Emmerdale fans are convinced that villain Joe Tate is heading for a brutal and bloody end on the ITV soap, following his latest scheme of blackmail and deception.
Joe's latest villainous plot
The character, played by actor Ned Porteous, has been blackmailing the Sugden family for their farm after he secretly filmed Victoria Sugden killing her brother, John. While Victoria did not intend to kill him, Joe has used the footage as leverage.
This week, his machinations escalated. He ordered Robert Sugden to not only hand over the farm but also to frame Moira Dingle for a drugs crime actually committed by the missing Celia Daniels. Joe claimed he would pay Robert for this, forcing Robert's hand out of fear for his sister Victoria's freedom.
Fans theorise a deadly downfall
Viewers believe that by crossing the Sugdens, Aaron Dingle, and now targeting Moira and Cain again, Joe is painting a target on his own back. Despite a fiery confrontation where Robert vowed to make him pay, many fans do not believe Robert will be the one to deliver the final blow if Joe is killed.
One popular theory circulating online suggests the storyline is building towards another major whodunnit murder mystery. "When the truth inevitably comes out, I think people will be annoyed at Robert initially," one fan wrote. "But once he explains to Cain and Moira why, they’ll eventually understand... and anger will soon turn to Joe. And to be honest, almost everyone in the village will be a suspect."
Who could be the killer?
Speculation is rife about who might ultimately take revenge on the schemer. Given his history, several characters are in the frame:
- Graham Foster: A former enforcer with a dark past, Graham has been a prime suspect in fan discussions. "I think Graham will deal with him," one viewer predicted.
- Kim Tate: Joe's own step-grandmother, who previously wanted him dead. "Wouldn't put anything past Kim... you just have to look at her history," another fan noted, suggesting Kim and Graham could even team up.
- Dawn Taylor: Another theory posits that Dawn could discover Joe's actions and take matters into her own hands.
"His latest stuff is so evil I can't see him being redeemed from it," a fan commented. "So I definitely think someone will want revenge."
Emmerdale airs weeknights at 8pm on ITV1 and the ITVX streaming service.
