6 questions we have after those Emmerdale flashforward scenes

Emmerdale has just aired five huge flashforwards for what’s coming up in 2025 and we have some questions. Mainly, who, what, why and when! But we’ll break it down!

We know three of the flashforward involve Cain, Caleb and Mack (yawn!), however, we do not know the identities of who is in the other two. But we can see there’s plenty of drama ahead!

Cain holds his head in his hands in one of the Emmerdale flashforwards (Credit: ITV)

Emmerdale airs five flashforwards

So as the countdown to midnight began in the Woolpack on New Year’s Eve, we first focused on Mackenzie. Counting down with Charity and Noah, it then flashed on his future, running furiously through the woods, clearly trying to get somewhere fast.

The second glimpse of what’s to come was Caleb, flatlining on an operating table. And then we cut to Cain crying at someone’s graveside.

The final two flashforwards were equally cryptic if not more so – one featured a body bag being pushed into the river and another was a hand trapped under an icy lake bashing the surface.

So you can see why we have questions! This is everything we need to know.

Caleb lies on a hospital bed and flatlines (Credit: ITV)

1. What’s happened to Caleb and does he die?

Seen hooked up to hospital machinery, something is clearly very wrong with Caleb. But what? Is it an illness? Or has he been hurt in an accident, or perhaps attacked?

Whatever has happened, it does not look good as he soon flatlines. Can he be brought back to life?

“I can’t cope if anything happens to Caleb!” screamed one fan on social media. Neither can we!

Who's grave is Cain standing at? (Credit: ITV) — Whose grave is Cain standing at? (Credit: ITV)

2. Who is Cain mourning?

Cain is stood alone at a graveside. He is wearing a funeral suit and the grave is freshly dug with flowers on it. As Cain looks troubled and then breaks down, it’s not obvious whose grave it is. But Cain wouldn’t cry over just anyone, would he?

Is it Caleb’s grave – is Cain simply mourning his brother? Or has Cain somehow caused Caleb’s death and the guilt is overwhelming?

Or could it be *whispers it* Moira? Please not Moira! After her recent brain surgery, she still has to undergo radiotherapy. Could something go terribly wrong?

Eagle-eyed fans on social media think the flowers have spelled out ‘Mum’, but others insist that’s not right and they definitely don’t – and we just can’t work it out.

Here’s a curveball though: what if it’s related to the long-held theory that Nate Robinson, Cain’s son who’s supposedly in Shetland, is actually dead?

3. Who is in the body bag in the Emmerdale flashforwards?

This could be anybody. Literally anybody. We don’t know who’s pushing it into the water, so can’t even say which family in Emmerdale it involves!

April is missing – has she met a grisly fate? Or could it be related to the whole Joe Tate return? Claire King has said she’s ready for Kim to kill again, so could this be her doing?

Or what about Ella Forster? She is leaving the soap and has killed before. Will she do so again before she goes?

We have nothing to go on whatsoever here, so these are all just guesses – we need to know!

A hand bashes against the ice desperate to get out (Credit: ITV)

4. Who is in the icy lake?

The hand bashing against the ice was probably the most chilling part of the Emmerdale flashforwards. Someone is trapped and it looks cold and dark and isolated, so do they have any hope of getting out? Not likely!

Reports have suggested this is how Leyla Harding will meet her maker. The Sun has suggested the terrifying scenes, filmed just before Christmas, will see Leyla and two other women trapped in a car as it sinks into a frozen lake.

Sources have told the publication that Emmerdale pulled out all the stops. This included covering a field with candle wax in order to make it look like a frozen lake.

An insider said: “It’s a nightmare scenario and everything was done to make sure this was a scene with real impact. Hours were spent creating a layer of ice. Then the actors spent hours out on the frozen field in the pitch black trying to do the storyline justice.”

So is this Leyla’s exit?

Mack is running who knows where (Credit: ITV)

5. Where is Mack going?

This one was a little dull to be honest! Mackenzie running through the woods looking a bit stressed. There was no one else with him – so is he running to find someone or running away from someone – or something?

We’re struggling to care too much about this – Mack’s done himself no favours lately, so unless he’s rushing to save one of our faves, we’ll just wait to see on this one.

6. Are all the flashforwards in Emmerdale connected?

There were five of them, seemingly focusing on different characters, but are they all connected?

For example: Is Mack racing to find Caleb, who is then rushed to hospital, dies and Cain cries at his grave? Then Cain gets revenge on his killer by plunging them in a body bag in a lake, but the person gets free just as the lake freezes over and can’t get out? See what we mean? Is there a connection here?

Or are these five completely different storylines that will have us equally gripped in 2025?

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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