Death has often cast a shadow over the festive season in Emmerdale with the soap notorious for its Christmas character culls.

In 2023, Damon Harris (played by Robert Beck) met his end at the hands of Charity Dingle (Emma Atkins), continuing a grim Yuletide tradition that began nearly three decades ago.

 

 

While it remains to be seen who might meet their maker this year, fans are speculating that Celia Daniels could be next on the chopping block, following confirmation that actress Jaye Griffiths is set to depart the ITV soap.

Here’s a look back at some of the most shocking Christmas demises that have rocked the village and left lasting impacts.

The 1998 Christmas Day episode marked the tragic end for beloved postmaster Vic Windsor (Alun Lewis). His life was cut short during an armed robbery orchestrated by Andy Sugden’s (Kelvin Feltcher) convict father, Billy Hopwood (David Crellin).

 

 

Desperate for cash to fund his fresh start abroad with Andy, Billy chose to rob the Post Office on its quietest day, not anticipating Vic would catch him in the act. Armed with a shotgun, Billy threatened Vic, leading to a struggle that resulted in Vic crashing into shelves and sustaining fatal injuries, reports the Daily Star.

Despite Vic’s pleas for help, Billy fled the scene, leaving Vic to die alone. The heartbreaking episode drew in 11.1 million viewers, all mourning the loss of the much-loved character.

The festive murder of Tom King (Kenneth Farrington) in 2006 was a shocking event. The King patriarch had just tied the knot with the gold-digger Rosemary Sinclair (Linda Thorson), much to his sons’ dismay.

The wedding reception at Home Farm was in full swing, but the day was about to take a dark turn. An unknown figure entered Tom’s bedroom upstairs and assaulted him with a bronze statue.

In a horrifying spectacle, Tom plummeted through the window in front of his stunned guests, dying from a broken neck. His unexpected murder ignited the soap’s most significant whodunit, implicating many locals.