April in Emmerdale has been missing for more than three weeks now, and while there has been no luck in finding her, a new fan theory predicts someone close to the search might.
Before she went missing, Marlon had forced Ross to tell April that he didn’t want anything to do with her. This obviously left April reeling. But when she found out her dad was behind it – she had had enough and ran away.
She hasn’t been seen since Christmas, when we saw her get into a car willingly. But we still have no idea who was driving. And after recent episodes saw Marlon and Ross team up, fans think Ross may know more than he is letting on.
Does Ross know more about April’s disappearance? (Credit: ITV)
Could Ross have April in Emmerdale?
Ross was one of the only people April trusted. And Marlon hated that. But their feud was put to the side earlier this week, when the despairing dad realised Ross was one of the only other people who would continuously look for April.
After CCTV footage spotted April running away from something (or someone?) in Leeds, this is where Marlon decided to focus his search.
But while he was out looking, he bumped into none other than Ross. Who was coincidentally looking in the exact same area.
Then last night (January 16) Marlon was too sick to go searching. So Ross decided he could do both his area, and Marlon’s. A lot of work for one person…
This caused suspicion to arise for Emmerdale fans. And some now wonder if Ross is actually looking after April.
Fans took to social media to share this theory. And it seems a lot share the idea.
Ross was one of the only people April trusted (Credit: ITV)
Fans share their theories
One wrote: “Could Ross be up to mischief? Actually knowing where she is and looking after April? Seemed too convenient Marlon bumping into him the other day in Leeds?”
Another added: “Does Ross know where April actually is??”
While a third penned: “Was that meeting really just a coincidence?”
As the storyline looks set to continue for a while, fans have already called for a resolution.
And while Ross has a bad boy side, could he really be keeping April’s location a secret?
The question remains, if it’s not Ross behind her disappearance, then where is April?
Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm, with an early release at 7am.Â
Classic Emmerdale usually airs weekdays on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm.Â
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With Ross and Joe both being back in Emmerdale, fans have begged for more face offs between the pair.
Ross Barton arrived back in the Dales in October as he was revealed to be Billy’s opponent in an illegal boxing match. Meanwhile, Joe Tate rocked up on Christmas Eve as part of Will and Peter’s plot to bring down Kim.
During their previous stints in the village, the two men had a few run ins. Fans are delighted that this history is being revisited and are eager to see more of it.
Ross squared up to Joe (Credit: ITV)
Ross v Joe in Emmerdale
In Monday’s episode, Ross attempted to intimidate Joe in a bid to get him to stay away from Noah.
During their previous stints in the Dales, Ross was the victim of an acid attack that was meant for Joe. Something that Ross is often keen to remind Joe of.
The face off in Monday’s episode saw Ross lie in wait in Joe’s bedroom at Home Farm. When Joe threatened to report Ross for trespassing, Ross was quick to respond: “See if you can dial 999 before I smash your teeth in.”
Ross then called Joe a “smug little coward” and accused him of living his best life while he has had to deal with surgery and skin grafts following the attack.
After Joe sarcastically responded, “I’m glad it all worked out for you,” Ross grabbed Joe’s shirt and warned Joe to stay away from Noah like Charity had instructed.
Joe insisted he didn’t take orders from Ross. But Ross was quick to go back to Joe’s teeth as he told him: “You do now. Unless you wanna spend the rest of your evening picking your teeth up off the floor.”
Ross of course got the last word as he told Joe that Noah was a Dingle, not a Tate.
Viewers want more Ross and Joe scenes (Credit: ITV)
Fans call for more battles
Viewers loved the bedroom scene between Ross and Joe and have called for more interactions between the pair.
Underneath a picture of Joe and Ross on the official Emmerdale X account, fans made their feelings clear, with one writing: “More of this please,” accompanied by the praying hands emoji. A second fan added: “Absolutely love that these two are back.”
Over on Instagram, fans also couldn’t get enough of Ross v Joe, with a third fan calling it a “Clash of the titans”.
A fourth fan said: “Loved that,” while many others tried to pick their team. “Team Ross always,” said a fifth fan alongside heart emojis. Another fan responded that they were “Team Joe” and wanted Ross to stop blaming Joe for the acid attack.
With the shared history between the pair and strong personalities, viewers are likely to get their wish for more, and we can’t wait!
Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm, with an early release on ITVX at 7am.
Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm.
Visit our Facebook page @emmerdaleinsider for all the latest Emmerdale news, gossip and spoilers and let us know what you think! Or find us on Twitter @emmerdaleinside
During Monday’s episode of Emmerdale, Marlon and Rhona were shown CCTV footage of April running along a street. But who was the teen running from?
April went missing over Christmas and was later shown getting into a mysterious car. Until now, there had been no sighting of April, with Marlon even starting to contemplate that his daughter could be dead.
However, the family liaison officer brought good news this week and showed Marlon footage of April running down a street in Leeds. Although the footage confirms April is alive, it’s not clear why she is running. Here are all the theories on who April could be running from in Emmerdale.
Rhona, Marlon and Mary watched CCTV footage of April (Credit: ITV)
1. April is running from a shopkeeper in Emmerdale
One eagle-eyed fan wrote on Instagram: “April had a brown paper bag in her left hand when she was running on the cctv, she could have stolen it from the shop. That could be why she’s running.”
Another fan agreed, writing: “I thought maybe she was running cause she just shoplifted or something, it looked like she had something in her hand.”
Earlier this month, April’s purse was found on a stab victim, though there was no sign of April herself. But if April is living on the streets and is now without any money, it makes sense that she might have to steal to feed herself.
Is April running from Billy in Emmerdale? (Credit: ITV)
2. Billy is involved
During Monday’s episode (January 13), Billy Fletcher mentioned that he had been in Leeds putting up flyers. Some fans suspect this is a clue and have accused Billy of being the one April is running from.
“I think Billy has something to do with it because he said he’d been around Leeds Central and she was filmed in Leeds Central and looks like she was running away from something or someone, just a thought,” wrote a fan on Instagram.
Billy was also involved with illegal boxing alongside Ross – a storyline that culminated in April being kidnapped by Jade last year.
Marlon bumped into Ross in Leeds (Credit: ITV)
3. April is running from Ross in Emmerdale
Spoilers for Tuesday’s episode of Emmerdale reveal that Marlon heads to Leeds to look for his daughter. When he sees a girl who looks like April from a distance, he heads towards her.
However, Marlon is shocked when he comes face-to-face with Ross Barton. What is he doing there and does he have anything to do with April’s disappearance?
Viewers will also remember that Ross was the one who told April the truth about her mum Donna Windsor’s death, which caused April to spiral before she disappeared. Could Ross have tracked April down and be trying to bring her home?
Despite the news that Anthony will be killed off in scenes next week, some viewers are still convinced that he has taken April.
“I can’t get rid of the feeling that Ruby’s flesh crawling dad is behind this,” wrote a viewer on X, while another fan said: “I am convinced that she’s been kidnapped by someone from the Village,” before suggesting that that person could be Anthony and April has managed to escape.
April was angry before she went missing (Credit: ITV)
5. Kelly and Scott Windsor
Other viewers think that if April wanted to get away from the village, she would track down family, so have suggested she could be staying with her aunt Kelly or uncle Scott.
“Have Kelly and Scott been mentioned?” asked one viewer on Instagram. While another fan speculated that she could be running from one of them after they suggested she go home.
Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm, with an early release on ITVX at 7am.
Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm.
Visit our Facebook page@emmerdaleinsider for all the latest Emmerdale news, gossip and spoilers and let us know what you think! Or find us on Twitter@emmerdaleinside
Marlon bumps into Ross while searching for April (Credit: ITV)
Marlon searches for April
After seeing CCTV footage of missing April on a street in central Leeds, Marlon heads to the city to see if he can track her down.
Once in Leeds, a desperate Marlon tries to engage with passers by. He sees a girl who looks like April from a distance and rushes over to her.
He is soon shocked to come face-to-face with Ross. What is he doing there? After an altercation between the two men, Ross tries to help Marlon. He does his best to buoy Marlon up and keep up his hopes of finding April alive. However, Marlon feels overwhelmed at the task – knowing he is surrounded by reminders that April is just one of hundreds of thousands of missing people.
Joe had promised Noah they could go to a football match (Credit: ITV)
Joe breaks his promise to Noah in Emmerdale tonight
During Monday’s episode, Joe Tate tried to build bridges with half-brother Noah and offered to take him VIP style to a Leeds football match.
However, Charity Dingle didn’t like the idea of Joe being back in her son’s life, so encouraged Ross to have a word with Joe. Ross’s warning worked and tonight Joe backs out of taking Noah to the footy.
Noah is disappointed and can’t hide his hurt. Charity, however, is delighted that Ross’s intervention had the desired effect.
The DNA test results have arrived (Credit: ITV)
Ruby receives the DNA test results
Ruby recently decided to get a DNA test in order to determine if Caleb or her abusive father is Steph’s father.
Tonight, she returns home clutching the DNA test results, anxious over what they will reveal.
However, she doesn’t get a chance to look as Caleb soon returns home, so she stuffs the results in to her handbag.
Wendy is blackmailed (Credit: ITV)
Elsewhere in Emmerdale tonight
When the reaction to the Hotten Courier’s article on Rhona blows up, Rhona is left feeling paranoid about who betrayed her to the press.
Meanwhile, Wendy Posner gets caught in a blackmailing situation by the journalist. What will she do?
Emmerdale usually airs weeknights at 7.30pm on ITV, with an early release at 7am on ITVX.
Classic Emmerdale usually airs weekdays at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm on ITV3.
Follow our Facebook page @EmmerdaleInsider for the latest Emmerdale spoilers, news and gossip. Or find us on Twitter @EmmerdaleInside. Let us know your thoughts!
Last year saw the return of two popular characters to Emmerdale, as Ross and Joe made their way back. The two share some interesting history, too.
Ross Barton first arrived in Emmerdale in 2013. He left in 2018, before returning six years later.
Meanwhile, Joe Tate appeared in Emmerdale from his birth back in 1995. He left alongside his aunt Zoe in 2005 before returning as an adult in 2017. He too left in 2018, only to return again six years later.
During their over-lapping time in the village Ross and Joe came to blows on numerous occasions. Here we take a look at the history between the pair and why they’re not each other’s biggest cheerleaders.
Ross and Joe both dated Debbie (Credit: ITV/ Shutterstock)
History with Debbie
Ross has a complicated history with Debbie Dingle. The two started having an affair while Debbie was engaged to Ross’ brother Pete.
Although Debbie ended the affair, Ross and Debbie continued to have a connection and she later asked him to move in.
Debbie left the village for a while, but upon her return, Ross once again attempted to start things up with her. However, this time she declined.
Meanwhile, Joe Tate arrived back in Emmerdale using the name Tom Waterhouse. ‘Tom’ seduced Debbie and gifted her a Bentley. He also bought Jacob’s Fold for her and her children Sarah and Jack to live in.
He later told Debbie the truth – that he was really Joseph Tate. Joe informed Debbie that she was just collateral damage in his bid for revenge against Charity, who he blamed for driving his dad Chris to suicide.
Ross has son Moses with Charity (Credit: ITV)
History with Charity
The two men are also linked via Charity Dingle. After marrying Chris Tate in 2001, Charity became Joe’s stepmother.
After discovering that Charity was having an affair with Cain Dingle, he chucked her out. Knowing he only had months to live due to an incurable brain tumour, Chris poisoned himself in order to try and frame Charity for his murder.
Following Chris’s death, Charity went on to give birth to his son – Noah, making him Joe’s half-brother. When Joe returned in 2017, he still held a grudge and attempted to get revenge on Charity.
Ross, meanwhile, had a one night stand with Charity which resulted in the birth of Moses. Upon his return to the village last year, Ross made a move on Charity, proving he still has a soft spot for her.
Ross was the victim of an acid attack meant for Joe (Credit: ITV)
Acid attack
After Joe left Debbie jobless and homeless, Ross agreed to help Debbie. He agreed to act as a double agent and got himself a job as Joe’s driver.
However, when Joe discovered his duplicity, he fired Ross. Ross then stole one of Joe’s cars and drove back home. But he was unaware that Debbie had asked drug dealer Simon to mess Joe up.
Ross threatened to shoot Joe (Credit: ITV/ Shutterstock)
Epic showdown in Emmerdale between Ross and Joe
Ross was convinced that Joe was behind the acid attack and vowed to get revenge. He took Graham Foster hostage and once Joe arrived, Ross told him he had a gun with a single bullet loaded – but he didn’t know when it would fire.
Ross then preceded to play his own version of Russian Roulette. Every time Joe refused to confess to throwing acid at Ross, Ross pulled the trigger.
In a bid to protect Debbie, Joe eventually confessed to the crime. However, a scuffle broke out and the men were horrified when they realised Debbie had walked in and been shot.
As Joe and Ross argued over who loved Debbie more, she was rushed to hospital and fortunately survived.
Ross warns Joe to stay away (Credit: ITV)
Ross and Joe are back in Emmerdale village
In 2024, Ross arrived back in Emmerdale first as part of Billy’s illegal boxing storyline. While Joe arrived on Christmas Eve when it was revealed he was behind the plan to get revenge on Kim Tate.
Charity enlists Ross to put the scares on Joe. Ross’ threats obviously work and Joe backs out of taking Noah to a football match. But this is unlikely to be the end of it…
Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm, with an early release on ITVX at 7am.
Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm.
Visit our Facebook page @emmerdaleinsider for all the latest Emmerdale news, gossip and spoilers and let us know what you think! Or find us on Twitter @emmerdaleinside
In Emmerdale spoilers, Ross Barton threatens Joe Tate after Charity grows worried about how close he is growing to Noah. This comes following Joe’s unexpected return to the village – quickly making himself back at home and determined to build bridges with his family.
Noah is, of course, Joe’s half-brother. The pair share a father in the late Chris Tate, but haven’t had much of a relationship, between Joe’s scheming and his lengthy absence from the village. All that is set to change, however, as Joe attempts to build bridges with Noah by offering an ostentatious gift.
Perturbed by Joe’s attempts to worm his way back into Noah’s life, Charity demands that Ross have a word. But how will Joe react when Ross attempts to bully him out of seeing Noah again?
Joe is determined to build a relationship with Noah, but Charity has other ideas (Credit: ITV)
Joe tries to build bridges with Noah
Determined to mend his relationship with Noah, Joe offers him a set of VIP tickets to a Leeds match. Seeing how Joe is worming his way back into Noah’s life, Charity isn’t happy.
She speaks to Ross, and asks him to warn Joe off. Ross agrees, and pays Joe a menacing visit…
How will he react to Ross’s warning?
A menacing Ross tells Joe to back off (Credit: ITV)
Joe continues scheming
Ross’s strong-arming of the situation is successful in warning Joe off, and he backs out of taking Noah to the football match. His half-brother’s inexplicable rejection leaves Noah feeling upset. Meanwhile, Charity is secretly delighted that Ross was successful in warning Joe off.
However, Joe won’t be so easily dissuaded, and it’s not long before he’s plotting his next move. What will Joe do next?
Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm, with an early release on ITVX at 7am.
Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm.
Visit our Facebook page @emmerdaleinsider for all the latest Emmerdale news, gossip and spoilers and let us know what you think! Or find us on Twitter @emmerdaleinside
Dramatic comebacks of iconic characters is what all Emmerdale fans live for. Recently, we’ve been treated to the return of Kim’s nemesis Joe Tate – who’s back in the village after a six-year absence.
Joe was unveiled as the mastermind behind Will and Peter’s plot to bring down Kim, and we can’t wait to see what other wicked tricks he’s got up his sleeve.
His perfectly staged return has also got us thinking about the other Emmerdale comebacks that really hit the mark. Here are six characters we were delighted to see back on our screens…
Kim rose from the dead (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Best Emmerdale comebacks includes Kim Tate
Kim is the queen of the comeback, and one in particular has gone down in Emmerdale history.
It was 1997 when Kim did a disappearing act following the death of her lover Dave Glover. She paid a lookalike to drive her car around the village to make it look as if she was still around. But then the woman was found dead behind the wheel and Frank was charged with ‘Kim’s murder’.
Kim made a spectacular return and confronted Frank in the living room at Home Farm. The shock of seeing her back from the dead caused him to suffer a fatal heart attack. Instead of ringing for an ambulance, Kim just stood over and watched Frank die.
Once she was sure he was gone, Kim calmly pulled out her make-up compact, powdered her nose, then used the mirror to check Frank had stopped breathing. Oh, and she ended up receiving half of Home Farm in Frank’s will. What an icon!
Aaron returned to Emmerdale and found love with Robert (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Aaron Dingle
There was a lot of hype surrounding Danny Miller’s return to Emmerdale in 2014.
After two years away from the soap, would the award-winning actor be able to recapture the magic he’d brought to the role of Aaron first time round? As it turned out, yes!
Aaron returned to stop his best mate Adam getting involved in a robbery with Ross Barton and Donna Windsor. That particular plot was pretty forgettable, but what was to follow was certainly not.
The Emmerdale writers had decided it was time for Aaron to have a new love interest. And just weeks after his comeback, the moody mechanic shared that first forbidden kiss with Robert Sugden. And with that Robron was born!
Robert set his sights on Home Farm (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Robert Sugden makes the list for best Emmerdale comebacks
Robert’s return to Emmerdale in 2014 was another triumph!
The legacy character had been away for five years when the soap announced his return. It was confirmed the role of Robert had been recast, with actor Ryan Hawley taking over from Karl Davies.
Within weeks it was hard to imagine anyone but Ryan portraying Robert. The character’s addictive love affair with Aaron led to one of the most popular partnerships in all of Soapland.
Charity has always lived life in the fast lane (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Charity Dingle
In 2015 Charity was sentenced to two years in prison for perverting the course of justice. She was released after a year, but when Cain and Moira went to pick her up, they discovered she’d already left.
As it turned out the crafty minx was straight back to her old tricks. Moments after leaving the clink, Charity went on the rob and stole a red Ferrari from a nearby dealership. She took it for a spin, but disaster struck enroute when Charity ploughed the vehicle into a field and got stuck in the mud.
Later that day, Cain and Moira spotted the stolen Ferrari. They were gobsmacked when Charity stepped out, declaring she couldn’t come back from prison with nothing! Moira dealt with the situation by taking the car back to the dealership, while the police were hot on their heels.
But the shocks kept on coming when Charity then entered The Woolpack and declared she’d bought Diane Sugden’s half of the pub! She then blackmailed former lover Ross Barton into coughing up the cash for the purchase.
Ross knows how to make an entrance (Credit: ITV)
Ross Barton
The long-awaited return of the Barton bad boy was one of our 2024 highlights.
Ross was a favourite amongst the fans during his first stint in the Dales and always at the centre of the drama. When news of his return was announced, actor Michael Parr, teased there would be fireworks for his character. And he wasn’t wrong!
During his time away, Ross had turned his hand to bareknuckle boxing and was unveiled as Billy Fletcher’s opponent. Strutting in to whoops and cheers from the crowd, Ross ripped off his sleeveless hoodie to show a rather impressive six pack.
Now that’s how to make an entrance!
All eyes were on Tina when she showed up at Zak’s funeral (Credit: ITV)
Tina Dingle
Zak Dingle’s funeral on Emmerdale was full of surprises – the biggest one being the comeback of his long lost daughter, Tina.
The character, who was previously played by Jacqueline Pirie, hadn’t been seen in the Dales for 28 years. So you can imagine everyone’s shock when she rocked up at Zak’s graveside. Belle didn’t even recognise her half-sister, which is hardly surprising seeing as they’d never met.
Now played by Brassic star Samantha Power, Tina claimed she was back to pay her respects. But there was an ulterior motive to her return. After causing carnage at the funeral, which resulted in her being carted off by the police, Tina tried to lay claim to Zak’s will. Then came the bombshell that she was Vinny’s real mum, a secret which she tried to blackmail Mandy with.
She may have wreaked havoc amongst the Dingles, but Tina Mark Two did not get a positive reaction from the fans. They took to social media to voice their disappointment, with some saying the recast was an insult to the original actress.
Samantha has shared she’d be up for Tina coming back to cause more mischief, so let’s see what 2025 has in store.
Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm, with an early release on ITVX at 7am.
Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm.
Visit our Facebook page @emmerdaleinsider for all the latest Emmerdale news, gossip and spoilers and let us know what you think! Or find us on Twitter @emmerdaleinsider
Emmerdale has never shied away when it comes to tackling the tough subject of addictions. Over the years, we’ve watched characters battle against the most dangerous of demons. From drink to drugs, gambling to self-harm.
Currently, Laurel has fallen off the wagon after she suffered a relapse at Christmas. Her dependency on drink led to the break up of her marriage to Marlon and even saw Laurel turn to prostitution. This time she turned to Marlon for help and then tried to kiss him, leaving a huge issue in his marriage to Rhona.
But which other Emmerdale characters struggled to break the habit and whose fight against their addictions cost them their life?
Annie was addicted to tranquilisers (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Annie Sugden was one of the Emmerdale characters who overcame their addictions
Annie was the strong and steady matriarch of the Sugden family. She ran Emmerdale Farm and practically raised three children single-handedly. But her life was also blighted by a series of terrible tragedies.
In the space of 13 years, Annie lost her daughter Peggy to a brain hemorrhage, her twin grandchildren were killed by a train and her daughter-in-law died in a car crash. Then in 1988, Annie was almost killed herself after getting caught in a fire at Crossgill Farm.
Traumatised by her brush with death, Annie was prescribed with tranquilisers, and ended up dependent on them. As her addiction took hold, Annie’s loved ones intervened and were able to help wean her off.
Marlon and Laurel’s marriage crumbled due to her drinking (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Laurel Thomas
Laurel addiction to drink brought destruction and death to her family, and almost claimed her life.
She turned to booze in late 2014 after her relationship with then-husband Marlon Dingle ran into trouble. Within weeks, Laurel was drinking day and night and struggling to keep it from her family.
But her reliance on liquor put little April in danger after she accidentally drank a glass of orange juice which Laurel had laced with vodka. Worse was to come when Laurel choked on her own vomit in front of April and young son Arthur while she was supposed to be looking after them. She was found in the nick of time by Emmerdale’s Marlon, and thankfully it wasn’t the case where addictions win the battle.
The carnage continued as Laurel ran over and killed Marlon’s pet dog Daisy while under the influence and tried to dispose of the animal’s body. But her rock bottom came when she slept with a stranger for cash to fund her next drink.
Sickened by the depths she’d sunk to, Laurel finally sought professional help to get sober. Unfortunately her marriage to Marlon did not survive.
Frank often turned violent after a drink (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Frank Tate
Home Farm owner Frank had a tendency to hit the bottle when life wasn’t going his way.
His marriage to second wife Kim was famously volatile and rocked by his drinking and her infidelities. Frank struggled with alcohol issues on and off for years, and was prone to outbursts of violence towards his spouse.
After discovering Kim had cheated with gamekeeper Neil Kincaid, Frank drank himself into oblivion, then attacked his love rival. A dark period in Frank’s life followed as he fell back into addiction, but he and Kim eventually reconciled. Although we all know how that story ended.
Rhona’s addiction led her to rob her own workplace (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Emmerdale’s Rhona Goskirk battled her addictions but she ended up in hospital
Rhona’s life took a dangerous turn in 2013 when she became reliant on painkillers. After initially taking them to help her bad back, the local vet found herself unable to get through the day without self-medicating,
As her dependence worsened, Rhona risked her livelihood by stealing pills from the surgery’s drug cabinet. She was caught by best mate Vanessa, who agreed to keep her secret because she was in love with her. In turn, Rhona made out she felt the same so Vanessa could enable her habit.
Events came to a head after Rhona’s then-husband Paddy found out she was mixed up with a drug dealer called Gary. She admitted she had a problem and told Vanessa she’d been using her.
In despair, Rhona took an overdose. She was rushed to hospital and told her kidneys were on the verge of collapse. The bleak diagnosis and threat of losing young son Leo was the wake-up call Rhona needed. She checked into rehab and got clean. Thankfully, for Rhona, it was an Emmerdale storyline where someone overcame their addictions.
Ross collapsed after binging on drink and drugs (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Ross Barton
In 2018 Ross fell victim to an acid attack which left him with life-changing injuries. He was put on medication to help deal with the pain from his burns, but began popping the prescribed pills like Smarties. The Emmerdale storyline ventured down a different path to other characters to faced their addictions.
When Dr Liam refused to renew his prescription, Ross began to spiral. But Rhona – a former addict herself – recognised the signs and was able to support her friend in getting clean.
Months later, Ross relapsed after being offered cocaine as payment for a car theft. He succumbed to temptation and started taking the Class A on a daily basis. But the endless nights of hard partying and drug abuse took their toll. Ross put his and young son Moses’s lives at risk after he collapsed during a game of football.
Haunted by his reckless actions, Ross decided to clean up his act and left Emmerdale for a fresh start with girlfriend Rebecca White.
Addiction has been a running theme in Aaron’s life (Credit: ITV)
Aaron Dingle
Aaron is one of Emmerdale’s most self-destructive characters. He’s had a troubled life and a history of drug abuse, self-harm and suicide attempts.
These desperate cries for help have largely been driven by the trauma Aaron has suffered in his life – struggling with his sexuality, his toxic on/off love affair with Robert Sugden and the abuse he experienced at the hands of his father, Gordon.
Aaron’s currently in a place of contentment with new boyfriend John Sugden, but there’s always a sense he could be tipped over the edge at any moment.
Tragic Holly lost her life to heroin (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Holly Barton’s death was a tough watch compared to other Emmerdale storylines based on addictions
Holly’s premature death from a heroin overdose in 2016 sent shockwaves across the world of soap.
The character’s lengthy battle with substance abuse began when she was a teenager. She started using cocaine recreationally, but soon moved on to ecstasy, ketamine, then heroin. Holly was eventually confronted by parents Moira and John. She ran away from home for a while, but they brought her back and helped her wean off drugs slowly.
Months later, John was killed in a car accident and Holly relapsed, but she vowed to change and left the Dales for a new life in London.
She returned in 2016 and it soon became clear she’d succumbed to her old demons. After causing more misery for her family, Holly pledged to get clean again and found support from fellow addict Jai Sharma.
Then, in what appeared to be the middle of just an ordinary mid-week episode, came the shattering discovery that Holly had relapsed – and this time it was fatal. Moira discovered her tragic girl dead in her bed and an empty heroin wrap on the floor. It’s gone down as one of Emmerdale’s most dramatic exits as well as hardest endings for soap characters and their addictions.
Moira is sticking to soft drinks these days (Credit: ITV)
Moira Dingle
Addiction clearly runs in the Barton family, but Moira’s was with drink rather than drugs.
Alcohol first became Moira’s friend after her affair with Cain’s secret son Nate became public knowledge. Ostracised by her family and friends, she hit the bottle.
Moira’s dependence on drink almost destroyed her marriage to Cain. She put her young son Isaac at risk by passing out on the sofa and ignoring his cries for help. Then there was the time she passed out drunk behind the wheel and narrowly avoided a collision with another car.
The farmer managed to get herself sober, but fell off the wagon briefly in 2022 after Cain took the blame for murdering Al Chapman. She suffered another brief relapse in 2024 in the weeks before she was diagnosed with a brain tumour.
Moira is currently tee-total and we hope it stays that way.
Gambling addict Pearl got sacked for stealing (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Pearl Ladderbanks
2015 was Pearl’s annus horribilis. The Emmerdale golden oldie got herself into debt after underpaying her gas bill and knew her receptionist wage at the vets wasn’t enough to pay it back.
Desperate times called for desperate measures and Pearl turned to gambling to fix her financial woes. She loved the thrill of her new habit, but unfortunately it only made matters worse.
After a few big losses, Pearl began stealing from the vet’s and foolishly faked having Alzheimer’s to excuse the missing money. Pearl was found out when Vanessa Woodfield discovered a list of IOUs she’d been keeping. She got the sack and was forced to sell her house to Eric Pollard to pay off her debts.
Paul had a long history of gambling (Credit: ITV)
Emmerdale’s Paul Ashdale put the spotlight on gambling addictions
Vinny’s wayward father Paul had a long history of gambling addiction. It led him to walk out on his son when he was young, leaving his ex-girlfriend Mandy to raise Vinny single handedly.
Paul returned to the pair’s life in April 2020 and claimed he’d given up the gambling for good. He even managed to worm his way back into Mandy’s affections, and they made plans to marry.
However, Paul was not the changed man he claimed to be. He was still gambling – making secret trips to the casino and frittering away thousands. Unable to tell Mandy the truth, Paul used Vinny as his emotional and physical punch bag.
Eventually Vinny found the courage to tell girlfriend Liv Flaherty what was happening. On the day of Paul’s wedding to Mandy, Liv confronted him at the barn where he was getting hitched. Paul attacked her, but moments later Jimmy King’s lorry ploughed into the barn. Liv managed to escape, but Paul perished when the place went up in flames. Sadly, he became another Emmerdale character who faced a tragic fate after their addictions took hold.
Guilt-ridden Liv turned to liquor to numb her pain (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Liv Flaherty
The guilt over leaving Paul to die is what drove Liv back to drink. She had previously battled hard to overcome an alcohol addiction, but the relapse almost cost Liv her life.
As her drinking binges got more extreme, the teen ended up in hospital after passing out at the cemetery and nearly choking on her own vomit. Following the scary episode, Liv promised big brother Aaron she was committed to getting sober.
However, her manipulative cow of a mum, Sandra had other ideas and deliberately derailed Liv’s recovery by spiking her drink.
In the end, Liv did manage to overcome her drinking demons, but met a tragic end in the Emmerdale 50th anniversary episode, which was a tough pill to swallow after defeating her addictions.
Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm, with an early release on ITVX at 7am.
Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm.
Visit our Facebook page @emmerdaleinsider for all the latest Emmerdale news, gossip and spoilers and let us know what you think! Or find us on Twitter @emmerdaleinside
A brand new year in Emmerdale is always an exciting prospect and it’s got us thinking about the characters want to see more of in 2025.
There’s a real mixture of locals on our list. Some are legacy characters who have become a little redundant in recent years and need revitilising. Others are newcomers to the village that we’re keen to get to know more. And then there’s a non-resident who we’re desperate to become a permanent fixture.
Here are our nine folk who deserve more screen time next year…
We want to see a different side to John Sugden (Credit: ITV)
Emmerdale characters we want to see in 2025: John Sugden
John Sugden’s arrival to the village in August 2024 came with high hopes. As the long lost son of an Emmerdale icon, this was the chance to put the Sugdens back on the map. But four months on and we’re still waiting for something – anything – exciting to happen.
Right now, John isn’t bringing an awful amount to Emmerdale. We get that he’s an enigma, and self-confessed lone wolf. We don’t even mind he’s moody and defensive. But he’s just so boring. Even John’s relationship with Aaron feels like it’s going through the motions. If you compare it to the passion of Robron, there’s no energy or spark.
But there has to be more to John than what we’ve been shown so far. That explanation he gave Aaron about Aidan Moore being his lost love felt too neat for our liking. If you ask us he’s lying and we want to know why. Is this guy even John Sugden?!
We’re hoping Emmerdale are going to solve the mystery and give us a reason to invest in John as a character. Otherwise he might as well get back in that campervan and carry on driving.
Vic is being wasted as a character (Credit: ITV)
Victoria Sugden
While we’re on the subject of Sugdens, isn’t it time poor Victoria had a decent storyline? She’s barely on screen these days, and when she does pop up it’s normally to interfere in other folks’ business.
If you look past her being a nosey old nag, Vic is an important character in Emmerdale’s history. She’s one of its longest-serving residents and has lived in the village since she was born.
What we’d like is 2025 is to see Victoria lighten up a bit (okay, a lot) and get a life of her own. Perhaps an exciting new career opportunity or how about bring back her ex-husband Adam Barton? They made a great couple and we think he’d be lovely with her little Harry.
PC Swirling is popular amongst the fans (Credit: ITV)
Emmerdale characters we want to see in 2025: PC Swirling
Fan favourite PC Swirling has been policing the Dales on and off for 20 years. We think that kind of loyal service should be rewarded. So how about making him a permanent character? We think he would be a marvelous addition.
The local copper recently showed viewers his softer side after arresting Cain Dingle for assault. Sensing Cain was troubled, Swirling got him to open up about Moira’s brain tumour diagnosis and shared he’d been through similar heartache with his aunt. And remember how he turned up to pay his respects at Zak’s funeral? He’s clearly a good egg.
Emmerdale could make more use of Swirling by moving him into the village. He could bring Mrs Swirling with him too, if she exists. We’d also love to see him teaming up with a few of the locals, particularly Kim Tate.
We would like to see Dawn smile in 2025 (Credit: ITV)
Dawn Fletcher
The past 12 months have not been kind to Dawn. She’s had to cope with baby Evan’s cancer, Will and Rose’s toxic war and now her marriage to Billy is in crisis following his ongoing involvement in illegal boxing. Would a happier 2025 be too much to ask?
Ever since Dawn arrived in the Dales six years ago she’s been blighted by bad luck and misery. But we would really like the chance to see a lighter, more bubbly side to her character.
Dawn’s got all the makings to be a brilliant barmaid behind The Woolpack bar. And we’d love to see her make friends with some of the fellow mums in the village, perhaps have a long overdue girly night out?
Caleb’s character is confusing (Credit: ITV)
Emmerdale characters we want to see in 2025: Caleb Miligan
Ruby’s character development has been one of the greatest triumphs of 2024, but Caleb remains something of a frustrating mystery. One minute he’s hell bent on toppling Kim Tate’s empire. Next, it’s all been forgotten about.
Just who is the real Caleb? Is he and out and out lying cheat and scoundrel? Or does have actually have a moral compass?
Next year we might get to find out as two secrets threaten to cause carnage. The first being Ruby’s betrayal with Cain. Even though Caleb’s repeatedly cheated on her, would he forgive Ruby for sleeping with his own brother?
And then of course, there’s Anthony’s abuse of Ruby and the question of whether Caleb isn’t actually Steph’s father. This revelation is going to destroy Caleb. And we wouldn’t be surprised if Caleb tried to put Anthony in the grave before the cancer finishes him off.
Gabby has gone under the radar (Credit: ITV)
Gabby Thomas
Where is Gabby these days? She’s gone completely under the radar since getting together with Vinny and we’d like her back.
The couple still appear to be in the honeymoon period and are proving the doubters wrong. But do they have what it takes to go the distance? 2025 will give us that answer.
Gabby now deserves a prominent storyline of her own. Will she end up getting drawn into the drama at Home Farm? Kim is going to need someone in her corner, and who better than her canny protegee? Gabs has learnt from the best and has the ability to take anyone on.
There are tough times ahead for Jacob (Credit: ITV)
Emmerdale characters we want to see in 2025: Jacob Gallagher
Emmerdale has confirmed Jacob will be taking centre stage in a gripping new plot for 2025. And it’s about time too!
A special standalone episode will follow the medical student as he’s pushed to his limits during the first day working in a busy A&E department. We’ve long been fans of actor Joe Warren-Plant and think this is going to be his time to shine.
As well embarking on a tough new career, Jacob is set to start a romance with long-time friend Sarah Sugden. It’s surprising the writers have waited so long to put these two together as they really suit one another.
Also, we suspect Jacob is going to be involved in mum Leyla’s departure from the village. So it looks as if we’ll be seeing a lot of him in the next few weeks. Hurrah!
Ross has been up to no good again (Credit: ITV)
Ross Barton
Mike Parr must be one of the busiest actors in soap right now, he’s barely been off our screen. Not that we’re complaining – we’d like a little less of Ross’s predictable bad boy antics.
The moments we’ve warmed to Ross most are the scenes he’s shared with April Windsor. Because of their shared history, their bond feels genuine and we like how Ross has become a stepfather figure/confidant for the troubled teen. Plus it’s always a delight to see the brilliant Amelia Flanagan (aka April) being given a meatier storyline.
But what we’d really like in 2025 is find out more about those six years Ross spent in Liverpool with his late girlfriend Rebecca White and her son Seb. What really happened to split them up? And did Ross have anything to do with Bex’s untimely passing? Let’s fill in the gaps and delve a little deeper.
Steph’s life is set to implode (Credit: ITV)
Emmerdale characters we want to see in 2025: Steph Miligan
The Miligans are the family to watch as we go into 2025, and Steph in particular.
We really like what we’ve seen of the newcomer so far. She’s calculating, uncompromising, feisty and fearless – basically her mum’s mini me. But her whole world could be about to come crashing down.
Like Caleb, Steph is still in the dark over the abuse Ruby suffered at the hands of Anthony. And we’re yet to discover whether Steph’s biological father is in fact her grandad, who she idolises. If the truth does out, everything Steph has ever known would be shattered in an instant.
Might Steph team up with Caleb to take down evil Anthony? Or exact her own revenge on the perverted OAP?
Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm, with an early release on ITVX at 7am.
Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm.
Visit our Facebook page @emmerdaleinsider for all the latest Emmerdale news, gossip and spoilers and let us know what you think! Or find us on Twitter @emmerdaleinside
It’s been another action-packed year in Emmerdale, with several standout moments and performances from the brilliant cast, but what were the best storylines of 2024?
Major storylines have included Belle Dingle’s domestic abuse, Moira’s brain tumour diagnosis, Kim Tate’s return to the top and the arrival of a brand new Sugden – John. We said a sad goodbye to Emmerdale legend Zak Dingle, and hello again to village bad boy Ross Barton. 2024 has also seen the arrival of Caleb’s feisty missus, Ruby, who’s now a firm favourite amongst the fans.
So as we get ready to see what 2025 has in store, let’s round up our top picks from the past 12 months…
This year has been one Belle would rather forget (Credit: ITV)
Emmerdale 2024 best storylines: Belle’s hell at the hands of Tom
The standout storyline of 2024 has to be Belle’s abuse at the hands evil Tom King. It’s been a difficult journey to follow, but Emmerdale have worked hard to tackle a subject that sadly occurs all too often in real life.
Tom’s true nature was revealed this year as he subjected Belle to a wicked campaign of physical and mental torture, which pushed her to the very brink.
In September, the soap aired a special episode where a broken Belle was haunted by her imagined futures. These disturbing nightmares gave Belle the courage she needed to report her ex to the police. But it was another two months before Tom was finally arrested and charged with abuse.
At last, justice has been served, Tom is behind bars and Belle has been reunited with her beloved Piper. Finally she can start to slowly rebuild the life that Tom shattered.
We want to take this moment to applaud actors Eden Taylor-Draper and James Chase, whose performances this past year have been nothing short of spectacular.
Mack got stabbed in the stomach by Charity (Credit: ITV)
Charity stabbing Mack
Charity began the year in a very dark place. She was suffering from PTSD and wracked with guilt over accidentally killing gangster Damon ‘Harry’ Harris while trying to protect her husband Mackenzie.
Haunted by visions of the man whose life she had taken and gripped by insomnia and night terrors, Charity’s mental health began to spiral out of control. She was also triggered by any loud noises, as it reminded her of the sound of the gunshot that fateful day.
Events reached a terrifying climax on February 22 when Mack walked in to find his wife having a night terror. Believing he was Harry, Charity grabbed a knife to protect herself and plunged it into Mack’s stomach.
Mack would have used up the last of nine lives if it wasn’t for Moira popping by and finding him lying on the floor. He was rushed to hospital and made a full recovery, while Charity found herself under arrest. She was later let off and attended therapy to get herself better.
Chas has faced her darkest fears (Credit: ITV)
Emmerdale 2024 best storylines: Chas’s cancer battle
Chas Dingle has faced some tough battles in her time, but non more so than her one against cancer.
The Woolpack manager’s world was turned upside down after her lover Liam alerted her to a lump in a breast. Just days later, Chas’s worst fears were confirmed when doctors revealed she had triple negative breast cancer – the same type her late mum Faith had died of.
The discovery was a big turning point for Chas, who had previously been disowned by the Dingles after her affair with Al Chapman. After learning their family member was in crisis, they all rallied round and supported Chas.
Another crushing blow came when further tests revealed Chas was carrying the faulty BRCA2 gene. She urged the rest of her family to get checked out, and Aaron discovered he also carried BRCA2. Chas was on hand to support her son, while she made the brave decision to undergo a double mastectomy.
The treatment worked and Chas is now in remission. But while it’s still in debate whether Chas has done enough to be redeemed, we hope 2025 is a happier, and healthier, one for her.
Fans were shocked to discover Ella is a murderer (Credit: ITV)
Ella’s killer secret
One of the darkest twists of 2024 was the revelation that Ella Forster was a child killer.
Ella was introduced in January when she landed a job at Brook Cottage Surgery and embarked on a romance with Dr Liam Cavanagh. As a newcomer to the Dales, not much was known about the character’s backstory. But it became clear Ella was hiding a secret she didn’t want anyone to find out.
As speculation mounted, nothing could prepare Liam for the discovery that his girlfriend was actually a murderer.
It turned out Ella had taken the life of her childhood best friend Joanne in a jealous rage. The crime had occurred on the day of Ella’s (who was known as Ruth back then) 11th birthday. Ella was imprisoned for years and had assumed a new identity after being released. The disturbing revelation caused Ella’s relationship with Liam to collapse and made her the village outcast.
Ella later found out she was expecting Liam’s baby, but tragedy struck when she suffered a miscarriage. With Liam now loved up with Chas, it’s rumoured Ella will be departing next spring. But how will she bow out?
John Sugden caused a stir when he came to the village (Credit: ITV)
Emmerdale 2024 best storylines: The arrival of John Sugden
The announcement of a new Sugden coming to Emmerdale caused great excitement. Finally it was a chance to put the soap’s famous family back on the map, and actually give Victoria a decent storyline.
Vic first discovered she and John were related on the day of his mum’s funeral, when Eric Pollard let the cat of the bag. She was buzzing to meet her late dad’s long-lost son, but John couldn’t have really cared less. He also had zero interest in getting to know the rest of Emmerdale’s residents and made an enemy of Mackenzie Boyd.
However, there was one person who John did connect with, and that was Aaron Dingle. The pair embarked on a steamy affair which was made more interesting by the fact John is the half-brother of Aaron’s ex Robert. John and Aaron have just confessed their love for one another. But it all feels a little too safe for our liking. We’d love it for Robert to come home and compete with his sibling for Aaron’s affections.
And while we’re at it we’re hoping to learn more about John’s backstory. That Aidan Moore mystery was a right anti-climax, although we’re not convinced John was telling the truth. Will we ever find out what he’s hiding?
Madame Diamante Dales gave us some great LOL moments (Credit: ITV)
Mandy’s adventures as Madame Diamante Dales
Mandy can always be relied on for bringing the laughs and we loved her short-lived career as Madame Diamante Dales!
Everything was going great until Bear overheard Miss DD on the phone to one of her clients and spilled the beans to Paddy. Mandy’s saucy side hustle almost cost her her man, but Paddy forgave all the lies and still married her.
Kim got her own back on two-timing Will (Credit: ITV)
Emmerdale 2024 best storylines: Kim’s revenge on cheating Will
2024 marked the return of Queen Kim, who has shown once again she’s not a woman to be trifled with.
We feared Kim had gone soft on us after she fell victim to Will’s manipulative ex-wife Rose. The scheming madame went as far as forcing Kim out of her beloved Home Farm, and she just let it happen. Even when it transpired Rose had been working with Ruby to destroy her, all Kim did was tell her to do one. But when Kim discovered Will and Rose had slept together it was payback time!
The lady of the manor posed as a mystery blackmailer and threatened to expose Will unless he paid up. As Will dug himself into a deeper financial hole – Kim was doing some digging of her own. She faked a kidnap, then lured Will to the woods, where he discovered a creepy mannequin with Kim’s face on it.
Next Kim forced Will to dig up a coffin she’d buried, before she pushed him in the grave and unveiled herself as his tormentor! It was about as classic Kim as you could get.
She’s since taken Will back, but he’s now secretly planning to get his own back. Hasn’t he forgotten who he’s dealing with?!
Moira underwent life-saving brain surgery (Credit: ITV)
Moira’s brain tumour
What’s wrong with Moira? That was the question on every viewer’s lips as they watched the normally friendly farmer undergo a sudden personality transplant.
Moira’s volatile behaviour, aggressive outbursts and memory lapses were a cause of concern to her loved ones. Cain feared his wife had succumbed to her previous alcohol addiction, but was unaware she had started to experience seizures.
Events came to a head when Moira started experiencing visions of her late nemesis Emma Barton. She threatened Ruby with a shotgun, and caused a near-fatal explosion at Butlers Farm. After seeing Moira suffer a seizure in front of his eyes, Cain forced her to get medical help.
Subsequent tests discovered a mass on Moira’s brain, and she was told she had a meningioma – a type of non cancerous tumour. In November, Emmerdale aired a special episode which followed Moira’s journey as she underwent surgery to have her tumour removed. In a surprising, emotional twist, Moira was reunited with her late daughter Holly during a dream sequence.
The Dingles gathered to say farewell to their beloved patriarch Zak (Credit: ITV)
Emmerdale 2024 best storylines: Zak’s death
We all knew this sad day was coming after the announcement of actor Steve Halliwell’s death in December 2023. And credit to the writers, they gave Zak a memorable and poignant farewell that was befitting of his legendary status.
As per his final wishes, Zak had requested to be buried in Dingle land within 48 hours of his passing. Cain and Sam journeyed to Scotland to bring their dad’s body home and took Zak’s coffin to the Woolie for one last pint with the locals. Afterwards, Zak was drummed up the road to his final resting place, as his family gathered around the graveside.
Many of the Dingles were present for Zak’s send-off, although there were a few notable absences. Yes, Debbie Dingle, we’re talking about you.
Tina’s rowdy arrival certainly brought the drama, but we were all about the quieter, more tender moments. Like new head of the clan Cain getting too choked up to deliver his speech. And Belle requesting Zak be buried with Lisa’s ashes, so her parents would be together forever. Aww.
They’ll never be another Zak Dingle, but we were lucky to have him.
Ross is back and better than ever (Credit: ITV)
The return of Ross Barton
The Barton bad boy has been top of our dream comeback list for a while, so you can imagine our delight when we learnt it was actually happening. During his first stint in the Dales, Ross was often in the thick of the action, and this time looks set to be no different.
Ross was unveiled as Billy Fletcher’s surprise opponent, in the underground boxing match organised by ruthless promotor Jade. Since then he’s found himself caught up in other dangerous situations.
Ross made a deal with Kim Tate that nearly resulted in him killing Will, he let a gun off in son Moses’s presence, and put April’s safety at risk by trying to double-cross Jade. He’s also made an enemy of Mackenzie – perhaps he and John should compare notes.
And then there’s the women. Ross never goes hungry for long – he’s already locked lips with Charity and enjoyed a romp with newcomer Steph. Who’s next?!
Cain and Ruby did a bad, bad thing (Credit: ITV)
Emmerdale 2024 best storylines: Cain and Ruby’s betrayal
Cain’s done a lot of terrible things in his time, but cheating with your brother’s wife while your own missus is undergoing life-saving brain surgery must be a new low.
The pair’s forbidden tryst was one of those shocking OMG moments that no one saw coming and it’s left fans absolutely fuming. Yes, Cain was struggling with his fear of losing Moira. But why on earth did he think having sex with Ruby was going to make the situation any easier?
Unable to cope with his guilt, Cain is now spiralling out of control. But what will happen if his conscience gets the better of him and he decides to ‘fess up to Moira? We’re not sure their marriage could survive another betrayal, especially one on this scale. And god only knows what Caleb would do if he found out.
This ticking time bomb could cause some serious damage.
Ruby is a big favourite with the fans (Credit: ITV)
The rise of Ruby
Emmerdale has suddenly turned into the Ruby Fox-Miligan show, and we’re not mad about it.
The ballsy blonde has been in the soap less than 12 months and has already established herself as one of its leading ladies. She’s also shown she’s not someone to reckon with. So far Ruby has publicly outed Caleb’s affair with Tracy (which she later forgave him for) and orchestrated a plot to destroy Kim Tate. But as well as bringing the drama, Ruby has been busy building herself a life in Emmerdale. She’s made friends and even won over the Dingles.
We’re now learning more about Ruby’s backstory. Her wealthy mother Helen made a brief appearance as viewers watched Caleb blackmail the dying woman to sign over her fortune to her. And now Ruby’s daughter Steph and estranged dad Anthony are on the scene. Ruby has been desperate to reconnect with Steph, but it has been revealed Anthony abused Ruby as a child and could be Steph’s real father.
Recent shock revelations point to 2025 being another huge year for Ruby. Bring it on!
Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm, with an early release on ITVX at 7am.
Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm.
Visit our Facebook page @emmerdaleinsider for all the latest Emmerdale news, gossip and spoilers and let us know what you think! Or find us on Twitter @emmerdaleinsider