Emmerdale's Joe Tate (Ned Porteous) is sticking to his decision to give up Baby Tate for adoption. The baby, who has no name yet, faces Joe's burning resentment because Dawn Taylor (Olivia Bromley) died giving birth to him. Joe has told the family his feelings will never change, leading to his devastating decision.
Kim's heartbreak as Joe brings baby home to say goodbye
Kim Tate (Claire King) is desperate to keep the family together and prolong the Tate bloodline. The news triggers her own trauma from giving up a child years ago, now revealed to be Detective Thea Ramsden (Chelsea Edge), who is in town with a vendetta against Kim.
Kim arrives at the hospital and learns Joe has banned anyone from seeing the baby. She begs him to recognise his mistake, but Joe is unmoved. Graham Foster (Andrew Scarborough) also tries to stop Joe with a threat to leave if the baby goes.
It seems to work when Joe and Graham arrive at Home Farm with the baby, and Kim is thrilled. But Joe breaks her heart – the baby is here for Kim to say goodbye, as he plans a private adoption.
Claire King reveals Kim's devastation
Actress Claire King said Kim is 'heartbroken': 'Kim was believing that they [Joe and the baby] were actually bonding, but then when he brings the baby home, it's to tell her that it's to say goodbye. He's going to have him privately adopted. So she is absolutely heartbroken.'
Kim learns that with Joe's decision, Graham will also leave. Claire King said: 'This has left Kim bereaved to a certain extent, because the man she likes, has worked with and has been married to – even though there's little trust between them at the moment and they have to rebuild that – they are allies, and he is now leaving.'
Billy confronts Joe as Kim's past haunts her
Billy Fletcher (Jay Kontzle) learns what Joe has done and rips into him, leaving Joe alone with the whisky. The situation triggers flashbacks in Kim of giving up her own daughter, unaware that Detective Thea is close by.
'I don't think she can forgive Joe,' Claire said, 'Because she knows what she went through all those years ago, and she knows he will regret it.'
