Emmerdale’s Marlon Dingle left heartbroken after he is reunited with daughter April – and learns her tragic secret

MARLON Dingle has finally been reunited with daughter April in Emmerdale – but heartbroken after learning her tragic secret.

April (Amelia Windsor) vanished under mysterious circumstances at the end of 2024, with no one knowing what happened to her.

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Marlon Dingle shared an emotional reunion with daughter April[/caption]

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Viewers previously learned April gave birth to a stillborn baby in tragic circumstances[/caption]

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She had been living on the streets after fleeing from the village[/caption]

Viewers saw the teenager’s experiences living on the streets in a special instalment aired last night.

Marlon (Mark Charnock) and Rhona (Zoe Henry) were stunned when doctors revealed April had given birth to a stillborn baby.

Both were desperate to see her, but were first advised to let her rest for longer.

The couple were later informed that April was ready for visitors – albeit one at a time.

A doctor told them: “She’s still very weak. So, don’t overload her with questions. Don’t expect too much.”

Marlon worried over what to say and how to address the horrific tragedy that had unfolded.

Rhona, however, encouraged him: “She’s our daughter. You’ll be fine.”

As he sat by his daughter’s bedside, Marlon said: “It’s good to see you safe. I’m glad you’re safe.”

He then took hold of April’s hand, with her permission, continuing: “We don’t have to talk just yet. I love you.”

A viewer wrote on X: “Poor April. Experiencing all of that so young. Hopefully she pulls through.”

Another added: “Just watched tonight’s #Emmerdale. Another good episode tonight. Some emotional scenes with April once again.“

While a third penned: “TBF to April, she already felt like Marlon & Rhona never really had any time for her, so it’s not surprising she felt she couldn’t tell them she was pregnant.

“Obviously we know they love her but, from a teenage girl’s perspective, it’s all about Ivy & Leo in that home.”

A harrowing special episode revealed April hitched a ride to Leeds when she left on Christmas Day.

Initially staying in a hotel, she soon found herself on the streets after running out of money .

April fell in with homeless young adults Dylan (Fred Kettle) and Becca (Becca Ashton) – who became protective after clocking she was pregnant.

In a tragic turn of events, Becca was fatally stabbed after chasing a thief who’d stolen April’s money.

Darkest soap storylines

Over the years the likes of EastEnders, Emmerdale and Coronation Street have all tried to try outdo each other with their outlandish plots in a bid to keep us tuning in each week. But here are some of the darkest that had fans in shock…

EastEnders: Tony grooming Whitney (2008-2009) – Tony King first appeared in Albert Square in 2008 as the boyfriend of Bianca, played by Patsy Palmer. But it was quickly revealed he was a paedophile who had been grooming vulnerable Whitney, Bianca’s adopted stepdaughter from a previous relationship, since she was 12. The shocking storyline attracted more than 200 complaints within a week of it beginning. Whitney waited until her 16th birthday to reveal the truth to a horrified Bianca, who called the police.

Emmerdale: Holly’s drug addiction and shock death (2010-2016) – In 2010, Holly Barton (played by Sophie Powles) became Emmerdale’s first teenage drug addict. The shocking storyline saw her taking cocaine on a night out before developing a deadly heroin habit. Parents John and Moira desperately tried to help get their daughter clean but when Holly returned in 2016, following a four-year absence, she quickly relapsed. Fans were left stunned and heartbroken when distraught Moira found Holly dead in her bed from a heroin overdose.

Hollyoaks: Luke’s rape (2000) – Actor Gary Lucy was just 17 when he took on this groundbreaking storyline, which saw his character Luke Morgan become soap’s first male rape victim. Luke had endured a long-running bullying campaign by football rival Mark Gibbs – who raped him after Luke stood up to him. Luke was left suicidal following the brutal attack, before opening up to his brother Adam. Gibbs was sentenced to eight years in prison. Gary won the Best Actor gong at the British Soap Awards in 2000 for his performance.

Coronation Street: Evil Richard Hillman (2001-2003) – Just a mere mention of ‘Richard Hillman’ is enough to send a shiver down the spines of soap fans. He is often ranked one of the most evil soap villains and it’s not hard to see why. The smooth-talking financial adviser bashed his ex-wife Patricia over the head with a shovel. In a bid to keep his mother-in-law Audrey quiet, he set fire to her house. And when Maxine caught him trying to murder Emily Bishop, he took a crowbar to her head. He made his exit from the cobbles in 2003 when he drove Gail Platt, played by Helen Worth, and her family into the canal. They survived, but he didn’t.

Meanwhile, Dylan was later arrested when police raided his run-down home base.

April fled but soon found herself in pain with members of the public ignoring her pleas for help.

She later gave birth to her stillborn baby inside a gym’s public toilets – apologising over and over.

Emmerdale continues on ITV1 and ITVX.

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Marlon was visibly overcome as he spoke to April[/caption]