Emmerdale: Ross makes his return to ITV soap
In an unexpected twist that left Emmerdale aficionados reeling, a beloved character was confirmed to have passed away off-screen, despite being absent for six years.
The shocking news was delivered when Ross Barton, played by actor Michael Parr, returned to the village and disclosed to Charity that his former flame Rebecca White, portrayed by Emily Head, had tragically lost her life during what was supposed to be simple surgery. The character of Rebecca, who previously endured and overcame a serious brain injury, met an untimely death, leaving behind her son Seb.
Ross recounted the heart-wrenching tale: "Rebecca's dead. Me and Rebecca, we'd been split up a while. Pretty amicable in the end as it goes, I was still getting to see Seb."
He continued, "Then one day she called me, saying she had to go into hospital for a routine operation. Nothing serious but could I look after Seb. No problem. We went Go-Karting, he loved it, we both did. And then I helped him make a card for his mum but he never got to give it to her."
The tragedy unfolded further when Ross revealed, "We were both having a pizza when we got the call. Turns out I was still listed as her next of kin. They said it was a one in a thousand chance, her heart just stopped and that was it. I let Seb go to sleep not knowing that he didn't have a mum anymore," reports Leeds Live.
Yet, some viewers are questioning the narrative's credibility, suspecting that Rebecca might not really be gone. A theory has even surfaced among the fanbase, with one Twitter user speculating that Rebecca might have already made a secret return to the Dales, possibly under the identity of Jade, the mysterious organiser behind the bareknuckle fights threatening Billy Fletcher.
One social media user speculated: "Time for another one of my wild theories... no way Rebecca is dead in #Emmerdale. Ross is lying and I think that fight woman could be Rebecca (recast) and in disguise..."
Another fan highlighted a potential inconsistency, stating: "So wait, they killed off Rebecca yet Victoria has no idea and she's Seb's auntie, yet Seb lives with an auntie we have never heard of?"
A third viewer questioned the storyline, saying: "Something about Ross's story doesn't add up, a routine op kills her when she had a TBI to contend with? Why wouldn't the writers use that if she was really dead... he lyingggg."