Ross shocked by blast from the past in Emmerdale that changes his life forever

A new face is about to arrive (Picture: ITV)

Ross Barton (Michael Parr) has been preoccupied lately trying to save girlfriend Steph Miligan (Georgia Jay) from being destroyed by her family secrets, little knowing that his own family secrets are about to come out of the woodwork.

Ross doesn’t know it yet, but he has a half brother out there, something Moira Dingle (Natalie J Robb) discovers when she receives a letter addressed ‘To The Family of Emma Barton’.

She has a decision to make over whether to share this letter with Ross and ultimately decides she must. Both are floored by this new family news, with Moira particularly perturbed that this might dredge up her own dreadful secret of being the true killer of Emma Barton.

For Ross, this news is so shocking that while he’s been a pillar of support for others in the village of late – Dawn Taylor (Olivia Bromley) and Steph – he can’t cope with his own problems and his avoidance kicks in.

A letter changes everything for the Bartons (Picture: ITV)

Matty (Ash Palmisciano) is the one to talk sense into him and urges him not to lose the chance to speak to his brother.

Ross is sufficiently encouraged to contact Lewis (Bradley Riches), which puts the frighteners on Moira that her awful past is coming back to haunt her.

Ross makes arrangements to meet Lewis, and they come face to face in the woods.

Lewis is Ross’ brother (Picture: ITV)

Lewis unexpectedly plies Ross with hundreds of questions leaving the security boss taken aback and unsure of how much to give his new sibling. It’s hard for him to share information without unveiling his own deepest, darkest secrets.

It all gets too much for Ross, who chooses to make his exit and leave Lewis gutted that it hasn’t worked out.

Back at the farm, Ross relays what happened to Moira and explains that he will not be seeing Lewis again – a mutual decision, he tells her. But is Lewis set to give him a nasty surprise?

Actor Bradley revealed that of course Lewis will be back as he knows Ross is hiding things from him. Speaking to Metro, he said: ‘He doesn’t get the answers he wants and he’s very determined to get these answers.’ Sounds ominous.

Bradley also teased that this could be a terrible time for Moira, which is bad timing given that she’s also set to face a huge threat to her farm.

‘Is she going to get away with what she thought she got away with eight years ago?’ Bradley questioned. He added that ‘Lewis has his own secrets’, suggesting there is way more to come for this character and for Ross, and he hinted that there will be some ‘drama’ for this brotherly pair.

‘I am excited for the dramatic stuff to unwind,’ he said