CALEB Milligan came to the Dales with a goal in mind but it’s all gone pear-shaped in a matter of months.
Emmerdale star Will Ash opened up to HOAR and other press, revealing his on-screen alter ego’s biggest regret.
Caleb Milligan arrived in the village last December
He has since revealed his true motives
He even embroiled his son Nicky into his scheme
Caleb Milligan rocked up the eponymous ITV village in late 2022, taking on a huge role in his brother Cain Dingle’s release from prison.
While the tough man was cautious, the rest of the Dingle clan welcomed Caleb with open arms, allowing him to be a part of the huge family.
Cain eventually warmed up to Caleb and the half-brothers were on the right track to mend their relationship.
Unfortunately, things took a turn when Caleb became blinded by his goal of taking over Home Farm, which he believed to be his birth right as Frank Tate’s illegitimate son.
To make matters worse, Caleb manipulated, intimidated and threatened his own son Nicky (played by Lewis Cope), whom he had thrown into his plans for revenge on Kim Tate.
Unable to live in a lie, Nicky broke his engagement with Gabby Thomas off, leaving her heartbroken – only to then be violently reprimanded by his own father for jeopardising their plans.
While Caleb’s tunnel vision prevents him from seeing how much havoc he’s really wreaked, Will Ash has the distance needed to see what he truly needs for a peaceful life in Emmerdale.
During a chat with HOAR and other press, the former Waterloo Road star spoke about Caleb’s biggest mistakes, all of which contributed to his shocking downfall.
“I think he massively regrets how he’s treated Nicky and he became so obsessed with Home Farm and reclaiming what he felt was his inheritance and avenging his dad’s death that he lost sight of everything else”, Will explained.
“And he kind of starts to see how badly he treated Nicky and how awful he was.”
However, Nicky isn’t the only member of his family Caleb feels guilty for having wronged.
“I think he also feels terrible that he used Cain and Moira’s farm as kind of collateral. I think he had all the best intentions of reimbursing them and looking after them but he massively regrets ruining that relationship really.”
“But I’d say Nicky is the big one because he was just, he’s brutal to him.”
Caleb may have seemed on the fence during his time in Yorkshire.
The character has been torn between his allegiance to the Dingles and his Tate roots.
Yet, the soap actor is fully aware of where the character’s loyalty really lies, despite his ambitions.
“His loyalty is definitely more with the Dingles because there’s very few of the Tates around that can kind of connect with.”
“They’ve been so nice to him, they’ve been so welcoming. I know there was some huge suspicion about him when he first showed up in the village but they’ve shown him nothing but love and kindness.”
But could the Dingle clan be responsible for trying to kill him?
Recent spoilers have confirmed that, since his showdown at Home Farm, Caleb has managed to make the entire Dingle clan turn their backs on him.
With tensions reaching an all-time high in the village and everyone waiting for Caleb to get what he deserves, fan began to speculate he could be killed off.
Next week, all the Dingles are at the top of the list of suspects when the schemer’s lifeless body is found at the bottom of a woodland ridge.
Who out of Cain, Moira, Belle, Chas and even Charity has a bone to pick with Caleb?
Could the Dingles join forces with Kim Tate to make Caleb pay?
Emmerdale airs weeknights from 7.30pm on ITV.
Caleb tried to steal Kim Tate’s fortune
But the truth caught up with him – and he may suffer some brutal consequences
