Emmerdale fans have been left convinced they know the truth behind newcomer Nicky’s reluctance to start dating Gabby Thomas on the ITV soap.
Gabby and the new nanny Nicky have been growing closer over the past few weeks after the mum of one immediately took a shine to him when he was interviewed.
When he was then hired to look after the kids at Home Farm, sparks flew between the pair as Gabby was in the midst of cracking on with career and putting her Jamie Tate romance behind her.
However, Nicky subsequently pushed her away, explaining that he wants to keep a professional distance between the two.
The move has now left fans of the ITV soap speculating there could be another reason behind Nicky’s decision to pull back from a romance with Gabby – and that the pair could in fact be secret siblings.
Eagle-eyed viewers think Nicky could be Gabby’s long-lost brother after her dad Ashley was stalked by someone else’s wife while still married to Laurel.
Taking to Facebook, one user theorised: “Years ago, when Ashley first started showing signs of Alzheimer’s, there was a woman (the wife of another vicar) who was stalking him.
“If I remember correctly, she got him into bed, then not long after disappeared. Could this be her and Ashley’s son, come to find his sister Gabby?”
Another fan quickly chimed in: “Could be right… hence why he pushed her away!”
While one Twitter user echoed: “Saw a post earlier this week that Gabby could be Nicky's long lost sister in Emmerdale. If Ashley had a kid before he married Laurel I feel like it's a good theory…”
Another user, however, pointed out that the timelines don’t quite add up – so any lost siblings for Gabby would have had to have been born before Ashley came into the village.
They wrote: “Just been checking up, it happened in 2010 so unless he is a very mature looking 12 year old…”
However, Nicky could have been the result of a previous romance Ashley had with another woman.
Some fans think there could be another reason entirety for Nicky’s rejection, with many pointing to his sexuality and considering whether he has had a relationship with Jamie Tate.
One fan theorised: “I think Nicky is working for Jamie Tate and could be Jamie Tate's secret lover? I think he's gay... wait and see first."
“I wonder if Jamie is secretly gay and is having an affair with Nicky?” someone else pondered, as a third fan said: “Judging by that knock back, Nicky is working for Jamie or he’s gay or he’s already in a relationship.”
“Good theory, I did wonder if he was gay,” someone else agreed.
