Nicholas Day - Emmerdale's best ever villainous actor at the centre of the Anthony Fox murder mystery
Anthony Fox could be the worst villain Emmerdale has ever producedEmmerdale has had some villains in its time and Anthony Fox, played by actor Nicholas Day is right up there with the best/worst of them. In fact, he may have created the most vile, disgusting and difficult-to-watch character ever, which is no mean feat given the other baddies the show has produced.
We really thought Tom King was the lowest of the low, but in fact we were wrong. Anthony beats him 10 times over – and that’s all credit to Nicholas Day for such a chilling performance.
Nicholas Day as Anthony Fox in Emmerdale
Although actor Nicholas Day has had a long and varied career both on stage and screen, he was relatively unknown to the Emmerdale audience when he arrived in the Dales. A part in the Crown and roles in Murder Maps, The Wolfman and The Lakes were perhaps his best-known roles.
But now he will forever be etched in our brains as horrid Anthony Fox.
Anthony came to Emmerdale to reunite with estranged daughter Ruby Fox-Miligan last year. He arrived alongside granddaughter, Steph Miligan
Ruby and Caleb were desperate to reunite with Steph, but she made it very clear Anthony came as part of the package. Given she hadn’t spoken to her dad for 30 years, Ruby found this difficult to swallow.
The official story is that Anthony and Ruby’s mum, Helen, threw Ruby out when she fell pregnant at 16. They gave her a choice between keeping her baby or staying at home and she chose Caleb and the baby.
Since his return, Anthony has spent months pretending to Ruby he’s sorry and gaslighting her into thinking she was the problem.
As everyone around her urged her to give her dad another chance, especially as he has terminal prostate cancer, Ruby stood firm. It came to the point where even husband Caleb urged her to let it go.
But while no one in the village could see the hell Ruby was going through, viewers certainly could – and they were proved right when flashbacks revealed Anthony had sexually abused Ruby and it started when she was just 14.
A rape on her 16th birthday had – horrifyingly – resulted in the birth of Steph. Anthony is Steph’s real father.
So what makes Nicholas Day such a good villain?
The entire time Anthony has been in the village, he has charmed the pants off everyone around him. Even Caleb, who knows him of old, was won over by his father-in-law.
Anthony has painted this perfect persona of kind and generous. He donated £5000 to the April search fund and has even been helping half the village kids with their homework.
But behind closed doors, he has been blackmailing Ruby over her fling with Cain. He has made vile comments and veiled threats towards her. His mere presence has been making her feel physically sick, let alone when he tries to touch her.
Villains don’t have to be murderous or out there, the ones that have us believe they are something else are far more terrifying. Take Meena Jutla for example: she was always a bit out there, crazy and unpredictable. Whereas Anthony comes across as just a kindly old man – something he is not.
Fans love to hate Nicholas Day as Anthony in Emmerdale
The mark of a good villain is what the viewers think. Soap fans are a hard bunch to please and the overwhelming consensus is Nicholas Day is a brilliant actor.
“The actor playing Anthony is such a credit to his art, aren’t we all totally repulsed by him? Superb,” said one on social media.
Another added: “Gutted Nicholas Day will be leaving despite what the storyline is about; Anthony the abusive father of Ruby will be happy when he’s gone, but well done Nicholas an incredible part.”
“He has played Anthony brilliantly, hats off to him great acting to play a part like that, can’t be easy,” said a third. A fourth then agreed: “I feel so sorry for Nicholas Day – he’s playing the part so well that he’s probably getting women walloping him with bags of potato waffles in Iceland.”
A further commenter has said: “In storylines like this the person playing the hated character gets overlooked. Nicholas Day is a fantastic actor. The character he portrays makes my skin crawl, which is a sure indication an actor is doing a good job!”
“The actor playing her dad is brilliant too. He makes my skin crawl,” added one more.
Strictly star Alex Kingston supported as she issues heartfelt update amid cancer journey
The Doctor Who legend, 62, revealed earlier this year that back in 2024, she had been diagnosed with womb cancer.
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Strictly star Alex Kingston on womb cancer diagnosis
During Saturday's show, Alex, along with her husband, Jonathan, appeared in a VT before her dance in Blackpool.
In the VT, Alex opened up about her cancer diagnosis last year.
"It has made me fearless," she said.
"It's made me want to encourage people to just go for it. I do hope to help others by speaking out about what I have gone through. I hadn't made it public, and I just thought, 'I'm going to because I haven't been voted off yet!'" she then continued.
Alex went on to say that she's showing people she's "taking this journey forward", and emphasised that if people have gone through something, be it a bereavement or a health issue, that it's "a reminder to just live, and live to your fullest".
Alex thanks fans
Taking to Instagram earlier today (Thursday, November 27), Alex uploaded some pictures from Saturday's show, and took the opportunity to thank fans for their support.
"I want to thank all the people that reached out to me about my cancer journey after last Saturday’s live show of Strictly. It meant the world to me, and as I stated ‘I encourage you all to live life to its fullest.’ and ‘keep dancing through!’" she said.
"I would also like to take the opportunity to thank the amazing people of Blackpool. What an honor it was to get to dance in the tower ballroom with such a wonderful group of people. It’s an experience that will stay with me forever!" she then added.
Strictly fans send Alex Kingston their support
Fans of the show flooded the comment section with their love and support.
"You are amazing," one of Alex's followers wrote.
"I have been a fan of you since ER, and I think you’re AMAZING! Rooting for you to get through to the finals and that you raise the glitter ball! Thanks for sharing your story," another said.
"Living for you," a third commented.
"Your dance was so joyful! Thank you for sharing your story. You lose so much of yourself after cancer treatment, even 5 years on I am trying to define myself as someone other than a person who had cancer. It was beautiful and powerful to see you reclaim yourself Alex. A real 'this is me' moment," another added.
Read more: Strictly star La Voix lands huge role following sudden Strictly departure
Strictly continues on Saturday, November 29 at 6.35pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Op-cL4n6KoY
Read more: Who’s leaving Emmerdale? All the cast exits, arrivals and returns
Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm, with an early release on ITVX at 7am.
Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm.
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