In a jaw-dropping twist set to rock Emmerdale to its core, fans are left questioning everything they thought they knew about the shocking death of Anthony Fox. Thought to be long buried and gone after a violent confrontation earlier this year, new developments suggest that Anthony may not be dead after all—and this revelation sends shockwaves through the village.

Back in January, Anthony was believed to have met his end at the hands of several villagers, following growing suspicions and outrage over his abusive behavior. Nicola King believed Anthony had taken advantage of her daughter Angelica, and that sparked a chain of events that spiraled out of control. Laurel Thomas was the first to lash out, hitting Anthony over the head. Tensions escalated when Caleb Milligan pulled a gun on him. Eventually, Aaron Dingle confronted Anthony, demanding that he confess to abusing Ruby Milligan. After a brutal altercation, Anthony was left on the floor of the depot, seemingly lifeless.

What followed was even more chilling—Ruby, finding Anthony injured and unconscious, is believed to have smothered him. With panic setting in, John Sugden took it upon himself to dispose of the body, telling the others he buried Anthony deep in the woods to protect Aaron from being blamed for murder. Everyone involved, terrified of the consequences, agreed to a pact of silence. The police, unaware of the true events, simply assumed Anthony left the village voluntarily.

But the façade begins to crumble when Jai Sharma grows suspicious. He senses something is off with Caleb and Ruby’s behavior. When flowers arrive for Steph—ones she believes are from Anthony—fear grips her. Has Anthony returned from the dead? Could he have survived?

Steph’s fear sends her spiraling, and she disappears into the woods, determined to uncover the truth. Her family follows and discovers something even more terrifying: there is no sign of a grave. The spot John claimed he buried Anthony shows no signs of disturbance. Not even a hint of excavation. So where is Anthony’s body? Did John lie about burying him—or is Anthony still alive?

This revelation casts serious doubt on John’s credibility. Why would he lie? Was he protecting someone else—or is there a darker secret at play? Meanwhile, Jai’s persistent probing forces Ruby to admit the abuse Anthony inflicted on her, in a desperate attempt to make him back off. But with Steph’s continued distress and the mystery deepening, everyone is left wondering if Anthony is out there, plotting his return.

While the village is shaken by this terrifying possibility, other dramatic storylines unfold. John’s stress leads to a dangerous mistake at the surgery—he misdiagnoses a patient, Carrie Wyatt, putting her in serious danger. Liam Kavanagh is forced to investigate after realizing John has been making errors for some time. John’s future hangs in the balance, especially when he must act fast to save Jacob Gallagher, who collapses from an allergic reaction.

Elsewhere, tensions rise as Vanessa exposes her sister Tracy’s theft from Eric Pollard’s store. What began as a desperate attempt to solve financial problems turns into a public shaming when Vanessa, drunk and furious, outs Tracy in front of the entire pub. Eric is heartbroken by the betrayal, and Tracy’s future in the village is uncertain.

As Emmerdale barrels toward 2025, cast shakeups continue. Brenda Walker and Leila Harding are expected to exit, while new character Lewis, played by Heartstopper’s Bradley Riches, prepares to make a splash. But the biggest question remains: if Anthony Fox isn’t in that grave—where is he now? And what will happen when he resurfaces? The village won’t know what hit it.