“Sometimes walking away is the only way to protect yourself – even from your own blood.”

The echoes of Emmerdale’s most twisted family saga continue to reverberate through the village, even after one of its key players, Nicky Miligan, has long disappeared from our screens. But the drama? It’s far from over. And with actor Lewis Cope expressing a wistful longing for his former co-stars—particularly the powerhouse that is Beth Cordingly—fans are once again diving into the tangled emotional web of the Miligan clan.

From Nanny to Nemesis: Nicky’s Journey Through Deceit

When Nicky Miligan first arrived in the Dales in 2022, he seemed like the ideal help—charming, attentive, and perfectly harmless. As the new nanny at Home Farm, he seamlessly blended into the world of the Tate dynasty. But in true Emmerdale fashion, masks eventually slip, and what lay beneath Nicky’s calm exterior was a carefully calculated mission.

Behind closed doors, Nicky wasn’t just an employee—he was a plant. The son of Caleb Miligan (portrayed by William Ash), the two were hell-bent on dismantling Kim Tate’s empire, piece by piece. Caleb, driven by his belief that, as Frank Tate’s illegitimate son, he was owed everything Kim had built, used Nicky as a pawn in his power game.

Even more gut-wrenching? Nicky was forced to pursue a fake engagement with Gabby Thomas (Rosie Bentham), despite being gay—a move that sparked backlash and emotional turmoil among viewers. This wasn’t just a character being dishonest—it was a son being manipulated by his own father into erasing his identity for vengeance.

“You told me to be someone I’m not, just to get your revenge. That’s not family—that’s control,” Nicky once shouted during one of his more vulnerable moments with Caleb. The line still haunts fans.

Enter Ruby Miligan: The Catalyst of Chaos

The arrival of Ruby Miligan (Beth Cordingly) only fanned the flames. At first glance, Ruby was fierce, intelligent, and sharp-tongued. But beneath her composed façade lay a woman emotionally unraveling from a failing marriage—and holding secrets that would shatter the Miligan household.

At the time of her debut, Ruby and Caleb were mid-divorce, but Ruby wasn’t ready to let go. Her volatility added tension to the already strained family unit, and her fractured relationship with Nicky quickly soured as deeper truths emerged. The tipping point came when Nicky discovered Ruby’s involvement in the death of Ethan Anderson, an act that Caleb tried to cover up.

Nicky’s disgust and heartbreak at his parents’ choices drove him to finally leave the village—for good. He departed alongside his new boyfriend, severing all ties with his family in one final act of liberation.

The Ghosts They Left Behind: Lewis Cope’s Nostalgia

While Nicky’s exit was powerful, Lewis Cope—the actor behind the character—hasn’t quite let go. Recently, his comments under Beth Cordingly’s playful Instagram post from Brighton (“Bonkers! Miss you x”) revealed something deeper: a genuine fondness for the cast, particularly his on-screen mum.

It’s this off-screen camaraderie that made the Miligan family so compelling to watch. Beth’s portrayal of Ruby—tormented, unstable, yet oddly sympathetic—bounced perfectly off Lewis’s conflicted, emotionally bruised Nicky. Their chemistry felt authentic, raw, and heartbreakingly human.

Steph Miligan: The Darkest Twist Yet

Just when you thought the Miligan family couldn’t get any more tragic, in came Steph Miligan (Georgia Jay), Ruby and Caleb’s other child, near the end of 2024. Her storyline? Nothing short of devastating.

Steph’s world was upended when she learned that her father, Anthony Fox, had sexually abused Ruby—meaning that Steph was both his daughter and granddaughter. The horrifying revelation sent Steph spiraling into a psychological crisis. She even contemplated plastic surgery, desperate to distance herself from the man whose blood ran through her veins.

This wasn’t just Emmerdale pushing boundaries—it was a deep, unflinching exploration of generational trauma, identity, and the inescapable legacy of abuse.

Could Nicky Return?

With Caleb, Ruby, and now Steph still entrenched in Emmerdale’s main storylines, the possibility of Nicky’s return feels not only likely—but necessary. His departure left a void: the estranged son who chose truth over loyalty, self-love over manipulation.

And while Lewis Cope remains tight-lipped on whether he’ll step back into Nicky’s shoes, his nostalgia suggests the door is far from closed.

Final Thoughts: The Miligan Legacy

Few families have ignited Emmerdale like the Miligans. From Nicky’s identity crisis to Ruby’s fatal missteps, from Caleb’s cold ambition to Steph’s heartbreaking trauma—their stories have exposed the fragility of love, the burden of legacy, and the human cost of secrets.

They’ve lied, betrayed, killed—but they’ve also loved, suffered, and sought redemption. And that’s why we care.