Fans of are bracing themselves for the potential demise of a favourite character.
Ross Barton, portrayed by Michael Parr, first graced the screen in 2013 and quickly won over viewers. As the resident rogue, Ross was embroiled in numerous high-stakes plots throughout his tenure.
His tumultuous romances with Donna Windsor (Verity Rushworth), Debbie Dingle (Charley Webb) and (Emma Atkins) were particularly memorable. In a shocking 2018 storyline, he was subjected to a horrific acid attack.
Later that year, it was announced that Michael would be departing from the soap. However, much to fans’ delight, Ross made a triumphant return this year.
He wasted no time diving back into the drama of the Dales, resurfacing as part of an illicit underground fighting ring that targeted local Billy Fletcher (Jay Kontzle), reports .
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Ross made his return this year (Image: ITV)
The plot thickened when gang leader Jade (Twinnie-Lee Moore) had money stolen from her. Suspecting Ross as the culprit, she resorted to drastic measures to reclaim her funds.
In a terrifying twist, Jade’s henchmen kidnapped April Windsor (Amelia Flanagan), threatening her life unless the money was returned. Thankfully, Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller) and Mackenzie Boyd (Lawrence Robb) intervened, with Mackenzie admitting to the theft.
Drama escalated on the show as an enraged Ross attacked Mackenzie, causing shock and fear for his young son Moses, who witnessed the violence. The incident led to Moses’ mother and Mack’s spouse, Charity, sternly resolving that Ross should not be allowed near their child anymore. Adding fuel to the fire, even some of the locals have begun to clamour for Ross’s ousting.
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Fans fear Ross could get killed off (Image: ITV)
Speculation is rife among fans that may be brewing a sensational murder storyline for Ross. Discourse surged on a Facebook fan page dedicated to , where a user speculated: “What is the plan for Ross? Are the villagers planning to kill him?”
The notion quickly gained traction as several members of the group voiced their thoughts. A second commenter concurred with a succinct “It looks like it.” Another shared conflicting sentiments: “I actually like Ross kinda sad when they said they wanna get rid of him.”
One more chimed in, apprehensive about continuing viewership if Ross were killed off: “If they kill him off not sure I will watch it again. Love him.” And yet another noted the village’s dark history with a touch of irony: “Well yes maybe, nearly everyone in the village has killed someone, so no change there.”
airs weeknights on ITV1 and ITVX at 7.30pm
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