Emmerdale Ross Barton's shock new love interest 'exposed' - but it's not who you think

Emmerdale's Ross Barton, played by Mike Parr, might be on the brink of a surprising romantic entanglement with an unexpected villager, fans speculate.

The notorious soap character made his dramatic return to the Dales last month after a six-year hiatus, with a significant plot twist identifying him as Billy Fletcher's (Jay Kontzle) rival in a bare-knuckle fight.

Ross' comeback has certainly stirred the pot. His ex-lover and mother of his child, Charity (Emma Atkins), was visibly shocked to see him back in the village.

Moreover, during a candid conversation with Charity, Ross disclosed that his former partner Rebecca White (Emily Head) had tragically died, leaving their son Seb under the guardianship of an aunt in Bristol.

Since then, Charity has assisted Ross in securing employment at Moira's (Natalie J Robb) farm and convinced Cain (Jeff Hordley) to offer him a place to stay in his spare room. However, Charity's partner Mack (Lawrence Robb) is less than thrilled about Ross' reappearance, reports Leeds Live.

Now, viewers are convinced that it's only a matter of time before Ross embarks on a romantic relationship with a fellow villager - and it's not who you might expect.

In addition to winning over Charity, Ross has also managed to provoke Billy due to his interest in Billy's wife Dawn (Olivia Bromley). Fans will remember that Dawn and Jay share a past marked by a brief, ill-fated romance.

However, viewers believe that neither Charity nor Dawn will be the one to capture Ross' heart. According to online fan theories, the potential love interest could be Ruby Fox-Miligan (Beth Cordingly).

Ruby's recent times in the village have been nothing short of tumultuous. With the death of her estranged mother and the revelation that her husband Caleb (portrayed by William Ash) had lied about visiting her mother and even coerced her into transferring over £100,000 before her mother's death, Ruby has been left both heartbroken and enraged.

In the aftermath of these shocking betrayals, Ruby decided to take some time away from the village. Yet, avid viewers speculate that upon her return, there might be a sizzling affair with Ross on the cards.

Contributing to an Emmerdale-focused Reddit discussion, one user speculated: "Who thinks Ross is gonna end up bedding Ruby and her daughter Steph when she comes," referencing Steph's highly anticipated introduction to the village.

Another fan chimed in with enthusiasm: "I'd quite like that tbf. I don't hate Caleb, but I'd love to see how he would react to being cheated on." A third commenter weighed in: "Maybe but it would also show Caleb up as his character a bit I don't know if the show would want that." Echoing the sentiment, a fourth person added: "Caleb is so full of sh**, I hope queen ruby has an affair with Ross when he comes back."

Emmerdale airs weeknights on ITV1 and ITVX at 7.30pm

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