Emmerdale's Moira Dingle is set for a turbulent and 'stressful' start to 2026, following her dramatic public confrontation with the villainous Celia Daniels. Actress Natalie J Robb has teased major fallout for her character after that iconic soap slap.
The Farm's Dark Secret Exposed
What began in June 2025 as an amiable business partnership between farmers Moira and Celia (Jaye Griffiths) quickly soured. Celia, who presented a respectable front, was secretly running a horrific operation at Butler's Farm, using forced labourers in domestic slavery. This included ex-wrestler Bear Wolf (Joshua Richards), who was even forced to bury a worker who died in captivity.
Moira's suspicions grew when she discovered Celia forging her signature on invoices. The final straw was the shocking realisation that Celia and her son Ray (Joe Absolom) were exploiting vulnerable people on her land. Despite Celia's attempts to gaslight Moira by blaming her brain tumour, Moira's response was definitive: a powerful slap in the Woolpack.
Christmas Calm Before the Storm
Actress Natalie J Robb is eagerly anticipating the coming drama. 'I'm really looking forward to it as there are lots of good things coming up,' she said. 'But Moira is going to have quite a rocky time. It's going to be stressful. The Celia drama will have a knock on effect.'
First, however, there will be a festive respite. 'This Christmas Moira, Cain and the family are all going to be together,' Natalie revealed. The holiday will feature two surprise arrivals and amusing scenes, including one guest trying to get Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) to dance.
Repercussions and a New Year's Warning
The Christmas warmth is unlikely to last. After being publicly humiliated, Celia is expected to play the victim, potentially pressing charges and working to make Moira appear unstable. This sets the stage for a difficult beginning to the new year for the Dingle matriarch.
When asked if she had a New Year's resolution for Moira, Natalie J Robb offered a simple, pointed piece of advice: 'Don't trust people so quickly.' For a woman who has been charmed and betrayed by Celia Daniels, that warning may have come too late.
With explosive exits and final showdowns promised, Emmerdale viewers can expect the conflict between Moira and Celia to reach a boiling point in early 2026.
