Emmerdale spoilers follow for Tuesday’s (December 24) episode that is now

available to view on ITVX. The episode in question will air on ITV1 on at 7:30pm

After six long years, Emmerdale’s Joe Tate (Ned Porteous) has staged his

long-awaited comeback and be still our beating hearts. The suave businessman, much like fans had predicted, is the mystery man on a mission, hellbent on the ruination of former nemesis Kim Tate (Claire King).

Kim, as viewers will recall, staged a comeback decades in the making all the way back in 2018 when she was released from prison.

Her return came in the middle of Joe’s reign at Home Farm, with the matriarch ordering right hand man Graham Foster (Andrew Scarborough) to dispatch of the dashing son of Chris Tate so that she could reclaim the Tate legacy.

Joe’s fate was left ambiguous after a showdown with Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley), who punched him the face while defending Debbie’s (Charley Webb) honour, with Graham subsequently getting rid of the body.

A plot twist, however, later confirmed that Joe was living aboard and keeping a low profile, determined on staying out of sight of Kim, who wanted him dead.

But with six years having passed since then, it seems Joe is hellbent on taking Kim down, proving that he’s got what it takes to go head-to-head with the matriarch.

In scenes which aired on Christmas Eve, finical advisor Peter was seen speaking to the man running Operation Destroy Kim Tate.

Will Taylor (Dean Andrews), meanwhile, was having second thoughts about following through on the plot to ruin his wife and, after Kim wound up in hospital when a horse ride didn’t go as planned, he decided to call the whole thing off, sending Peter an email to confirm that he’d dropped out.

Peter smirked as he read the email aloud to his employer, with Will still believing that Jamie Tate (Alexander Lincoln) – Kim’s bitter son – was the one running the operation.

But it isn’t Jamie. It’s Joe – and it’s safe to say he’s planning on exacting the revenge he’s waiting a long time for.

‘I think it’s time we paid Kim a little visit’, he said in his instantly recognisable tone of voice. ‘No better time than Christmas for a family reunion.’

Kim had better watch out!

Discussing his comeback to the show, actor Ned Porteous said: ‘I’m so excited to be returning to Emmerdale. There’s a lot of unfinished business for Joe, and it feels like the right time for him to make a comeback.

‘Joe has always been a character with a dark side, but there could be something much bigger at play here. Joe is back for a reason, and the devastation at Home Farm is just the beginning of a much bigger story. It’s safe to say the audience can expect fireworks this holiday season!’

Producer Laura Shaw added: ‘We are thrilled to welcome Ned back to Village as the complex and captivating Joe Tate. From the moment Joe arrives on screen, it’s clear there’s trouble ahead but Joe’s hiding an even darker secret that could see 2025 start off with a huge bang’.