If you’re eager for the lowdown on all-things Joe before his return to screens then I’m your guy, so let’s take a little trip down memory lane. Who is Joe Tate in Emmerdale

Emmerdale's Joe Tate made a shocking comeback to the ITV soap this week, as actor Ned Porteous, who plays him, returned after six years - but what happened with Kim Tate?

Emmerdale star Claire King has called for Kim Tate's dark side to return on the soap. The character is well known for her villainous ways on the ITV show – though that has been less on display in recent scenes.

Her return came in the middle of Joe’s reign at Home Farm, with the matriarch ordering right hand man Graham Foster (Andrew Scarborough) to dispatch of the dashing son of Chris Tate so that she could reclaim the Tate legacy.

All has now finally been revealed, with Emmerdale 's Christmas Eve episode confirming that Joe Tate is the man in question. This is sure to be a surprise for Will, who currently believes that Peter's co-conspirator is Kim's son Jamie.

Emmerdale aired a major twist on Christmas Eve, as Joe Tate, played by actor Ned Porteous, has made a big return to the ITV soap six years after his exit to target Kim Tate

Emmerdale has seemingly ruled out Jamie Tate (Alexander Lincoln) as a potential suspect in the ongoing plot to take down village titan Kim ( Claire King ). Kim, as fans know, is being targeted by a mystery man who is hellbent on revenge, wanting to destroy the Home Farm legend and everything she owns.