Emmerdale New Year spoilers as joy ride risks tragedy, romance exposed and new dad disappears

With Christmas over in Emmerdale, it's all about looking to the New Year and as the adults are occupied at the B&B party Cathy Hope, Angelica King and Heath Hope take a joy ride in Wendy Posner's car. At the party, Nicola wants the kids to help serve and obedient Jimmy is sent to find them.

Meanwhile, in the car, Angelica and Heath are flirting and they encourage Cathy to speed up. Jimmy still hasn’t tracked them down and Bob is alarmed that Wendy's car is missing. Before long Bob has extracted the truth from April about the kids taking the car, and rushes to follow them to Hotten.

Meanwhile, Nicola is frustrated to be pulled away from the Chairman, to hear from Brenda the kids have gone joyriding. At the same time, Heath’s impatience at Cathy’s driving speed builds. A near miss with another car doesn’t affect Cathy’s resoluteness as she puts her foot down.

READ MORE: Emmerdale star Olivia Bromley teases 'big drama' ahead for Dawn and Billy after Christmas baby arrival

READ MORE: Read more of today's top stories from the Manchester Evening News

Meanwhile, Gus is absent and Rhona and Marlon are looking after Ivy. Later, Rhona confirms Marlon’s fears, admitting that she has become attached to Ivy as her own baby, but pleads with him to help make this work within their family. Will Marlon be able to support his wife with what she so desperately needs?

Elsewhere, a conversation between Gabby Thomas and Jacob Gallagher leaves Gabby concerned to think his affections are directed towards her. The next day, admiring Dawn and Billy’s relationship, Gabby admits her worry that Jacob has developed feelings for her. With Gabby determined to set him straight but when the penny drops that he wasn’t talking about her, Gabby is