Mysterious Emmerdale hostage finally EXPOSED as fan favourite Aaron Dingle

Emmerdale favourite Aaron Dingle sitting on a bench with Yorkshire fields behind him.
Emmerdale's Aaron Dingle returned to the village in horrifying circumstances. (Image credit: ITV)

Emmerdale has finally revealed who Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) and Caleb Miligan (Will Ash) have been keeping hostage — and in a shocking turn of events, the mystery prisoner turned out to be Aaron Dingle! (Danny Miller)

Brothers Cain and Caleb had been acting shifty ever since they were spending weeks away on their new car dealing project in Holland.

Suspicious about her husband and brother-in-law's antics, Moira Barton (Natalie J Robb) followed Cain to the abandoned farmhouse at Wylie's to discover the truth.

Despite their cover story, Moira was horrified to discover a hooded figure being held captive and in tonight's episode (Monday, October 8) it was revealed to be their nephew Aaron.

Moira demanded answers as a battered and tied-up Aaron furiously lashed out at his family.

Aaron Dingle being held hostage in an abandoned farmhouse.

Moira Barton was stunned to find her bruised nephew Aaron tied up. (Image credit: ITV)

It transpired that Cain hadn't been spending time in Holland at all, and had actually gone to Italy to drag Aaron back to Emmerdale after he got in trouble with Italian gangsters.

Cain revealed that Adam Barton (Adam Thomas) had called him to tell him about Aaron's life-threatening predicament and needed backup, so he and Caleb went out there to retrieve him.

Aaron Dingle in a hood as he sits in a dark abandoned room on a chair.

Aaron was exposed as the hostage. (Image credit: ITV)

However, their rescue mission clearly took a surprise turn as he ended up being held hostage due to his refusal of wanting to come back to the village.

Aaron, who left the village following the death of his sister Liv Flaherty (Isobel Steele), swore that he was set up and demanded to be freed, but the brothers held him prisoner in their strange way of protecting him.

Chas Dingle confronts Cain Dingle with Aaron Dingle tied up in a chair in the background.

Chas Dingle found her son being held hostage by her brothers. (Image credit: ITV)

Soon enough, Aaron's mum Chas Dingle (Lucy Pargeter) arrived and was disgusted to find her son beind held hostage by her brother. She confronted Cain and demanded that he release him.

How will their mother and son reunion go down?

Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7.30 pm on ITV1, with a hour-long episode on Thursdays — see our TV Guide for full listings. You can also catch up on ITVX.

Grace Morris
Staff Writer

Grace is a freelancer writer with WhatToWatch.com, and she now writes for our sister site TechRadar. She graduated from Anglia Ruskin University in 2020 with a degree in Writing and Film Studies, which only made her love for creative writing, film and TV grow stronger.

You'll usually find her watching the drama unfold in the latest reality series or much-loved UK soaps (usually with chocolate by her side!). She's an expert in EastEnders, Emmerdale, Coronation Street and everything reality-related from Selling Sunset and Married At First Sight UK to 90 Day Fiancé UK. Plus Netflix megahit Virgin River!

Grace also likes to explore new places with her friends and family and, of course, watch and read about the latest films and TV series.