Caleb Miligan

Caleb Miligan is the long-lost son of Faith Dingle and Frank Tate, husband of Ruby Fox-Miligan and half-brother of Liam Hammond, Christopher, Zoe and Jamie Tate, and Cain and Chas Dingle. He is also the father of Steph and Nicky Miligan, although in January 2025, it was revealed Caleb isn't Steph's biological father after Ruby was raped by her father.
==Biography==
===1976-1991: Early life and meeting Cain===
Caleb Miligan was born to Faith Dingle in HMP Skipdale on 30th April 1976, after a fling she had in the summer of 1975 with Frank Tate. At the time of his birth, Faith was married to Shadrach Dingle, so Faith gave him her maiden name, Miligan. Caleb was raised in the foster system and often found himself in trouble.
In 1991, Caleb met his half-brother, Cain Dingle, who told him that their mother Faith had died despite her still being alive. At the time Caleb was up for a potential adoption by a couple but after an initial good meeting with Cain, who promised to introduce him to their younger sister Chas, Caleb declined the adoption. However when he returned the next day Cain was angry because unknown to Caleb he had discovered Chas was pregnant. Cain rejected him and out of hurt Caleb took off in a car from the garage Cain was working in. Cain jumped in the car as he drove away and the speeding vehicle caught the attention of a police officer. Caleb, who already had a previous arrest was worried about being sent to prison but Cain agreed to take the rap as long as Caleb stayed away from him and his family in the future, so Caleb left before the police arrived.
===1992-2022: Relationship with Ruby and becoming a father===
Sometime in early 1992, Caleb met Ruby Fox and the two started a relationship. Ruby came from a wealthy family and her parents, Helen and Anthony, disapproved of her seeing a boy from a care home. Soon Ruby fell pregnant and her parents tried to force to have an abortion. Ruby's father even tried paying Caleb to leave and never contact her again but Caleb stood by Ruby and the two ran away together, cutting all ties with Anthony and Helen.
On 1st January 1993, Ruby gave birth to their daughter, Stephanie. Caleb and Ruby later married in April 1996. The couple then had a son, Nicky who was born on 18th September 2000. Caleb also managed to build a successful business between this time and his arrival in the village, so he provided his children with an upbringing far better than his own.
Unfortunately, Caleb and Ruby's marriage was marred by cheating and separations with Caleb even admitting to cheating on his wife the day after their wedding. Caleb also revealed he had an affair with a woman he worked with after this. By 2023 the two were living apart.
===2022 to present: Family reunion and going after Kim Tate===
On Christmas Day 2022, Caleb arrived to the dales when discovered at his mother Faith Dingle's grave by his half-sister Chas Dingle. Chas immediately wanted to get to know her new brother even though their brother, Cain Dingle, distrusted Caleb and warned him off, but as Cain was in prison at the time he couldn't stop Caleb from getting to know his family. Caleb helped Cain's son Kyle Winchester get released from youth offenders after he admitted that he killed Al Chapman with a shotgun. Most of the Dingles were accepting of Caleb especially Cain's wife Moira Dingle who was grateful for what Caleb did for Kyle. Despite this Cain still refused to trust his brother, as he thought Caleb wanted revenge for Cain stopping him from meeting Faith before her death. However, after a while Cain started to get to know his brother and the two bonded. 
It was later revealed that Caleb had ulterior motives for being the village when he began working against Kim Tate. As part of Caleb's scheme to get back at Kim, Caleb sabotaged Moira Dingle's tractor which caused Moira to sell her farm to Kim, though he claimed he would return the farm to Moira once he had taken Kim down. Caleb also grew closer to Leyla Harding during this time as she was struggling with the consequences of her drug abuse and her estrangement from her son, Jacob Gallagher. Caleb and Leyla started a relationship much to the disapproval of Caleb’s son Nicky, who wanted his parents to get back together but Caleb assured him that their marriage was over. 
Nicky continually expressed his dislike of using Gabby Thomas to get back at Kim much to Caleb's annoyance. Nicky eventually told his father he was gay and Caleb was accepting of this but still insisted Nicky keep up his fake relationship with Gabby. On 6th June, the truth about Caleb's identity was discovered on the day of his son Nicky and Gabby Thomas' wedding when Kim Tate caught him trying to steal money from her. Caleb admitted to being the son of Kim's ex-husband Frank Tate. Caleb's true identity caused major anger for many of the villagers. When his plan was exposed and people turned their backs on him, Caleb insulted most of the villagers including his "girlfriend" Leyla Harding when Caleb brought up her cocaine addiction. He also brought up Moira Dingle's affair with Cain's son Nate Robinson. Later, he was pushed of a ridge by an unknown assailant who was later revealed to be Nicky. Deciding to protect Nicky, Caleb lied to the police about what really happened and then invited Nicky to move into Apartment One, Mill Cottage with him after he bought it from Vinny Dingle.
===2023-2024: Making up with family and affair with Tracey Robinson===
After the revelation that Caleb was Frank Tate's son and he had been secretly scheming against Kim, the Dingles turned on Caleb and Cain especially refused to let him back into the family. In late June 2023 Caleb acquires a car hire firm and offers Cain a contract to be the fleet mechanic through an employee, but Cain finds out Caleb owns the company and ends the deal. Later Caleb made Nicky, Cain and Nate Robinson partners in Longbrook Private Hire to make amends but Cain rejects this offer, accusing Caleb of trying to buy him. However, Nate takes a job with Caleb after meeting his old friend Corey Sanderson when he offered Cain the contract to repair Longbrook's fleet. It was later revealed that Corey was using the car hire firm to smuggle guns and got Nate involved. Caleb found out and took care of the problem but was beaten severely by Corey's boss, a gangster called Harry. Caleb and Nate continue to be close after this with Caleb giving Nate more responsibility in the company following Corey's sacking. Cain also started to come around to his brother after he took a beating for Nate and things settled down between them.
In October 2023, Caleb helped Cain get Aaron Dingle back from Italy and the two locked him in Wylie's Farm. He also helped Cain confront gangster, Damon Harris, known as Harry, when he kidnapped Chas. In late October, Caleb began a feud with Amit Sharma as he believed that Amit attacked his son Nicky out of homophobia, as Nicky was dating Amit's son Suni Sharma. Nate backed Caleb up when he physically attacked Amit for his treatment of Nicky and warned him not to mess with his son.
On 27th October 2023, Caleb is a part of the Dingle meeting in the Woolpack when Lydia Dingle questions everyone about the death of rapist, Craig Reed. In flashback it is revealed that Caleb's alibi is that after Nate and his wife Tracy Robinson had a row about the attack on Amit she confronted him for getting Nate in trouble. However, Caleb does not reveal that during their argument he and Tracy shared a passionate kiss. Caleb and Tracy begin an affair, despite Tracy's initial denial of her attraction to him. On Christmas Day 2023, Moira Dingle catches the two kissing in the living room at Butler's while everyone else is out. She tells them that she will keep their secret but orders Tracy to end the affair. Tracy tries to put a stop to their affair but soon gives in to temptation again.
On 25th January 2024, Tracy visits Caleb when she is supposed to be away on a training course. Caleb tells her not to go on the course and spend the night with him instead as they have the perfect cover. Later Nate, Nicky and Moira burst into to Mill Cottage with Nate believing that Caleb is with his wife after finding his wallet in their sofa. However, Tracy is no longer there and Caleb is kissing a different woman, revealed to be Caleb's estranged wife, Ruby Fox-Miligan. 
Caleb and Ruby are seemingly back together after this, even throwing a disastrous dinner party at Mill Cottage with Cain, Moira, Nate and Tracy all in attendance. On the evening of 14th February, Caleb and Tracy have a confrontation outside Mill Cottage about Caleb being back with Ruby and Tracy breaking up with Nate. They discuss their affair and, unbeknownst to them, Ruby overhears them. Ruby and Caleb attend the wedding of Belle Dingle and Tom King on 15th February. At the reception they are seated with Nate and Tracy, who are separated at this point after Tracy tells Nate she doesn't love him anymore. In the middle of the reception Ruby stands up to make a speech and exposes Caleb's affair with Tracy. Nate attacks Caleb but is pulled away by Cain before he can do any real damage. Caleb and Ruby leave the reception and get back to Mill Cottage where they argue about what happened. Caleb insults Ruby, telling her he doesn't want her anymore and she is boring. Ruby gets upset and packs her bags to leave but Caleb stops her and apologises. They spend the night together and agree to give their marriage another try. 
Cain and the rest of the Dingles aren't as forgiving after the affair, so Caleb is once again shunned. He tries to make amends to Cain and Nate but they continue to insist he is dead to them. Cain, Nate and Aaron take revenge on Caleb by stealing the cars from Longbrook Private Hire. The company cars are all returned to the firm but they have Caleb's car crushed and deliver the badge to his front door.
Later in 2024, Ruby is still jealous about Caleb's feelings for Tracy and tells him to prove the affair is over. She tells Caleb to ruin Tracy's presentation to get investors for her nursery. He is initially reluctant to do this as he knows what it means to Tracy but eventually goes ahead with it. He interrupts her presentation to tell the investors that Tracy is an ex-prostitute and isn't safe around children. The plan works and Tracy's ambitions are destroyed, much to Ruby's delight but Caleb is instantly regretful over his actions. He argues with Ruby again, calling her sick and telling her she brings out the worst in him.
The next day Ruby apologises for her behaviour and promises to make it up to him. He is unsure about this but chooses to believe her. She tries to get him back in with the Dingles without much success, especially with Cain. Later, Caleb manages to get Cain to go for a pint with him but it ends with Cain storming off after seeing Ruby's drunken antics. Caleb catches up with Cain and apologises but Cain tells him doesn't matter how sorry Caleb is. Cain explains that for once he is going to be a good father to Nate and stand by him. Caleb understands this and agrees to leave things as they are.
In May 2024, Caleb's son Nicky is involved in a car accident and seriously injured, leaving him in a coma. Soon the police discover that Nicky wasn't the one driving the car, putting Caleb and Ruby on the warpath. They find out that it was Nicky's friend Ethan Anderson who was driving while drunk. Ruby takes revenge by hitting Ethan with her car and leaving him in the road. Ruby tells Caleb what she did and he tells her it was a stupid idea but still covers it up by getting the car fixed. When Ethan's father, Charles Anderson figures out it was her car that hit Ethan, Caleb takes the blame but Ethan convinces Charles not to report him. Nicky later recovers and wakes from his coma with no permanent damage done. After Ethan's death, Ruby does confess to Charles that she ran Ethan down against Caleb's advice, but he is too devastated following the loss of his son to report her.
In July 2024, Nicky asks his father for more responsibility in the car hire business but Caleb is reluctant. After Nicky shows him his business plans Caleb is still unimpressed and the two argue with Nicky saying that Caleb has never been proud of him, and Caleb retorting that he never gave him a reason to be. Nicky storms off and Ruby berates Caleb for his treatment of their son. Caleb tries to apologise to Nicky but it is to late as he tells Caleb that he and Suni are moving away. Ruby and Caleb try to convince Nicky to stay but on 4th July, Nicky leaves the village with Suni.
In late 2024, Kim has Longbrook Private Hire burned down as revenge for Rose Jackson meddling in her marriage. However, Caleb is unaware of this scheme and Ruby later reveals that she was the one who paid Rose to seduce Kim's husband. Caleb takes Ruby out to an old warehouse after her confession and explains that his new plan to take down Kim is to start his own empire right next to hers using the insurance money from Longbrook burning down.
In September 2024, Caleb is contacted by his estranged mother-in-law, Helen Fox and summoned to her hospital room. She tells him she is dying and wants to reconnect with her daughter before she dies. Caleb is initially sceptical of her, bringing up her past treatment of Ruby and himself. However, Caleb soon agrees to bring Ruby to visit her in exchange for £100,000 to fund his new project. Unfortunately, Helen dies on the same day the money comes through and Caleb doesn't tell Ruby about his visit to her mother or the money. Ruby finds out anyway after Helen's nurse calls her and mentions Caleb. She confronts Caleb and he insists he did it to protect her and Helen hadn't changed, lying that Helen had insulted her during their conversation.
In November 2024, Caleb begins sabotaging Home James Haulage in order to force Jimmy King to sell his share in the business. He buys Will Taylor's share and employs him to get Jimmy to sell as well. However, Will tells Jimmy about Caleb's plans for a new shipping depot and Jimmy refuses to sell, as it means Jimmy will get a share of future profits from Caleb's new venture. Caleb also tricks Jai Sharma into transferring all his money to an offshore account which he uses to fund the depot.
On 15th November, Caleb opens the new depot and reveals to Jai that he has no money and no claim on the business. Jai angrily confronts Caleb and pins him against a stack of crates with a forklift, threatening to kill him unless he gives the money back. Caleb is saved when his estranged daughter, Steph Miligan interrupts and films the attack. She says she will show the video to the police if Jai doesn't release her father. Jai reluctantly listens but promises Caleb it isn't over. Caleb is ecstatic to see his daughter but she tells him she is only there to collect her inheritance from her grandmother. 
Over the next few days, Caleb convinces Steph to stay and even makes her a partner in Caleb Miligan International. She soon moves in with Caleb and Ruby at Mill Cottage. They are both happy about this, though it does mean having to put up with Ruby's estranged father, Anthony who Steph is close to. 
==Residences==
Address 	Duration
Hotten 	Until 3rd May 2023
The Woolpack 	3rd May 2023 to 6th June 2023
The Grange 	6th June 2023 to 15th June 2023
Apartment One, Mill Cottage	15th June 2023 to present
==Background information==
*Riccardo Drayton appeared as fifteen-year-old Caleb in a flashback episode broadcast on 26th December 2022.
==Quotes==
"Well, you can't ignore the summons from the mighty Cain Dingle." - First line to Cain when he goes to visit him in prison.
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"Well, I won't pretend I'm not a little bit impressed." - to Will Taylor, after Cain tells him Will tried to crush Harriet Finch with a coffin when he first arrived in the village.
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"I am Frank Tate's son!" - to Kim Tate, after his plan to take over Home Farm is unraveled.
==See also== 
*Full list of appearances
Category:Emmerdale characters
Category:Current characters
Category:2022 debuts
Category:Characters played by different actors
Category:1976 births
Category:Tate family
Category:Residents of The Woolpack
Category:Residents of Apartment One, Mill Cottage
Category:Miligan family
Category:Fox family
Category:1996 marriages
Category:Caleb Miligan International employees