Looking ahead to the holiday episodes, Ned Porteous has revealed that Joe faces eviction from Home Farm, compelling him to celebrate somewhere entirely “different”.

The entrepreneur won’t be carving turkey alongside girlfriend Dawn and her youngsters this year.

Ned elaborates: “Joe is basically ousted from the house by Kim Tate, because she’s so cross, because of what he has done to her horse. So it’s going to be a different Christmas for Joe”, reports the Daily Star.

“I think he’s probably gutted about the fact he’s annoyed Kim. But at the time he believed he was doing the right thing, as Joe always does. Let’s just hope that he can win her around in the New Year.”

He continued: “So Christmas is a strange one for Joe. Not only does he end up spending it somewhere a little different this year, that’s a tease as he’s out of his comfort zone for sure, but this Christmas, there is also a nice, happy piece of news for him.”

Simultaneously, Eden Taylor-Draper has hinted at an unconventional festive period for Belle as well.

She continued: “Christmas proves to be an unpredictable affair for the Dingles this year, and I don’t believe Belle winds up celebrating Christmas, which happens to coincide with her birthday, alongside those she anticipated sharing the festivities with.”

Eden also hinted at the appearance of additional visitors on Christmas Day, remarking: “She spends it with Sam and Lydia, but are there some random late comers”.

Emmerdale viewers are now certain that Joe and Belle will find themselves together on Christmas Day, with potential romance brewing, though the remaining Dingle clan won’t be pleased, given Joe’s status as a family adversary.

On Reddit, one viewer observed: “I think Joe and Belle could be a really good dynamic. It would be too soon for them to be getting together this Christmas – we need to see his relationship with Dawn starting to break down first – but they could be sowing the seeds. Can you imagine Cain’s reactions – first Debbie, now Belle.”

Another highlighted: “And the fact that Joe’s dad was married to Charity at one point!”.

A third contributed: “No, but if they do get together, how would the rest of the family feel about it, and I think Joe is jealous of the Dingles because he doesn’t have that close family unit”, suggested one fan.

“It would be good to have a good old affair storyline, but I feel they’ve done it too many times with Belle. I would just like her to be in a relationship with a good guy”, another viewer concluded.

Emmerdale airs weekdays on ITV and ITVX