Soaps

Emmerdale SPOILERS: Jacob’s new love interest is Maya’s ex-stepdaughter Leanna

It's complicated!

Viewers of Emmerdale have been longing for teenager Jacob Gallagher to move on from his relationship with groomer Maya Stepney, after she was sent to jail earlier this year.

But his next relationship looks set to be troublesome, too.

Not exactly breaking free from the memory of Maya, though, is it? (Credit: ITV)

Read more: Emmerdale’s Jurell Carter reveals he auditioned for another role

Next week, the schoolboy gets closer to Leanna when they share a kiss whilst getting ready for the Halloween party.

Although Leanne is his age, viewers know that their involvement would not be without its complications as she is the former stepdaughter of Maya Stepney.

Leanna, who is the daughter of Maya’s ex-husband Liam, has harboured a crush on Jacob for months but will she be able to tear Jacob away from the memory of Maya?

Credit: ITV/YouTube
Leanna isn’t exactly Snow White (Credit: ITV)

Read more: Emmerdale SPOILERS: Kim discovers it was Jamie who put her in jail

The kiss comes just weeks after Jacob was seen staring longingly into a photograph of groomer Maya, who he still believes he’s in love with.

Disgraced schoolteacher Maya was sentenced to 12 months in prison for sexual contact with a minor.

Some worried fans now believe Maya will be out in time for Christmas, and will return to the village to reunite with Jacob.

Is Jacob still waiting for Maya? (Credit: ITV)

And, if she does return, will she find Jacob in a relationship with Leanna?

Viewers know that Leanna isn’t exactly squeaky clean – the scheming teen has tried to thwart her dad’s attempts to find love, and has previously caused trouble for Isobel Steele.

Some fans reacted to the news of Jacob and Leanna’s romance by accusing the ITV soap of “copying EastEnders” who currently have a storyline in which abuser Tony King’s son Leo has arrived in Walford to get payback.

Writing on Digital Spy Forums, one said: “So evil Maya’s stepdaughter will have a relationship with Jacob. This seems like the Whitney and Leo storyline in EastEnders at the moment and the Asha and Hunter storyline in Hollyoaks.”

Emmerdale fans were sickened by Maya and Jacob’s grooming storyline (Credit: ITV)

Speaking at the Inside Soap Awards, actress Louisa Clein recently revealed the storyline with her character Maya wasn’t over.

She said: “The storyline will almost certainly continue.

“There are repercussions that will no doubt go on for years for those characters.

“When we were doing the research with Barnardo’s, they said that often the abused don’t understand that they were abused until years later.

“So I hope that they follow through with that and continue with Jacob and the effects that it’s had on him for years.”

Do you think Jacob is over Maya? Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know what you think!


Helen Fear
TV Editor

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