Emmerdale actress Olivia Bromley has revealed her preferred baby name for her on-screen son, suggesting William as a tribute to Dawn Fletcher's late father and her former husband Billy. The suggestion comes after Dawn's tragic death in the soap, following a car crash involving Jimmy King.
Dawn's tragic end and the unanswered question
Fans of the ITV soap will recall that Dawn met a tragic end shortly after Jimmy King's vehicle crashed into her and Joe Tate's wedding marquee. Jimmy died at the scene, while Dawn initially seemed to have escaped without injury. During her hospital stay, she went into premature labour and gave birth to a baby boy.
Dawn and Joe joyfully discussed potential names and made plans for their future together, yet their elation was cruelly short-lived. Joe subsequently returned to Dawn's hospital room to discover her unresponsive. Despite desperate attempts by medical staff to revive her, Dawn tragically died after suffering catastrophic blood loss.
Olivia Bromley's controversial choice
Speaking exclusively on the red carpet at the National Television Awards on Tuesday (September 8), Olivia light-heartedly suggested that she'd like Joe's grief to continue long after Dawn's departure. "I want him to grieve forever, I don't want him to be with anybody else. And I want him to be crying at Dawn's grave," she quipped.
On the subject of what Dawn and Joe's baby should be called, Olivia disclosed that she'd opt for the name William, in memory of Dawn's father (played by Dean Andrews), who passed away over Christmas 2024. She also recognised that it could prove somewhat "controversial" given the strained relationship between Joe and Dawn's former husband, Billy Fletcher (Jay Kontzle).
Olivia told us: "I think that there's several options. Weirdly, I think the idea of William because it's her father, but also because it's Billy. And I know that's controversial in various ways, but there's something that's full circle about that, and a bit of peace offering with the Tates."
"I don't know, but it's really cute and sad. There's something really beautiful about Dawn holding that baby in her arms before she died. She had that moment, you know, and that happiness. God, it's a sad story!"
Fan speculation and possible names
Speculation surrounding the potential baby name has been rife, with certain viewers suggesting the child could be named as a tribute to Jimmy King. Meanwhile, others remain convinced the soap will honour Dawn herself. Some supporters believe that Joe might commemorate Dawn by choosing the name Taylor, her maiden surname.
"I wonder what Joe will name his son?" one viewer previously questioned on X. Another responded: "I think Taylor Tate." A third commented: "I thought DJ (Dawn Junior) or William Taylor. That is IF he decided to keep him or Kim and Graham decide to take responsibility for the tiny tot."
William, Billy, Taylor, Jimmy, DJ - there are plenty of options for Joe to pick from. But which one will he settle on? Only time will tell. Emmerdale airs weekday nights at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
