Emmerdale spoilers follow from Thursday's episode (March 27), which is available to watch now on streaming service ITVX but hasn't yet aired on ITV1.
Emmerdale reveals Pete Barton's fate in Thursday's episode following the worrying news that he'd been attacked.
Pete, who bowed out from the show five years ago, has played an off-camera role in a key storyline this week as scheming Joe Tate found a cruel way to target him.
Joe became spooked when Pete's brother Ross landed a surprising new job as 'head of security' at Home Farm.
With Kim Tate's blessing, mischievous Ross vowed to keep a very close eye on Joe – certain that his long-time rival was up to no good.
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Ross's games came at the worst possible time for Joe, who's currently plotting to steal a kidney from his uncle Caleb Miligan.
Adamant that nothing could go wrong, Joe plotted to get Ross out of the way for a while by paying for Pete to be attacked.
In Thursday's episode, though, Ross returns to the village after a brief trip to see his brother.
Ross shares some encouraging news about Pete, telling Charity Dingle: "[He] discharged himself from hospital this morning, the pig-headed lump. I told him not to, but he wasn't having it.
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"Then he discharged me shortly after – reckoned I was getting on his nerves or something. Talk about ungrateful."
Pete's decision paves the way for Ross to focus back on Joe again, with a little help from Charity.
Shaun, a dodgy accomplice working who's working for Joe, carries out the businessman's dark plan by stabbing Caleb and handing him over to be transported to the private hospital.
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With the transplant due to take place imminently, Ross and Charity decide to track Joe to see what he's up to – but will their plan be a success or backfire badly?
Fans can see how the drama plays out in full when the episode airs tonight at 7.30pm on ITV1, or right now on ITVX.
Emmerdale airs on weeknights at 7.30pm on ITV1, and streams on ITVX.
