Does Ruby die in Emmerdale? Joe has her buried alive as he vows 'brutal' revenge

Caleb is utterly helpless to save his wife tomorrow night
Carena Crawford
By Carena Crawford

Emmerdale fans were left struggling to breathe on Monday (September 21) after seeing Ruby Miligan buried alive following Joe Tate’s revenge attack – but does she die?

Ruby and Caleb are on Joe’s hit list as he holds them responsible for Dawn’s death. This attempt at revenge is very dark indeed. Will he really go through with it?

Although he agrees the kids can come to the funeral, Joe has revenge in mind (Credit: ITV)
Joe told Graham he wanted help with his revenge (Credit: ITV)

Joe tasked Graham with burying Ruby in Emmerdale

Last week Joe told Graham he wanted to make everyone involved in the accident that led to Dawn’s death “suffer like I have suffered”. He vowed “retribution” and asked Graham to help him.

Tonight, Graham turned up late to Dawn’s funeral and Kim was furious. But he assured her he always had Joe’s best interests at heart.

Joe struggled to make it through the service, held by the stables at Home Farm. Kim ended up doing the euology on his behalf and vowed to keep the family together. She made it very clear she included Baby Tate in that, who Joe is currently refusing to care for and is putting up for adoption.

Joe simply walked away, unable to take the pain any more.

But then we saw him at a filled-in grave, it looked like it was Dawn’s as he spoke to her and promised to avenge her death. But then the camera panned deep below the ground and we saw Ruby was the one trapped in there. Unconscious, but presumably alive.

Ruby is buried alive and has no escape (Credit: ITV)
Ruby is buried alive and has no escape (Credit: ITV)

What happens next?

Quite why Graham went along with such an extreme plan is a mystery, but tomorrow night (Tuesday September 22), Joe has Caleb knocked out too.

Groggy Caleb comes to and is warned by Joe what’s to come. He relishing holding the power over his nemesis.

Ruby wakes up in the coffin, terrified, but unable to get out. She starts to lose strength and it seems she has run out of air…

When Joe tells Caleb exactly what he’s done to Ruby, Caleb is thrown into a panic. He begs Joe to let his wife go, but Joe is too far gone and has no feelings about what he’s doing whatsoever.

It’s not looking good for Ruby…

Caleb is desperate (Credit: ITV)
Caleb is desperate to save his wife (Credit: ITV)

Does Ruby die in Emmerdale?

There has been no official confirmation whether or not Ruby will die in Emmerdale.

Beth Cordingly, who plays Ruby, has made no mention of leaving and Emmerdale hasn’t put out an official release about an exit. There have also been no rumours about a Ruby departure. This is usually a good sign!

Also, Beth posted to her social media a snippet of her in her dressing room at Emmerdale four weeks ago. As the soap usually films six weeks in advance, hopefully this means she’s still there!

But if she does get out, how will she manage it? Will Joe have a change of heart? Will Graham realise this is a ridiculous idea and they could both go down for murder? Or will Caleb manage to find a way to free her himself?

Read more: Who’s leaving Emmerdale? All the cast exits, arrivals and returns