Earlier this week Arthur Thomas got Emmerdale fans talking but now attentions have turned to his younger sister Dotty Thomas who made a sudden return to the soap. Dotty is the daughter of Laurel and her late husband, and vicar, Ashley Thomas, who tragically died in 2017 after being diagnosed with dementia two years earlier.
During Thursday night's hour-long edition of the ITV soap, viewers saw Jai Sharma continuing his bid to make amends with ex-partner Laurel Thomas after she kicked him to the curb for taking out a £50,000 loan in her name without her knowing and almost causing her to lose her beloved home, Mulberry Cottage.
READ MORE: ITV Emmerdale fans in agreement as soap airs heartbreaking Marlon and April scenes
Earlier this week we saw Jai pay Laurel a visit to apologise after his dad, Rishi Sharma, tried to fight his corner and get Laurel to see that his son was sorry. When he arrived, he found an emotional Laurel looking at her old wedding photos from her marriage to Marlon Dingle after news spread he suffered a heart-breaking stroke.
When asked if there was anything he could do, Laurel asked Jai if he could stay, clearly sparking his hopes of a reunion. But these were quickly dashed when she clarified that she wanted him to watch the kids as she headed to The Woolpack to check for more news on Marlon.
Appearing slightly wounded, Jai ended up sitting down with Arthur, who appeared from upstairs in his glasses and dressing gown, and ended up speaking about how much he misses his dad.
Determined to make things right, Jai started doing what he could to try and get back in Laurel's good books and offered to take her kids, Arthur and Dotty, to school alongside his own son Archie.
When he arrived at the house, Jai was on his best behaviour and was teasing the kids as he pretended to be unable to find Dotty who was hiding next to the sofa. As he pondered about her whereabouts, the youngster popped up from her hiding place, marking a return to screens for actress Tilly-Rue Foster who plays her.
And fans were quick to comment on her reappearance.
"Dotty has been let out the bedroom! No wonder he couldn’t remember her name. She’s not been seen since she was a few weeks old. #Emmerdale," @dondons100 tweeted.
@tralou1345 joked: "Has Dotty been hiding under that table for 4 years #emmerdale."
"Blimey - we finally see Dotty after years of being up in her bedroom. #Emmerdale," @rubyrache said.
@Matt528chap commented: "What have they been feeding the kids in the past 2 years-First Arthur now Dotty has shot up in height. #Emmerdale."
"Well hasn't there been a growing spurt in #emmerdale.. first Arthur now Dotty...what they feeding them," @TheMandyHayes echoed.
@laurenangelama1 wrote: "It’s dotty all grown up #emmerdale."
"Dotty is very cute! #Emmerdale," @geordiegalg added.
