Emmerdale fans believe they've cracked the code behind Joe Tate's unexpected return to the Dales.
Joe, portrayed by Ned Porteous, made a dramatic return to Emmerdale over the festive period, arriving just in time for the tragic demise of Will Taylor (Dean Andrews), Kim Tate's (Claire King) spouse. With his sudden appearance shrouded in mystery, questions have surfaced about Joe's hidden agenda and underlying issues.
Devoted Emmerdale viewers took to social media en masse to speculate on his 'true' intentions, suggesting that either financial woes or a grave illness could be at play. One tweeted: "If they've just brought Joe back to kill him off, I'm not going to be happy.. #Emmerdale," while another surmised: "Joe's going to have some terminal illness, isn't he? #Emmerdale."
Another viewer guessed: "I reckon Joe is only back because he ran out of money because he's a drugs addict #Emmerdale," with another simply asking: "What's up with Joe... #Emmerdale."
Ned Porteous revealed his thoughts about returning as Joe: "I'm so excited to be returning to Emmerdale. There's a lot of unfinished business for Joe, and it feels like the right time for him to make a comeback.
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"Joe has always been a character with a dark side, but there could be something much bigger at play here. Joe is back for a reason, and the devastation at Home Farm is just the beginning of a much bigger story."
He added: "It's safe to say the audience can expect fireworks this holiday season!"
Producer Laura Shaw couldn't contain her excitement, adding: "We are thrilled to welcome Ned back to Village. From the moment Joe arrives on screen, it's clear there's trouble ahead but Joe's hiding an even darker secret that could see 2025 start off with a huge bang."
In tonight's gripping episode, the disappearance of April (Amelia Flanagan) has Marlon (Mark Charnock) frantically seeking his daughter. Despite Marlon's valiant efforts, including a visit to Jade in hopes she harboured April, her whereabouts remain a mystery.
Jade, however, faces her own drama as she ends up in handcuffs, with Marlon inadvertently accelerating the police inquiry during his raid at an illicit boxing venue.
The plot thickens at the close with Billy (Jay Kontzle) voicing his suspicions about Joe's involvement in Will's demise to Dawn (Olivia Bromley), after recounting Joe's history in the village. The question lingers ominously is Joe responsible for Will's death?
*Emmerdale airs weekdays at 7.30pm on ITV1 and ITVX, with an hour long episode on Thursdays.
