Dawn Fletcher's death
Emmerdale aired Dawn Fletcher's final scenes on Sunday (30 August), with the character dying hours after giving birth to her and Joe Tate's first child. As reported by Digital Spy, Dawn went into premature labour on Friday (28 August) following the traumatic events of her wedding day. After giving birth, Dawn and Joe watched over their new son, who had been placed in intensive care after being born early.
The couple, who had unofficially exchanged wedding vows, were planning their future together when tragedy struck. Joe left the hospital room to get Dawn some water, but when he returned, she was unresponsive. Despite the efforts of hospital staff, Joe was told that Dawn had suffered a "significant haemorrhage" which caused her heart to stop, and there was nothing more they could do.
The wedding-day crash
The events leading to Dawn's death began on what should have been her and Joe's wedding day. As Manchester Evening News reported, Jimmy King crashed into the marquee where the couple were set to be married, sending debris flying and throwing the celebrations into chaos. Jimmy died at the scene, with his wife Nicola seen saying a gut-wrenching goodbye.
Dawn and Nicola managed to escape the marquee when an explosion occurred, leaving Joe for dead inside. Joe survived, but Dawn went into premature labour. The crash also set up tension between Dawn and Joe, as her ex-husband Billy Fletcher had lied about Joe attacking him, leading Dawn to consider leaving with Billy — a plan that was encouraged by Caleb Miligan, according to Digital Spy.
Olivia Bromley's exit
Olivia Bromley first appeared as Dawn Fletcher in 2018, initially for just 12 episodes, and her final scenes aired after eight years in the role. News of her exit first broke at the end of March, and Digital Spy understands that Bromley was ready to move on and pursue different projects. The decision to kill off the character was made by show bosses, who felt it was the best option for future storylines.
Following the episode, Bromley's co-stars paid tribute to her on social media. Bradley Riches, who plays Lewis Barton, and Lisa Riley, who plays Mandy Dingle, both shared messages, as did Natalie J. Robb, who played Amy Wyatt.
What's next
The fallout from Dawn's death is set to continue, with Digital Spy reporting that the storyline will reignite the feud between Joe and Caleb Miligan. The crash and its aftermath have left several characters' futures uncertain, as the village deals with the repercussions of the tragic day.