As a soap that’s been on air for over fifty years, Emmerdale has seen many characters come and go in its time – many of them suffering horrible deaths. However, this is a world in which Kim Tate once faked her death in one of its most iconic scenes, setting quite the precedent.

Ghosts too! Emmerdale has a surprising history of the undead haunting its residents, from the ghost of Christmas Val to spooky Tricia Dingle, tragic Holly Barton, and a menacing Emma Barton.

And, with rumours spiralling that one monster still lives (we’d rather he stayed dead, to be honest), while another may have also faked her death, here are our picks of the Emmerdale legends past we’d like to return from beyond the grave… whether it makes sense or not.

1. Viv Windsor – one of the most regrettable Emmerdale deaths

Viv Windsor was one of the soap’s most iconic figures, killed off in one of its more controversial twists. As a fire broke out in the Post Office she was killed in the subsequent explosion, along with lover Terry Woods. The soap hasn’t been the same since.

Leicestershire Live have reported a striking new fan theory – with some wondering whether Viv might have faked her own death, possibly due to her ex-husband Reg Dawson’s history with the criminal underworld.

“Maybe she faked her death because Reg Dawson’s old gangster mates found out about some cash he stashed away and wanted to come after her,” wrote one fan in a Facebook post.

Terry can stay dead, though.

2. Val Pollard… again

Killed in a mirror maze during one of the soap’s most shocking scenes, Val Pollard has already come back from the dead once – paying Robert Sugden a visit in one Christmas Carol-inspired sequence.

We hate to say it, but Eric Pollard isn’t getting any younger. And, as his Parkinson’s symptoms worsen, it’s likely that his exit from the soap will air over the coming years. And what better farewell for Eric than a visit from the one and only Val? Well, any excuse to get her back on our screens.

3. Leyla Harding

Leyla’s death was pretty definitive – bleeding out in the wake of February’s limousine lake crash and dying on the way to hospital. And, as Jacob grieved the death of his mum, viewers saw her, dead and lifeless, in the hospital morgue.

She’s dead, then, but if the flashbacks which aired a few weeks later proved anything, it’s that killing Leyla off was a big mistake. Whether it be more flashbacks, or returning as a ghost to give Jacob a kick in the pants, we’ll take whatever we can get.

4. Rebecca White – one of many Emmerdale off-screen deaths

Last seen leaving the village with Ross for their happily ever after, Rebecca White died offscreen. Ross shared the news upon his return last year, revealing that she’d died in a routine surgery gone wrong.

With Rebecca having died offscreen, there’s always room for the soap to bring her back in another twist – well, who’s to say Ross was telling the truth? Whether the soap would want to is a different matter, but Rebecca deserved better than a sad offscreen death. Especially given all she suffered in life.

5. Emmerdale favourite Graham Foster was one of its saddest deaths

Someone needs to give Joe Tate a good talking to. Between stealing kidneys and other villagers’ wives, his behaviour’s been at an all-time low since his return last year. And how better to make Joe see the error of his ways than father figure Graham Foster?

“Can’t believe they killed him off. I keep on forgetting that they killed him off. I hate that they killed him off,” wrote one fan in a recent Emmerdale fan, confirming that Graham still lives on in all of our hearts.

6. The dead exes of Chas Dingle

Liam wants to watch his back -those who get mixed up with Chas tend to meet an unpleasant end. This includes Carl King (bashed with a brick), Cameron Murray (electrocuted) and Al Chapman (shot by a child), all dead after getting mixed up with Chas.

Given Emmerdale’s habit of bringing the dead back as ghosts, let’s have the dead men in her life return to duke it out like some sort of Freddy vs Jason, but for dead ex-boyfriends.

7. Emma Barton

What, again? After being pushed off a viaduct by Moira, Emma returned from beyond the grave to torment her former nemesis as she suffered a series of brain tumour-related visions.

Given that these were some of the soap’s best in recent years, we wouldn’t be opposed to seeing her pop up again. Who knows, maybe she could ‘return’ to torment son Ross this time? Especially as the monstrous matriarch is fresh on our minds, after filling Steph in on his messy family history.

8. Rishi Sharma

No ghosts or faked deaths needed here, just a simple retcon. With Jai’s behaviour becoming ever-more indefensible, our suggestion for this one is that we just switch the two around.

No explanation needed – lovely Rishi’s back, as though he never left… and Jai’s dead, off haunting an orphanage somewhere with his sour face.