Emmerdale fans ‘figure out’ Simo’s true identity as recast rumours swirl

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Emmerdale viewers believe Ray and Celia’s servant, Simo, is secretly linked to the village in a way that hasn’t been revealed yet

Emmerdale fans are convinced that a member of the Dingle clan is being held as a slave by Ray Walters and his sinister mother, Celia Daniels.

As viewers of the ITV soap know, Bear Wolf (Joshua Richards) has spent months being forced into unpaid labour on Ray and Celia’s farm. The former wrestler appears to have been manipulated and brainwashed by Ray, especially after the heartbreaking death of fellow captive Anya.

In Wednesday’s episode (November 26), fellow prisoners Mick (Leon Harrop) and Simo (Steven Gidwaney) pressed Bear about whether he intends to finally break free from Ray and Celia’s control.

Trying to motivate him, Mick told Bear: “The spare key to this place is in the scullery. I saw them when I was in there. You can get them for us.”

Bear doesn’t give a clear answer about joining their escape, but he does admit how badly he wants to see his son again.
In a surprising turn, Bear later swipes a set of keys from the farm kitchen and secretly passes them to Simo.

He then tells the captives that Ray and Celia will be off the farm the following day, giving them a window to make their getaway. But will the men finally break free from Ray and Celia’s brutal forced labour?

Little is known about the other slaves trapped alongside Bear, but some Emmerdale fans are convinced that Simo is actually an undercover police officer. Others believe he already has biological ties to the village, theorising he could even be Eli Dingle.

Joseph Gilgun originally portrayed Eli Dingle, joining the show in 2006. As Marlon Dingle’s (Mark Charnock) younger brother, Eli quickly became a fan favourite.

He was central to several major storylines, including his affair with cousin Debbie (Charley Webb) and his role in Alice’s (Ursula Holden-Gill) assisted death. However, Eli left the village in 2010 after becoming involved in a burglary.

Now, viewers are wondering whether Steven Gidwaney has been quietly recast as Eli. Emmerdale fans have been speculating about Simo’s true identity, with one viewer writing on Facebook: “I think he’s a Dingle.”

A second fan commented: “He looks like Eli Dingle,” while a third added: “Thank you, I said this today after getting a proper look at him.”

Another viewer remarked: “Ahh, could be — he does look familiar,” and someone else chimed in: “I said that last night. It makes sense with the rumours that he’s coming back to take Ray down.”

One fan insisted Simo is actually an undercover cop, but another countered: “I don’t think so — he’s more likely to be another Dingle!”