Kim Tate's carefully concealed plan to keep Joe Tate's baby away from social services is about to come under threat in Emmerdale, as a social worker arrives at Home Farm and her vengeful daughter overhears a crucial conversation.
Joe Tate, still reeling from the death of Dawn Taylor, has refused to form any relationship with his newborn son, insisting the baby be adopted and kept away from the Tate family. Despite pleas from Kim and Graham Foster, Joe vowed to have the baby taken away.
Kim and Graham's secret
Kim and Graham pretended to go along with Joe's plan, but instead of handing the baby to social services, Graham moved into a cottage and has been raising the child himself, with only Kim and Graham knowing the truth. Next week, Kim is determined to keep the arrangement under wraps, aware that if Joe discovers the truth, he will have the baby handed over immediately.
While spending time with Lydia Dingle, Kim offloads about the baby and the adoption, unaware that her daughter, DS Thea Ramsden, is listening intently. Thea quickly comes to a dark conclusion, suspecting the baby is being sold.
Thea's suspicions and a social worker's visit
Chelsea Edge, who plays Thea, previously explained: 'She thinks that the baby is absolutely being sold. But she's a police officer, she knows there has to be evidence, so she is looking for evidence, she also wants to know where the baby might be being taken.'
'If it is illegal, she needs to track that because then it doesn't just become kidnap, it becomes an entirely new set of crimes that she needs to be on top of. She'll want to find that baby at the end of it.'
Soon after Thea decides Kim has arranged an illegal adoption, a social worker arrives at Home Farm, wanting to speak to both Kim and Joe, leaving Kim's carefully laid plans on the verge of collapse.
