Emmerdale spoilers follow from Friday’s episode (19 December), which is available to watch now on ITVX and YouTube but hasn’t yet aired on ITV1.

Emmerdale is plotting a tough Christmas for Kim Tate, but it looks like Gabby Thomas won’t be around to cheer her up during the festive season. The latest visit to the Dales confirms that Gabby will be absent from Home Farm as she has other plans.

Show bosses have tipped Kim as one to watch in the hour-long 25 December special, as she spends the day alone pondering over old photographs and reminiscing over the ghosts of Christmas past.

Kim has already turned against Joe Tate and Dawn Fletcher, believing that they’re greedy and can’t be trusted. The Home Farm queen spotted red flags when Joe arranged to have her beloved horse Ice euthanised due to injury. She was also annoyed when Joe got carried away and boasted about how he’d inherit her business one day.

In the coming days, viewers will also see Kim’s friendship with Lydia Dingle potentially destroyed for good as the truth emerges regarding the recent accident on Home Farm land. But what about Gabby, who Kim has no current beef with?

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In Friday’s episode, Gabby reveals that she’s off to the airport that afternoon, as she’ll be spending Christmas with her mum Bernice in Portugal.

“Kim, look, it’s just a short break,” Gabby explains. “And if you’re annoyed about being on your own at Christmas, I mean, I can always ask mum to cancel.”

Clearly covering her true feelings, lonely Kim replies: “On the contrary. I’m looking forward to having the place to myself for once. Catch up on some reading. Get a bit of peace and quiet for a change.”

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Later, Kim’s day gets even worse when a tormented Lydia decides that it’s time to confess her and Sam’s guilt over the recent accident.

This could be the final nail in the coffin for Kim’s desire to trust anyone in the future. Is there any hope for her Christmas to turn around for the better, or is she destined to face a gloomy time?

Emmerdale airs on weeknights at 7.30pm on ITV1, and streams on ITVX.

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