ITV Emmerdale’s next villain ‘revealed’ as viewers spot sinister revenge clue

Emmerdale fans are convinced they’ve “rumbled” the show’s newest villain, and they’re already in the village.

Soap fans are aware that newcomer Lewis Barton (Bradley Riches) first arrived in the Dales earlier this month, introduced as Ross Barton’s (Michael Parr) secret half-brother.

Before we saw him on screen, Moira Dingle (Natalie J Robb) chanced upon a mysterious letter addressed to “The Family of Emma Barton”.

Compelled by curiosity, Moira braved her unease and disclosed the contents to Ross, spurring him into arranging a meet up with Lewis.

Confronting a shared past riddled with secrets was no simple feat for Ross, who found himself tiptoeing around Lewis’s incisive inquiries, reports Leicestershire Live.

Moira Dingle k.i.l.l.e.d Emma Barton back in 2017 (Image: ITV)

Emmerdale fans will recall that Moira was responsible for Emma’s (Gillian Kearney) d.e.a.t.h back in 2017 after the villain kidnapped her baby, Isaac.

Last week, Ross discovered that Lewis was growing cannabis, and enlisted Mackenzie Boyd (Lawrence Robb) into helping him save the farm after the recent slurry leak.

During Monday’s (May 26) episode, Ross stole Lewis’s keys and asked Mack to steal his plants while he distracted his brother at the café.

Mack searched Lewis’s house with no luck and called Ross about his failure, before stumbling across a huge cannabis farm in the attic.

On today’s (May 27) instalment, which is now available to stream on ITVX, Lewis gets a phone alert that there is an intruder in his attic.

Emmerdale viewers are suspicious of newcomer Lewis Barton

He decides to lock Mack in remotely as he awaits an explanation from a shocked Ross, saying: “So, tell me, why are you trying to steal from me?”

Following Lewis’s arrival, several Emmerdale fans have taken to social media to share their suspicion about his behaviour.

“Something not ringing true for me about Lewis, I’m suspicious,” one person speculated on a Facebook fan group.

“Most definitely something not right with Lewis, alarm bells ringing,” another viewer chimed in, while one more pondered: “Next villain in waiting? They get rid of one and replace them with another.”

Ross Barton met his half-brother earlier this month

A fourth commented: “He’s definitely got ulterior motives. There’s a lot of Emma lurking in that boy,” with another suggesting: “He could develop into a good villain.”

Meanwhile, other fans believe that Lewis already knows the circumstances surrounding Emma’s d.e.a.t.h and is hell bent on getting revenge.

“He already knows everything, he’s on a mission,” one person said, with another similarly sharing: “I think he knows about Emma already, he will seek revenge against Moira for what she did. Could it lead to the return of Adam?”

Emmerdale airs weeknights on ITV1 at 7.30pm and is available to stream from 7am on ITVX