The latest thrilling episode of Emmerdale has left viewers on the edge of their seats, sparking wild speculation about the fate of Ruby Milligan’s father, Anthony.

The tense installment saw Caleb Milligan (Will Ash) in a furious confrontation with his brother, Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley), while driving a limousine filled with male villagers.
Meanwhile, Charity Dingle (Emma Atkins) was behind the wheel of another limousine, carrying a group of female villagers and GP Liam Cavanagh (Jonny McPherson).
As the tension between the brothers escalated, Caleb’s anger reached a boiling point, and he began speeding dangerously, causing panic among the passengers.

The situation quickly became dire, with Mandy Dingle (Lisa Riley) pleading for Caleb to slow down.

However, before anyone could act, the two vehicles seemed to collide, leaving viewers in suspense as the episode ended with one of the limos sinking into a frozen lake.

The dramatic cliffhanger showed a flash-forward scene of someone trapped under the icy water, desperately pounding on the ice in a bid to escape. The identity of the person beneath the ice has become a hot topic of debate among Emmerdale fans, with many speculating that it could be none other than Ruby’s father, Anthony, who was believed to have died some time ago.
The Mystery of Anthony’s Fate
To understand why viewers are questioning whether Anthony is still alive, we need to look back at the events surrounding his character’s disappearance. Earlier in the show, Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller) was led to believe he had killed Anthony after attacking him in retaliation for years of abuse toward Ruby during her childhood. However, the plot thickened when it was revealed that Ruby had actually delivered the fatal blow to her father, and John Sugden (Oliver Farnworth) had secretly disposed of Anthony’s body.
While Ruby and John worked together to cover up the crime, John went to great lengths to hide the body, including burying it in a secret location. But the twist came when it was disclosed that John never revealed the burial site to anyone, which has led to rampant speculation about what might have actually happened to Anthony’s remains. Could it be that Anthony is still alive, despite what we were led to believe? Could the hand pounding on the ice belong to him?

Viewer Theories About Anthony’s Survival
Since the dramatic episode aired, fans have taken to social media and fan forums to share their theories about Anthony’s fate. Many believe that Anthony could still be alive, possibly having survived the events that were meant to end his life.
One viewer speculated on a Facebook fan page: “Just a thought but I’m not convinced Anthony is dead. Like I say, just a thought.” This theory aligns with the idea that the show has left enough room for ambiguity about Anthony’s ultimate fate. With John’s secret burial location, it’s possible that the body wasn’t properly disposed of, and Anthony might have somehow survived.
Another fan chimed in with an even more intriguing possibility: “There’s a rumour I read from Emmerdale that Anthony has a twin brother, and Ruby is in a bad way when she finds out.” If this rumour proves true, it could suggest that the hand beneath the ice might not even belong to Anthony at all, but to his twin, who might be involved in a much bigger twist.
A third fan raised another interesting theory: “Might be Anthony that Charity hit if he wasn’t dead when John buried him? Read his body needs id’ing next week.” This theory suggests that Anthony could have been involved in the crash, either because he was alive and buried under false pretenses, or perhaps because the crash has unearthed some old secrets.

Could the Crash Be the Key to Anthony’s Survival?
Another layer to the mystery is the possibility that the crash has disrupted the location of Anthony’s body. One fan pondered: “Could the person’s hand in the ice be Ruby’s father that was dumped by John thinking the body was at the bottom, but the crashed car has disputed the body?” This theory suggests that the accident might have disturbed the area where Anthony’s body was hidden, potentially bringing his remains—or even Anthony himself—back into the picture.
As the storyline unfolds, fans will likely continue to speculate about the fate of Ruby’s father and whether he will make a shocking return to Emmerdale. The writers have kept viewers guessing, and with the high-stakes drama and unexpected twists, it’s clear that this storyline is far from over.
Stay tuned to Emmerdale as the mystery of Anthony Milligan’s fate continues to unfold. Who is trapped under the ice? Is it Ruby’s father, or is there another shocking twist in store? Fans are eagerly awaiting the next installment to uncover the truth behind this intense and gripping storyline.
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