Paul Opacic is set to reprise his role as Steve Marchant in Emmerdale, nearly three decades after his character was sent to prison. The actor's return comes as newcomer DS Thea Ramsden, played by Chelsea Edge, tries to track down her biological father.
Thea has been revealed as the long-lost daughter of Kim Tate, portrayed by Claire King. Kim discovered the truth shortly after stabbing Thea at Home Farm. Following the revelation, fans speculated about the identity of Thea's father, with many focusing on Kim's second husband Steve Marchant, who joined the soap in 1996.
Kim Tate's bombshell revelation
During Monday's episode, Kim told Thea: "Your father is a man called Steve Marchant. We were married." The confirmation of Steve's return follows Thea's attempts to locate her biological father.
After their marriage in 1998, Kim and Steve faced serious financial difficulties, leading them to commit crimes including financial fraud. In a memorable storyline, Kim blamed Steve for their shared crimes, resulting in a 10-year prison sentence for Steve while Kim escaped the village in a helicopter.
Thea's plan to meet her father
Steve will return to the soap after Thea pretends to be a solicitor to get in touch. Wary and mistrustful, Steve is drawn back towards the village seeking explanations.
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 teases the storyline
Emmerdale producer Laura Shaw added: "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 fans shared their reactions on social media. One viewer posted on X: "The casting for Thea is insane, she looks just like Steve!!" Another commented: "Tonight's episode was good. Kim was great and her scenes with Thea were good." A third remarked: "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.
