Emmerdale star opens up about 'brutal' decision that has torn family apart

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Emmerdale's William Ash, who portrays Caleb on the popular ITV soap, has hinted at the dark past of the character Steph as we anticipate further insights into the intricate Milligan family dynamics.In a dramatic encounter set to unfold in the village, Ruby, played by Beth Cordingly, and her spouse Caleb, are slated for an unexpected reunion with their long-lost daughter Stephanie (portrayed by Georgia Jay) after many years apart.Following the passing of her grandmother Helen Fox, portrayed by Sharon Maughan, Steph makes her entrance into the storyline, not alone but accompanied by Ruby's father Anthony, enacted by Nicholas Day, setting the stage for a turbulent family gathering.Steph, now in her 30s, is described as self-reliant and recklessly impulsive and has spent over a decade disconnected from both parents, creating an intriguing mystery around her prolonged absence.

Her characteristics evidently reflect those of Caleb and Ruby, pairing unchecked ambition with their self-absorbed traits. But what could have driven such a divide between Steph and her parents?

In conversation with the Daily Record, the actor behind Caleb, William Ash divulged details about Steph's rebellious adolescence which culminated in her being sent away - a decision that heavily strained the parental bond, reports Leicestershire Live.William, 43, revealed a significant plot detail: "The story is, we sent Steph away basically that is what happened."He further unveiled: "She was a really difficult child when she was 13/14, so we sent her off to boarding school to straighten her our almost, it was quite a brutal thing to do."Steph felt really torn from them, she felt abandoned as well.