Emmerdale fans are convinced Joe Tate's ordeal is not over yet, after he collapsed following the explosion that ripped through his wedding marquee and left Dawn Fletcher dead.
Joe was unaware that Dawn had planned to jilt him on their wedding day and run off with her ex-husband, Billy Fletcher, and their children, after she was led to believe Joe was responsible for Billy's near-fatal attack. Viewers knew the truth, however, and that Kev Barton had actually attacked Billy, eventually confessing everything. Caleb Milligan, seeking revenge on Joe for stealing his kidney last year, encouraged Billy to lie about Joe's involvement and helped him escape with Dawn.
Deadly Wedding Disaster
Dawn remained unaware of Joe's innocence, and despite Graham Foster intercepting her getaway, she trapped Joe's father-figure and fled. As Caleb taunted Joe in The Woolpack, revealing Dawn and Billy were long gone, Joe didn't know Dawn had second thoughts and Billy had come clean about Joe not being behind the attack.
Realising her mistake, Dawn raced back to the village, put on her wedding dress, and rushed to the marquee to confess her love for Joe. As she asked him to marry her, Jimmy King crashed into the venue, sending debris flying. Jimmy died at the scene, and his wife Nicola said a gut-wrenching goodbye after finding the devastation while heading to a picnic with her husband.
Dawn's Tragic Death
Dawn escaped the wreckage with a pregnant Dawn, but Joe was left trapped. As Graham desperately rushed to save him, an explosion ripped through the marquee, seemingly leaving Joe for dead. Joe survived, but Dawn went into premature labour and gave birth to a baby boy. The couple looked ahead to a new chapter, with Joe seemingly forgiving Dawn, but tragedy struck again as Dawn became the latest victim of the wedding disaster.
Despite hospital staff's desperate efforts, Joe was told Dawn had suffered a significant haemorrhage, causing her heart to stop, leaving the devastated new dad bereft.
Fans Speculate on Joe's Collapse
During Sunday's (August 30) episode, Joe wasn't present when Dawn died, as he had left the room to get water, only to collapse. He wasn't found until after he regained consciousness and managed to get himself onto a seat, when a nurse passed by.
Fans are now wondering whether there's more to Joe's collapse. @DrSwarla2025 said: "Is there going to be more to Joe collapsing like a brain Injury with lasting effects or was it just so he wasn't with Dawn when she passed. #emmerdale." @soniarclose replied: "Surely there’s more to his injuries. I’d like to see him in a wheelchair….. for a while at least..."
@emmerdalewhofan commented: "Us all wondering if Joe has an underlying head injury when we a thought that of Aaron after last September because he forgot about Grace. Probably just a plot device. #emmerdale #robron." @TellyChat1 noted: "I think Joe may need a head scan #Emmerdale." @jennywrenns asked: "How is Joe ok after being crushed then in an explosion?!! Not even any hearing loss or smoke inhalation?!"
Others think Joe will return to his selfish ways. @tgrl70 wrote: "Joe is going to become even worse than he is now. I hope Joe and Billy go after Caleb and Ruby and they lose everything that they have this is all their fault." @herag0als shared: "Joe did change in the end and now what he changed for has gone. I do hope he doesn’t go back into his old ways and going forward does strive to be a better person and perhaps find love again in the future." @RedGlitterBomb added: "Joe will go back to his old conniving ways now he's lost Dawn #Emmerdale."
