesn't join the rest of the Sugdens for the funeral and instead watches the proceedings from afar.
Jimmy and Nicola get drunk and have sex in the back of the Emmerdale Haulage van. The following morning, the pair wake to find they're on the side of the motorway near Hull as Dean Morris had taken the van out without realising they were in the back.
Word gets to Cain Dingle that his daughter Debbie is in prison so pays for an expensive lawyer, Theo Hawkins, to take her case. Theo speaks to the Dingles about Debbie's case and hints that Cain will be coming home soon. When Andy gets wind of Cain's imminent return, he calls the police and as a result Cain is arrested whilst trying to sneak back into the country. Theo sneaks Debbie's phone into prison so she can speak to Cain but instead Debbie calls Jasmine and encourages her to stay away.
Sandy points a gun at Eli and Marlon
Eli desperately tries to make amends for dropping Debbie in it with the police by finding a way to get her out of prison. After searching all the hostels in the area looking for Jasmine without any luck, Eli changes tact and decides to change his statement about what happened on the night of Shane's murder but he ends up making things worse for Debbie by revealing Debbie and Jasmine were lovers, and as a result Debbie's charges are upgraded from manslaughter to murder. Despite being on the receiving end of the wrath of the rest of the Dingles, Eli continues to try to get Debbie out of prison. When Marlon visits Debbie, he learns Jasmine is staying with her grandfather, Sandy Thomas, somewhere in Scotland. After using Betty Eagleton to find out Sandy's address, Eli and Marlon set out for Scotland with Laurel and Ashley hot on their tail. Eli and Marlon find Jasmine first and confront her for leaving Debbie to rot in prison. As they plead with Jasmine to do the right thing and give herself up, Sandy burst in armed with a gun. With the gun pointed on Eli and Marlon, Sandy orders Jasmine to make a run for it. When Eli tries to run after Jasmine, Sandy fires the gun, hitting a glass lampshade. Back in Emmerdale, Eli concludes that if they can't get Jasmine into jail, they should spring Debbie from prison instead and asks his friend Danielle to get into a fight with Debbie.
With Debbie in prison, Diane and Lisa encourage Andy to sort himself out for the sake of his and Debbie's daughter Sarah, who has been staying with the Dingles since December. Andy agrees but almost immediately goes back on his promise by missing a visit with Sarah. After Andy's father Jack's dies, the Dingles allow Sarah to stay with Andy on the night of the funeral but Andy's upset when they take Sarah back. A few days later, Andy gets wind of Cain's imminent return and calls the police, and as a result Cain is arrested whilst trying to sneak back into the country. The Dingles know Andy was the one who grassed Cain up so they prevent Andy having access to Sarah. Diane informs the Dingles that if they don't give Sarah back to Andy, they will apply for a residence order. The Dingles initially refuse but quickly realise they don't have a leg to stand on so hand Sarah over.
Mark and Natasha's ten-year-old son Will Wylde arrives at Home Farm and immediately makes friends with Belle Dingle much to Natasha's dismay.
Natasha throws a party at Home Farm for Mark's 50th birthday. During the party, Mark and Natasha two oldest children, Nathan and Maisie, make a grand entrance in a pink Cadillac. Soon, Andy catches Maisie's eye and the pair kiss. Belle witnesses the kiss and relays this information to Will via walky-talky which is overheard by Natasha, Mark and Nathan. When Nathan confronts Andy about kissing his sister, he reveals Maisie is married. After everyone has left, Mark, Natasha and Nathan confront Maisie about her behaviour and are surprised when Maisie announces she's left her husband of only a few weeks and is never going back. Mark, Natasha, and Nathan try to put Maisie off Andy by informing her of Andy's history of domestic violence but it doesn't work so Natasha summons Maisie's husband, Tristan, to Home Farm in a bid to get to the bottom of what's happened and reunite the newlyweds. After talking with Nathan, Maisie decides to give Tristan another chance, but as they drive away from Home Farm, Maisie is reminded of all of Tristan's annoying habits that prompted her to leave him in the first place and leaves him once again. Maisie decides to stay at Home Farm and gets a job as a barmaid at The Woolpack.
Laurel is found guilt of peverting the course of justice and sentenced to forty-hours of community service.
Scarlett feels Daz is neglecting her in favour of his new job on the farm. Edna Birch advises her the way to a man's heart is through he stomach so Scarlett attempts to bake him so fairy cakes. It doesn't go well so Edna offers Scarlett an apple pie she baked earlier. Whilst Daz and his brother Andy are eating the pie, Andy finds a ring in the pie and tells Daz that he thinks Scarlett was planning to propose leaving Daz mortified. Scarlett and Daz soon discover the misunderstanding and return Edna's lost wedding ring to her.
Jimmy worries Edna has developed a crush on him.
Leyla goes out to dinner with Rodney to make David jealous.
Nathan overhears Lee Naylor inviting Katie Sugden out for a drink so deliberately keeps him back at work to make him late.
March[]
Debbie and Jasmine are sentenced.
Following Debbie and Danielle's fight, the Dingles put Eli's plot to spring Debbie from hospital into action but Debbie refuses to along with the insane plan and Eli ends up only springing Danielle. Eli drives Danielle to the Hotten Coach Station where she boards a coach, unaware Jasmine is on the same coach. From her seat at the back of the bus, Jasmine spots police approaching the vehicle and fears they're coming for her but instead they arrest Danielle and leave. Later that day at Debbie's plea hearing, Jasmine bursts into the courtroom and declares she was the one who killed Shane. Jasmine later pleads guilty to manslaughter and is sentenced to four years imprisonment whilst Debbie pleads guilty to peverting the course of justice and is sentenced to six months imprisonment.
Mark invites Nicola to dinner with him and Natasha but Nicola wrongly concludes it'll be just the two of them. When Nicola realises Natasha knows about the date, she jumps to the conclusion that the Wyldes are swingers so invites Jimmy along to the dinner to act as her buffer. When Nicola admits her suspicions, Mark and Natasha laugh off the idea and make it clear they are fulfilled in the bedroom department.
A stressed Bob decides to sell the shop and cafe due to financial difficulties. Brenda realises if Bob sells up, she'll lose her job and home so Terry suggests she invest in the business and solve everyone's problems. Bob is initially on board with the idea but later decides against it as he fears what Viv Hope's reaction to the news would be once she gets out of prison, especially due to the rumours about the nature of his and Brenda's relationship. A few weeks later, the bank calls in Bob's mortgage, loan and overdraft, forcing him open the shop 24 hours a day in a bid to make more money. Working around the clock quickly catches up with Bob and he decides to sell up again.
Doug and Brenda launch the Emmerdale Explorers kids club.
Doug gets drunk and suggests Brenda is after Bob. When Brenda's boyfriend Terry confronts Brenda about what Doug said, Brenda admits she had a crush on Bob when she first moved to Emmerdale but assures him nothing happened then she confesses her love for Terry.
Nicola becomes convinced Jimmy has a secret Swiss bank account and begins plotting to get her hands on it. She invites herself along on Jimmy's trip to Switzerland expecting to be flown there club class and is horrified to learn Jimmy's trip to Switzerland is actually a haulage run and not a trip to access his non-existent secret millions.
Maisie asks Mark to help her become the owner of The Woolpack. Mark agrees to think about it if she sticks at her barmaid job for a few months, but he later goes behind her back and approaches Val about buying the business. As Mark wants to buy the whole pub rather than her half share, Val begins plotting to make Diane thinks she's losing it so Diane will sell her share of the pub to her and then she could sell the entire pub onto Mark. When Natasha gets wind that Mark plans on buying The Woolpack for Maisie, she confronts Diane who is just as much in the dark about the plan as Natasha is. Diane gets her own back on Val by telling her she'll sell her half of the pub - but to Rodney instead then confronts her sister for attempting to sell the pub from under her, especially so soon after Jack's death when she's vulnerable.
Aaron and Victoria grow closer much to Daz's jealousy and Chas and Andy's dismay. Victoria begins bunking off school to spend time with Aaron and the pair come close to sleeping together at the garage, but before anything can happen, a furious Andy breaks into the garage and drags Victoria away. Daz tries to talk Victoria out of seeing Aaron but Victoria makes it clear the only way that'll happen is if Daz takes Aaron's place. A few days later, Aaron steals the keys to Tug Ghyll so he and Victoria can be alone together. When Aaron nervously suggests they head upstairs, Victoria realises he's a virgin. Aaron is embarrassed by this and warns Victoria not to tell anyone. After Victoria leaves, a humiliated Aaron trashes the house. A few days later, Aaron and Daz get in a fight after Aaron mouths off about sleeping with Victoria. Later that night, Victoria admits to Daz she didn't sleep with Aaron as he's the only one she loves enough to lose her virginity to.
Lexi begins planning her and Carl's wedding, using auction sites to achieve her dream wedding on a shoe string. She thinks she's bought her dream wedding dress for just £17 and veil and tiara for only £6 but they end up being for dolls.
Jamie buys all of Betty's chutney at the village fair and sells it onto Home Farm. Jamie hopes to make more himself but Betty won't divulge the recipe so he enlists Betty to make more under false pretenses. When Betty realises what Jamie is up to, she makes him think that the first batch was off so Jamie scrambles to recall the first batch from Home Farm and replaces with the second batch, which Betty has deliberately made taste awful leaving Jamie with a lot of explaining to do. Later, Natasha approaches Betty about selling her chutney under the Home Farm brand.
Camera shy Mark is unhappy to realise a photograph from his birthday party with him in the background has been published in Horse & House magazine. A few days later, a mysterious red-headed woman begins watching the Wyldes from a far. When Will goes missing, Mark concludes the mystery woman has kidnapped his youngest son and calls in the police. Will later turns up unharmed having spent the night in the Home Farm grounds whilst Mark beefs up security.
Inspired by Betty's chutney, Rodney proposes a culinary talent contest with the winners getting to sell their products under the Home Farm brand. Natasha loves the idea.
As Jimmy and Nicola continue to fight their feelings for one another, Nicola lies she's going out with a good looking, successful businessman to make Jimmy jealous. When Jimmy learns there is no other man, he rushes to the Skipdale Business Association dinner where Nicola is being chatted up by a sleazy businessman and kisses her before whisking her away. On the way back to Emmerdale, Jimmy's truck breaks down and soon the pair are at each other's throats again. Doug and Sandy are fed up with Nicola living at Mulberry Cottage, so they write a fake love letter to Nicola that's supposedly from Jimmy declaring how much he loves her and asking her to move into Mill Cottage. When Nicola reads the letter, she rushes over to Mill Cottage and the pair make up. Nicola moves in the next day.
The Dingles discover Tug Ghyll has been trashed so they set about making the house habitable again in time for Debbie's release from prison - the only problem is that they don't have any money to do so. When Gennie mentions Bob has a lot of cash in the shop to pay suppliers, Aaron suggests they steal the money once Bob hands it over to suppliers. Zak isn't keen but sees no other option so he and Shadrach plan to hijack the supplier van a few miles outside the village but Aaron goes off plan and breaks the window of the delivery van and steals the envelope of cash whilst it's parked outside the shop. The Dingles are able to make Tug Ghyll habitable again in time for Debbie's release but the suppliers believe Bob had something to do with the robbery and stop supplying him.
Andy and Maisie begin a secret relationship. Nathan realises Maisie is seeing someone and believes it's Andy but Maisie denies it and even ropes Marlon into playing her fake boyfriend to keep her relationship with Andy secret.
Debbie visits Jasmine in prison where they girls say an emotional goodbye.
Debbie approaches Andy regarding shared access to Sarah but Andy refuses to discuss the matter.
Mark is panicked to learn Faye has applied for the marketing job at Home Farm but when he goes to confront Faye, he discovers she's gone abroad.
Carl and Lexi marry.
On the morning of Carl and Lexi's wedding, Carl admits to Jimmy that he isn't sure he loves Lexi but he has to go through with the wedding because Lexi knows he killed Tom. As the guests and the bride arrive at the church, Carl summons Chas to the Cricket Pavilion where he tells her his ex he isn't sure he can go through with marrying Lexi because he's still hung up on her. After Chas makes it clear to Carl that they have no future, Carl goes ahead and marries Lexi.
April[]
Paddy tricks Aaron into joining him on his rounds as an April Fools' Day joke. Whilst at a farm, Aaron becomes attached to a dog named Clyde. When Aaron learns Clyde's owner can no longer cope with him and wants to put him down, Aaron tries to persuade Chas and Paddy to let him keep the dog but they refuse. Paddy is unable to go through with putting Clyde down, so against Chas' wishes, he decides to keep Clyde. During the discussion about the dog, Paddy asks Chas to move in with him. Chas is hesitant at first but later agrees so Chas and Aaron move back into Smithy Cottage a few days later.
Victoria loses her virginity to Daz in a barn. Afterward, Victoria is heartbroken to realise Daz regrets having sex and that he doesn't plan on breaking up with Scarlett to be with her. Over the following weeks, Victoria resumes her relationship with Aaron and Daz and Scarlett carry on as normal. When Daz makes plans to take Scarlett on a weekend break to Dublin, a jealous Victoria lies that she's pregnant. After a terrified Daz spends the weekend worrying, Victoria admits there is no baby - she made it up as she wanted him to love her. A furious Daz throws Victoria out of his car and also decides to move out of the farm to get away from Victoria. A few days later, Victoria steals Daz's housemate Jake Doland's keys and then she and Aaron have sex in Daz's bed. Daz and Scarlett walk in on the pair. As Daz throws Aaron out of the house, Victoria lets slip that she and Daz have slept together, disgusting both Aaron and Scarlett. Aaron realises Victoria wanted Daz to walk in on them so gets his own back by informing Andy that Daz and Victoria have slept together. Andy doesn't believe Aaron at first but soon realise he's telling the truth so he packs up any trace of Daz from the farm and orders Daz to leave. Daz packs the rest of his belongings up and drives away from the village.
Sandy is crushed to learn Jasmine is being transferred to a prison in Peterborough and decides to launch a campaign to challenge Jasmine's conviction despite most in the village thinking that she got off lightly. Sandy becomes so focused on the campaign that he neglects Gabby whilst babysitting her. Ashley is furious that Sandy's campaign is affecting Gabby so he orders Sandy to drop it. When Sandy refuses, Ashley asks him to leave Mulberry Cottage. The following day, Debbie finds Sandy in Jarvis Skelton's old shed and makes him realise he won't be able to overturn Jasmine's conviction, and even if he could, it's not what Jasmine would want.
Eric throws David and his cleaning equipment out of the barn attached to Farrers Barn so he can rent the space out to the Wyldes.
Maisie continues the ruse of being in a relationship with Marlon to cover her blossoming relationship with Andy. None of the Wyldes actually believe Maisie and Marlon are in a relationship but they don't understand why she would lie. A few days later, Maisie and Andy's relationship becomes public knowledge after Maisie and Debbie gets into an altercation in the pub. The Wyldes are far from pleased by the development, especially Nathan who is determined to split up Maisie and Andy. When Maisie refuses to end things, Nathan orders Andy to end the relationship instead, threatening to make his life miserable if he doesn't. Andy also refuses so a fuming Nathan decides to punish Andy by expanding a gravel pit next to Andy's farm. Maisie is furious to learn about her family's treatment of her boyfriend and later decides to move in with Andy at Butlers Farm after Natasha tries to cause further trouble between the couple.
Leyla works as much overtime she can manage as she and her sister Alicia are struggling to pay their mum's nursing home fees. When David learns of Leyla's predicament, he loans her money. Val witnesses the exchange and concludes Leyla is scamming David. After Eric and Val have a word with him, David beings wonder if Leyla's scamming too and confronts her leaving Leyla hurt that David could think so little of her.
Lee gets caught in a deer trap.
A deer goes missing from Home Farm Estate and Lee and Sam find several traps around the grounds. Lee believes Zak poached the deer but Zak denies it and Sam insists his dad wouldn't jeopardise his job like that. However, when the Dingles have venison for dinner, Sam becomes convinced is dad is lying to him. After Lee accidentally steps in one of the deer traps and injures his leg, Sam again accuses Zak of being the poacher and setting the traps. Despite Zak's protests of innocence, none of the Dingles believe him so he walk out. The following day, Sam quits his job at Home Farm due to the poaching but Nathan doesn't think Zak is the true poacher so he visits the butcher Zak claimed he got the venison from and discovers the poacher is actually Lee's grandfather Mick. Mick begs Nathan to keep the truth from Lee, but when Lee spots the pair arguing Mick is forced to come clean. Things get worse for the Naylors when Nathan sacks Lee believing he must've know about Mick's poaching. Katie manages to persuade Nathan to give Lee another chance but Lee tells him to stick the job. Afterward, Mick admits to Lee that he poached the deer as he's up to his eyes in debt and was desperate, Lee offers to move in with him and help him financially until he's back on his feet. As a result, Lee goes cap in hand to Nathan and asks for his job back.
Betty and Pearl fall out over jam making for the Wyldes culinary competition.
