Upon his return to Emmerdale, Joe Tate buried the hatchet with his long-term foe, Kim Tate. But actor Ned Porteous has recently warned fans that nothing is as it seems.
Chaos could erupt in Emmerdale as one soap star teased ‘bad blood’ between his character and another Dales legend
In a surprising move, Joe Tate made peace with Kim Tate in recent Emmerdale scenes, ending their long years of feud – but Ned Porteous says there’s unfinished business between them.
The actor, 30, recently reprised the role of Joe as his character returned to the eponymous ITV village for the first time in six years. But due to his chequered past with the Dingles – notably Charity – and Kim Tate (Claire King), Joe received a frosty welcome.
Joe’s history with step-grandmother Kim has been filled with betrayal, power plays, and deep-rooted animosity. In a surprising move, recent episodes saw them make peace. But Ned warns that no dealing with Joe is ever that simple.
“There’s clearly some bad blood, even if he says he’s forgiven her,” he says. “It’s wise to assume that there is somewhat of a grudge still being held there.”
Joe’s history with Kim Tate has been filled with betrayal, power plays, and deep-rooted animosity. In a surprising move, recent episodes saw them make peace.
But Ned warns that no dealing with Joe is ever that simple. “There’s clearly some bad blood, even if he says he’s forgiven her,” he says. “It’s wise to assume that there is somewhat of a grudge still being held there.”
For Joe, Kim is more than just an enemy – she’s a blueprint. “The overriding feeling is that of respect,” he says, “Joe sees Kim as the powerful businesswoman. It’s a ‘keep your friends close and your enemies even closer’ type of situation.”
Joe Tate recently buried the hatchet with Kim Tate – but actor Ned Porteous warns fans the pair have some unfinished business
If tensions with Kim weren’t enough, Joe has also entangled himself in a messy, illicit romance with her stepdaughter, Dawn Fletcher (Olivia Bromley).
But is it love or just another one of his power plays? “It’s always to know if Joe’s feelings are genuine,” Ned says. “He’s playing numerous games with other villagers. When he says he loves someone, he might be honest, but we’ll never know if he’s even capable of properly loving someone.”
Still, whether his feelings for Dawn are real or not, she might just be the reason he stays in the Dales. “If he’s ever healthy again, everything going on with Dawn, whether it’s legitimate or not, will be something to keep him around.”
For a man who has spent his life chasing power, family has always been Joe’s Achilles’ heel. He’s desperate to reconnect with his half-brother Noah Dingle (Jack Downham), one of the few people he might genuinely care about.
“Family is important to him,” Ned says, “I like to believe his feelings for Noah are genuine, but it’s tricky to prove that when he’s also capable of doing such mean things.”
Joe once drugged Noah in a bid to steal his kidney, before finding out the lad wasn’t a match
Joe’s kindness has reached a limit as he’s desperate to find a solution to his health woes. “He’s pretty ill,” Ned says, “He’s not in a good place at all.”
Joe is in dire need of a kidney as he continues to battle a mystery illness, keeping Dawn at arm’s length to her chagrin. After initially setting his sights on half-brother Noah, Joe finds another potential match in the form of his half-uncle, Caleb Miligan (Will Ash) and is determined to steal his kidney.
Though he’s thrown himself into a plan that could have dire consequences, Ned doesn’t believe Joe’s intentions are sinister. “Joe isn’t a psychopath,” Ned insists.
“He would care if something bad happened, but he would also put his own life before Caleb’s. He’s willing to accept the consequences of a worst-case scenario.
For Joe, there’s no waiting list, no patience, no time to play by the rules. “Sometimes, you have to wait to get what you want. There are lots of people on transplant lists,” Ned says.
“Joe assumes that his life is more important than others. He’s not going to wait the amount of time sometimes necessary to get a kidney.”
