Emmerdale twist as Vinny Dingle is brutally betrayed by friend he trusted

Emmerdale spoilers follow.

Vinny Dingle's friendship with online pal Mike turns ugly on Emmerdale next week, when his new confidant beats him to a pulp.

After sharing his deepest secrets with Mike, confused Vinny is horrified when the man he trusted leaves him for dead – then blackmails him for ten grand. How will he keep his secret turmoil from Gabby now?

"Mike isn't who he says he is," teases Bradley Johnson, who plays the tormented scrapper.

"He turns up unannounced, giving Vinny this whole backstory and performance. But all of a sudden he beats Vinny up, and it's horrendous…"

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With his wedding to Gabby fast approaching, Vinny turns to the internet to try to make sense of his sexuality crisis. Soon he gets chatting to an empathetic man named Mike, and they end up meeting in person.

"Vinny meets this guy Mike, who says he's in the same situation," explains Bradley. "Vinny confides in Mike and they bond over what they're both going through. Vinny really feels for him."

As their bond grows stronger, Vinny is comforted by Mike's support, especially as his awkward crush on Kammy Hadiq lingers.

When Gabby spends the night away at a spa, Mike shows up on Vinny's doorstep and reveals his wife has kicked him out.

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While Gabby visits Charles and plans a wedding surprise for her hubby-to-be, Vinny tries to support Mike. When his new friend alludes to the simmering attraction between them, Vinny denies having any feelings towards Mike – and then things turn really nasty…

"Mike starts saying some really hurtful, horrible stuff to Vinny," reveals Bradley. "He shifts in body language and then Mike beats Vinny up. Vinny's on the floor, having flashbacks to everything that happened with his abusive dad, Paul."

Vinny cowers on the ground, bleeding and vulnerable, trapped by this violent and homophobic stranger. He longs to be rescued, but being discovered might mean his secrets are blown open.

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Having forgotten her phone, Gabby heads home. But will she save Vinny from another beating?

"Mike demands £10,000 or else he'll expose Vinny's secrets to Gabby," warns Bradley. "What's extra cruel is that Mike recorded Vinny at every meeting, even when he's on the floor and vulnerable. Vinny's world collapses…"

Blackmailed for thousands of pounds and carrying the weight of all these secrets, will Vinny give in to Mike's demands? Or will he find the courage to come clean and explain his confusion to Gabby before they wed?