Greater Manchester-born actors Chris Coghill and Will Ash have worked together four times, with Emmerdale marking their latest collaboration. Will, from Chadderton, and Chris, from Prestwich, have now reunited on the ITV soap, though their characters have rarely shared scenes until a new bombshell storyline.
New storyline brings characters together
Will joined Emmerdale in 2022, debuting as Caleb Miligan on Christmas Day, while Chris joined as Kev Barton, formerly Townsend, last year before reprising the role this year. Despite being friends off-screen, their on-screen paths have seldom crossed, but upcoming episodes change that.
In the new plot, Jimmy and Nicola discover the B&B is in financial trouble, pinning hopes on a haulage deal. Ruby secretly plans a robbery of Jimmy's shipment to force him to sell the business, enlisting Kev to steal a van for the heist. The plan succeeds in destabilising Jimmy, but Kev is furious to find the loot is only nappies.
Dramatic confrontations
Ruby later puts Kev in his place, revealing she has footage of him attacking Billy. Kev then smashes Caleb's laptop, destroying evidence of his crimes. At the "sten do," a drunk Kev apologises to Billy for putting him in hospital, leaving Billy stunned to learn Kev was his attacker and that Caleb and Ruby were complicit. Kev warns them he will expose them if he faces prison.
The tension peaks when Caleb refuses to hand over fake passports to Billy until the wedding day, aiming to ruin Joe's big day. Jimmy, struggling financially, sells his haulage business to Caleb and Ruby, unaware that Kev's robbery caused his downfall.
Actors reflect on past roles
Speaking at a press event attended by Manchester Evening News, the duo recalled working together on Burn It, Magnolia, and Moving On, where in the latter two they played brothers. Reflecting on their Emmerdale scenes, Will said: "We haven't had that many scenes (in Emmerdale). Our worlds are separate somewhat on the show."
Chris added: "You work with who you work with. There's only the bigger stories that may bring everybody into The Woolpack at the same time. It has been nice to have done these bits together because it has been 25 years." Will joked about their lack of a familial connection this time: "I'm probably his son," referencing past soap revelations.
Emmerdale airs weeknights at 8pm on ITV1 and streams on ITVX and YouTube from 7am.
