Joe Tate and Kim Tate split shot (Credit: ITV/Comp Emmerdale Insider)
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Joe Tate returns to Emmerdale, fans could not be more excited – and neither could we

Emmerdale has answered all of our prayers

Carena Crawford

ByCarena Crawford

24th December 2024, 07:49

Emmerdale has revealed who has been tormenting Kim – and they’ve answered all of our prayers because Joe Tate is back!

Ned Porteous is reprising his role as Chris Tate’s son, but what he really wants and why he’s back remains to be seen.

Joe Tate is back! (Credit: ITV)
Joe Tate is back! (Credit: ITV)

Emmerdale reveals Joe Tate has returned

In a post on X, Emmerdale announced the news of Joe’s return, saying he is the one who has been pulling the strings behind Peter and Will’s plot to bring down Kim.

Joe’s arrival comes just before a flashforward scene on Christmas Day which shows devastation at Home Farm. With Kim looking forward to Christmas and renewing her vows with Will, it looks like it will end in disaster.

Fans have long been asking for his comeback (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Fans have long been asking for his comeback (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)

So why is Joe Tate back in Emmerdale?

Not much else has been revealed – we don’t know what he’s plotting, nor what his ultimate goal is. But it is highly likely Joe is playing a much darker game that has consequences beyond those at Home Farm.

There will be huge confrontations, heartbreak and lots of twists as Home Farm is changed forever!

Of his return, Ned Porteous told the ITV website: “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.

“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. It’s safe to say the audience can expect fireworks this holiday season!”

Producer, Laura Shaw, also said: “We are thrilled to welcome Ned back to village as the complex and captivating Joe Tate. 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.”

Joe and Debbie were together (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Joe and Debbie were together (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)

Fans thrilled and excited by the return

We are very pleased about this news – and it’s fair to say fans are too. Commenting on the post as soon as it went live, they expressed their delight.

“THANK YOU EMMERDALE,” wrote on very excited viewer.

Another agreed: “Fantastic news so so happy you have brought Joe back and that it is still Ned playing him, thank you!”

“Awesome, I was so hoping this would happen!” added one more.

Who was Joe Tate in Emmerdale?

The son of Chris Tate and Rachel Hughes, Joe Tate in Emmerdale was orphaned at a young age. Guardianship was granted to his aunt, Zoe Tate.

Zoe, Joe and his cousin Jean then moved to New Zealand, where he lived for 12 years.

Joe Tate returns to Emmerdale in 2017

Joe returned to Emmerdale in 2017 with revenge in mind – he wanted to get back at Charity Dingle for driving his father to suicide. In fact, Chris had a terminal brain tumour, so took his own life and framed Charity for his murder. The truth came out many months after Charity had served time in prison.

On his return, Joe posed as Tom Waterhouse. He targeted Charity’s daughter Debbie Dingle and started a relationship with her. But then dumped her and evicted her from her house, leaving her and her kids homeless. However he later realised he had fallen for Debbie and the two began a relationship for real.

But on their wedding day, Joe didn’t turn up. He had been ‘taken care of’ by Graham Foster after Kim insisted he got rid of Joe.

Joe alive!

It was Cain Dingle who thought he had killed Joe after knocking him down with one punch. Graham moved the body for Cain and let him believe Joe was dead. But actually viewers had seen Joe’s hand twitch and knew he had been alive.

Although it was unclear whether Graham had killed him, Joe was later revealed to be alive and living abroad.

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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