Soap fans are warned to take everything Joe Tate declares with a pinch of salt as Ned Porteous hints at the villain’s seemingly settled feud with Kim Tate.
For years, Joe has been determined to bring the ruthless businesswoman down. In a twist that left Emmerdale fans gobsmacked, Joe Tate extended an olive branch to Kim Tate (Claire King), putting a pause on their acrimonious conflict.
But Ned, who made a dramatic return as Joe after six years away from the ITV soap, hints that this truce might be a façade. “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 a foe; she’s a figure of influence. “The overriding feeling is that of respect,” he admits. “Joe sees Kim as the powerful businesswoman. It’s a ‘keep your friends close and your enemies even closer’ type of situation.”
Joe’s got his hands full with Kim, but that’s not all – he’s also wrapped up in a steamy, forbidden affair with her stepdaughter, Dawn Fletcher, played by Olivia Bromley.
The question on everyone’s lips is whether Joe’s heart is truly in it or if this is just another move in his chess game of control. “It’s always to know if Joe’s feelings are genuine,” muses Ned.
“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.”
Yet, regardless of the authenticity of his emotions for Dawn, she could very well be the anchor that keeps him 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 Joe, a man who’s always been hungry for power, family turns out to be his weak spot. He yearns to mend fences with his half-brother Noah Dingle, portrayed by Jack Downham – one of the rare few he may actually hold dear.
“Family is important to him,” Ned reflects, “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.”
But Joe’s benevolence has its boundaries, as he’s frantically searching for a cure to his health problems. “He’s pretty ill,” Ned reveals, “He’s not in a good place at all.”
Joe is in a desperate scramble for a kidney as he grapples with an undisclosed illness, keeping Dawn at a distance much to her dismay. Initially eyeing half-brother Noah as a potential donor, Joe stumbles upon another possible match in his half-uncle, Caleb Miligan (Will Ash), and becomes hell-bent on securing his kidney.
Despite the high-stakes plan that could end disastrously, Ned doesn’t see Joe’s actions as malicious. “Joe isn’t a psychopath,” Ned asserts.
“He would be affected if something bad happened, but he would also prioritise his own life over Caleb’s. He’s prepared to face the fallout of a worst-case scenario.For Joe, there’s no time for waiting lists, patience or playing by the book.
“Sometimes, you have to wait to get what you want. There are lots of people on transplant lists,” Ned points out. “Joe operates under the assumption that his life holds more value than others. He’s not going to bide his time, which is often required to secure a kidney. “.