Emmerdale's Caleb Milligan (William Ash) and his wife Ruby Fox-Miligan (Beth Cordingly) share a bond forged through dark secrets, but actor William Ash warns that their trust in each other could be tested by an unpredictable outsider: Kev Townsend (Chris Coghill).
A Marriage Built on Secrets and Sacrifice
Since their turbulent start in the village in 2024, Caleb and Ruby have weathered public scandal, including Caleb's affair with Tracy Robinson and his acceptance of a £100,000 bribe from Ruby's estranged mother Helen to convince Ruby to visit her on her deathbed. Helen died before Ruby could see her, and Caleb kept the money.
Despite these betrayals, the couple has grown closer, especially after Ruby murdered her abusive father Anthony, who had sexually abused her at age 14 and fathered her daughter Steph. Caleb helped cover up the crime, and Ash believes this shared burden has solidified their relationship.
'Caleb had had affairs before all the Anthony stuff, but since that all came out I think their relationship is proper solid now,' Ash told Metro. 'And I think Caleb appreciates Ruby and their relationship much more than he did. How much she sacrificed for him, because he didn't know any of that stuff.'
The Loose Cannon Threat
Ash suggests that while Caleb and Ruby trust each other, they remain wary of others. 'I think they can trust each other. It's other people that they don't trust. I think something might happen that way. There might be.'
The couple's latest scheme involves Ruby destroying CCTV evidence to frame Caleb's business partner Joe Tate (Ned Porteous) for an attack on Billy Fletcher (Jay Kontzle). However, the real attacker was Kev Townsend, who clobbered Billy while trying to stop his friend Steve from robbing a haulage depot.
Kev's unpredictability poses a significant risk to Caleb and Ruby's plans. 'I think they just don't know how to handle him, like most people in the village,' Ash said. 'He's such a loose cannon, you just don't know what you're going to get from him. I think Ruby thinks she can probably outmaneuver him, and Caleb thinks she has done, but when it comes down to it, he's that much of a weapon, you just can't combat it, can you?'
Ruby's 'Lady Macbeth' Role
Ash also highlighted Ruby's influence over Caleb's decisions, likening her to Lady Macbeth. 'She is the brains behind certain decisions they make sometimes. He's a successful business man and all that, so he does know what he's doing, but she does pour things into his ear sometimes.'
With Joe's wedding approaching, Caleb and Ruby are set to escalate their schemes. Ash predicts an 'all out war' with Joe, who could become more dangerous as a result. 'I think Caleb is well up for it and prepared for the fall out of what he's done. He's ready for it and whatever comes back down to him.'
