Emmerdale viewers were surprised... and overwhelmingly pleased... when Ross Barton strolled naked into the Woolpack pub

Emmerdale viewers have been left shocked, and apparently delighted, after Ross Barton strolled 'naked' onto the screen.

The ITV soap character, played by Michael Parr, showed off his abs and legs in Monday’s pre-watershed episode, but the carefully positioned bar protected anything more from being on show.

The unexpectedly fleshy scene came as Ross and Debbie Dingle (Charley Webb) continue to grapple with their mutual attraction.

But Debbie wasn’t the only one who could barely conceal a grin, with viewers commenting via Twitter with everything from thank you messages to the Emmerdale writers to cartoon GIFs.

Michael also took to Twitter himself in response to 'chicken leg' barbs from his fans, joking that they belonged to somebody else.

He tweeted: “Mine were too wide for the shot so we had to cover one of the make up girls legs in pubes and let her go out.”

But his followers were not convinced, with one replying: “Never skip leg day!”

Pete and Ross Barton are the centre of all the female attention as their love lives erupt on Emmerdale

The Barton brothers are headed for a week of illicit passion in Emmerdale as they both chase after forbidden romances.

Pete Barton (Anthony Quinlan) is suffering guilt at having cheated on girlfriend Leyla Harding (Roxy Shahidi) with her best friend Priya Kotecha (Fiona Wade), but when an oblivious Leyla proposes to him, how will he react?

Cheating Pete turns to Priya again to discuss his guilt about the proposal and their affair, leading to an even more precarious situation when Nell Fairfax (Scarlett Archer) overhears them.

Will Nell expose their secret and what will Priya do when she finds out that Nell heard their conversation?

Meanwhile, Pete’s brother Ross (Michael Parr) could be about to fall for Debbie Dingle (Charley Webb) again.

The pair have a tangled past – they began an affair when Debbie was engaged to Pete, ending in a wedding-day debacle which saw Ross hospitalised and Pete and Debbie annulling their marriage – but it seems that they're unable to put their thwarted romance behind them just yet.

When Ross arranges a party at the pub, things quickly turn chaotic as some of the teenage guests manage to get their hands on booze and Ross is beaten up by party host Jools’s disgruntled husband, who finds them flirting in the toilets.

As Debbie helps Ross to clean up his wounds, there is an obvious spark between the friends. Will they rekindle their romance?

Watch these episodes on Emmerdale from Monday, July 17 on ITV.

Leyla proposes to Pete, still in the dark about him sleeping with her 'best friend' Priya in Emmerdale

It's a week of shockers in the Dales… Leyla pops the question to Pete, but will she find out he's cheated on her with her so-called best mate Priya? At the Woolpack, Ross gets in a punch up with his lover Jools' husband Roger. Chrissie meets up with a client who's calling himself Simon, but is really called Tim and is her biological uncle! Dan throws a surprise party for Kerry's 40th during which Frank puts Megan on the spot…

But the burning question is – will Pete say yes?

A cancelled wedding gives Leyla an opportunity…

Pete is gobsmacked when his girlfriend suddenly proposes!

As Leyla goes down on one knee, will her love-cheat boyfriend accept her proposal?

Meanwhile, Dan throws a surprise party for Kerry's 40th… but will it hit the right note?

Frank wants to know if Megan will take him back following the revelation that he slept with Charity…

Priya wants to know why Nell missed her important meeting with Social Services. Nell's response sends Priya reeling…

Ross has an angry husband on his case when Jools' hubby turns up at the Woolie and finds the pair together…

Jools tries to keep her lover Ross and her husband Roger apart…

But a surge of testosterone results in the men having a punch up!

Elsewhere, Megan thinks she's meeting a client called Simon, but in actual fact this man is her bona fide uncle, Tim!

Lawrence has had a tip-off that Tim is on the scene. When he crashes his meeting with Chrissie, who doesn't realise she's with her uncle, will Lawrence expose the secret?Watch Emmerdale on ITV from Monday 17 July.

Ross Barton’s ongoing feud with Robert Sugden turns deadly after a clash with drug dealers ends with someone being stabbed. Michael Parr told Soaplife all about it…

There isn’t much that scares Ross Barton. But the crooked mechanic quickly realises that blackmailing Robert Sugden wasn’t such a great idea when he’s served a hefty helping of revenge. “Ross is keen to bring Robert down a peg or two,” Michael Parr told Soaplife. “He knows Robert can play dirty, but what he does is unexpected.”

What does Robert do? “He steals Ross’s taxi and destroys it with the scrapyard crusher! That hits him really hard and he’s not happy at all. He’s not afraid of Robert [Ryan Hawley], though. Ross thinks of himself as the village bad boy and, to him, Robert and Aaron [Danny Miller] pose little threat.”

How does Finn react to losing the taxi? “He’s angry, but he suggests they call the police. Ross then has to explain to him that he’d been blackmailing Robert. Finn [Joe Gill] can’t quite believe his brother’s been so stupid and he isn’t impressed.”

What does Ross do next? “He decides to steal Robert’s car. He thinks he can use it to blackmail Robert and Aaron into getting him a replacement taxi.”

But that doesn’t work, either… “Adam found Ross’ mobile in the back of the taxi and he gave it to Aaron and Robert. They look through Ross’ texts and turn detective. One of the texts leads them to Wylie’s Farm and, once there, they see Ross and Finn moving bags full of cannabis into their mother Emma’s car.”

What do they do? “They take the drugs. Ross turns up later and finds out that the cannabis has gone.”

What about the drug dealers who’ve been growing the plants? “Ross isn’t afraid of them. He sees this as a get-rich-quick scheme. Finn’s up for it, too.”

But then the drug dealers show up, right? “Yes, and Finn’s on his own. They demand he help them trace the drugs, but Robert and Aaron are putting it all into a wood chipper in the middle of a field. The dealers drag Finn into their car to look for Ross. They find Emma’s car and shunt it, but Emma isn’t driving it.”

Who is? “I can’t say… but the person behind the wheel is stabbed and gets rushed to hospital as the dealers flee.”

It’s not looking good for Ross, is it? “Well, he’s happy to take anyone on and he thinks he can always find a way out of trouble. But there will be some fall-out from this.”

Emmerdale, ITV

As Robert gets revenge on blackmailer Ross, Finn is kidnapped by drug dealers, and there's a stabbing!

Robert has had enough of blackmailing Ross getting the better of him over Rebecca's pregnancy and decides to get payback. But when he takes Ross' cab and gets it crushed at Aaron's yard, his revenge plan spirals out of all control.

As furious Ross tries to get his own back on Robert, a dangerous situation blows up which sees Finn taken hostage by drug dealers! A stash of drugs goes missing and as the dealers try to track it down, they shunt a car presuming guilty Ross is inside. The dodgy guys force the driver out and stab them but who is behind the wheel? Ross… or someone else?

Finn Barton is in the firing line as drug dealers turn nasty…

Finn Barton is in the firing line as drug dealers turn nasty…

Fed up with Ross and his blackmail threats, Robert takes revenge…

… Ross is horrified to find Robert and Aaron have got hold of his cab.

Furious Ross looks on at his taxi which has been crushed by Aaron at his yard!

Finn gets caught up in Ross and Robert's feud and as a situation spirals out of control, he's kidnapped by drug dealers!

Finn is in danger as the drug dealers fly off the handle and end up stabbing someone… But who gets knifed?Watch Emmerdale on ITV from Monday 19 June.

The Barton brother becomes an escort to try and rake in some much needed money....

The Bartons are struggling for cash and after being rejected for another loan, Finn’s worried about how they’re going to pay the rent.

Later, after having spoken to Ross, Finn, who's feeling guilty about his huge financial splurge in Australia,  has a plan - he will become an escort! Talk about desperate measures!

Finn soon sets off  on his first date as an escort but has a serious wobble about the whole thing and ends up grabbing cash off the client and making a hasty run for it.

His livid date gives chase and tracks him down at Wylie's Farm where he angrily demands his money back however Finn has an ace up his sleeve when he threatens to out the man's secret dating escapades to his oblivious wife.

Ross catches up with Finn at the farm but trips on a cable and makes a shock discovery... a large scale cannabis enterprise!  Could this be the answer to all their financial problems?

Naughty Finn does a runner after nicking his client's cash!

Naughty Finn does a runner after nicking his client's cash!

Earlier on, the Bartons are struggling to pay their rent and when Emma is turned down for a loan at the bank things are looking bleak.

All their money-raising attempts have proved futile. What are they going to do?

A guilty Finn secretly confides in Leyla and reveals he blew all their money during his trip to Australia.

Now he's desperate to put things right. Suddenly he has an idea...he's going to become an escort!

Finn arranges a date with a man who just happens to be married.

The man hands over his cash up front but Finn, who's having a serious case of cold feet, seizes the opportunity to do a runner!

He grabs the cash and legs it to Wylie's Farm where Ross soon catches up with him.

However, while the pair are at the farm, Ross trips on a cable and makes a shock discovery. There is a secret large scale cannabis enterprise going on! Could this be the answer to all their cash worries. Let's face it, Ross and crime go hand in hand!Watch Emmerdale on ITV from Monday 5 June.

Finn becomes an escort to solve the Barton family’s cash crisis. Then he and Ross make a shock discovery! Actor Joe Gill has the story…

The Barton family are stony broke in Emmerdale and, unusually, it’s Finn who steps up to the plate and devises a dodgy money-making scheme. He plans to become an escort! But when his first job goes awry, he and Ross stumble upon a cannabis farm, Finn actor Joe Gill reveals to Soaplife.

How poor are the Bartons? “Their finances haven’t recovered since James’s death and Emma’s still been paying money into Wylie’s Farm. Finn also spent some of the taxi firm’s funds when he was in Australia. So, basically, their finances are in a bad way.”

What makes Finn decide to become an escort? “He does have a bit of history with them. He has this lightbulb moment and he gets contacts from Nathan, the escort he met a while back. He’s very nervous about it, but he’s desperate.”

Will he go as far as  sleeping with his clients? “He knows he’ll have to provide ‘the full service’ if he wants to make as much money as possible. But he’ll try everything he can to wheedle his way out of that. He wants to keep his dignity. It’s just a short-term thing, so that he can get the taxi company back on an even keel.”

What happens with his first customer? “Well, there’s a bit of confusion as the client thinks Finn’s there to provide ‘the full works’. Finn ends up panicking and he tries to talk the guy out of it. He’s married and Finn explains it might not be a great idea to cheat on his wife. Then, when Finn gets the money in his hand, he runs off.”

Where does he run to? “He goes to Wylie’s farm. Ross heads there, too, as he’s been tipped off about what’s going on.”

What happens at Wylie’s? “Finn locks himself in a room to escape this guy who’s after him and he trips on a wire. He opens a door to find somebody’s been in and he set up a massive cannabis farm.”

How does Finn react to that? “Initially, he has a panic attack and Ross tries to calm him down. He proper freaks out and says to Ross, ‘I didn’t go to university to become a drug lord!’ Ross manages to persuade Finn there could be a positive side to the situation.”

Is Finn about to turn bad like Ross? “There are signs that he’s going to be a bit more like his brothers. After all, he does have Barton blood flowing through his veins.”

Can you really see him in the drugs trade? “The thing about criminal activity is you need the brains, then the body. Finn is definitely the brains. This could be the start of a partnership between Ross and Finn. They might make a few quid together.”

Emma learns Adam and Victoria kissed. Will the scheming mum use it to get one up on Moira, and tell her daughter-in-law Victoria her husband is a cheat?

As the Bartons' marriage troubles over parenthood continue in Emmerdale, Adam hits a new low. He's had to reveal he has criminal record at an adoption open day and, now, he thinks he's ruined his broody wife's chances of adopting, on top of him being unable to get his wife pregnant naturally.

When Adam snaps at Emma, Ross lamps him. But Emma soon has some ammunition of her own when she overhears Moira mention to Vanessa that she knows she and Adam shared an illicit kiss! What will Emma do with the incriminating information? Has she got just what she needs to hurt her enemy Moira? Will she tell Moira's daughter-in-law Victoria?

Is Victoria about to find out her husband Adam kissed Victoria?

Is Victoria about to find out her husband Adam kissed Victoria?

Earlier, Adam hits a new low after attending an adoption open day where he had to reveal his criminal record.

Adam revels in his misery. Moira has learned he kissed Vanessa - but so far the rest of his family are in the dark about it.

When Emma hears Adam has lost his dead dad's watch, she makes a nasty comment…

… which causes Adam to snap at her.

Ross is none too impressed and as he and Adam row, he throws a punch!

Adam and Victoria's marriage is teetering on a knife's edge. But will Emma trash it completely when she learns about Adam and Vanessa's illicit kiss?Watch Emmerdale on ITV from Monday, May 8

Incriminating footage linked to Emma's killer crime, which saw her push James Barton to his death, is exposed while the dodgy Barton mum also gets caught up in cattle rustling.

So far, no one in Emmerdale village knows it was Emma who pushed James Barton off a footbridge on the busy road below. The crime took place last year and was witnessed solely by dementia-stricken vicar Ashley.

After Emma successfully messed with Ashley's memory of the event, she had a further stroke of 'luck' recently when the vicar passed away. While she thinks Ashley has taken her killer secret to his grave, incriminating footage is about to come to light at Mulberry Cottage, but will anyone see it? Is her murderous crime about to be revealed?

Emma's in trouble elsewhere, too. At Butlers Farm, Moira's cattle are being stolen. After the farmer goes on patrol, circumstance leads her to discover her own family are robbing her blind! As Moira tries to cut a deal with Ross and co, will Emma fight back?

Moira comes up against Emma as the Bartons' feud escalates. But is Emmerdale's secret killer Emma about to get her comeuppance elsewhere?

Moira comes up against Emma as the Bartons' feud escalates. But is Emmerdale's secret killer Emma about to get her comeuppance elsewhere?

Earlier, Ross is revealed to be the secret cow rustler at Butlers Farm and the the Bartons plot to remedy the situation.

As Pete, Ross and Emma collude to try to steal back the cattle, can they pull off the heist?

Leyla gets pulled into the Bartons' plot and is used as bait

Moira tries to strike a deal with Emma and the Barton boys – she wants Ross's share in the farm or it's the police

Emma's not happy about Moira's offer - and decides to seek revenge…

Meanwhile, at Mulberry Cottage, Lydia is giving Arthur some bereavement counselling to try to help him process his dad Ashley's recent death.

As the session is interrupted, will Laurel spy incriminating home movie footage as it plays out on her TV in which Emma discusses her responsibiity for James Barton's death with Ashley?Watch Emmerdale on ITV from Monday, May 1

Ross Barton gets into all sorts of bother and his life is in danger when he decides to steal from his own family, explains star Michael Parr

Ross has been mixed up in all sorts of crime capers. Now, desperately in need of funds, he steals Moira’s cows and sells them on. It is not an entirely well thought through plan and when Moira finds out, she is not happy.

“Stealing on his own doorstep is a stupid thing to do,” Michael Parr told Soaplife. “And when he is caught out, he thinks he can come up with a way to deal with it.”

Why steal Moira’s cows? “It is a way of making quick cash. Ross and his brothers are skint, he asked Moira for the cash for his side of the business, but she refused and now he sees no other way forward.”

Isn’t he afraid that Cain might find out? “He isn’t scared of Cain [Jeff Hordley]. He is Moira’s ex, but then she is Ross’s auntie. I don’t think he would mind Debbie [Charley Webb] knowing, either. She already knows he is a bad lad and would probably want to be involved if she knew about it.”

How does Charity come to be involved? “She finds Ross in the barn when she goes up to the farm to steal a lamb. Ross is bleeding as Moira [Natalie J Robb] has fired a shot at the thief, not realising that she hit somebody. Charity [Emma Atkins] wants to be part of it and have a cut of the profits. He is fine with that as he likes to have a tough woman by his side, as long as he is still the boss.”

What happens when Moira finds out what he’s been up to? “She asks him to sign over his share of the business and obviously he doesn’t want that! So he decides to steal the cattle back, with Pete’s [Anthony Quinlan] help.”

How are things between Ross and Rebecca? “Rebecca is stringing him along, but he knows that and likes being able to sleep with her every so often. Emily Head [who plays Rebecca] is great fun and we always have a laugh together.”

How does he feel about her pregnancy knowing he is not the father? “He didn’t want another child, so wasn’t too bothered when he found out it wasn’t his. She is just a bit of fun for him. However, the fact that the baby is Robert’s [Ryan Hawley] is brilliant as he now has ammunition to use against him.”

Emmerdale, ITV

A huge secret threatens Aaron and Robert's marriage as Ross Barton uncovers a shock secret in Emmerdale

With Aaron now out of prison, Robert's chuffed when they get to spend some decent time together following their quickie wedding. But the lads' romantic picnic ends on a sour note as the couple return to the village and find Rebecca and Ross in the middle of a barney. As the pair row, a huge secret is revealed… Soon, Ross realises he has something on Robert, which could ruin his marriage!

Using the terrible truth as leverage, Ross blackmails Robert for a huge amount of money in exchange for his silence. Can Robert get out of the village before it's too late - or will he have to cough up the cash for Ross to avoid losing Aaron?

Aaron and Robert return from a romantic picnic to find Ross and Rebecca in the middle of a barney! As they row, a huge secret is revealed…

Aaron and Robert return from a romantic picnic to find Ross and Rebecca in the middle of a barney! As they row, a huge secret is revealed…

In the Woolpack there's another shock for Ross and his family: Finn is back from Australia!

As the week continues, Ross realises he has an opportunity to extort money from Robert…

Ross threatens Robert with a secret which could ruin his marriage to Aaron and he demands cash for his silence.Can Robert get out of Emmerdale before it's too late - or will he have to cough up?Watch Emmerdale on ITV from Monday, April 10

Moira's furious when a business deal falls through and decides to take revenge – by stealing his car

An upset Moira is desperate to cling on to Butler's farm in Emmerdale, especially as it's where she feels closest to her beloved Holly, who passed away from a drugs overdose.

However, coming up, the grieving mum  gets a shock when she discovers her bad boy nephew Ross has been hiding a stolen car in one of her barns.

Moira angrily confronts him, but she's got other business to deal with first  when she tries to close a lucrative deal with smarmy businessman Patrick. If the deal works out she'll have enough cash to help her keep the farm.

Sadly her meeting with Patrick doesn't go as planned and Moira's  fuming when the smug client pulls out at the last minute and patronises her with his condescending attitude. So Moira decides to get her own back...

Moira's livid to discover Ross has been hiding a stolen car in her barn, but his crime later gives her food for thought….

Moira's livid to discover Ross has been hiding a stolen car in her barn, but his crime later gives her food for thought….

Earlier in the week, Victoria's worried about Moira and asks Pete to try and help his Aunty out. However a stubborn Moira is resolute that she cope.

But she gets a shock when she discovers a car in her barn!

This has got Ross written all over it and sure enough, when she confronts her crime-loving nephew he admits it's a stolen car.

Moira's fuming that he's hiding stolen property on her land and the two get into a heated showdown.

However she calms down a bit when he explains exactly what he's up to and why.

Later on Moira is fuming once again when her meeting with businessman Patrick doesn't go to plan and he riles her with his condescending attitude. When she spots his car keys lying about she decides to secretly steal his car and gets Ross in on the act!

Ross heads off to sell Patrick's stolen car but Moira is alarmed when she later learns there was an urn of ashes in the back of the vehicle. Can she alert Ross before it's too late and how will Emma react when she gets wind of Moira's shady and rash antics?

Emma's appalled! She threatens to call the police and report Moira for stealing the vehicle.

Debbie Dingle arrives back in Emmerdale with her kids and a drama in tow... Can Cain make sure Ross stays well away?

She's been living in France since she found out that her lover Ross had lied about shooting Robert Sugden... But now Debbie Dingle is back!

Cain is stunned when his daughter bursts onto the scene, and soon finds out his daughter is in big trouble and is on the run. As the concerned Dingles rally round to help her, Cain's other priority is to keep Ross at bay. But will the former lovers be able to resist temptation? And what's Debbie done to warrant such a drama?

Debbie Dingle is on her way back to Emmerdale, with her kids Sarah and Jack in tow

But it's clear she's being followed and is in big trouble…

As she arrives at Lisa's house, Debbie tends to her daughter, Sarah.

But soon concerned mum Charity and her ex-lover Ross are drawn into Debbie's problems.

As Debbie hurriedly explains her predicament, Charity can see her daughter is in a real state.

After arguing with Charity about what to do, Cain takes action.

Concerned for his daughter and relieved to see her home again, Cain hugs Debbie and vows to solve her problems.

Knowing the last thing Debbie needs is any more trouble in her life, Cain confronts her ex-lover Ross and gives him money in exchange for his word that he'll stay away from his daughter.

But Ross isn't about to be bribed to stay away from the woman he loves. Will Debbie give him another chance?Watch Emmerdale on ITV from January 23 at 7pm

But Ross isn't about to be bribed to stay away from the woman he loves. Will Debbie give him another chance?Watch Emmerdale on ITV from January 23 at 7pm

When Ross tries to kiss Victoria, her husband Adam is furious and flies at him in Emmerdale. But it's Victoria who winds up hurt

At Dale View, Victoria is horrified when Ross tries to kiss her! Soon the shock news reaches her husband Adam, Ross's half-brother.

A fight breaks out but as Ross and Adam lamp each other, Victoria is caught in the crossfire. Hurt, she's taken to hospital to get checked over…

After trying to kiss Victoria, Ross winds up Adam about it... And the inevitable soon happens!

As Adam and Ross scrap, Victoria is caught in the melee as she tries to prise them apart.

As Adam and Ross scrap, Victoria is caught in the melee as she tries to prise them apart.

She's hurt when she hits the ground hard and Adam races her to hospital.

An anxious Victoria shares a secret with her husband…

She tells him that she suspects she's pregnant. Is Adam ready to be a dad? Watch Emmerdale on ITV from November 7 at 7pm

Emmerdale star Mike Parr spoke about the fragile life of an actor and how he takes nothing for granted because 'it's bleak out there'.

He talked to What's on TV at the British Soap Awards about his character Ross Barton's relatively quiet time on the ITV soap, which won best soap at the 2016 awards.

He said: "I had such a busy two and a half years, it was going to be impossible to keep up that level of RPMs, so maybe it was good to have some downtime. Iain [MacLeod, Emmerdale's executive producer] has just come in, it's nice to work with him and see his ideas, so I've just got to keep my fingers crossed and hope he doesn't [mimes cutting his throat]!"

Mike doesn't want to rest on his laurels – Ross has been a pivotal character in much of Emmerdale's biggest storylines and he hopes that continues.

"I want to be there so much that the work rate is nothing out of the ordinary for me," he said. "I went to drama school and we were doing the same hours at drama school so they really drilled it into us how on top of it you have to be.

"I'm just grateful to be working, you know, it's bleak out there. I feel everyone that's trying and hustling and isn't getting anywhere and that could've been me. I'm just lapping it up while it's there."

He had lavish praise for his on-screen mother, Gillian Kearney, who plays Emma Barton. "It's just great to be on set and to watch Gill work. She'll kill me for saying this, but she was acting way before, she was doing Debbie and Damon [Brookside] way before I was even a sparkle in my father's eye, so it's just lovely to watch her, to see her professionalism. and her attitude towards it and just watch her.

"She's got great professionalism, she's inspiring and she plays one kooky b----... Especially because Ross is crazy, she's crazy I think they've got a lot of things to come in the future."

Watch the interview with MIke Parr, above.

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Ross has been keeping his nose clean lately – but Charity quickly rubs it in the dirt again, reveals Michael Parr…

What has Charity got on Ross?

“She knows he shot Robert. Ross isn’t surprised as Charity’s good at finding things out about people. It’s frustrating for Ross, because he did that when he was in a dark place and he’s been trying to walk away from it. She has got the ace card, which means she’s the boss…at the moment.”

What does Charity want from Ross?

“She’s after raising a large amount of cash and she makes him rob a very fancy jewellery shop. He isn’t on his own, though. He goes with baby Moses. He doesn’t want to take him, but nobody else is willing to look after him.”

How does that work for him?

“It looks as if it might go wrong, but Charity [Emma Atkins] steps in and helps him get away with it. She wants to get her hands on the cash, but maybe she sees the opportunity for a little business arrangement.”

Is Ross a match for Charity?

“She’s much darker and smarter than Ross, but they make a good partnership. There’s lot of money to be made and trouble to be caused by them.”

And romance?

“There’s obviously some chemistry between them as they have been there before. I can see them using each other to wind people up. They’d probably have sex just to annoy Cain [Jeff Hordley].”

Watch this story unfold in Emmerdale on ITV from Monday 14 March

Ross is still heartbroken his girlfriend, Debbie, left him and Emmerdale at Christmas after discovering the truth about the killer pact Ross made with Andy to shoot Andy's reviled brother, Robert, outside The Woolpack.

But Ross refuses to give up hope.

Ross has no idea where Debbie went after driving out of the village with her kids, Sarah and Jack. But the bad boy reckons Debbie's dad Cain does, and secretly steals his phone. Ross uses Cain's mobile to call Debbie. But will she reveal where she is, and if she's ever coming back?

Cain is furious when he discovers Ross has swiped his phone so he can call her. He storms round to confront Ross and the men have a scuffle. But has Ross made things worse and jeopardised his access to his baby son, Moses?

Debbie has left Moses in the care of Cain and his wife, Moira, while she's gone. But Ross and his mum, Emma, don't want to be separated from the child. And it's not long before Emma is scheming a way to get custody of Moses.

Watch what happens in Emmerdale from Monday, January 25 on ITV.

It was bad enough when, for a minute earlier this year, it looked like Ross Barton (Michael Parr) had been killed by his jealous brother, Pete (Anthony Quinn), who found out about his affair with his wife, Debbie Dingle.

But Ross lived to play the bad lad again - and again and again… And he got the girl.

This week the police come looking for Ross again and Debbie is stunned when she finds out what he’s done… It’s the final straw for her and she leaves the village on New Year’s Day.

We know Debbie’s exit is temporary - a maternity leave for actress Charley Webb, who is having her second child with co-star Matthew Wolfenden (who plays David Metcalfe).

But Michael has hinted he might not be around when Charley returns.

“Ross’s world crumbles when Debbie leaves,” says Michael in The Mirror. “And, personally, it was really said to see Charley go because I might not be here when she gets back. I’m going to miss Charley. We have a lot of fun when we work together. We have such a laugh.

“But we might have already filmed our last scenes together.

“Hopefully, I won’t have filmed my last Christmas with Emmerdale. I trust the writers.”

Emmerdale, ITV.

The secret is out - it was Ross Barton who shot Robert Sugden outside The Woolpack! All was revealed in a special 'rewind' episode of Emmerdale on Thursday night, which showed the events leading up to village baddie Robert's shock shooting a few weeks ago.

"It's a really clever twist," said Mike Parr, who plays Ross. "I think it's based on a film, Strangers On A Train, where two guys on a train have a similar issue and come up with a plan."

Viewers saw Ross and Andy Sugden make an unexpected killers' pact in the flashback episode. Ross would kill Andy's hated brother, Robert, but in exchange, Andy must bump-off Ross's brother, Pete. So far, no one suspects what Ross and Andy have plotted. But there's one big problem - both Robert and Pete are still alive!

"Ross will want Andy to go through with his side of the deal and is going to put a lot of pressure on him to do it," continues Michael. "But if Andy doesn't do it, what will Ross do to Andy?"

Watch our video chat with Mike to find out more about the killer pact, what the future holds for forbidden lovers, Debbie and Ross, and whether the Barton brother feud will ever end! "]

Emmerdale continues weekdays at 7pm on ITV.

Pete didn’t kill Ross! But he’s going to wish he had before his bad boy brother is through with him, says Emmerdale’s Michael Parr...

How is Ross going to make Pete pay for leaving him for dead?

“He has a plan to get Debbie [Charley Webb] all to himself… It involves a gun and a fake suicide note - but this time the body will be Pete’s. Ross is furious with Pete.”

How did Ross survive Pete’s battering and burial?

“He was found by somebody walking their dog. Ross had a different passport on him, the one Cain [Jeff Hordley] gave him, so everyone thinks he’s called Stephen. That’s how he managed to go under the radar. When he woke up, he didn’t remember much, but he instantly knew he wanted to do something about Debbie and Pete!”

What did you think of the public’s reaction to Ross’s ‘death’?

“It was funny as people were saying things to me like, ‘You’ll get something bigger off the back of this!’ Then people were making stuff up. There was a petition to save Ross, which I was grateful for. But, of course, I always knew the plan was for me to go, then come back.”

Did you go into hiding?

“I was sneaking in and out of Emmerdale. I couldn’t risk being seen. I even had to lie to my own family. I was making up stuff on Twitter and saying things like ‘I have an audition…’”

How does Ross feel about his son, Moses, now?

“Even though he’s good with kids and he has a great relationship with April, it’s no-strings-attached so he can swan in and out as he pleases. With Moses it’s different and he feels tied down. It doesn’t suit him and there’s a little bit of resentment. He doesn’t particularly want to be a dad at the minute.”

Will Ross kill Pete (Anthony Quinlan)?

“Who knows? Nobody is a murderer until they’ve killed somebody. Ross is very dangerous and angry. He’s had that anger all his life because he’s felt like the odd one out.”

Does he still love Debbie?

“Yes. There are genuine feelings there. They’re a very volatile couple and they don’t really know how to handle each other. He loves Debbie, but getting her will also be part of his revenge against Pete.”

Emmerdale, ITV

After being beaten-up and left for dead in a shallow grave by his big brother, Pete, last month, Ross has returned to Emmerdale village for revenge!

As Pete sinks deeper into depression over his failed marriage to Debbie, cunning Ross decides to take advantage of his brother's fragile emotional state. Ross fakes concern and takes Pete out to The Woolpack to drown his sorrows. But Ross's sinister intentions are later revealed...

When Pete passes out drunk back in his caravan later that night, Ross reveals a faked suicide note and gun in his rucksack. As Ross starts to stage the scene, will he really go ahead and kill his own brother?

Meanwhile, Debbie is still worried about her daughter, Sarah's health and takes her daughter to the doctors to find out more. The doctor decides they should do some blood tests to find out what's wrong with Sarah.

But Debbie's not happy when she discovers her estranged hubby, Pete's mum Emma is the nurse on duty. There's no love lost between Emma and her daughter-in-law. Emma still blames Debbie for the fallout from her affair with Ross, which turned Ross and Pete against each other.

Emma arrives to carry out Sarah's blood tests. But Debbie's not comfortable leaving Sarah in Emma's care, given Emma troubled past. So it's not long before things turn ugly again between the two women.

Emma doesn't take kindly to people who mess with her family. So when the two women bump into each other at The Woolpack later, you could cut the atmosphere with a knife!

As Debbie gives Emma a dose of Dingle attitude, Emma is already plotting payback. But what's she going to do? Perhaps it's better not to mess with Emma. After all, this is the woman who once almost left husband, James, to die after an 'accident' at Butler's Farm!

With Debbie and Pete's short-lived marriage on the rocks, Ross visits Debbie and makes it clear he wants to reignite their affair. Will Debbie be able to resist the bad boy's carms when he makes a move on her?

After the explosive fallout from their affair, which led to a violent wedding day showdown between Pete and Ross, will Debbie tempt fate and end up back in bed with Ross?

And with Ross still armed with a gun and out to get Pete, will Ross's plan to get even with his hated brother go a step too far? Find out what happens in Emmerdale from Monday, September 14 on ITV.

Emmerdale star Mike Parr says the upcoming action and stunts surrounding the ill-fated wedding of Pete Barton and Debbie Dingle are 'gold' for the cast.

Mike, who plays Ross Barton, Debbie's jilted lover, said he loved getting the action-packed scripts surrounding the wedding day disaster.

Mike told What's on TV: "When you read stuff like that it's gold, you should be grateful, it's different to what we do every day. Then it came to me lying face down in the water for quite a while and it was freezing and I had a wetsuit on... [but] I loved it!"

Ross is knocked unconscious by Debbie's father, Cain, and tied up in a van so he can't disrupt the wedding. But when the disaster strikes events lead to scenario where his life's in grave danger.

"I begged Kate [Oates, Emmerdale's producer] to let me do the actual stunt," he said. "The reality is, had I been up there I probably would... I definitely would have done it! I never would have not done it. [But] I would have been shaken and it might've needed a lot of time to pluck up the courage."

Mike said Emmerdale fans won't be disappointed with the climactic hour-long wedding episode when it screens on Tuesday: "There's stunts, there's action, there's high emotion, there's great dialogue, but underneath it all there's great entertainment."

Watch the interview with Emmerdale's Mike Parr.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOov3omYNwA

Emmerdale promises that nothing will ever be the same again after the wedding of Debbie Dingle and Pete Barton next week. But how so?

It's not just the fact the love triangle, in which Pete's brother Ross has been having a torrid romance with Debbie, is about to go VERY public, but events away from the church and village hall are about to explode, leading to devastation that may even rival the infamous Beckindale air disaster of 1993.

Before that though, Cain drops Debbie's Dear John letter and Sarah innocently adds it to the wedding pile – for Pete to read at the reception later! Try explaining that, Debbie.

But as Pete tries to digest the contents, Dan rushes in with news of terrifying accident in another part of the village.

Watch the soap scoop preview of Emmerdale, above."]

Has there ever been a soap wedding that has so much loaded against its success than the impending nuptials of Emmerdale's Debbie Dingle and Pete Barton? We don't think so!

Pete has been blissfully unaware that Debbie's been conducting a torrid romance with his brother, Ross, under his nose and it was only the revelation that Ross fathered Moses, the baby of her mum Charity, that moved Debbie to decide that Pete was the Barton for her. Hardly the romance of the decade.

The wedding is due to take place in Emmerdale next week, but a heartbroken Ross may have something to say about that. And what happened to the missing Dear John letter that Debbie wrote to Pete?

• Star Charley Webb, who plays Debbie, explains her fears that Ross is a loose cannon who could explode during the wedding, while her Dear John letter to Pete may yet pop up even though Cain says he's disposed of it, and the secret recording of her telling Ross she'll do anything to be with him could be broadcast to the whole wedding.
• Anthony Quinlan, who plays Pete Barton, says the wedding day disaster is 'the biggest thing the show has ever done. It's intense and lives are put in danger.'
  
  

It's such a climactic storyline that we decided we had to go on location in Yorkshire to see how filming progressed. Check these behind the scenes photos...

Wedding of the century? Disaster of the decade more like!

But doesn't the village hall look lovely? Emmerdale's head of design Gillian Slight said: "We decided to make the colour scheme pale pastels with lots of draped white, diaphanous muslin and hundreds of hanging paper lanterns, so that when things suddenly go very wrong and disaster strikes, the resulting devastation is all the more poignant. The beautiful wedding is spectacularly trashed!"

Charley Webb (Debbie) was in the early stages of her second pregnancy when she filmed the wedding day scenes and had a stunt double for the big disaster. She wasn’t the only one – her dress had five doubles.

Head of costume Sue Sheehan-Dare told us that ‘because there is a disaster, we needed the dress in various stages so we have six of them. It is not only the dress – every one of the wedding guests has a copy of their outfit. And they are all fire proof!'

The skies were overcast on the day we visited and Charley clutched a hot water bottle in-between takes. "I always have a hot water bottle," says Charley who also donned a puffer coat and a pair of furry boots. "It’s not so warm today and because it is supposed to be sunny on Debbie’s wedding day, we’ve had to change some scenes and I’ve got to learn a new set of lines."

While tensions are running high throughout the village, cast and crew were all smiles in-between takes. "It's nice coming to work and being able to smile as Belle has been through so much in the past year," said Eden Taylor-Draper who plays her.

"I don’t know how Belle will cope with everything that happens at the wedding, but I love it when the whole cast are together in the village. We get a chance to catch up with people we might not normally film with."

A touch up between takes. Charley is attended to while Anthony Quinlan (Pete Barton) looks.. pensive.

There's a lot of waiting around on set when big events are filmed. "We are doing a lot of bonding," said Joe Gill (Finn). "We chat a lot of nonsense, I’ve been helping Gillian with the crossword, but we got a clue wrong and it all went belly up. Best thing about today is Finn’s suit. I have more compliments than I’ve ever had – I might casually walk off with it when we’ve finished filming!"

Anthony added: "I’m enjoying the camaraderie on set. There’s a real buzz around the place today."

The younger cast members were out in force for Debbie and Pete’s big day and had no end of adults to spoil them, play games and lend them their phones. 

With the reception in full swing, Kelvin Fletcher, who plays Andy Sugden, took the opportunity to throw some shapes on the dance floor, much to the delight of Amelia Flanagan, who plays April.

"I’m really enjoying this," he told us. "Thankfully, Andy works out in the gym a lot and doesn’t tire easily."

Photos © TV Times/Amy Brammall

Danny Miller (Aaron Livesy) couldn’t resist having a go on the helter skelter that Pete orders as a surprise for Debbie on their wedding day. Loads of fun to be had, but did they enjoy filming the disaster scenes quite as much?

• All the fun of the fair? Watch Emmerdale's summer trailer for a taste of what's to come!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WN4BA0cTtU

Ross is out for revenge on the day of Debbie and Pete's wedding in Emmerdale...

Secret lovers, Debbie and Ross, plot to flee the village together! But will Ross's baby bombshell ruin their plans?

Emmerdale hunk Michael Parr says Ross fears Debbie will dump him if she finds out he is Moses's dad…

How does Ross feel about being Moses's dad?

"He has not taken the news well. He thinks Moses will slow him down and stop him being who he really is. It is not in his nature to be a dad. He wants to be honest with Debbie (Charley Webb) who is bringing up Moses at the moment, but every time he goes to say something, they are interrupted. He is also afraid she will not want him if she finds out he is her brother’s dad!"

Why has Ross agreed to Charity's demand that he split up Cain and Moira?

"He has no choice. If he doesn’t do Charity’s bidding, she will tell Debbie he is Moses’s father."

Would that be so bad?

"The last woman Ross said that he loved ended up falling off a building. He doesn’t want to risk losing Debbie too. He will do whatever it takes to get what he wants."

Where are Debbie and Ross planning to run away to?

"To somewhere no one can find them, while the dust settles back in the village. Pete (Anthony Quinlan) can come to terms with the fact that Debbie has run off with his brother so that when they come back, it won’t be such turmoil for them and the kids."

Are Debbie’s children going with them?

"Debbie has to take her kids, but Ross is torn -  if he takes Moses, he might feel a bond and he will have to tell Debbie. He is being pulled in so many different ways."

Doesn’t he feel bad about taking Pete’s fiancée?

"Ross thinks Debbie is way too good for Pete because he is boring and slow. She likes a fast adventurous type, but the trouble is, she has kids and the two don’t mix."

What happens when Debbie finds out that Moses is Ross’s baby?

"She is so disappointed as she was going to give up a happy life to be with this guy and feels like a mug. She gave him every opportunity to tell the truth. He thought he was going to get away with it, but the news comes out just as they're leaving…

Emmerdale’s bad boy Ross Barton can’t resist Debbie - and it looks like she can’t resist him! Michael Parr reveals all to Soaplife.

Convinced that there is something going on between his fiancée Debbie and his brother, Pete sets up Ross for trouble. But his plan backfires - and Debbie ends up in Ross’s arms.

“Ross knows it’s wrong, but he doesn’t care,” says Michael. “He wants Debbie more than anything.”

What happens when Pete frames Ross for theft?

“Ross finds a stolen car at the garage and has to get rid of it before the police arrive. While he’s doing that, Emma’s off telling Pete [Anthony Quinlan] that there’s something going on between Debbie and his Ross.”

What’s it like working with Gillian (Kearney, who plays Emma)?

“Gillian has been a great addition to the show. She’s shaping up to be a real monster, isn’t she?  She’s filling in for the Charity character, as we needed someone to come in and be a female villain.”

What happens when Pete accuses Debbie (Charley Webb) of having feelings for Ross?

“She storms out and ends up in Ross’s arms. They kiss and he thinks that she’s finally going to be his. Afterwards, Debbie says she doesn’t have feelings for him, but he thinks she’s lying to herself.”

What’s been the highlight of your time in the show so far?

“Working with Verity [Rushworth - Donna] was so much fun. She’s just a laugh a minute -  completely nuts in the best way. Someone sent me a clip of the aftermath of Donna’s death. I watched it back and I still get a little bit sad about it.”

Who should Debbie pick?

“The viewers who want her to go for Pete clearly don’t want to be entertained. It’s like in Big Brother. Getting rid of the nasty people kills it. Keep the evil buggers in!”

Emmerdale, ITV.

Emmerdale star Michael Parr has revealed how he dislocated his shoulder – after over-estimating his own strength.

Michael, who has been in training for his bare-knuckle fighting scenes as Ross Barton, admitted he suffered the injury when he tried to pick up a heavy weight.

Michael Parr’s Ross knuckles up for the action scenes (ITV/Amy Brammall)

“I popped my shoulder in the gym and it was because I saw a weight and thought I could pick it up – turns out I couldn’t lift it, and blew my shoulder out,” he said.

But Michael reveals he has enjoyed getting down and dirty for the fight scenes.

“It’s been really nice to film. It’s been really good fun. It’s been actiony and stuff and it’s made me get to the gym, I had to do a little bit of training… so I think I owe the writers for that,” he says.

Ross is ready to fight his corner (ITV/Amy Brammall)

The actor admitted it’s a change spending more time in the make-up chair.

“I spend more time in the make-up chair than I do on set sometimes,” he said.

“It takes about 45 minutes for the black eye and stuff because the cuts have got to be raised. So they have to put silicone, then cut into it and put the blood in. All very gross but good.”

Emmerdale continues on ITV, Monday, May 25, 7.00pm

Emmerdale's Ross-Debbie-Pete love triangle is hotting up faster than our summer and Emmerdale's Michael Parr, who plays bad boy Ross Barton, says Ross would change for Debbie Dingle.

Ross and Debbie can't take their eyes off each other (ITV/Amy Brammall)

“I think if she [Debbie] was to commit to Ross, you would see a big change in him,” Michael says.

“With Donna [Windsor - Verity Rushworth], he was willing to become a father to April, even though she had Marlon [Dingle - Mark Charnock]. He needs someone to commit as well, so you’d be surprised what you’d see if she did.”

Charley Webb, who plays Debbie, has admitted the outcome of the love triangle is hard to predict.

“This is a difficult question. Pete’s very safe, he’s got a safe future. Ross is the exciting one so it’s difficult to make that decision,” she explained.

Debbie shows off her engagement ring with Pete (ITV/Amy Brammall)

“She loves Pete, so it makes sense for her to stay with him but she's being drawn to Pete,” Charley added.

Anthony Quinlan, who plays Pete, added: “Pete knows there’s definitely something going on but love is blind and he’s besotted by Debbie. So all these tell-tale signs he’s seeing, he is putting down to Ross.

“He’s blaming Ross for everything because in his eyes, he loves her and doesn’t want to admit that she’s the one being unfaithful.”

Ross and Debbie are living dangerously (ITV/Amy Brammall)

Emmerdale continues on ITV, Monday, May 25, 7.00pm.

Debbie has been trying to fight her growing feelings for village bad boy, Ross, by getting engaged to his brother, Pete. But it's only a matter of time before Pete begins to notice the chemistry between the pair...

So when Ross enters the brutal world of bare-knuckle fighting as a way to repay a debt to local gangster, Charlie, Debbie fears the worst and tries to stop him.

Charley Webb (Debbie), Michael Parr (Ross) and Anthony Quinlan (Pete) talked to What's on TV in Emmerdale village about the developing love triangle. "]

"Debbie tries to cover her feelings," says Charley. "But you see an emotional side to her and realise there might be more to her feelings for Ross than just friendship."

In exciting episodes of Emmerdale showing next week, will it all kick off between the Barton brothers when Pete begins to realise his fiancee has eyes for Ross? And will Ross survive his bare-knuckle punch-up?

"There's no love lost between Ross and Pete," says Michael Parr who plays Ross. "They are both infatuated with the same girl. So if Ross gets one over on his brother that's another victory for him."

Catch the action in Emmerdale from Monday, May 25 on ITV. No goats were harmed in the filming of this story.

There’s a lot of fighting going on in Emmerdale, Charley Webb tells Soaplife - and people are going to get hurt!

We’ve already seen how the chemistry crackles between Ross Barton and Debbie Dingle… Now their passion is ignited again when he takes place in a dangerous, illegal fight to try to pay back gangster Charlie. The sight of Ross’s bloody, bare torso is too much for Debbie - and her fiancé Pete notices.

“He grows suspicious,” says Charley. “He sees that Debbie’s afraid for Ross and realises there might be something more between them.”

What does Debbie think about Ross fighting?

“She’s panicking. It’s illegal and she’s worried Ross [Michael Parr] is going to get hurt. He’s doing it to get out of a mess and she’s really worried for his safety.”

Does she have feelings for him?

“Yes - but her feelings are all over the place. Debbie has strong feelings for Ross and Pete [Anthony Quinlan]. She’s very much in love with Pete, but her feelings for Ross are powerful, too. She enjoys the excitement he brings. She’s very confused.”

Does Debbie try to stop the fight?

“She tries to stop Ross by using Zak as an excuse. Zak [Steve Halliwell] pawns Lisa’s [Jane Cox] jewellery to bet on Ross winning and Debbie knows they don’t have any money. She tells Ross about that because she doesn’t want him to think she’s worried because of the feelings she has for him.”

What does Pete think?

“He gets more and more worried about what’s going on between Debbie and Ross as the fight progresses.”

Who should Debbie choose: Ross or Pete?

“Pete will give her stability and safety and it would be best for her kids, but Ross brings that bit of excitement she likes. Debbie loves a bad boy. That will always be in her.”

Emmerdale, ITV.

Emmerdale's Michael Parr has revealed he's hit the gym hard in preparation for his scenes as his character, Ross Barton, enters the lethal world of bare-knuckle boxing.

Ross has taken up bare-knuckle fighting to pay off his debts to gangster Charlie, who wants payment and wants Ross to take a beating so her can win his money back by gambling on him.

Michael told What's on TV he'd stepped up his usual fitness sessions in readiness. "I did hit the gym a little bit more than..."

Co-star Charley Webb (Donna) interjected: "A lot!"

Michael continued: "I did a little bit more than I usually do because, more because you feel a bit more paranoid than you usually do about getting your kit off in front of so many gawping girls, like her [points at Charley]."

The scenes feature on Emmerdale during the next fortnight.

Michael's nominated as Best Actor at Saturday's British Soap Awards in Manchester. Watch the interview filmed at Emmerdale village, above.

Emmerdale has launched its new season of storylines with a hot-tempered Yorkshire summer of infidelity, involving three significant love triangles.

First, Debbie Dingle (Charley Webb) is set to marry Pete Barton (Anthony Quinlan) , but her heart may be ruling her head when she's tempted by his brother Ross (Michael Parr), who's currently getting involved in bare-knuckle boxing tournaments to pay off bad debts. Will Debbie give into her feelings for Ross, or do the 'right' thing and become Pete's wife?

Then there's Robert Sugden (Ryan Hawley), hell-bent on protecting his secrets from wife Chrissie (Louise Marwood), while continuing his affair with Aaron Livesy (Danny Miller) and covering up his involvement in the death of Katie Sugden. But Chrissie's no wallflower and when she realises the full extent of his deceit, she'll make her errant husband pay. But exactly how much?

Businessman Jai Sharma (Chris Bisson) is quite happy to destory lives to get what he wants, or if he feels wronged. So who's in his firing line this time? Well, Mrs Sharma, Megan (Gaynor Faye), is in the dark that Jai has rekindled his affair with Leyla (Roxy Shahidi) - until he unwttingly dobs himself in. Megan's now in the know and not a woman who will accept being wronged...

A long, hot summer beckons in Yorshire and three love triangles are about to boil over.

Emmerdale star Michael Parr has revealed how  fans of his character Ross wanted him to appear in a spin-off with his lover Donna – even after the crooked cop died!

“My Twitter timeline went absolutely crazy recently because Ross kissed Carly (Gemma Atkinson) and everyone was like, ‘Ooh, Carly and Ross!’ I thought, ‘You fickle bunch!" says Michael. "It was only weeks ago that you were begging for Ross and Donna’.

“People were actually rooting for Ross and Donna to have a spin-off show and I was like, ‘Er, she died!’.”

Michael adds that he loves playing bad boy Ross Barton because it gives him a chance to live the character’s chaotic life.

Ross has been involved in plenty of dodgy behaviour since he arrived in the village – from getting involved in criminal deals to chasing his brother Pete’s fiancee Debbie Dingle.

Talking to Inside Soap he says: “My favourite things about Ross are getting to be rude to people, saying cheeky things, chasing the girls and driving all the nice cars.

Michael Parr plays Ross Barton in Emmerdale (ITV)

“Ross has always been a bit of a loose cannon, but since Donna died he thinks he’s got nothing left to lose. Now, he’s just wild and reckless, and that’s great for me to play.”

Emmerdale’s Michael Parr tells Soaplife things will get ugly for Ross when he crosses villain Charlie…

Ross Barton has clearly got his mojo back. After months of misery following Donna’s death, he’s back to his old self, taking part in dodgy scams and flirting outrageously with his brother’s fiancée, Debbie Dingle. But there’s a price to pay for dicing with danger…

How has Ross been feeling since that intense moment with Debbie in the hotel?

"It’s put a few things into perspective. He and Debbie [Charley Webb] have been in close quarters recently and it’s been very exciting. What Ross likes about Debbie is that she isn’t offering it to him on a plate. He has to work his backside off."

But she’s engaged to Pete [Anthony Quinlan]…?

"Something as small as a ring won’t stop Ross. Ross has it in his head that Debbie wants him and he thinks she’s just afraid because of her past experiences."

Could Ross love Debbie like he did Donna?

"It would be a different kind of love. Ross and Donna would have had a really nice relationship, but Ross and Debbie would be arguing and most probably smacking each other all the time because they are such fiery characters."

Does it bother him that Emma and Debbie don’t get on?

"No. Emma thinks she knows something is going on between Ross and Debbie and she’s making threats, but Ross has nothing to lose if the truth comes out. Debbie has though."

What happens at Debbie and Pete’s engagement party?

"Debbie’s invited Carly. She thinks if she puts her with Ross, it might work out so she can go off and live this happy life with Pete. But Carly’s a bit too easy and straight for Ross. He likes the chase…"

What does Ross do when villain Charlie turns up?

"It’s a shock because Ross thought he’d got away with taking his money. Charlie’s clearly a dodgy character and he turns up with these heavies. Ross goes outside to confront Charlie. He gets in the car with Charlie alone, but Cain sees and wants to know what's going on."

What happens between Charlie and Ross?

"Ross manages to get himself out of it, but he opens another can of worms instead. Things are going to get ugly for him. I have black eyes and a cut lip for the stuff I’m filming right now. He’s getting bashed up!"

Debbie really is torn between two lovers, Emmerdale’s Charley Webb tells Soaplife… And she reveals a shocking secret when Emma tries to interfere.

Debbie’s definitely her mother’s daughter. Charity likes the bad boys and Debbie can’t resist them, either. You’d think she’d want a lot less drama in her life after killer Cameron and yet she’s still drawn to Ross… They even share another 'moment' just before she gets engaged to Pete. No wonder Ross is jealous.

“Pete gives Debbie a sense of security,” says Charley. “But Ross is the excitement.”

Tell us about this 'moment' that Ross (Michael Parr) and Debbie have...

“They’re hiding in a hotel room. Ross has stolen some money and dragged Debbie into it. Debbie’s furious as she thinks they’re going to a breakdown and they end up in a hotel room. They get to a point where it could just happen, but Ross blows it because he gets a little bit too serious with her. Debbie snaps back to reality and thinks, ‘What am I doing? This is wrong’.”

Is that why she tells everyone that Emma tried to smother Ross as a baby?

“No. Debbie and Emma [Gillian Kearney] don’t get on. Debbie’s seen Emma watching Chas a lot and thinks it’s weird. Emma tries to play Debbie, saying: ‘You think you’ve got Pete [Anthony Quinlan] where you want him, but you haven’t’. Debbie loses it and goes for her. When Emma suggests Debbie’s not a good mum, it’s the final straw and the Ross secret just comes out of her mouth.”

So why does Debbie get engaged to Pete?

“After the hotel incident with Ross, Debbie’s very confused about her feelings. It was easy to forget about Ross when he was with Donna. In the hotel, Debbie sees what her feelings for Ross are and it scares her. She thinks, ‘I need to make a decision now’ and decides that Pete’s what she’s looking for, he’s the whole package. She thinks if she proposes to Pete, she can’t make a mess of things by going for Ross.”

Will her feelings for Ross vanish?

“Absolutely not. They’re right there and she’s trying to fight them.”

So, lots of drama to come?

“Yes. I’ve had quite a lot of time off and now I’m right back into it. What’s great is that there is so much to explore with Ross and Debbie.”

Who should Debbie pick?

“As far as viewers are concerned it’s 50/50. The ones who want her to be happy think she should stay with Pete and the ones who want it to be more exciting say Ross. I love reading the feedback and seeing what people think.”

Emmerdale, ITV.

Emmerdale’s irresistible bad boy Ross does some dirty work for Chrissie and gets Debbie involved, Michael Parr reveals to Soaplife...

So, what’s Ross up to?

“Chrissie’s ex Donny has got this bloke Charlie on his back. Chrissie [Louise Marwood] gives Donny [Alan Convy] £10,000 and Donny goes to a hotel to give the money to Charlie - but Ross intercepts him and takes the cash, pretending to be a henchman.”

How does Debbie (Charley Webb) get roped in?

“Ross tells her they’re going out on a breakdown. She’s angry when she realises Ross has put her in a lot of danger.”

And they end up hidden in a room with some heavies after them… What happens?

“It’s very charged between them. They have a bit of a heart to heart and Ross tells Debbie about Donna. But they don’t cross a line. However, if that was my girlfriend in there with Ross, I would be furious.”

Does Ross want Debbie for himself?

“Yes. Ross is attracted to excitement and she’s exciting. She’s not offering it to him on a plate, either, he’s got to work his backside off. Ross knows she’s with Pete [Anthony Quinlan] and that it’s wrong, but he doesn’t really care. He just wants the girl.”

Bet he’s not happy when Pete and Debbie get engaged, then!

“Ross has it in his head that Debbie wants him. He thinks she’s just afraid because of past experiences.”

Are we in for a love triangle?

“I don’t know, but I think Debbie should get off with Ross!”

Emmerdale, ITV

There's a sexy love triangle brewing in Emmerdale, as bad boy Ross Barton sets his sights on brother Pete's girlfriend, Debbie!

"Ross finds Debbie very attractive and wants to be with her," says Michael Parr, who plays Ross. "He likes the fact she's a bit risky. Debbie was the first girl Ross clapped eyes on when he arrived in the village and I don't think that's ever really gone away for him. Ross doesn't care about walking all over his brother, Pete, to get what he wants! He's got no real alliance with him."

Things heat up between Ross and Debbie in the Emmerdale double-bill on Thursday, April 23, when he tricks her into getting involved in a dangerous hotel heist. But when the pair find themselves trapped in a hotel room together, hiding from the bad guys, will Debbie give in to Ross's charms?

"It's difficult for Debbie. Pete is really safe. He can offer her a lot more, a safe future for her kids," explains Charley Webb, who plays Debbie. "They're very happy and they've got this domestic life going on with the children. But Ross is more exciting, and a bit more like Debbie's dad, Cain. So it's which way will she go?"

Watch our chat with Emmerdale stars Charley and Michael, as they discuss who's the better looking Barton brother, jealous fans, running in heels, filming HOT scenes... and more!

Emmerdale star and National TV Awards nominee Michael Parr says he's so grateful to just be working and worries he's peaked too soon.

Michael plays Ross Barton and has been involved in some significant plotlines, including his ill-fated romance with Donna Dingle and now the return of his estranged mother Emma. His performance earned him a best newcomer nomination at the NTAs (EastEnders' Maddy Hill won the accolade on the night).

Michael told What's on TV: "I've hit the ground running; in fact, the story that's playing out on screen right now [the return of the Bartons' mother, Emma] is the story that I got told was going to my thing when I first came in. Then I got thrown the Donna storyline. Working with Verity [Rushworth] is what I'm most proud of in my entire career. I'm kinda worried I've peaked too soon and they're going to say that's it for you now and kind of get tucked away.

"I'm just so grateful to be working to be honest. I was a teacher before this, teacher's assistant. Not taking anything away from teachers, but 13 grand in London, it's making ends meet and expensive rent, I'm just happy to be making a little bit more."

Watch the interview with Emmerdale's Michael Parr, above.

Finn's reunion with long-lost mum, Emma was short-lived, after his dad, James and brothers, Pete and Ross warned him off any further contact with the woman they haven't seen in over 20 years.

But this week in Emmerdale, there's a shock in store when Pete, Ross and Finn accidentally come face-to-face with Emma during a night out! Emmerdale stars Anthony Quinlan (Pete) and Joe Gill (Finn) tell us more...

Emma is back! But why is Finn the only one who wants to meet her?

Joe: "It’s been a whirlwind year for Finn. Before coming to the village, he had his brothers and he had his dad. But he didn’t have a lot of female company around. But he’s lived under Moira’s roof and seen that mother and son relationship between Moira and Adam. He’s also spent a lot of time with Val who he gets along with well. So I think that triggered in his head, Moira and Val are like mother figures. But who is my real mother? He also had the near-death experience where he got spiked and left in the car to die. Realising he could have died without seeing his mum knocked him for six. So that’s why he set out to meet this woman."

Pete is not happy when the brothers accidentally bump into Emma at a gay bar in town!

Anthony: "Pete has been a bit of a father figure to Finn because James was so busy working on the farm. They’ve been without their mum for 22 years and Pete is reluctant for her to come back. He thinks they have done fine without her so far, what’s the point? She’s not been there throughout their childhood. There’s a strong divide between the brothers. Finn is asking questions, why did she leave? Ross isn’t usually a character to care about anyone but himself. He would probably play it down and pretend he isn’t bothered but he’s sat on the fence about this. He is intrigued about the situation. Pete, being the eldest has witnessed arguments between James and Emma and knows about the real reason Emma left the family all those years ago..."

What's your first year on Emmerdale been like? The Barton boys have been very popular!

Anthony: "It’s gone so fast. But we’ve been really blessed with the storylines we’ve been given over the past 12 months. The Emmerdale team and the viewers have invested a lot in the Barton family, so it’s been good."

Joe: "It doesn’t feel like 12 months. It’s strange. Its been the quickest year of my life. But the best at the same time. It’s been storyline after storyline, especially With Gillian Kearney (Emma) coming into the show now. That’s what you want as an actor and hopefully there’s a lot more to come."

What reaction do you get from fans? Do the Barton boys hang out together?

Anthony: "We do go out together on occasions. But the whole cast is close. It does sound like a cliché but we are like a family unit. It’s a great place to work."

Joe: "We have had some nights out together...all civilised, of course!!"

Catch the awkward family reunion in Emmerdale from Monday 12th January on ITV.

Emmerdale’s Gillian Kearney tells Soaplife that Emma Barton's reappearance is going to create merry hell...

We've heard a lot of talk about the mysterious Emma Barton and now we - and all the Barton boys - finally get to meet her properly. Emma goes to a gay bar to seek out Finn and ends up finding him along with brothers Ross and Pete (Anthony Quinlan), who she hasn't seen face-to-face for 22 years. Will they be pleased to see her?

What is Emma like?

"She is a mother to three boys who she genuinely loves and I think she still holds on to the love for her husband James [Bill Ward]. She is quite vulnerable and childlike, quite fragile. There is darkness there, too, because she remembers what she's missed out on."

Why did Emma stay away from her family?

"She did stalk them for a bit in the early stages. She watched them from afar - at football matches and school plays - until Ross [Michael Parr] was about 10. I think she lost confidence and wasn’t able to go back. It’s been about 10 years since she last laid eyes on them."

Why does she go looking for Finn?

"It looks as if Finn [Joe Gill] isn't going to get back in touch with Emma and, having been told by Finn that he's gay, she decides to hang out at Hotten's premier gay venue in the hope of seeing him again."

What happens when she finds him?

"There is a punch up and, as Emma is a nurse, she tends to one of the injured guys, who  turns out to be Ross. Finn is pleased to see her, but his brothers are angry because, in their eyes, she ditched them. At the moment, Finn is really on her side, but she is working on the others."

How does Emma feel when Finn tells her James slept with Moira?

"Emma saw that James was falling for Moira all those years ago and he denied it and told her she was crazy. It is one of the reasons the marriage broke up. Emma is not happy when she realises that James lied to her. She goes to the village and finds James, who lets slip that Adam [Adam Thomas] is his son. She’s furious!"

No wonder! And she goes to see Moira… What happens?

"I won't tell you what happens, but Moira [Natalie J Robb] is definitely the scarlet woman in Emma's eyes."

What are the other reasons the marriage broke up?

"There is a big secret that is soon to be revealed."

Emmerdale, ITV. Click here for dates and times.

The person struggling most with Donna's death in Emmerdale is her daughter, April.

Now April has gone missing - and Ross was the last person to see her.

April wanted Ross to take her to her Mummy and he told her to clear off.

"All Ross sees in April’s face is Donna," says Michael Parr in an online interview.

And he can’t bear it. Ross’s heart broke when Donna threw herself off the top of a multi-storey carpark to save him.

Click here to see what else Michael says about bad boy Ross’s love and loss.

Emmerdale continues on ITV, Monday, August 25, 7.00pm.

A fight breaks out between Ross and Marlon on the day of Donna's funeral!

Ross and Donna meet secretly again in Emmerdale on Tuesday, August 12.

Ross (Michael Parr) can see Donna’s not well.

"Are you OK?" he asks her, genuinely concerned.

Now would be a good time to tell her lover she’s dying. But is that what Donna (Verity Rushworth) does?

Click here to find out.

Emmerdale continues on Monday, August 11, 7.00pm.

Emmerdale’s Michael Parr explains to Soaplife how Ross is forced to turn to serious crime to save Finn - and Donna, too?

Ross Barton’s crime spree starts to catch up with him when big time crook Gary North (Fergus O'Donnell) reveals that he was behind the terrifying attack on Finn. North wants Ross to do a job for him and he knows he can’t say “No”. Meanwhile, Donna panics as North gets close to April. “Gary threatens Donna, his family and little April. He has no choice but to do as he asks,” Michael tells Soaplife. 

How does Ross work out that Gary North staged the attack on Finn (Joe Gill)?

“Flowers are delivered to the hospital and the card says, ‘Say Hi to your brother’. It’s obvious the message is meant for Ross. Gary North then lays in wait for Ross. Ross punches him, but Gary says he must do a job for him to ensure his family’s safety.” 

How does Gary North know that Ross robbed him?

“I imagine he’s made a few calls, asked around for a handsome bad guy in the Yorkshire area and put two and two together…”

What does Donna (Verity Rushworth) plan to do about Gary North?

“She comes up with a plan to plant drugs at Gary’s house. Ross really wants to trust that Donna can deal with Gary. But the truth is, this is way over both their heads. Ross has never been in this deep before.”

How are things between Ross and Donna?

“They were good, but this situation is putting a lot of stress on them. Ross really does love Donna, as she’s the first woman who has ever accepted him for who he is. He loves her and wants to take care of her. He’s even willing to take care of April. He tells Donna he’s ready to change for her and he really means it.”

Wow!

“I know. Ross thinks if he does this job for Gary North, it will keep him happy. After that, he plans to run away with Donna and live as part of a happy family.”

We know that can’t happen… How will Ross react when he finds out that Donna’s dying?

“He’ll be devastated. If he’d known this at the start, he might have stayed away from her. I’ve filmed those scenes now and they were the hardest thing I have ever done. It was very emotional and draining.”

Emmerdale, ITV. Click here for air dates.

Donna 'arrests' lover boy, Ross! But are things what they seem?

James clashes with his son, Ross when he wrongly thinks the lad has been drug-dealing again...