Emmerdale fans have been left terrified for the future of several characters after a series of flashforward scenes showed a body being kicked into the lake

Emmerdale has set the stage for 2025 with a tantalising glimpse into the future through five flashforward scenes, sending fans into a frenzy of speculation over who will end up in the body bag.

With the new year ringing in, Emmerdale’s latest stunt featured five cryptic flashforwards that hint at a mysterious fate for some of its characters. In the first scene, viewers saw Mackenzie Boyd frantically running through the woods by himself.

This was followed by a glimpse of Caleb Milligan (William Ash) on a hospital bed with his heart monitor ominously flatlining. In a further cliffhanger, the third teaser showed an emotional Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) standing at an unidentified grave site, while another disturbing image showed a body bag being carelessly pushed into water. Yet perhaps the most chilling vision was saved for last: a villager, appearing helpless beneath the ice.

Before the full stories unfold on our TV screens, loyal watchers of the ITV soap are piecing together the clues, eager to uncover the identity of the person in the body bag. Despite it being concealed under a sheet, eagle-eyed fans believe they’ve cracked the case wide open and they’re not shy about broadcasting their sleuthing skills across forums like X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit, reports the Manchester Evening News.

On X, one social media user shared their thoughts, writing: “Hopefully it’s Anthony in the body bag”. Meanwhile, Reddit user u/Middle-Armadillo6357 mused: “I think it is Anthony. I think that Ruby finds out Caleb is Stephanie’s father and with coaxing from Chas she finally tells Caleb about the abuse she experienced during childhood.”

They expressed concern: “Caleb looked a little perturbed during the last episode when Anthony manipulated Ruby into cooking dinner and I think after that he finally starts to see how uncomfortable she is around him. I could see Caleb lashing out and hitting Anthony and Anthony hitting his head or something that causes his death so Caleb gets rid of the body.”

Another fan speculated on the community board: “Maybe someone punches Anthony and he hits his head on that rock that lays in waiting for it’s next victim in the village!”.

As Caleb and Ruby shared a dance in their kitchen to Made of Stone by the Stone Roses, Caleb reminisced with Steph about the past: “There we were, me and your mum, playing tunes like this and sneaking around. Hiding in corners and well several things lead to several other things.”

Anthony later bursted into the scene – the very character who has a dark history with Ruby, as revealed in past flashbacks where he was seen abusing her. He mockingly referenced Caleb and Ruby as “Romeo and Juliet”, stirring speculation within the community.

One Emmerdale viewer shared their thoughts on social media: “Erm ‘Modern day Romeo and Juliet’ comment in tonight’s Emmerdale… that better not be a hint to Caleb and Ruby both dying later this year.”

The user then warned: “Ruby is one of the best things to happen to Emmerdale in a long time, so I’ll be raging.”

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