Inside Emmerdale's Michael Parr's life off-screen as Ross Barton returns to ITV soap

Soap star Michael Parr is gearing up for an explosive return to as Ross Barton, with his character set to stir things up in the series.

Last month's announcements thrilled fans with the news that the much-loved character will be back in the fold after nearly six years away from the soap's rural setting.

Debuting on our screens in 2013, Michael's portrayal of Ross was particularly notable for his stormy liaisons with Donna Windsor, played by Verity Rushworth, and Charley Webb's Debbie Dingle. Viewers are sure not to forget how a fleeting tryst with Debbie's mother, Charity Dingle, portrayed by Emma Atkins, led to the revelation that Ross fathered their son, Moses.

READ MORE:

READ MORE:

Regarding his much-anticipated return, Michael expressed: "I'm over the moon to be returning to Emmerdale. Ross is a character I'm extremely fond of and I'm excited to explore what he's been up to over the past five years."

He teased further saying, "After seeing the scripts, I can't wait for the audience to see what's in store. One thing I can say is Ross's return will no doubt create fireworks.", reports .

Beyond the dramatic of Emmerdale, Michael has found love with Isabelle Du Plessis, unveiling their relationship to the world this July via with a charming picture of the couple cuddling in Santorini.

This romantic update follows Michael's split with , known for her role as Victoria Sugden, with whom he reportedly shared a secretive real-life relationship before they parted ways after three years.

Michael took a break from Emmerdale to enjoy not only romantic escapes but to focus on his fitness regime, sharing his transformation for all to admire. Back in 2022, he shared a revealing post on Instagram captioned: "36 today. And what a year it was."

showcasing before and after snaps.

"From hurting back back in November the day before I was supposed to move house and 2 days before I was set to fly to Morocco for a job."

"You can see in the 2nd pic that I was in pretty bad shape. My hips were all off line. Ciatic nerve was trapped and I damaged my C2andC3. I thought it was gonna hurt forever."

"I quit the gym and now have just been working out with dumbells at home and I feel better and stronger than ever. Good diet. Fasting. Cold showers and just everything in moderation."

As anticipation mounts, fans are eager to discover the storyline that will reintroduce Ross to the village, and the imminent drama that will ensue with Charity upon the return of Moses' father.

Emmerdale airs weeknights on ITV1 at 7.30pm and available to stream from 7am on ITVX