Joe Tate’s Blackmailer Exposed – Iconic Character Makes Shocking Return!

Emmerdale fans believe they’ve uncovered Joe Tate’s blackmailer, as a soap legend is set to make their anticipated “return”.

Joe (Ned Porteous) made a dramatic return to the Dales in December, as part of his plan to bring his step-grandmother, Kim (Claire King), down after she attempted to kill him six years ago.

Despite burying the hatchet with Kim, Joe has continued to cause turmoil at Home Farm.

He notably began an affair with Dawn Fletcher (Olivia Bromley) earlier this year, leading her to call it quits with her devastated husband, Billy (Jay Kontzle).

Billy later discovered the affair through his daughter, Clemmie Reed (Mabel Addison), who Joe blackmailed after she caught him kissing her mum, reports Belfast Live.

Last week saw Joe seething after his expensive car was vandalised.

He was quick to blame Billy, who has openly shared his hatred of Joe following his affair with Dawn.

After spotting signs of a break-in in his room, Joe confronted Billy at the depot, where he was chatting with workmate Kerry Wyatt (Laura Norton).

“Are you gonna stop playing games? Cause it’s not funny… I’m warning you now in front of a witness, next time I won’t be so understanding,” Joe warned.

A frustrated Billy replied: “Next time you come here and start threatening us, you’ll find yourself back in that wheelchair, only this time for good.”

“Maybe he’s due another accident,” Kerry added, with Billy concluding: “Yeah exactly. So, walk away, while you still can.”

The next day, Joe asked his accomplice Shaun (James Boyland) to put Billy in his place once and for all.

“I just want Billy put in his place for good… I just want you to teach him a lesson. Whatever it takes, within reason. I want him to be scared, scared enough to know that he can’t do whatever he wants all the time,” Joe explained.

While Shaun kept tabs on Billy at the depot, Joe was rattled by an anonymous message left in his room, warning: “Don’t you think you can ever sleep easy. I’m watching you.”

The tension ramps up in future episodes as Joe is rocked by a blackmail demand for £100,000 to be dropped off in Home Farm’s kitchen.

After dismissing Shaun, Joe ends up knocked out cold by the disgruntled ex-employee, before later waking in a makeshift hospital bed with his kidney surgeon, Dr Crowley (James Hillier), hovering above him.

Now, several Emmerdale fans believe that a former soap star orchestrated the blackmail, with many suggesting that Jamie Tate (Alexander Lincoln) could make an anticipated return.

Kim’s son was last seen in the Dales in 2021 when he faked his own death in order to leave. Kim later found out that Jamie was alive, but he hasn’t reappeared in the village yet.

“Anyone think maybe it’s Jamie blackmailing Joe. He’s mentioned a few times he’s in contact with him,” one person wrote on a Facebook fan page.

Another added: “Ooh yes perfect return storyline for Jamie,” while a third said: “I’d love to see Jamie and Joe go head to head.”

Meanwhile, a fourth viewer suggested: “Think it could be the guy who Joe hired to get rid of Billy, but he’s really working for Kim.”

Emmerdale airs weeknights on ITV1 at 7.30pm and is available to stream from 7am on ITVX