Emmerdale has confirmed that Steve Marchant, played by Paul Opacic, will return to the Dales almost three decades after his dramatic departure. The comeback follows a DNA twist that revealed newcomer DS Thea Ramsden (Chelsea Edge) as Kim Tate's (Claire King) long-lost daughter.
Kim learned the truth shortly after she stabbed Thea at Home Farm. After Claire King revealed that Kim gave up her daughter just after her first exit in 1999, viewers speculated about Thea's father. During Monday's (November 2) episode, Kim told Thea: "Your father is a man called Steve Marchant. We were married."
A Bombshell Revelation
Steve's return has now been confirmed as Thea tries to make contact with her birth father. After marrying in 1998, Kim and Steve hit financial trouble, leading the pair to commit several crimes, including financial fraud.
In a memorable storyline, Kim framed Steve for their joint crimes, resulting in Steve being sent to prison for 10 years, while Kim escaped the village by helicopter.
Steve's Return Storyline
Steve will reappear on the soap when Thea poses as a solicitor to make contact. Cautious and suspicious, Steve is quickly drawn back toward the village in search of answers.
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 Reactions
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 to Kim's admission across social media. "The casting for Thea is insane, she looks just like Steve!!" one person wrote on X. Another added: "Tonight's episode was good. Kim was great and her scenes with Thea were good." A third said: "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.
