Composite image of Ruby and Steph on Emmerdale with date banner along the bottom (Credit: ITV/Composite: EI)

In Emmerdale Thursday Ruby and Caleb saw their carefully-stacked house of cards came tumbling down as Steph Miligan learned the truth about Anthony – including his abuse of Ruby, his being her father, and his murder too.

Elsewhere, more revelations continued to drop as Vanessa realised that Mary had been Suzy’s other woman. As she stormed over to see Mary in the Woolpack, a vicious public confrontation ensued.

And, as April finally let herself grieve the loss of baby Rebecca, she and Marlon bid a sad goodbye. Meanwhile, Kim tried to make a stubborn Dawn see sense, while Billy felt rejected.

Here’s everything that happened in Emmerdale Thursday.

Steph confronts Ruby and Caleb in Emmerdale
Steph wants the whole truth and nothing but the truth (Credit: ITV)

Crunch time for Ruby and Caleb in Emmerdale

Ross found Steph down by the river, skipping stones. He soon realised that she’d not been to the police yet, and she resumed harping on about her grandfather.

With Steph still set on going to the police, Ross entreated her to give them one last chance to explain – while, back at home, Ruby lashed out at Caleb for keeping the gun.

Later, Ross paid Caleb a visit at the depot. He knows something’s not right, and had grown concerned for Steph. He warned Caleb that she was planning on going to the police.

Back at home, Steph lay in wait for Ruby. Ruby tried to placate Steph with talk of San Francisco, but she was having none of it. She once again demanded to know the truth – the real truth. “No more lies,” she said, before threatening to go to the police unless her mum came up with a satisfactory story.

Ruby was about to open up when Caleb returned – and confessed to killing Anthony.

Steph looks upset as she talks to her mum on Emmerdale
Steph was devastated to learn that Anthony’s dead – but worse was to come (Credit: ITV)

Caleb confessed to killing Anthony

Reeling from Caleb’s confession, Steph reacted as she always did – by blaming her mother. Caleb claimed that he’d brought a gun along to scare Anthony and things had escalated from there.

Copping to shooting Anthony, he told Steph that rage had taken hold and he’d shot the old man. Ever sympathetic, Steph again victim-blamed her mum for the ‘beatings’ – “she was a problem child!”

As Ruby also blamed herself, Caleb tried to reassure Steph that he’d not meant to kill Anthony. She set another ultimatum – he either hand himself in to the police, or she’d do it for him.

He immediately went to comply, strutting to the door in spite of Ruby begging him otherwise. Outside, they shared a heart-wrenching goodbye, neither of them apparently aware that his confession would land her – and everyone else – in just as much trouble.

Returning indoors, she found Steph in a surprisingly reconciliatory mood, even apologising for blaming her mum for being a victim of abuse. Ruby, however, wasn’t done – and finally told her daughter that Anthony had sexually abused her.

Ruby crying as she talks to Steph on Emmerdale
Ruby revealed the truth (Credit: ITV)

Ruby revealed the truth about Anthony’s abuse – and death

Putting two and two together, another bombshell landed as Steph suddenly realised the full truth about her grandfather – that he was, in fact, her father.

As Steph reeled from the news, Ruby tried to reassure her that Caleb would always be her father in every way that mattered. Always consistent, Steph continued to blame Ruby for the situation – this time, not having an abortion when she’d realised she was pregnant with what was likely Anthony’s child.

Another bombshell dropped when Ruby revealed that she’d been the one who killed Anthony. All out in the open, they set off in a desperate attempt to stop Caleb before he could hand himself in.

As it turned out, he was already at the police station. The women arrived just in the nick of time, with Ruby telling him that Steph knew everything. The family returned home, but it’s clear that Steph’s not in a good place. United in grief and trauma, the Fox-Miligans shared a group hug, everything now out in the open.

But where do Ruby and Caleb go from here?

Vanessa talking to Rhona on the sofa on Emmerdale
Rhona unwittingly dropped her mum in it (Credit: ITV)

Vanessa learned the truth about Mary and Suzy in Emmerdale

Tracy found Vanessa, having not slept all night and still fretting over Suzy’s text messages to Leyla. With Vanessa wrapped up in the mystery of Suzy’s other woman, she had no time for trivial things like the phone bill – which she demanded Tracy pay.

“If it’s someone I know…” Vanessa trailed off, fuming about Suzy’s other woman. As she continued ranting and raving, Tracy begged her to just give up, but Vanessa was determined to find out who Suzy’s mystery kiss was.

At the pub, she questioned Mary, asking her whether she’d ever seen Suzy with anyone suspicious. Mary reassured ‘Nessie’ that she’d meant the world to Suzy.

As Rhona paid a visit, Vanessa shared the news about Suzy’s other woman. It was then that Rhona spotted a piece of jewellery Vanessa had found under the sofa last week, immediately identifying it as her mum’s.

Vanessa’s face dropped as she realised the implication – that Mary was Suzy’s secret love. Rhona poo-pooed the idea, but Vanessa set off to confront Mary.

Over at the Woolpack, she demanded answers – and Mary’s face told her all she needed to know. Ross’s too – he was enjoying every moment as the pair aired their dirty laundry in public.

Mary tried to apologise, but the damage had been done. As Vanessa lashed out, venomous words were shared – and a drink flung in Mary’s face. Back at home, she mourned her own chance to grieve, and attempted to justify her position to Rhona.

April holding Rebecca's ashes on Emmerdale
April said goodbye to her baby (Credit: ITV)

April bid farewell to Rebecca in Emmerdale

Rhona got a call telling her that Rebecca’s ashes were ready for collection. She felt guilty for holding the funeral without April, and reassured Marlon about the importance of treading carefully.

They informed April about the ashes, and wondered whether she might want to hold another goodbye or informal ceremony. She was insistent that she didn’t need closure.

But, after a message from April, Marlon later found her walking along the village outskirts with Rebecca’s ashes. He reassured her that there was nothing she couldn’t do, if she set her mind to it. Suggesting she spread the ashes along the stream, father and daughter bid farewell to baby Rebecca.

Down by the stream, she apologised to baby Rebecca, and promised that she’d never forget her daughter. Turning to Marlon for comfort, father and daughter were united for once.

Back home, as Marlon had a kickabout with Leo, April finally broke down, sobbing by herself upstairs.

Dawn and Kim share a tense conversation at Home Farm on Emmerdale
Dawn’s still obsessed with Joe (Credit: ITV)

Kim tried to make Dawn see sense

Dawn and Billy had a rare day off together, and he kicked it off with one of his signature cheese toasties. She was more interested in texting Joe though, and cracked on in spite of his pleas for a phone-free day.

After heading out for lunch together (that cheese toastie’s not too filling, then), Billy was in the mood for afters. However, Dawn only had one thing on her mind – Joe.

As Billy went upstairs to check on baby Evan, Kim congratulated herself on putting their marriage back on track. However, Dawn was quick to let her know that she was still firmly hooked on Joe and that Kim’s machinations had achieved nothing.

Later, Kim continued to try and make Dawn see sense, but she hit back with a curious blend of self-pity and shameless remorselessness. Kim begged her to think of Billy and end things with Joe, but will she listen to reason?

As she continued to text Joe, Dawn rejected Billy’s amorous advances once again. As she headed off to ‘paint the skirting boards,’ Billy pulled out his own phone – and pulled up Manpreet’s now-defunct saucy pictures page.

Is Billy behind Manpreet’s blackmail?

Pollard had Tracy worried

In the pub, Mary and Gail gossiped with Pollard about the whole April and Rebecca situation. He shared memories of his first wife, Eileen, with whom he’d had a stillborn son in the 1970s. “You never get over it,” he said, sadly.

Pollard summoned Tracy to see him in the Woolpack. Her fears that he was onto her theft at the shop were for nothing, as it turned out he just wanted to sing her praises for being a rock to him and Jacob.

Read more: Who’s leaving Emmerdale in 2025? A complete guide to departures, returns and new arrivals in the Dales

Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm, with an early release on ITVX at 7am.

Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm.

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