Emmerdale fans are in for a Christmas Day shocker as a serial killer returns to the village.
While this year's festive episode starts off with seasonal merriment, it's not long before things dark a very dark turn.
Despite fleeing the country earlier this year, John Sugden (Oliver Farnworth) - who has already killed at least three people - is back and clearly unfazed by the ongoing manhunt to find him.
Aaron Dingle's estranged husband is now about to potentially add another victim to his list in the form of his estranged prison husband Kevin Townsend (Chris Coghill).
The pair get into an altercation in John's hideout after Kev tries and fails to shoot John, only to end up being taken captive by the killer.
While Kev's fate has yet to be confirmed, the shocking scenes that see him bound and gagged are guaranteed to leave fans on the edge of their seats this Christmas Day.
After seemingly taking his latest victim, John leaves and goes into the village in search of Aaron - and takes the risk of sneaking into the pub as a wanted man.
Following a close call with Liam, where John's return is very nearly exposed, he makes a terrifying promise to a sleeping Aaron as his family continue their festive celebrations nearby.
He says: 'So many people care about you but not one of them as much as I do.
'2025 has been a shocking year but 26 that is going to be the best year ever. Because you and me, we're going to be together. No matter what.'
Fans will need to tune in on Boxing Day to find out whether Kev (Chris Coghill) survives and what exactly John has in store for his estranged husband...
Many will likely be hoping that he survives as while the villain was initially only intended to have a brief run on the show, he proved hugely popular with fans.
A source told The Sun: 'Chris has filmed scenes through to the end of the year and that was meant to be it.
'But now the bosses are looking at ways to bring him back in future to give the fans what they want.'
The killer's return to the show comes after one of his slayings earlier this year prompted a wave of Ofcom complaints.
Mackenzie Boyd (Lawrence Robb) was killed off in a death scene that was described as 'crossing the line'.
The episode, which aired on August 21, saw Mackenzie brutally shot in the back with an arrow.
His harrowing death came after he found out that John had killed Nate Robinson months ago.
In the shocking pre-watershed scenes, John was seen shooting Mackenzie in the back with an arrow, after an argument.
John then hit a helpless Mackenzie over the head with a huge rock, before his body was covered with a sheet and wheeled away into the back of John's blood-stained van - confirming his death.
Emmerdale has sparked a new wave of Ofcom complaints after a 'violent and tasteless death', which aired on August 21
Mackenzie Boyd was brutally shot in the back with an arrow by villain John Sugden, which in turn left viewers heartbroken
Fans even took to X to share their thoughts, with some even claiming it was taken too far
Following the episode, Ofcom data shows 158 complaints were received from viewers.
Fans even took to X to share their thoughts, with some even claiming it was taken too far.
Comments online included: 'Love Emmerdale but this all seemed a bit much with the violence and the crossbow seemed in bad taste what with the recent real life tragedies.';
'In all my many years watching Emmerdale, I don't think I have ever been so sickened as I was watching tonight's episode.
'Death by crossbow and a brick before the watershed crosses a line. It was like watching an episode of The Wire.'
Emmerdale airs at 6:15pm on ITV1 on Christmas Day and is available to stream on ITVX.