Emmerdale’s Charles Anderson and Manpreet Sharma drift even further apart in Thursday’s episode (June 13). The couple’s relationship is under severe strain amid Charles’ grief for his son Ethan.

Earlier this week, Manpreet confided in unlikely friend Ruby Fox-Miligan about the situation, revealing how Charles has been cold and distant towards her.

Manpreet predicted that their relationship wouldn’t survive the ongoing problems, admitting that they’d been struggling even before Ethan’s death. She swore Ruby to secrecy about how she felt.

In the show’s latest episode, the day of Ethan’s funeral arrives and Ruby threatens to overshadow proceedings with a shocking confession.

Ruby is ready to turn herself in for knocking down Ethan in a deliberate hit-and-run a few days before he passed away. Ethan didn’t get himself checked over at the hospital following the attack, so Ruby suspects that it caused his death.

Visiting Woodbine Cottage ahead of a planned trip to the police station, Ruby prepares to confess all to Charles and Manpreet.

She’s stopped in her tracks when Charles reveals that the coroner has established Ethan’s cause of death. Will it confirm Ruby’s worst fears?

Later, the funeral begins at the church but Charles struggles under the pressure of leading the service and giving his beloved son a fitting tribute.

During the wake at The Woolpack, Charles’ mood gets worse as he hits the bottle and drunkenly demands that Manpreet leaves. Will this be the final straw for Manpreet?

Kevin Mathurin, who plays Charles, recently spoke about losing his on-screen son Emile John from the show. Emile played the role of Ethan for three years.

Kevin said: “It was devastating to know that Emile was leaving. We joined the show together and we bonded straight away. He’s been amazing playing my son and he’s a good mate, a brother, and we’ve had some great moments and laughs and tears together.

“We’ve had an amazing journey and it’s just going to be so weird not having him sitting next to me in the dressing room, belly-laughing!

“He’s an amazing energy to have on set and he’s a brilliant actor. The future is very bright for this talented guy, so I wish him all the best.”