ITV Emmerdale fans point out 'real star' of soap after sweet scenes

Emmerdale fans have been quick to heap praise after pointing out the 'real star' of the soap's latest episode. The ITV favourite was back on-screens on Thursday night for its usual hour-long special.

The latest trip to the Dales featured shock scenes as Billy Fletcher was subject to a horrific racist attack. Fans were horrified with how things ended after Billy's wife, Dawn Taylor, encouraged him to go out for drinks in town with his father-in-law, Will Taylor.

Later, as Dawn sat down to enjoy a drink with her dad's partner, Kim Tate, she received a message that her husband was in hospital and rushed to be with him. Seeing his injuries, Dawn demanded to know what happened and a broken Billy revealed that he had been racially attacked. Meanwhile, Ethan Anderson was defending the attacker at the police station.

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Elsewhere in the episode, there were more heart-warming moments as it was revealed that Bear Wolf has secretly been paying visits to Marlon Dingle while he was in hospital after suffering a stroke.

Emmerdale viewers saw Marlon trying to ask his mother-in-law-to-be Mary about Bear's whereabouts but got confused and went on the hunt for a teddy. Eventually, she realised what her future son-in-law meant and went to summon Bear at the pub. Son Paddy Dingle, however, was confused when Bear handed over a pile of papers to Mary and revealed the pair have been completely the crosswords and he had chosen the ones 'to his level'.

While Paddy was a bit take aback, Rhona and Mary were thrilled to see Bear keeping Matlon company. Later, as Paddy quizzed his dad, Bear told him that them doing crosswords together helps him