Emmerdale viewers have been left puzzled by the sudden change in Eric Pollard's (played by Chris Chittell) character, as he appears to have reverted back to his villainous ways.
The abrupt shift in his personality has sparked speculation among viewers, who are trying to understand why, after years of being a more amiable character, he has suddenly become ruthless again.
Eric's recent actions include conning a character out of thousands of pounds, demanding repayment for a wedding he funded, and orchestrating someone's job loss due to family issues.
He also sold Kerry Wyatt's (Laura Norton) necklace for a hefty sum while claiming it was worthless, and is now attempting to extract money from her that she doesn't possess.
Furthermore, he's threatening Jai Sharma (Chris Bisson) over an incident that occurred weeks ago, demanding compliance amid a new feud with Victoria Sugden (Isabel Hodgins).
Following Victoria's decision to dump Eric's grandson Jacob Gallagher (Joe Warren Plant), Eric's dark side emerged as he threatened Jai with firing Victoria from The Hide.
While some viewers embraced his return to his 'old' persona, others expressed concerns regarding the sudden shift in his behaviour.
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The change in Eric's demeanour has sparked concern among viewers, particularly following his Parkinson's disease diagnosis last year.
Speculations emerged that his condition might have contributed to his recent outbursts, suggesting that he's struggling to cope with his illness and resorting to lashing out.
Some social media users expressed their concern: "How can they change Eric so quick? We all felt sorry for his Parkinson's to now disliking him for being nasty," while another commented: "Been a changed person since his diagnosis."
Another viewer shared their theory: "I suspect Eric's Parkinson's medication is affecting his personality tbh. He seems to have reverted back to the Eric of the 90s overnight!"
However, another user dismissed the medication theory, adding: "I think he's going back to his old ways.... because he can't come to terms with his illness."
Emmerdale airs on weeknights at 7.30pm on ITV1 and ITVX, with an extended episode on Thursdays.
