Emmerdale has set the stage for 2025 with five tantalising flashforward scenes, leaving fans abuzz with theories about who lies in the ominous body bag.
The New Year’s episodes gave viewers a glimpse into the future, starting with Mackenzie Boyd frantically running through the woods. The suspense escalated as Caleb Miligan was seen on a hospital bed with a flatlining heart monitor.
‘s emotional moment by an unidentified grave marked the third scene, followed by the chilling image of a body bag being kicked into the water. The final and perhaps most disturbing flashforward depicted a villager trapped beneath the ice.
As the storyline unfolds, ITV soap enthusiasts are piecing together clues to unveil the mystery of the body bag’s occupant. Despite the obscured view of the body, social media has been rife with speculation.
On X (formerly known as Twitter), one person speculated: “Hopefully it’s Anthony in the body bag”. Meanwhile, another user suggested: “I think it is Anthony. I think that Ruby finds out Caleb is Stephanie’s father and with coaxing from Chas she finally tells Caleb about the abuse she experienced during childhood.”, reports .
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Emmerdale fans think they know who will be killed off later this year (Image: ITV)
They elaborated: “Caleb looked a little perturbed during the last episode when Anthony manipulated Ruby into cooking dinner and I think after that he finally starts to see how uncomfortable she is around him.
“I could see Caleb lashing out and hitting Anthony and Anthony hitting his head or something that causes his death so Caleb gets rid of the body.”
Another viewer speculated: “Maybe someone punches Anthony and he hits his head on that rock that lays in waiting for it’s next victim in the village!”
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A body bag was spotted by the side of a river (Image: ITV)
As Caleb and Ruby swayed to the rhythm of Made of Stone by the Stone Roses in their kitchen, Caleb reminisced with daughter Steph: “There we were, me and your mum, playing tunes like this and sneaking around. Hiding in corners and well several things lead to several other things.”
Anthony, known for his teenage abuse of Ruby in a past flashback, interrupted the moment, dubbing Caleb and Ruby “Romeo and Juliet”. One fan shared their suspicion: “Erm ‘Modern day Romeo and Juliet’ comment in tonight’s … that better not be a hint to Caleb and Ruby both dying later this year.”
They also expressed their attachment to Ruby: “Ruby is one of the best things to happen to in a long time, so I’ll be raging.”
airs weeknights on ITV1 at 7.30pm and available to stream from 7am on ITVX