Emmerdale’s Caleb Milligan star looks unrecognisable in Coronation Street role

William Ash, star of Emmerdale, made an appearance in another ITV soap opera where his character faced off against Rita Sullivan, Emily Bishop, Blanche Hunt, and Betty Williams in a dramatic confrontation.

**Emmerdale’s Caleb Milligan is played by Will Ash (Image: ITV)**

William Ash, star of Emmerdale, formerly appeared in rival soap Coronation Street twenty years ago. He portrays Caleb Milligan, the long-lost brother of Cain (Jeff Hordley) and Chas Dingle (Lucy Pargeter).

In a major plot moment, his character Johnny James held up four Corrie icons at gunpoint.

A teenage burglar named Johnny tried to flee with the money he stole from the post office. On a rural road, he came into Rita Sullivan (Barbara Knox), Betty Williams, Emily Bishop, and Blanche Hunt, who were lost.

He drew a revolver on Rita once his falsehoods came to light, but Rita retaliated. Johnny was arrested by the police as soon as they arrived.

William starred in films like Man in the Moon and Playing Dead, as well as television series like Shameless, Casualty, and Inspector George Gently, after this 2002 episode.

**Caleb, an Emmerdale star, once threatened to shoot Corrie OAPs. (Photo: ITV)**

The 47-year-old actor made an announcement in 2002 that he would be joining Emmerdale in the soap opera industry again.

In a statement, Will said how happy he was to be joining the programme as Caleb, the late Faith Dingle’s (Sally Dexter) son.

“Emmerdale is packed full of fantastic actors and I’m really looking forward to working alongside them,” he said. “Caleb is a fantastically complex character and I can’t wait to get stuck in.”

**Caleb with his sister Chas Dingle in the Woolpack (Photo: ITV)**

In the Christmas Day episode of 2022, the actor made his television debut on The Dales. A few months later, the townspeople found out that Nicky Milligan (Lewis Cope) was his son.

Future scenes will show how devastated Caleb and Ruby Milligan (Beth Cordingly) are when the medical staff is unable to awaken Nicky from his coma.

Later, Ruby and Caleb are the main suspects when Ethan Anderson (Emile Jon) is found wounded and beaten in the middle of the road.

**Coronation Street’s Will Ash (Photo: ITV)**

The locals are startled when a bruised Ethan appears at a hamlet fair and then falls in front of them all.

As his family supports him, Ethan claims he did not witness his assault until he comes around.

Who was responsible for the vicious attack, Cain, Ruby, or Caleb?