The big news recently coming out of the Outlander camp was the reveal that the adult William Ransom had been cast for season 7.
Set to be played by Canadian actor Charles Vandervaart, William is Jamie Fraser's (Sam Heughan) 'secret' son in the hit show.
But how did William come about and why isn't he with Jamie and the family at Fraser's Ridge now?
Also, why does he have the second name Ransom and what part will he have to play in the coming season?
With fans having lots of questions - or possibly just in need of a refresh, here is everything you need to know about this fascinating character.
Who is William Ransom?
As already discussed, William is the 'secret' son of Jamie Fraser and a woman called Geneva Dunsany (Hannah James) who we meet back in Season 3.
Did Jamie cheat on Claire to conceive William?
Technically yes, however, it was actually Geneva who contrived to have Jamie sleep with her by blackmailing him while he was an indentured servant at Helwater over a letter from his sister resulting in them having an illegitimate child together.
Geneva was set to marry the elderly Earl of Ellesmere and wants to experience one night of passion with Jamie first.
Why does he have the surname Ransom?
He is the heir of Earl of Ellesmere Ludovic Ransom, who the world believes is his real father.
Does William know Jamie is his father?
William loses both his mother Geneva, who dies during childbirth, and his supposed father the Earl (killed by Jamie), shortly after his birth, from there he ends up in the care of Jamie's friend and close confidant Lord John Gray - who had married Geneva's sister Isobel.
Currently, in the show, William doesn't know Jamie is his father.
Where is he now?
Though it isn't covered in the show (yet) he is heading to the colonies with the British Army, where he intends to fight with "patriotic zeal".
Does Claire know?
Yes, Jamie told her after they finally reunite in the Print Shop in Edinburgh.
Who played the young William and who will play him now?
Actor Clark Butler played the part of the youngest version of William before Oliver Finnegan played the slightly older version of him who visited Jamie with Lord John in season 4, with Canadian actor Charles Vandervaart now taking over the role.
What will happen with William in Season 7?
Though the books have already covered this, show fans will see William arrive in the colonies and fight on the opposite side to his father Jamie in the Revolutionary War.
"On the surface, William is a courteous aristocrat," the description of his character reads. "But simmering under the surface is a Highlander’s fire."
Meaning we are sure to see sparks fly when he possibly goes head to head with his father.
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