Emmerdale has confirmed a new pawn in Celia Daniels’ evil plans after it was revealed that the mysterious Celia was actually the mastermind behind an illegal drug operation that has coerced April Windsor into drug dealing. Viewers know that troubled teen April has been involved in an ongoing storyline about County Lines drug dealing along with her boyfriend Dylan Penders.

In last week’s episodes, April’s brother Leo was hospitalised after taking an ecstasy pill that April accidentally dropped on her way out to meet Ray Walters, the man who coerced the teenagers into dealing drugs.

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In a shocking turn of events, it was revealed that Celia was actually in charge of the operation and was also Ray’s adoptive mother.

Following an interview with a social worker, in which April lied and said she was under pressure at home, Rhona Goskirk suggested that April move out for a few weeks.

In today’s episode, April packed her bags to go and stay with friends, and with April away from Marlon Dingle and Rhona’s watchful eyes, Celia set her sights on some new pawns for her operation.

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Listening in while Marlon spoke to Bob, Celia seemed interested to find out that April would be leaving home temporarily.

During a conversation with Bob Hope, Celia offered to buy him a cup of coffee and said: “In my experience, teenagers, they just need space.”

Later, Bob caught April at the bus stop, telling her that she could come and stay with him, and April agreed.

Meanwhile, Celia let her true feelings be known while talking to Ray, saying she had developed a friendship with Bob as part of her plan to keep April under her control.

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“That grandad was supposed to encourage her to spread her wings,” Celia told Ray. “But the brat moving in with him? A step in the right direction.”

She continued: “That grandad Bob could be a useful link to exploit a bit more. And Dylan’s still at the depot, so that’s all good.”

After saying that she and Ray could “work with this”, Celia said: “It’s all about the long game, my boy, isn’t it?”