Emmerdale is entering its climax season as Ross Barton – the bad boy who once wreaked havoc on the village – officially reappears.

But this time, Ross is no longer a man trying to rebuild his life, but a man returning with a single purpose: revenge.

Those who caused him to lose everything – his honor, his loved ones, his trust – will now pay the price.

Ross first appears in a shocking scene: he stands looking down into the Dales Valley from afar, clutching a charred old photograph.

In that gloomy setting, his eyes are both cold and filled with resentment. Audiences immediately understand: this time Ross isn’t returning to apologize to anyone. He’s here to make the village tremble.

News reveals that Ross has been watching the village from afar for months, documenting every move of his old enemies. He knows exactly who is happy, who is hiding secrets, and who the weakest link is. The upcoming episode will reveal his “first target”—a female character connected to his dark past, and Ross will use her as bait to begin his ruthless plan.

Emmerdale viewers are already familiar with Ross’s impulsive and hot-blooded nature, but now he’s even colder, more calculating, and far more dangerous. A behind-the-scenes source also revealed: Ross will cause a tragedy powerful enough to change the order of Dales village forever. And that tragedy… could begin on Christmas Eve.