Emmerdale's Liam Cavanagh is to be tied up by a gunman he mistakes for part of Chas's murder mystery game

The stranger, Dave, has come for Dylan, who reported him to the police, and he has a serious criminal history. Liam will hold out his own wrists to be tied, believing it is all part of the game. When Marlon and Chas arrive, Dave will knock Marlon out cold, pull a gun and take Chas hostage. Chas planned the surprise to prove Liam wrong after he called her no fun.

The row began when Liam stayed away overnight with Manpreet Sharma and Chas accused them of an affair.

The game will open with Paddy panicking over Mary's 'corpse' in the vet surgery.

'Liam's so invested in the murder mystery he's overlooked the real threat,' says one insider.