After disappearing from the Dales following his emotional involvement in April Windsor’s runaway storyline earlier this year, Dylan—played by breakout actor Fred Kettle—is stepping back into the village. But this time, viewers believe he’s bringing more than just teenage angst with him. He may be carrying a massive family secret.

Fred Kettle’s performance as the troubled but endearing Dylan earned him fan-favorite status during his first stint, and his reappearance has already reignited speculation about who he really is.

In a recent Emmerdale Facebook interview with Mark Charnock (Marlon Dingle), Kettle shared his excitement about returning to the set. “I’m so glad to be back,” he said with a grin. “There’s definitely going to be some trouble.”

That comment alone was enough to set the Emmerdale fandom ablaze.

Within hours of his return being confirmed, Reddit threads and Facebook comment sections were flooded with speculation that Dylan is secretly a Dingle—a theory that’s now gaining serious traction. Fans are offering up names, timelines, and emotional connections that could tie Dylan to some of the most iconic members of the soap’s core family.

One user wrote:

“I think he’s Lydia’s son. The one she thought she lost. The timing adds up, and it would explain his connection to April and the village.”

This theory isn’t without merit. Lydia Dingle’s heartbreaking backstory includes the traumatic loss of a baby she believed had died in infancy. But could the writers be preparing to twist that tragedy into a redemption arc—with Dylan at the center?

Others are placing bets on a different Dingle altogether.

“He’s Eli’s son. You watch. The attitude, the edge—he’s definitely got that Dingle fire. It would explain his mystery past and why he keeps popping up in crisis moments.”

Eli Dingle, the wild and unpredictable cousin last seen over a decade ago, remains one of the family’s most infamous characters. If Dylan is his son, it would introduce a new generation of chaos and legacy into the clan—something Emmerdale fans would love to sink their teeth into.

Another theory making the rounds? Dylan is Marlon’s nephew.

“There’s a reason they had Dylan interacting so much with April and Marlon before. I think they’re setting up something big. Maybe a sibling Marlon didn’t know about had a child. Or maybe Dylan’s parents were connected to the Dingles and kept it hidden.”

It wouldn’t be the first time Emmerdale has introduced a long-lost relative to shake things up, and Dylan’s return is already being framed with an undercurrent of mystery.

So far, ITV and the Emmerdale team are staying tight-lipped. No official word has been given about Dylan’s lineage, but the writing is on the wall. His unexpected re-entry into the village, his prior closeness to April, and now his upcoming involvement in what Fred Kettle calls “trouble” suggest that this storyline could carry some emotional weight—and lasting consequences.

Whether Dylan turns out to be Lydia’s presumed-dead son, Eli’s rebellious offspring, or another secret Dingle entirely, his presence is already stirring tension.

With the Dingle family still recovering from recent fractures—Cain’s fallout with Sam and Lydia, Moira’s legal troubles, and Joe Tate circling like a vulture—Dylan’s return could tip the scales once more. If he is blood, will he bring the Dingles together—or drive a deeper wedge between them?

More importantly, how will Lydia react if she learns the son she mourned is still alive? Could this be the emotional comeback storyline she never saw coming?

One fan summed it up perfectly on social media:

“If Dylan is a Dingle, this could be one of the most emotional plots of the year. Give us the tears. Give us the drama. We’re ready.”

Emmerdale has made a habit of delivering slow-burn secrets with explosive payoffs, and all signs suggest this is the beginning of another.