The love story of Val and Eric Pollard: Cheating, HIV diagnosis and tragic death

Val and Eric Pollard in Emmerdale had both been round the block a few times when they found one another. With several spouses, ex-partners, kids and grandkids between them, it looked like this was one relationship that was doomed before it even began.

But instead Val and Eric became one of Emmerdale’s best-loved couples of all time, and Eric’s heartfelt eulogy at Val’s funeral left fans sobbing!

Here’s their story.

Early days for Val and Eric

Pollard was a ruthless, manipulative conman when Valerie arrived in the village. He’d been married to Elizabeth, who died in the plane crash, letting Eric cash in on her life insurance. And it turned out he was still married to his first wife, Eileen, when he married Elizabeth!

He’d also tied the knot unsuccessfully with Dee and Gloria.

But when Val Lambert arrived in the village, the pair hit it off! Well, eventually. After Val had a steamy affair with her former brother-in-law Rodney Blackstock, only to end up being disowned by most of her family when the affair was revealed.

And when she admitted that Rodney was also the biological father of her son, Paul, her family relationships got even trickier!

With things hard for Val, she and Eric went into business together, running a fabric company. The sparks flew and they were soon enjoying a romance.

Obstacles in Val and Eric’s way

But of course, nothing’s ever simple in Emmerdale, and there were all sorts of obstacles in Val and Eric’s way. First there was Val’s ex – Jimmy Pepper – showing up. He demanded Val pay him all the money he’d given her over the years when he thought he was Paul’s dad. Val embezzled the cash from the pub and sister Diane dobbed her in to the police.

Then there was Eric’s long-lost son David Metcalfe showing up. It took Eric a while to believe David was who he said he was, but they eventually forged a bond.

Tying the knot

Eventually though, Val and Eric tied the knot in a very Val ceremony, and they settled down to life together.

They fostered troubled teenager Amy Wyatt and things were good. Until Amy got pregnant, and decided to give the little boy – Kyle – up for adoption.

Val didn’t want the baby to be given up, and she thought Eric had encouraged Amy to have Kyle adopted. The pair split, Val emptied the bank account and headed off to Portugal.

Missing Val

Thinking Val wasn’t returning, Eric began a romance with Brenda Walker. When Val came home she was FUMING. She marched into the pub and demanded that David help her win Eric back. When David said no, Val attacked him! But David’s wife, Alicia, got involved, punched Val in the face and got sentenced to a year in prison for assault.

The villagers all shunned Val, but she eventually won them over – and won Eric back!

HIV Positive

In 2014, Val got bad news when a fling from her time in Portugal, Ian Chamberlain (played by Robert Cavanah, who’s currently playing DS Foy), arrived in the village. He told her he was HIV positive and warned her she could be, too.

Once more Val and Eric split, this time thanks to her odd behaviour. Eric had a drunken one-night stand with Val’s sister, Diane, before the pair reconciled and Val told him the truth. Meanwhile, Victoria had spilled the beans to Diane, who’d got herself treatment, just in case.

When Val’s HIV status was outed by Jacob, things really fell apart. Eric and Val split, and Val spiralled into destructive behaviour.

Thankfully, they reconciled once more. With Val in trouble for committing fraud, and Eric having suffered a heart attack, she came up with a brilliant plan to fake her own death.

Val’s tragic death

In 2015, Pete Barton and Debbie Dingle had a fairground in the village as part of their wedding celebrations. Val was in the hall of mirrors with Diane, having been locked in by Eric, who was fed up with their arguing. When an explosion at the haulage yard caused by Chrissie White, hit a helicopter, tragedy struck. The helicopter plunged into the fairground, trapping Diane and Val.

Diane was rescued first but Val was stabbed by a shard of broken glass. Her death was shocking as she defiantly stared up at the glass dangling overhead and declared: “Come on then, do your worst.”

Eric’s heartbreak

The aftermath of Val’s death was heartbreaking for poor Eric. Because Val had thought about faking her death, it took a while for him to accept she was really gone.

At Val’s funeral he gave a tearjerking eulogy, saying “Without her I am lost in the dark again”.

SOB!

Eric’s since found happiness with Brenda, who’s supporting him through his Parkinson’s diagnosis.

Read more: Who’s leaving Emmerdale? All the cast exits, arrivals and returns

Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm, with an early release on ITVX at 7am.

Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm.

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