EMMERDALE has revealed a major twist as one show character who was believed to be dead is actually ALIVE.
The shock reveal came at the end of the latest episode of the ITV soap when it was confirmed that not all was as it seemed.
In an unexpected twist, it was revealed that Mackenzie Boyd was in fact alive and being held hostage by serial killer John Sugden in a secret underground bunker.
For the past two weeks, fans of Emmerdale had been under the impression that Mack was killed by John when he began to realise just what he had been up to.
Mack was shot in the back with an arrow by John in grim scenes before he appeared to finish off the job by whacking a rock over his head.
The incident, which took place in the woods, left many assured that Mack was in fact dead when it appeared that John had buried him without anyone ever knowing.
But now it has been revealed that it was actually the entry to John’s underground lair where he is housing Mack.
Fans saw John scraping away leaves on the ground which revealed a metal grid.
He was then able to open it up which revealed a murky cellar below the ground.
John went down the ladder into the darkened hovel which appeared to have just one light.
Looking down on the ground, he then pulled back a cloth which revealed Mack’s face.
The gasp-worthy moment confirmed he was alive as he began to screw up his face as if he had been sleeping or was being kept sedated by John.
But just what exactly is John’s plan?
And will he get caught out by those closest to him?
The reveal that Mack is alive comes after the soap garnered plenty of Ofcom complaints that branded his ‘death’ scenes tasteless.
The latest data shows Ofcom received 158 complaints following the grisly scenes.
After John’s brutal actions played out, fans soon took to X to complain.
One wrote: “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.”
Another added: “@ofcom complaints incoming and this time you take action.”
A third said: “The writers have really crossed line bow and arrow after crossbow killings not right.”
Most devastating soap deaths
SOAP viewers are frequently left heartbroken after watching some of their favourite characters bite the dust.
Here is a list of the most devastating deaths that have taken place in soapland over the years.
EASTENDERS
Barry Evans – Evil Janine ( Charlie Brooks ) lured her trusting fiance to Scotland for a quickie marriage after learning he was dying.
Her plan to inherit Barry’s fortune was thwarted when Barry told her that the doctors had mixed up his medical files.
Furious that she was no longer set for a windfall, she pushed Barry off a cliff after telling him their love was “fake”.
Bradley Branning – Bradley was accused of killing Stacey Slater’s rapist Archie Mitchell ( Larry Lamb ) after he punched him twice on the night he died.
He was spotted in the Square by a police woman who chased him up a fire escape.
Bradley lost his balance and tragically plunged to his death.
CORONATION STREET
Tina McIntyre – Tina was getting it on with Peter Barlow – despite him being married to Carla Connor.
When she threatened to reveal the truth, Carla’s brother Rob got into a physical altercation with her.
Tina lost her footing and fell off a balcony – then warned Rob she was going to tell the cops he pushed her.
In a panic, Rob brutally clobbered her over the head with a metal pipe.
Molly Dobbs – Molly was one of the victims in Corrie’s 2010 tram crash, alongside Ashley Peacock (Steven Arnold).
Married to Tyrone (Alan Halsall), Molly had been having an affair with Kevin Webster (Michael Le Vell) in the months before her death.
This resulted in the birth of their son, Jack (Kyran Bowes), who was named after Jack Duckworth.
As fate would have it, Kevin’s wife Sally (Sally Dynevor) was by Molly’s side in her final moments.
Sally was stunned as Molly confessed Kevin was Jack’s father, before dying of her injuries.
Vera Duckworth – Having appeared regularly in Corrie since the 1970s, there was no denying Vera Duckworth was an iconic character.
Alongside her husband Jack, the pair formed one of the soap’s most beloved couples.
Viewers were heartbroken when Vera was killed off in 2008, being discovered having passed away peacefully in her chair.
Liz Dawn, who played Vera, made a brief return two years later for Bill Tarmey’s exit as Jack.
Paul Foreman – Fans were heartbroken when Paul Foreman succumbed to his illness after battling motor neurone disease.
Introduced in 2018 as David Platt’s (Jack P. Shepherd) cellmate, he later embarked on a romance – and marriage – with vicar Billy Mayhew.
The MND storyline was announced in 2023 – with the expectation it would result in the character’s death.
EMMERDALE
Sarah Sugden – After the family got into financial problems, Sarah’s son Andy ( Kelvin Fletcher ) decided to make some quick cash from an insurance company by setting fire to the Sugden barn.
He didn’t realise his mum was inside the building, and she got trapped in the blaze.
Nine villagers – The shocking 1993 plane crash episode brought in 18 million viewers for Emmerdale.
Mark Hughes was killed by a falling wall, Archie Brooks was burned by jet fuel, Elizabeth Pollard was killed by debris and newcomer Leonard Kempinski died in a car crash caused by the crash.
Five other non-recurring characters from the village also died.
HOLLYOAKS
Carmel McQueen – The talented singer died in shocking scenes when a train crashed into a her family’s car.
Carmel managed to free her cousin Theresa from the rubble – but got stuck in it herself.
Moments later the train exploded and Carmel died in the arms of her family members, promising to be their guardian angel.
