Emmerdale confirms worrying new storyline for Gabby Thomas in 2026

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Later this year, Emmerdale will feature a concerning new story arc centered on Gabby Thomas and her relationship with food.

Rosie Bentham’s character has faced a lot of disappointments recently, especially in her love life, as her relationships haven’t worked out.

Last year, audiences saw her marriage to Vinny (Bradley Johnson) quickly fall apart after she learned he was grappling with his sexual identity, a revelation that came after their wedding.

This week on Emmerdale, Gabby will try to start a relationship with Ross Barton. Ross has been playfully flirting with her at Home Farm, but doesn’t realize she’s hoping for something more.

He was planning on letting her down easy, but that rejection really sent Gabby spiraling. Honestly, it just completely crushed her self-esteem – I could see it happening right on screen, and it was tough to watch. It was like that one moment unlocked everything, and things were never the same after that.

In a recent interview with Inside Soap, producer Laura Shaw revealed that this storyline will soon develop into an unhealthy focus on dieting, potentially leading to serious problems.

The magazine reports that Gabby’s story will explore the dangers of becoming overly focused on healthy eating.

After losing Vinny and feeling rejected by Ross, she begins to fixate on controlling her diet.

Shaw warned that problems are likely to arise soon. Bentham clarified that her character acts the way she does because she wants to be in charge.

“I feel like Gabby’s always had that desire to prove herself,” she explained.

Being a 24-year-old, she’s heavily influenced by social media. When you add rejection to that, it can quickly lead to a downward spiral.

I’ve been thinking about this actress and her recent focus on wellness. It’s great to prioritize your health, honestly, but it got me wondering – where’s the line between being healthy and becoming too focused on it? When does self-care tip over into something unhealthy, you know?

The story will unfold over the next year, and according to Bentham, this is only the beginning of what Gabby will experience.

Read the full interview in Inside Soap Magazine, available now.

Emmerdale airs weeknights at 8pm on ITV1 and from 7am on ITVX.

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Authors

Tilly PearceFreelance Writer

Tilly Pearce is a freelance TV journalist who covers a wide variety of shows, from popular reality series like Love Is Blind to science fiction hits like Fallout. She’s a highly qualified journalist, holding NCTJ Gold Standard accreditation, and has experience working as a deputy editor at both Digital Spy and Daily Express US.

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2026-05-26 19:09