Emmerdale has confirmed that Paul Opacic will reprise the role of Steve Marchant, Kim Tate's ex-husband and the biological father of Thea Ramsden, nearly 27 years after his explosive departure from the village.
The announcement follows Monday's (November 2) episode, in which Kim (Claire King) revealed to Thea (Chelsea Edge) that Steve is her father. Kim told Thea: "Your father is a man called Steve Marchant. We were married."
Thea's search for her father
Kim gave up her daughter shortly after her initial departure in 1999, a fact she disclosed earlier. Since then, viewers had speculated about Thea's father's identity, with many focusing on Kim's second husband, Steve Marchant.
Steve will return to the soap when Thea masquerades as a solicitor to establish contact. Wary and mistrustful, Steve is swiftly pulled back towards the village seeking explanations.
A history of crime and betrayal
Kim and Steve married in 1998 and famously encountered monetary difficulties, leading the pair to commit numerous offences, including financial fraud, in a bid to generate rapid income. In an unforgettable storyline, Kim framed Steve for their collective crimes, resulting in Steve being imprisoned for 10 years, while Kim fled the village by helicopter.
Paul Opacic said in a statement: "Things were left rather bitter between Kim and Steve, so he's very surprised when a solicitor contacts him out of the blue. He guesses something is afoot when Kim starts brandishing notes to keep him away. With the sniff of more cash to be made, Steve wonders what is going on. And soon Thea leaves him a jaw-dropping voicemail."
Producer's tease and fan reaction
Emmerdale producer Laura Shaw commented: "Determined to uncover the truth about her father, Thea devises a clever ruse to lure him into a meeting under false pretences. But will Steve fall for her deception, and does he even realise he has a child - or could he know secrets that even Kim isn't aware of?"
Soap enthusiasts were swift to share their responses to Kim's revelation across social media. "The casting for Thea is insane, she looks just like Steve!!" one viewer posted on X. Another commented: "Tonight's episode was good. Kim was great and her scenes with Thea were good." A third stated: "I knew all along it was Steve, there was no one else it could've been."
Emmerdale airs weekday nights at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
