Emmerdale's Ross Barton star makes huge change for ahead of first child

Mike Parr is gearing up for the biggest role of his life - fatherhood - but he admits settling down hasn't always been on the cards.

“I’m really excited,” he says, “It’s been very refreshing but there’s been lots of baby talk around me. I didn’t realise it would happen as quickly as it did.”

The Emmerdale star, best known for playing Ross Barton in the ITV soap, is expecting his first child with long-term partnerIsabelle Du Plessis.

Though the couple have been together for years, they only went public in early 2024, when they were finally spotted out and about together.

Now, they’ve proudly entered their “Mum and Dad era,” announcing the news on social media - a moment that shook Mike to his core in the best possible way.

“Once Izzy told me, my whole outlook on life changed,” he says. “It’s made me realise what’s actually important to me. I feel ready for it. We're so grateful. People often struggle in these situations but it’s come quite naturally for us.”

Mike Parr says his life has been turned upside down since his early days in Emmerdale - especially because he has a baby on the way. “I was 26 when I first got the job and before it used to be about the nightclubs and going out for pints after work,” he remembers. “Now I’m entering dad mode. I like my tea and early nights.”

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His Emmerdale family were just as thrilled for him. “They’ve not given me advice but it’s been lovely to watch people navigate it,” he says. “I’m grateful I’m not going through it alone for the first time, I have lots of people I can reach out to.”

Over on ITV, however, things are anything but peaceful. Charity Dingle is pregnant - and the baby might be Ross Barton’s. The shock twist stunned Emmerdale fans, but for Mike, who plays the brooding troublemaker, the storyline hits close to home: “How ironic that there’s this storyline going on and I have one on the way,” he says.

Ross isn’t quite celebrating Charity’s pregnancy. “He’s a bit like a dog with a bone,” Mike says. “He knows that Charity is a bit of a lying scoundrel, as is he. He just wants confirmation. Is this his child or not?”

Charity, already acting as a surrogate for her granddaughter Sarah, was delighted by the pregnancy - until she remembered a drunken romp with Ross, during another rough patch with hubby Mackenzie.

Though she and Ross already co-parent their son Moses, Mike isn’t convinced Ross is ready for a second round. “They have a deep history with Moses but does he wanna have a child?,” Mike questions. “Is he loving being around Moses or is he going to be against the idea?”

Mike admits there’s a risk Ross could opt to stay out of it. “I’d like to think that Ross would step up and do the right thing but Ross is a lone wolf, he doesn’t want to be held back in any way,” Mike says. “It’s going to lead to so much drama.”

The ripple effect won’t end with Charity. Ross’ already-strained relationships in the village may be further tested - starting with Mackenzie Boyd and Moira Dingle, played by Lawrence Robb and Natalie J Robb.

“I can’t see Ross and Mack being best friends after that,” Mike says. “It’s probably going to cause more trouble with Moira as well. They’re not technically blood related, it’s all built around friendship and trust. With that gone, they might not have any real ties, just people with the same second name.”

There’s also Sarah to consider. Ross’ bond with her could take a hit, but off-screen, Mike and actress Katie Hill have a strong connection. “She was a teenager when I met her and now she’s a lovely young woman,” he says. “Getting to act together has been great.”

Still, the timing couldn’t be worse for Ross’ love life. Things with Steph are already on shaky ground following his trysts with Manpreet Sharma. “It’s Steph that he wants,” Mike says. “But it’s not going to pan out so well when she finds out.”

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