Complete Barton family history – from Emma trying to smother Ross to Finn’s tragic death
The Bartons have been through a lot
Tonight’s episode of Emmerdale saw Ross Barton open up to Steph about his messy family history. With Steph struggling with a profound identity crisis after learning that her grandfather is actually her father by blood, she decided to tell Ross the truth about everything.
In doing so, the pair shared an emotional heart-to-heart. And, as he recognised the deep torment she was going through, Ross decided to share an insight into the explosive history of the Barton family. And, boy, was there a lot to unpack.
“My mother tried to smother me as a baby,” he revealed, before continuing: “She drugged my dad and held him hostage and when he escaped she pushed him off a bridge into traffic.”
Oh, and: “She shot my brother and he died,” he added.
Phew. Let’s dig in, shall we?
Who were the Barton family on Emmerdale?
The Barton family first appeared in Emmerdale on 2009, with the arrival of farmers John, Moira and their three children. So far, so normal. However, Moira’s colourful in-laws weren’t far behind.
Namely, John’s brother James, and his wife, the notorious Emma Barton. James and Emma had three children together – sons Pete, Ross and Finn. James and Emma had become estranged in the time since Finn’s birth, with James taking custody of the children as their mother left the family home.
Ross arrived in the village after an argument with his father, hijacking a car and reuniting with aunt Moira. James followed, hoping to reconcile with his son. After moving into town with Pete and Finn also in tow, James sought to reunite his family – including his other son, Adam. Wait, what?
The Barton family gets messy after Moira’s affair with James is revealed on Emmerdale
In 2014, the soap revealed that Moira and John’s son, Adam, was actually James’s by blood. Born of a one-night stand between James and Moira, a DNA test confirmed the truth, leaving Adam distraught.
In spite of his initial violent reaction (almost shooting James), the pair formed a bond, with Adam eventually accepting James into his life.
The return of Emma Barton – and trying to kill baby Ross
In 2015, James’s ex arrived in town. It was then that the truth about their split was revealed. She’d attempted to smother Ross to death as a child, claiming to be suffering from Post Partum Depression. As she and James argued, a pallet fell, injuring him badly.
Ex nurse Emma waited before calling the ambulance, then manipulating him into letting her move in so that they could give their marriage another try.
Killing James
Emma’s manipulation only intensified when she found out about James and Moira’s affair. Stepping up her mental abuse, she held James captive and tied to a chair in their home.
He managed to escape, but not for long – catching up with him on a motorway bridge, she pushed him to his death in the traffic below. James wasn’t the only casualty either, with his fall causing a massive pile-up which left many either dead or fighting for their lives.
Emmerdale pruned the Barton family tree by killing Finn
Having gotten away with it for a year, Emma decided to come clean to Finn about her part in James’s death. When he threatened to tell his brothers, she locked him in a church cupboard. After being freed by Diane, he went looking for Moira.
At the same time, Emma was locked in a confrontation with Moira, coming face-to-face in a barn. In the ensuing showdown, a lamp was knocked down and the barn caught fire.
As Emma fled into the woods, she was pursued by a gun-toting Adam. In the struggle which followed, Emma grabbed a hold of the gun and fled into the night. It was as she was making her mistake that the gun went off – inadvertantly shooting Finn, who had been looking for Moira.
He later died in hospital of a cardiac arrest.
Emma’s death
After learning that she’d killed Finn, Emma was distraught. A flash-forward revealed that she had died, seemingly falling to her death after jumping from a local viaduct. However, the soap soon revealed the truth – Moira had found Emma there, and initially tried to talk her down.
However, when Emma lashed out, blaming Moira for Holly’s death (“you might as well have injected the heroin yourself!”), Moira snapped, and pushed her off the viaduct.
Adam took the blame for his mother’s crime, and is currently on the run. Emma, meanwhile, returned from beyond the grave to haunt Moira last year, showing up as her brain tumour took hold to cause another barn fire and more calamity with a shotgun.
Ross’s acid attack and painkiller addiction
His mother and brother dead, Ross remained in the village. In 2018, he became victim to an acid attack when he was caught in the middle of a vendetta between Debbie Dingle and Joe Tate.
In a case of mistaken identity, acid was lobbed in Ross’s face, leaving him terribly scarred. During the aftermath, Debbie and her accomplice were arrested, although he did later forgive her for the crime.
In the months which followed, Ross developed an addiction to painkillers. This came to a head when Liam refused to give him any more drugs. He hit an all-new low when he lashed out at Rhona, pushing her to the ground and leaving her terrified for her safety.
Realising how bad things had gotten, he immediately apologised and sought help for the problem.
Where is Pete Barton now?
Ross since returned to the village after leaving in 2018. Meanwhile, brother Pete left in 2020, to join Ross in Liverpool. They may have parted ways since, but they remain in contact, with Ross rushing to his brother’s side after he was attacked earlier this week.
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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