Emmerdale has delivered a seismic revelation that is set to tear lives apart in the village, as the true paternity of Charity Dingle's baby is finally exposed.
A Tangled Web of Deceit Unravels
The dramatic storyline began when Charity Dingle (Emma Atkins) agreed to act as a surrogate for her granddaughter, Sarah Sugden (Katie Hill), and her partner Jacob Gallagher (Joe-Warren Plant). However, shortly after the embryo transfer was confirmed as successful, a shocking secret emerged.
Following a furious row with her partner Mackenzie Boyd (Lawrence Robb), a drunken Charity had a one-night stand with Ross Barton (Mike Parr) in January 2026. She instantly regretted the reckless encounter, but her regret turned to horror when she realised the surrogacy might not have worked. A terrifying possibility took root: what if she was pregnant with Ross's child instead?
The Forged Test and Mounting Consequences
Charity's worst fears were realised. At Ross's insistence, a paternity test was conducted, and the results confirmed he was the biological father. In a desperate bid to control the narrative, Charity enlisted Ryan Stocks (James Moore) to help her forge the test results. She presented Ross with a document falsely stating he was not the father.
Choosing to bury the truth, Charity decided to continue the charade for Sarah and Jacob, and to hide her infidelity from Mack. Her flawed plan was to hand the baby over after the birth and hope for the best. This web of lies began to fray when Vanessa Woodfield (Michelle Hardwick) grew suspicious, wrongly assuming Mack was the father and informing him.
Mack's furious confrontation with Charity led to a desperate car journey to confess to Sarah and Jacob, which ended with them being caught in the devastating Corriedale road crash disaster.
Truth on the Horizon as Lies Collapse
In upcoming episodes, the pressure intensifies. Determined for clarity, Mack demands another paternity test, and Charity agrees. She promises him that if the baby is his, they will raise it together—a dream scenario for Mack.
His concern for Sarah leads him to tell Ross he plans to earn extra money for a potential second surrogacy attempt. This conversation is the final piece of the puzzle for Ross, confirming Charity's earlier lie about the baby definitely belonging to Sarah and Jacob. Ross had already grown suspicious and obtained the real paternity test, which proves his fatherhood beyond doubt.
The stage is now set for an explosive confrontation. With Ross in possession of the irrefutable evidence, will Charity finally be forced to admit she has been lying to everyone for months? The fallout promises to shatter multiple relationships in the Dales forever.
