ITV Emmerdale fans 'work out' Caleb Milligan's secret daughter is unlikely villager

In an unexpected twist, Emmerdale enthusiasts have speculated on the 'true' identity of Caleb Milligan's (portrayed by Will Ash) enigmatic daughter Stephanie, who they believe is hiding in plain sight within the village.

Ever since Caleb mentioned having a daughter, the buzz amongst viewers has been palpable, leading them to wonder about her identity and whether she will make an appearance soon. A particularly observant fan has suggested she might already be amongst the villagers, much to everyone's surprise.

Dramatic episodes broadcast earlier this week showcased Caleb visiting Ruby's (Beth Cordingly) ailing mother Helen in the hospital, where the atmosphere grew tense. In a chilling moment, he coerced her for cash in return for letting her meet her daughter before she succumbs to illness.

Amid their charged dialogue, Helen alluded to the existence of their daughter, which could spell further complexities given that audiences are aware Caleb and Ruby share a son, Nicky Milligan (Lewis Cope), who has left the village.

"My daughter has a right to know that I am dying," Helen stated firmly, underscoring the necessity of mending familial rifts before time runs out, reports Leeds Live.

Caleb couldn't mask his resentment towards Helen as he confronted her: "I know you paid me to ditch her and I know when she got pregnant, you tried to force her to abort our child and I know you turfed her out with nothing and she wouldn't."

To this, Ruby's mother confronted the enormity of her past errors, admitting: "I have had to live with that my entire life," to which Caleb retorted with icy indifference: "And now you'll have to die with it."

The tension escalated when Helen inquired, "Tell me, have you seen anything of Stephanie?" which provoked Caleb to retort sharply: "Don't you dare even say my kids' names, do you hear me?"

Following the episode's conclusion, Caleb issued a stern ultimatum, demanding a hefty sum for Helen's opportunity to see Ruby again, stating coldly: "When the money lands in my account, I will speak to Ruby," before swiftly exiting the hospital room.

Yet, in an unforeseen twist, as the funds hit Caleb's bank account, Ruby arrived at the hospital to visit her mother - only to find she was 20 minutes too late; Helen had died.

Eager viewers took to social media to speculate on the identity of Caleb's daughter, with one fan suggesting on a Facebook group that newcomer Ella Forster (played by Paula Lane) might be the one, given her age aligns with the timeline.

On another platform, a viewer speculated: "Ella as Stephanie, adopted? #Emmerdale."

Some fans pondered a possible Tate family link, with a comment on a forum reading: "Kids? Plural! Who is Steph?! Technically translates as 'More Tates'."

Another theory floated by a fan posited: "So where is Steph? Here's a theory... she is now abroad and has met Joe Tate or Jamie on her travels....thus making her a part of the family already,".

Speculation about a broader family storyline in Emmerdale has been sparked after one sharp-eyed fan suggested: "Feel like Ruby and Rose might be related... #emmerdale."

Emmerdale airs weekdays at 7.30pm on ITV.