When we first met Ella Forster (Paula Lane) in Emmerdale, she appeared to be a kind young woman who enjoyed making friends with the likes of Mandy Dingle (Lisa Riley) and Dawn Taylor (Olivia Bromley).
As time has ticked by, focus is now on Ella’s developing relationship with Liam Cavanagh (Jonny McPherson).
While things seem to be going well, it’s becoming increasingly obvious Ella is hiding a secret from Liam and frustratingly, we have no idea what it could be.
So, it’s time to investigate.
Join us as we don our deerstalker hats and grab our pens and paper as we try and work out just who Ella Forster really is.
Her apparent connection to Meena Jutla
You remember Meena Jutla (Paige Sandhu) right? The utterly mad singing and dancing serial killer who was responsible for killing Leanna Cavanagh, Andrea Tate and Ben Tucker.
Fans have wondered if Ella is connected to Meena for a while, but a scene in the episode broadcasted on May 14 fuelled this theory more than ever.
Ella had spent the night with Liam at Tenant’s following their successful date in the scrapyard. She came downstairs to find a note that Liam had popped out to get croissants.
Ella looked relaxed and happy at this point, but when she looked around the room she spotted a framed photo of Leanna. She picked it up and sat down in a chair to look at it.
She was interrupted by Liam coming back and she moved to the table to have breakfast, leaving the photo on the coffee table.
Ella told him to go with the flow, but as he was talking on a couple of occasions she glanced back at the photo of Leanna.
Then Liam started talking about his daughter, saying that Ella’s spontaneity was ‘refreshing. Especially after… Leanna.’ He said she put him at ease and made him feel more like himself than he could remember.
‘Not that I’ll ever be the same again, not since Meena stole Leanna from me,’ he said – and at these words Ella’s expression changed and she said she had to do something and dashed off, leaving Liam wondering what had happened.
Ella had seemed to be OK with the mentions of Leanna, but was it Meena’s name that made her react strangely?
We know Ella works as the receptionist at the surgery in the village. A few weeks ago, during a conversation with Liam, Ella said that she used to have a friend – who worked as a nurse – and also encouraged her to go into nursing.
And let’s not forget, who worked as a nurse while in the village?
Meena Jutla.
Ella’s uncle
Liam and Ella’s most recent date featured them collecting items from the scrapyard that he could then repurpose at his allotment.
Romantic.
During their afternoon together, Ella briefly mention that her Uncle taught her all about recycling. It was a brief moment, but we of course wondered why she mentioned this family member, given she doesn’t open up about them a great deal.
Did Ella say this just to show Liam they have a lot in common? Or, could it have been a lie, and she’s just saying it to string him along?
June Phillips
In upcoming instalments of the ITV soap, Ella will attend the funeral of a lady called June Phillips.
We currently have no idea who this lady is, let alone whether she’s even related to Ella. Thanks to past pictures, we know Ella and Liam will find themselves in a confrontation at the funeral with an unknown male.
Does an argument unfold because this man knows who the real Ella is?
Hints from Paula Lane
Paula Lane hasn’t given us many hints about Ella’s past, but she has previously told us that ‘Ella does have a past that is going to be revealed. She does have responsibilities elsewhere outside the village that mean a great deal to her and I’m so looking forward to exploring this further.’
She also said: ‘When something/someone so important to her is put at risk she will fight so hard to protect that situation. This is a part of her we’ve yet to see and there is currently a lot at stake and a lot to fight for!’
Could this be in connection with June Phillips?
What’s coming up for Ella?
In future instalments, when Liam suggests staying the night at her place, Ella is left panicking but manages to deflect the offer.
That evening, on the outskirts of the village, Ella beds down in her car – homeless.
Ella’s living situation is exposed the next day, as Manpreet (Rebecca Sarker) spots her during a morning run.
Once Manpreet clumsily admits to Liam that she found Ella sleeping in her car, Liam suggests that she temporarily moves into the spare room at Tenants – and Ella agrees.
While Mandy helps moves her stuff into the house, she sees an old photo belonging to her new friend.
When Ella realises what Mandy is holding, she snaps and takes it from her.
Could this photograph be a clue to Ella’s real identity?
Later in the week, as they adjust to living together, Ella and Liam head to the local fete, but Liam is left bemused when Ella refuses to let the photographer take her picture and rushes off.
In the beer garden, Mandy approaches Liam and advises him to make sure Ella has no skeletons in the closet before things get serious between them.
As Liam ponders over Mandy’s comments, Ella is seen visiting a care home.
But who is she seeing?
Could this be June?
