Emmerdale legend makes shock return – six years after star quit ITV soap
EMMERDALE legend returned to the Dales after Billy Fletcher’s fighting partner is revealed — and it’s a familiar face.
Billy (Jay Kontzle) was forced to fight a dangerous, unlicensed boxing match in tonight’s episode of Emmerdale.
Billy felt guilty lying to his family while Mack (Lawrence Robb) did his best to talk Billy down from the fight.
But, Billy was adamant he needs the money.
Aaron’s (Danny Miller) convinced by Mack to go with Mack to Billy’s fight and try to help him.
In the Warehouse, Jade (Twinnie-Lee Moore) unpacked the dangerous rules of the unlicensed fight.
And Billy’s opponent is revealed, leaving Mack and Billy stunned.
Ross Barton (Michael Parr) stood in the boxing ring showboating to the crowd and flexing his muscles as he prepared to fight.
The penny soon drops for Billy that Aaron was right about the nature of the event.
As Billy realises he has made a big mistake, can anyone help him before it’s too late?
Ross was last seen in Emmerdale in 2018 when he decided to leave for a fresh start in Liverpool along with his girlfriend, Rebecca White and her baby son Seb.
Ross originally planned to take Moses with him, but Charity found out and threatened to take him on in court.
Actor Michael, who first joined Emmerdale in 2013, became a fan favourite for his portrayal of the complex-but-charismatic Ross and will reappear on screen later this year.
During his time on the show, Ross was also known for his tumultuous relationships with Donna Windsor and Debbie Dingle.
His first relationship culminated sadly in Donna’s suicide, when she fell with dodgy criminal Gary North off the roof of a car park. Having truly loved Donna, Ross was absolutely devastated by her death.
Ross later began a secret affair with Debbie Dingle, who was engaged to his brother Pete. This ended when it was revealed that Ross had a one night stand with Debbie’s mother, Charity, conceiving baby Moses.
Forgotten soap storylines
The nation's soaps have had many gripping storylines play out over the years. However, some plots proved to be far less memorable. Here are some forgotten stories from Weatherfield, Walford and more...
- Ken and Audrey’s romance (2015): After the death of wife Deirdre (Anne Kirkbride), Coronation Street original Ken Barlow (William Roache) started to move on in his life. He started to develop a spark with old friend Audrey (Sue Nicholls), with then-Corrie boss saying it would be like “Ross and Rachel”. In the end, nothing ever came of it and the two remained platonic pals.
- Beth’s bigamy (2016): Despite being happily married to Kirk (Andrew Whyment), a troubling secret came to light about Beth Tinker (Lisa George). It transpired that she had never divorced from her first husband, Darryl (Paul Loughran), father of her son Craig (Colson Smith). Although Craig and Kirk were shocked – and Beth was arrested – the storyline didn’t didn’t go much further.
- Kat Slater’s secret son (2017): Capitalising on the popularity of Kat (Jessie Wallace) and Alfie (Shane Richie), the two received a spin-off back in 2017. Titled ‘Redwater’, it saw the two travel to Ireland where they met long-lost son Luke, now called Dermott Dolan, played by Oisín Stack. Despite the high-tension events during Redwater, Kat seems to have put the experience behind her as Dermott’s not been mentioned since.
- Alfie’s brain tumour (2015): Having learned in 2015 that he had a brain tumour, Alfie kept the news from Kat until their trip to Ireland. At the time, actor Shane Ritchie revealed fans would see a change in Alfie as he battled the illness. It would appear that at some point after leaving the Square, was told the tumour was non-malignant. By the time Alfie returned in 2022, fans were left confused over what had happened to the storyline.
- Kathy and Buster’s affair (2016): In 2016, Walford legend Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth) fell into the arms of convict Buster Briggs, played by Karl Howman. Buster was the long-time lover of Shirley Carter (Linda Henry) and fathered both her sons – Mick (Danny Dyer) and Dean (Matt Di Angelo). When Buster left, he begged Kathy to join him, but she refused for the sake of her family. Meanwhile Buster didn’t even stop to say goodbye to Shirley before exiting with a broken heart. Fans expected a showdown between the two women, but this never came to pass.
- Jacob’s OCD (2016): After his dad, David (Matthew Wolfenden), was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2016, Jacob (Joe-Warren Plant) developed Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). This manifested in the form of cleaning. Jacob’s OCD made a brief return one year on, after David had another scare after finding a lump. Jacob frantically searched the bins for a “lucky coin” that had accidentally been thrown away. Despite stressful situations – such as being groomed by his teacher Maya, losing his fiancee Leanna to a serial killer, dealing with mum Leyla’s drug addiction, and surviving a stabbing – the condition doesn’t appear to have returned.
- Marlon and Charity’s fling (2003): Few fans would likely remember few will remember the one-night stand between Charity (Emma Atkins) and Marlon (Mark Charnock) in 2003. The pair slept together when Charity was staying with Marlon while still under suspicion for husband Chris’s supposed “murder”.
- Alex Browning’s revenge plot (2014): Fans expected a confrontation when Dr Browning’s son Alex (Ojan Genc) mer stepmum Mercedes McQueen (Jennifer Metcalfe). After all, Mercedes, with Cindy Cunningham (Stephanie Waring) and Lindsey Butterfield (Sophie Austin) had murdered Alex’s dad, double-murderer Dr Paul Browning, after he kidnapped and attacked his new wife. In fact, the soap teased Alex would seek revenge for his father’s death upon arriving. However, he instead gave Cindy’s son Hilton (his half-brother) a life-saving transplant, became his godfather, and leaving the village soon after.
Ross also became involved in many dangerous schemes including a plot to kill his brother Pete, but is most notably remembered for the heart-wrenching storyline which saw him battle with depression during his recovery from a devastating acid attack.
With old wounds still to heal, his presence in the village is likely to stir up feelings and ignite some new rivalries.
Michael said: “I’m over the moon to be returning to Emmerdale.
“Ross is a character I’m extremely fond of and I’m excited to explore what he’s been up to over the past five years.
“After seeing the scripts, I can’t wait for the audience to see what’s in store. One thing I can say is Ross’s return will no doubt create fireworks.”
Producer, Laura Shaw, added: “We are delighted to have Michael back at Team Emmerdale, playing the unforgettable and charismatic bad boy Ross Barton once again.
“Ross makes a huge impact from the first moment he arrives back on screen, immediately throwing some of our villagers’ lives into disarray.
“Chaotic, wild and reckless, Ross is absolutely going to shake up the village and prove it’s never quiet with a Barton boy back in town.”
Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX.