Emmerdale’s James Hooton teases axe for Sam Dingle after 27 years

REFORMED troublemaker Sam Dingle has become a familiar face viewers are often happy to see on ITV.

But Emmerdale star James Hooton revealed his character may not be spared from the deadly anniversary drama.

Sam has come a long since he first rocked up the eponymous village in February, 1995.

Decades after his release from a young offenders institute, and despite frequently being involved in some dodgy schemes alongside his family, the farmhand has become a respectable family man.

Recent episodes of the Yorkshire-based program have shown him at odds with his son Samson as the lad found out he was the father of Amelia Spencer’s baby.

Samson decided he wanted nothing to do with the unborn child while his father has been trying to push him to do the right thing.

Overall, Sam has been leading a calmer life than during his early years in the Dales, standing on the side-lines of all the drama.

But there may be a sad reason for his distance from the limelight.

Much like any other villager, Sam has had to face the dreadful storm in new scenes of the ITV soap.

Sam was alongside Nate Robinson (played by Jurell Carter) and Belle Dingle (Eden Taylor-Draper) when a cow stampede chased him into a field… and straight onto a spike.

Is this the end of the line for Sam? James Hooton vaguely teased that his character may not survive the stunt.

“You never know what this show is going to throw at you”, he told The Sun.

“You don’t know what the outcome’s going to be.”

Just as he seemed to have the situation under control, and while Nate and Belle were also trying to avoid getting trampled on, Sam jumped a stack of hay to safety.

But he was stabbed by a spike on a tractor upon his landing, which left him unconscious and fighting for his life.

While the brutal scenes may have left fans with their jaws dropped to the floor, James sees his own scenes as “a great way” to mark Emmerdale semi centennial.

“It’s a great way to mark this momentous occasion for the show”, he added.

But will the anniversary also be his swan song?

Emmerdale airs from Monday to Friday on ITV.