Emmerdale fans were left gasping as they were finally given a hint about why Caleb Milligan has shown up in the fictional Yorkshire village and has been trying to reconnect with his estranged family. Viewers of the ITV soap were first introduced to the character, played by William Ash, over Christmas when Caleb paid long-lost half-brother Cain Dingle in prison.
Caleb, who claims to be the son of the late Faith Dingle, paid Cain a visit in prison on Christmas Day after he took the blame for his son, Kyle, after witnessing the youngster, played by Huey Quinn, accidentally let off a shotgun and kill Al Chapman. Cain then did all he can to keep his son out of prison and took the blame for himself. However, Kyle had been struggling to keep his killer secret and Caleb's arrival prompted the schoolboy to come clean and confess.
Before that, viewers were also given an insight into Cain's backstory after more than 20 years in the Dales in a flashback episode.
Emmerdale fans got to learn more about Cain and Chas' home life when Caleb first showed up and revealed himself as Faith's other son to Cain.
The pair were shown to be living together after escaping their abusive family home with Shadrach. Viewers also saw a young Cain, played by Aiden Kane, working at a garage where he was found by Caleb and told they were brothers. But later, Caleb saw red when Cain went back on his plans to introduce him to half-sister Chas after discovering she was pregnant and jumped in one of the cars at the garage.
He sped off with Cain in the passenger seat before quickly being caught by the police. Cain told him he'd be fine as it's his first offense but Caleb revealed it wasn't and that he'd go to prison. Cain instead took the blame and unbeknownst to him, his boss was up to no good leading to Cain's first hefty prison sentence.
So it was no surprise that Cain was furious when, while he was behind bars, his wife Moira and Amy Wyatt, Kyle's mother, accepted Caleb's help to get Kyle off with murder. In the process, Caleb also sped up Cain's release from prison and it wasn't until Thursday night's episode (February 2) that Cain finally shared his thanks and appeared to be warming to having Caleb around.
However, right at the end of the hour-long episode, Caleb was seen getting back in his car and picking up his phone. He told the mystery caller that he was finally "making headway" with Cain and added: "We keep reeling him in until we get exactly what we want."
And fans rushed to social media to share their theories about his true identity. @TwellyWatcher said: "Caleb looking like an undercover cop felt like it was coming for a while… HE PROBABLY ISN’T EVEN THE REAL CALEB DINGLE - I bet the real Caleb died!!! #Emmerdale Calling it now."
@FluffiBubbles tweeted: "He’s got to be a copper maybe he’s still Cains brother but must be a copper - Caleb." @JordanPhelps21 shared: "I reckon he is an under cover cop #Emmerdale." @darrennpassey added: "So after tonight’s #Emmerdale that twist at the end might of confirmed that Caleb isn’t a dingle and he is going to be exposed as a undercover cop targeting cain after shock death? I didn’t see that coming but it’s a good twist."
Meanwhile, some think he is connected to another villager after spotting a 'clue' while also having a connection to a previous resident of Emmerdale. @aldismaldi commented: "Why do the credits only say "Nicky" and no surname? Is he Caleb's son (so a Dingle) and reconnaissance to get Home Farm? #emmerdale."
@coxyhockeychick said: "Soooo I think caleb and nicky are working for #JoeTate going after Cain and Kim. (fingers crossed it means Joe coming back!) #Emmerdale." @RyanTheSoapking wrote: "I definitely think Nicky is Caleb's biological son. Then Caleb is working with Joe Tate to get back at Cain after he hit him over the head a few years back. #Emmerdale."
@mcinally.david commented: "Still say Caleb and Nicky the manny are related in some way!" @Lfcbynature1988 added: "Don't think Caleb is Cain nd Chas's brother, caleb is dead nd he's posing as him! He's working with either Jamie Tate or Joe Tate, hence the going into business with Kim #Emmerdale."
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