Emmerdale’s producer Stuart Blackburn has been speaking via ITV.com about what lies ahead for the villagers in 2012, and of course, for many, the New Year will bring nothing but heartache.

He began by discussing what’s coming up for Marlon, Laurel and Ashley – who are of course played by Mark Charnock, Charlotte Bellamy and John Middleton – in the New Year.

He said, “Marlon and Laurel were so romantic. It’s about now whether Laurel and Ashley can genuinely rebuild their relationship…

“Whether Marlon can move on or whether the damage that Laurel’s caused is going to have ripple effects for a lot of people around them.

“Life is going to get very very difficult for Ashley and the sins of Laurel’s past will haunt them all.”

Things aren’t set to get any sunnier for the Dingles either, as they face new “challenges” in the year ahead.

Blackburn said, “The Dingles are going to be massive. They’re such a superb family unit.

“Things have been tough for them, I think it’s going to get a whole lot tougher.

“They’re going to be facing things they don’t understand and have never come across before. We’re going to push them right to the wire.

“The Dingles are going to be on screen facing the biggest challenges of their lives.”

And of Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) and his Judgement Day storyline, Blackburn said, “The whole Cain story has been nearly a decade in the making so watching that unfold, knowing where it’s going to take us, it’s just been fantastic.”

With the Bartons, who’ve had the year from hell in terms of how Moira’s (Natalie J Robb) affair with Cain has rocked the family, it seems John Barton (James Thornton) could be about to meet a new woman!

The Sun states, “He’s not the type of person to go out and deliberately sleep with someone else just to get his own back on Moira.

“But he needs a bit of fun right now to help him get over his broken heart — and someone who fits the bill walks right into his life.”

James is of course set to leave the show early this year.

More Emmerdale spoilers as we get them, but in the meantime, you can click here to watch a video of Stuart Blackburn talking about what lies ahead for the show.