It’s all I have been thinking about for weeks and now Emmerdale has finally confirmed the secret of Ella Forster (Paula Lane) in a massive twist – she’s a child killer!
Pardon me while I heave my jaw off the floor – I was so certain of my theory, which has now been shattered.
Many fans had latched onto a number of thoughts over who Ella is, with her connection to Leanna’s dad Liam Cavanagh (Jonny McPherson) and her troubled glances at childhood photos leading assumptions that she knew serial killer Meena Jutla (Paige Sandhu).
And, while it turns out that Emmerdale led us down the wrong garden path on that score, maybe Ella isn’t all that different from Meena.
As Ella and Liam’s relationship deepens, Ella has been more and more nervous that the truth about her past will come to light.
Viewers have seen her visiting an elderly lady named June in a care home but it transpired that she wasn’t actually related to her.
When June then died, Ella decided to attend the funeral and had confided in Manpreet Sharma (Rebecca Sarker) about the loss when pressed.
However, she has so far held back her relationship with the pensioner, and there is much more to unpack.
Like me, Leyla Harding (Roxy Shahidi) and Suzy Merton (Martelle Edinborough) have turned sleuth and are trying to find out the score.
Their digging has led to the discovery that Ella isn’t actually their new neighbour’s real name.
And when Leyla did an image search on the photo, she happened across some online content that drew an ‘oh my God’ from her.
Perhaps an understated reaction considering what she was reading.
At the funeral, Ella held herself back from the proceedings, watching from afar.
When she had a moment, she turned to June’s grave and hoped that she was at peace now. She apologised to her and, in tears, also gave the same sorry to a grave next to her.
Meanwhile, Liam had come to the funeral in order to offer support to Ella, but found her nowhere to be seen.
Afterwards, one of those in attendance asked him why he was there, and he lashed out at Liam’s explanation that he wanted to help June’s daughter.
Liam was confused to be told that June’s daughter is dead and there are no relatives left but, as thigs got more aggressive, Ella arrived and intervened.
Seeing her, the family member exploded and, as Ella fled the scene, he shouted after her that she is scum before branding her a murderer and a child killer.
Knocked for six, Liam cast a glance to the mystery gravestone which bore the name Joanne, with the dates confirming that she was 11-years-old when she died.
But what truly happened to her and can Ella give Liam the answers he needs as her haunted past unfolds before them both?
It’s a deeply tragic turn of events and, as the next episode will see Ella explain everything, you can bet on there being many twists still to come…
Meanwhile, I will stop feeling so smug about theories I felt were spot on.
