Emmerdale delivered a shocking twist as villain Mike's true motives were brutally revealed through a violent attack on Vinny Dingle. The character, portrayed by Macaulay Cooper, physically assaulted Vinny in his own home before demanding £10,000 to keep his sexuality struggles secret.
Vinny Dingle (Bradley Johnson) has been grappling with his sexuality after developing feelings for Kammy Hadiq (Shebz Miah), despite his upcoming wedding to Gabby Thomas (Rosie Bentham). Seeking advice online, he connected with someone claiming to share similar struggles.
The deception revealed
Mike arrived in the village during Tuesday's episode, claiming his girlfriend Kate had discovered their conversations and thrown him out. With Gabby away at a spa, Vinny invited Mike over to discuss their situations in private.
The encounter took a sinister turn when Mike revealed everything had been fabricated, including his name. He then prevented Vinny from leaving the house and violently attacked him, leaving the character traumatised and shaking on the floor.
Fan recognition across soaps
Viewers quickly recognised Cooper from his previous villainous role on Coronation Street. One fan noted on an Emmerdale Facebook fan page: "Anyone else remember that Mike from Corrie? Harvey got him to attack David." Another added: "I thought I recognised him."
Earlier this year, Cooper appeared on Coronation Street as a henchman hired by gangster Harvey Gaskell (Will Mellor) to attack David Platt. The casting choice has created an interesting connection between the two major soap operas for dedicated viewers.
Sources used: "PA Media", "Leicester Mercury", "Mirror" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
