Note: This article contains spoilers from Thursday's Emmerdale episodes (August 1), which some readers may prefer to avoid.
Emmerdale has killed off Frank Clayton in a devastating storyline twist.
Michael Praed, who played the role of Frank for three years, has bowed out from the show after the tragic events of Thursday night's episodes (August 1).
Frank died a hero after saving his daughter Tracy Metcalfe (Amy Walsh) from a fire at the Sharma & Sharma sweet factory.
When Frank found his terrified daughter trapped in a storeroom in the burning building, he bravely stuck around amid the flames and smoke until he'd managed to break her out.
Related: Emmerdale star Amy Walsh opens up over filming "hardcore" factory fire scenes
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Sadly, Frank's heroics were soon followed by a fateful mistake as he stayed behind once Tracy had escaped, hoping to retrieve an engagement ring he was planning to use to propose to his partner Megan Macey.
Frank later made his own escape but found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time when the building exploded and endangered those directly outside.
Although paramedics tried to save Frank, he was pronounced dead at the scene with his distraught daughters Tracy and Vanessa watching on.
Earlier, the building had gone up in flames thanks to a terrible mistake from Kerry and Amy Wyatt, who unknowingly started a fire while destroying CCTV equipment in the building.
The Wyatts needed to get rid of the footage after Kerry stole charity money from the safe, which they were using to help Amy pay off a debt to an old acquaintance in Belfast.
Related: 12 huge Emmerdale spoilers for next week
When the fire broke out, Tracy was locked in the storeroom waiting for her love interest Billy Fletcher, hoping to seduce him.
The blaze will now spark a number of major new storylines for Emmerdale, affecting the lives of several characters in the village.
While Tracy and Vanessa will both be struggling with their grief, Kerry and Amy will be trying their best to keep their involvement in causing the fire under wraps.
Meanwhile, the Sharmas face financial ruin when they discover that their insurance company may not give them a payout. Jai has to consider a deal with the devil – Kim Tate – to help turn things around.
Related: Emmerdale reveals more about Debbie Dingle's exit storyline
Chris Bisson, who plays Jai, recently explained: "Jai is very upset about the factory going up in flames. It was the family business, their livelihoods are on the line and this is compounded by other elements too.
"Rishi had turned off the fire alarm before the accident and he's also taken a loan from Kim. The factory staff are all out of work and asking if they're going to get paid. The insurance is potentially an issue. And of course, the disaster led to somebody's death.
"Jai is in the centre of this swirling whirlpool and he's been sucked down the vortex in the middle! Whichever way he turns to make things better, it makes things worse in another way.
"It goes on for a while and it is a good story. You'll see how it puts pressure on Jai's relationship with Laurel, which is interesting."
Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7pm on ITV, with extra episodes at 8pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
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