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Emmerdale airs major update on Billy Fletcher amid coma storyline, major exit, and sad death in early ITVX release

Warning: Contains spoilers for Wednesday's episode of Emmerdale, which airs at 8pm on ITV1 or can be streamed now on ITVX.

Billy Fletcher lay in a hospital bed with a bandage around his head in a scene from Emmerdale

ITV

Published: Wednesday, 5 August 2026 at 11:47 am

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Joe Tate's (Ned Porteous) suspicions about fiancée Dawn Fletcher (Olivia Bromley) and her ex-husband Billy (Jay Kontzle) have been heightened in today's episode of Emmerdale.

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He knows that the two shared a brief kiss, but is reluctant to accept that she would betray his trust with their wedding on the horizon.

Just hours after Joe found out, Billy was brutally attacked and upon arrival at hospital, was put into a coma. Caleb Miligan (William Ash) reckoned that Joe's discovery was a motive for committing the crime and had a quiet word with the investigating officer, which led to his arrest.

Ultimately, there was no evidence to support the belief that he was responsible, and he was allowed to leave custody.

Billy's life has hung in the balance ever since, but today, his family were dealt some good news. The doctor explained that it was time to bring him out of his coma, and that there would be a period of confusion afterwards.

Dawn chats to Billy in the hospital in a scene from Emmerdale

Olivia Bromley and Jay Kontzle as Dawn and Billy Fletcher. ITV

Doting Dawn kept vigil at his bedside, as Joe watched through the window. Could this be the sign he needed that she still has lingering feelings?

Meanwhile, the Dingles faced two heartbreaking developments.

The first concerned beloved pooch Monty the dog, who is suffering from cancer. Owner Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) decided earlier this week that the time had come to let go, though it left him facing questions about his own prostate cancer diagnosis.

Belle and Cain stand over Monty, who is lay on Zak's grave, in a scene from Emmerdale

Jeff Hordley and Eden Taylor-Draper as Cain and Belle Dingle. ITV

Although not an easy decision to make, Cain knew that it was the right thing to do when he found the pooch sleeping on his late father Zak's grave.

The family all said a tearful goodbye, before poor Monty was carried to the vets.

Noah talks to Charity in a scene from Emmerdale

Jack Downham and Emma Atkins as Noah and Charity Dingle. ITV

When Cain emerged from the practice, cousin Charity Dingle (Emma Atkins) was saying a sad farewell of her own. She'd been firmly against son Noah's (Jack Downham) decision to relocate to Dusseldorf for a new electricians job, though could see how much he was struggling to find work in Yorkshire.

He'd spent the day strolling around the village with little to do, and Charity was left guilt-ridden.

Despite her reservations, she announced that she'd booked his flights and wanted him to go and make a better future for himself.

Is this the last we've seen of Noah in Emmerdale?

Read more:

Emmerdale airs weeknights at 8pm on ITV1 and from 7am on ITVX.

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Authors

Michael Adams wearing a white t-shirt and beige gilet against a white background

Michael AdamsSoaps Editor

Michael Adams is the Soaps Editor at Radio Times, covering all of the hot gossip and spoilers from Weatherfield to Walford, Emmerdale to Hollyoaks and everywhere in-between. He joined the team from Metro, where he spent two years as a Soaps Reporter and previously worked on the sets of both Coronation Street and Emmerdale.

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