In a shocking twist that left even the most devoted fans stunned, it has been revealed that Emma Barton — known to viewers as the troubled mother of Ross, Pete, and the late Finn Barton — was hiding a major secret all along. While many thought they knew everything about her dark and complicated past, it turns out Emma had a fourth child, a son, whose existence had been completely concealed. This hidden chapter of her life dates back to the period when she had cut ties with her family and vanished for several years, during which she gave birth in total secrecy. The revelation adds yet another layer to the already dramatic Barton family history and casts Emma’s character in a new, even more mysterious light. Not only was she a mother torn by guilt and conflict, but she was also carrying the burden of a child no one else knew about — not even her closest relatives like her sister-in-law, Moira.

That child – Lewis – has just got in touch with the Bartons, wanting to get to know them. And to hear more about his biological mum.

Which could be tricky, because Emma’s past was, well, complicated.

Here’s everything we know about her – and where she was when she was apart from her family.
Emma wanted to get to know Finn and Ross, as well as oldest son Pete (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)

Emma comes to Emmerdale

It was sweet-natured Finn who brought his mum to Emmerdale. He tracked her down – with some help from Harriet Finch – and she was delighted. Desperate to get to know Pete and Ross too, she came to the village. But her older sons had more memories of their mum – and they weren’t happy ones!

It turned out, Emma had tried tol ki!ll Ross when he was little.

Nurse Emma settled into Emmerdale (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)

Emma in Emmerdale

Newcomer Emma seemed determined to put the past behind her when she came to Emmerdale but she was soon manipulating people and acting in – how should we put this? some very strange ways!

Chas Dingle was in a relationship with James, Ross’s dad and Emma’s ex, at the time. But Emma wanted James back and she saw her chance when she injured him in an accident, refused to help him despite being a nurse, and then moved in with him – keeping him prisoner in his own home.
Emma held James hostage (Credit:
ITV/Shutterstock)

Disaster!

On one fateful day in October 2016, a confrontation between Emma (wearing her wedding dress, obviously) and James on the road bridge over the Hotten by=pass led to tragedy.

Emma pushed James and he fell on to Ashley Thomas’s car, starting a chain of events with repercussions for many Emmerdale families. James died from his injuries and Emma was devastated, even though she ki!lled him.

She tried to behave normally and repair her family for a while but it couldn’t last.
Moira ki!lled Emma Barton (Credit: ITV)

Emma’s d3ath

A year after James’s d3ath, Emma and Moira had a confrontation in a barn. When the barn went on fire, things got dangerous and then Moira went into labour! She hadn’t even realised she was pregnant. Emma managed to get them out of the barn and delivered baby Isaac.

Moira fell unconscious and Emma legged it, followed by Moira’s son Adam who had a gun. A scuffle ensued and Emma took the gun. But when she accidentally walked into a tree, the gun fired and a bullet hit Finn, though Emma didn’t realise.

He died from a cardiac arrest and when Emma heard the news on the radio, she drove to the viaduct and climbed up, intending to take her own life. But it was actually Moira who pushed her in the end, sending Emma plummeting to her d3ath. Adam took the blame for his mum’s crime and is still on the run.

So you can see why Ross might be a bit vague when Lewis asks him about his family!
Lewis wrote to the family (Credit: ITV)

What was Emma Barton doing in her time away from her family?

What we don’t know so much about, is what Emma was doing when she was apart from her kids.

Emma left after trying to smother Ross. She was stopped by then three-year-old Pete, who didn’t say anything about what he’d seen until youngest brother Finn was born in the early 1990s. When Pete told his dad what he’d witnessed his mum doing, Emma left the family home.

We know from what Pete said during his time on the show that at some point, Emma returned to the family home. But Pete sent her away without telling his brothers or his dad that she’d come home.

What she never mentioned about her time away from her children, though, is that she’d had another baby! We reckon Lewis is in his early twenties, meaning he’s roughly ten years younger than Finn and around 15 years younger than Ross.

We also know that Lewis was adopted, so he didn’t grow up with Emma (probably a good thing!).

But his arrival is going to bring more questions than answers. Like who’s his dad? Why has he never tried to find his family before? How come he didn’t see any of the news reports about Emma’s d3ath?

We’re officially intrigued!