Emmerdale spoilers follow for Friday’s (September 19) episode that is now available to view on ITVX. The episode in question will air on ITV1 on at 7:30pm.

John Sugden (Oliver Farnworth) remains at large after wreaking havoc on the village and all those who dwell there – and he’s much closer to home than you might think.

The medic, as viewers know, has proven quite the villain since rocking up in the eponymous village last year, with a hero complex that saw him endanger the lives of those around him before playing the saviour to claim the glory.

Jacob Gallagher (Joe-Warren Plant) and Chas Dingle (Lucy Pargeter) were both put in harms way by John, who subsequently swooped in to ‘rescue’ them from the brink of death.

He played a similar game with Nate Robinson (Jurell Carter) but the situation didn’t go as he’d planned, which resulted in the farmhand’s demise.

John pinned the blame for Nate’s murder on Owen Michaels, a patient at the local GP surgery who he let die.

His crimes were exposed earlier this week after husband Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller) woke from his coma to recall how John had thrown him from a gorge in a bid to incriminate Robert Sugden (Ryan Hawley), who was jailed for the incident.

Aaron also recalled how Mackenzie Boyd (Lawrence Robb) had been held captive in a bunker by John, who had vanished without a trace.

Against all odds, Mack survived the ordeal after a guilty John retrieved him from the bunker and left him outside the hospital, where he received the medical attention he desperately needed.

The events of the past week well and truly sent shockwaves through the village, especially where Nate’s murder is concerned, with Cain (Jeff Hordley) struggling to process the fact that John was to blame this whole time – and that he’d missed it.

In fact, he was so consumed with grief that he accused Aaron of knowing about Nate’s murder and keeping shtum due to John having helped them in disposing of Anthony’s body.

The high emotions continued as Cain and Moira (Natalie J Robb) were subsequently tasked with informing Tracy Metcalfe (Amy Walsh) about John’s role in Nate’s death, which left her devastated.

Robert, meanwhile, was released from prison and made a beeline for the hospital, where he received the cold shoulder from Chas and later Aaron, who was less than welcoming as he berated his ex for interfering on the gorge.

It’s clear that John’s actions have well and truly torn the village and its residents apart.

But just where is he?

Prior to the latest episode, the character hadn’t been seen since dropping Mack off at the hospital and the village has since boasted a serious police presence as the authorities aim to leave no stone unturned in their quest for killer John.

Little did they know, however, that brazen John was mere metres away, lurking on the outskirts of the village as he watched Victoria (Isabel Hodgins) hug Robert.