Emmerdale’s Mary Goskirk announces that she’s taking a short break from the village tonight – and it’s probably for the best, with all hell about to break loose for her family. Mary shares her news ahead of huge episodes later this week, which see Celia Daniels pile pressure on Marlon Dingle, Rhona Goskirk and April Windsor.

In Monday’s episode, Mary is in high spirits as she prepares to take a relaxing break away from the dramas of the Dales. As Mary brings her suitcase and bags downstairs, her daughter Rhona is feeling jealous…

“Part of me wishes I was coming with you,” Rhona admits. “The idea of a retreat in Cornwall has a lot to be said for itself.”

She adds: “You deserve this. Just promise you’ll send pictures so I can live vicariously through you.”

It seems like Mary doesn’t plan to leave for long, as Marlon promises they can have a heartwarming family Christmas once she’s back.

Rhona and Marlon may well breathe a sigh of relief to have Mary out of the way, as this week’s episodes see their family come under serious threat.

Show bosses have revealed that this Wednesday’s episode (3 December) features the long-awaited scenes where April tells her dad Marlon the truth about her involvement in Celia’s criminal dealings. This time for real, after the fantasy sequence in a recent special episode.

Afterwards, Marlon and Rhona are both desperate to save April by involving the police, but when Celia pays an uninvited visit to their home, she clearly has other ideas…

“April telling Marlon and Rhona everything means that Celia will have to explain to them in no uncertain terms what their new reality is,” Jaye Griffiths, who plays Celia, recently told us.

“April will have brought this upon her own family – Celia warned her what would happen. Celia doesn’t make threats, empty or otherwise, she just states realities and consequences. And the consequence of this is, ‘Now I own your family.’ They should very, very much be scared.”

Will Mary stay safely out of the picture as the drama unfolds? Or could she return earlier than planned to help them out?