Fans of Emmerdale fear a soap legend could be set for a devastating suicide twist, 31 years after his debut.
Joe (Ned Porteous) was left devastated last month after his fiancée Dawn Taylor (Olivia Bromley) tragically died from a massive haemorrhage leading to cardiac arrest after giving birth to their baby boy.
Joe's devastating loss
Her death came after Joe and Dawn were involved in a horror car crash on their wedding day that saw Jimmy King (Nick Miles) also die after he crashed into their wedding marquee.
Later on, while in hospital, Dawn gave birth to a baby boy prematurely and things were looking up for Dawn and Joe. Tragically though, Dawn ended up dying in heartbreaking scenes.
Joe spirals after Dawn's death
Since Dawn's death, Joe has been struggling and spiralling, insisting that he doesn't want to see his child - who is still in hospital due to being born prematurely.
Although Kim Tate (Claire King) and Graham Foster (Andrew Scarborough) are hoping Joe will change his mind, Joe is dead set on the idea that he wants nothing to do with his son, blaming the newborn for Dawn's death.
Revenge plot against Ruby
What's more, out of revenge Joe even targeted Ruby Miligan (Beth Cordingly), blaming her and husband Caleb (William Ash) for Dawn's death. He ended up drugging Ruby and burying her in a coffin in the ground.
Joe then took delight in telling his arch-nemesis Caleb - whom he also drugged - about what he had done to his wife. Fortunately, Ruby was eventually saved by Caleb and Graham.
Fans predict a suicide twist
But now, with more drama likely to come, fans can't help but think a heartbreaking suicide twist is in store for a grieving Joe. On an Emmerdale Facebook fan page, one person said: “I hope they don’t go down the path of Joe taking his own life.”
Someone else added: “I think that, like Aidan in Coronation Street,” referring to when Aidan Connor (Shayne Ward) took his own life on the ITV soap in 2018.
Echoing their thoughts, a third penned: “Yes I can see that happening.” Another heartbroken fan then declared: “Oh I really hope not!”
Samaritans are here — day or night, 365 days a year. You can call them for free on 116 123, email them at jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans Official Website to find your nearest branch.
Emmerdale airs Monday to Friday at 8:00pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
