Emmerdale's Michael Parr spills on real reason Ross Barton returns and new love
Ross Barton, who left the Dales six years ago for a fresh start after enduring a traumatic acid attack and losing three family members, is back with a bang – or rather, a punch. Michael Parr, who has reprised his role, reveals that not much has changed for Ross, except for his new boxing hobby. "Ross has taken up bare-knuckle fighting. It’s a very violent and traumatic job, but there’s a financial motive,” says Michael, 38. And I’m sure it makes a good impression on girls to say that he’s a fighter."
While Ross left with Rebecca (played by Emily Head), he returns alone, and Michael teases that fans will have to wait to discover what happened between them. However, there's another woman in his life now. Jade (Twinnie-Lee Moore) is guiding him through the world of unlicensed boxing, and she's not someone to be trifled with. "Jade is the one wearing the trousers in their relationship," says Michael. "She’s very imposing when she’s got her heels on and is surrounded by gangsters. Ross has really met his match – he isn’t the sharpest knife in the drawer."
Ross makes a comeback to Emmerdale after a boxing match with Billy Fletcher (played by Jay Kontzle), but his return isn't exactly met with open arms. "I’d say Ross gets mostly a negative reaction from the locals," Michael Parr chuckles, "But he does have some fans out there, and he has his son, Moses (played by Arthur Cockroft). The big difference there is that when Ross left, there was no Mack [Boyd, played by Lawrence Robb]. Mack has become a father figure in Moses’ life and that eats away at Ross. So there will be lots of fireworks and they’ll both fight for Moses’ affection."
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Ross became a dad to Moses with Charity (Emma Atkins) back in 2015 during his affair with Debbie Dingle (Charley Webb), who was engaged to his brother Pete (Anthony Quinlan). Despite their tangled family history, could there be a chance for Ross and Charity to rekindle their romance? "I think the potential for Ross and Charity to be Bonnie and Clyde again is still there,” confirms Michael. “They’re the villains at the end of the day, and are always trying to one up each other. They’re a good combination."
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Emmerdale's Michael Parr, who plays Ross Barton, has teased some juicy family drama ahead as his character contends with Mackenzie Boyd, played by Lawrence Robb. "Myself and Lawrence [Robb], worked out that Ross and Mack are related,” reveals Michael. “Mackenzie is Moira Dingle’s brother, and Moira is Ross’s auntie, but not by blood. We’ve shown a bit of their family history on screen, and the rivalry between them is complicated. Mackenzie was a villain when he first arrived, but he’s since softened, but Ross will bring out his darker side."
With most of his on-screen family gone, Michael is keen to see more Bartons in the village. "I’d love to have Anthony back, he really is like my older brother. He’s one of my best friends and we speak all the time. We need more Bartons. I’d love to have Nana Barton join – could we have Sue Johnston play her?" Since leaving Emmerdale six years ago, Michael has been quite the globetrotter, living in LA and India.
"When I first left the show, I moved straight to Los Angeles,” he says. “I did a film and was going to auditions. But I kept getting jobs back in the UK. I did Bulletproof with Ashley Walters, The Long Shadow and Douglas Is Cancelled, where I played Karen Gillan’s boyfriend. Then I’ve been to India several times to work on a feature film.”"
Michael has returned to the soap opera setting, but he kept his return under wraps initially. He explains, "If I told them I was moving back to Leeds, the cat would have been out of the bag,” says Michael. “When I finally got to tell people, they were really excited. I underestimated what this job means to my family. My grandparents were especially excited – it’s social currency for them, they’re so proud."
Not just with his career but in love too, Michael is beaming post-split with former sweetheart Isabel Hodgins in 2019. Spilling the tea, he says, I’m in a very happy relationship,” he shares. “She’s amazing and has been very supportive."
