Joe Tate’s time in Emmerdale could be reaching an end after his illness is revealed
Emmerdale actor Ned Porteous has teased his EastEnders “return” as Joe Tate’s illness reaches its climax in upcoming episodes.
Ned Porteous made his return to the ITV soap in 2024 as Joe Tate made a surprise visit to Home Farm as he was revealed as the puppet master behind Will Taylor’s revenge plan for Kim Tate.
As always in the land of soaps, things didn’t go as planned when Will Taylor unexpectedly died from a fatal heart attack moments after Joe revealed all to Kim.
Since then, he’s stayed in the village but suspicions around why he’s really there have continued to grow, particularly with his attempts to get close to his half-brother, Noah Dingle.
In upcoming episodes, Emmerdale have teased that fans will finally learn what the reality of his mystery illness is after he’s spent weeks collapsing and having visits from a secret doctor.
Speaking to Inside Soap, Ned shared: “It’s been quite a big thing to keep under wraps. The drama comes to a head and things will start making sense…”
Ned used to star in EastEnders in 2016(Image: BBC)
Before his return to the Dales, he also starred in rival BBC soap EastEnders as the son of Grant Mitchell. He was cast in 2016 as Mark Fowler Jr – the son of Michelle Fowler and Grant, as well as the nephew of Martin Fowler.
His character was only in the soap for a brief time as he flew from Florida to London in search of his real dad, before he headed back to America after a month on our screens.
Born off-screen in 1996, his existence was unheard of on the soap until 20 years on when his presence in Albert Square unearthed the secret as he demanded answers.
He told Inside Soap: “I might be going back to EastEnders then! It was the first soap I did and I remember it very fondly, going on set with all those people I’d watched for years and years.”
When asked if that meant he’d be leaving Emmerdale, he added: “I don’t even know what I want to do next week so that far ahead is a bit of a mystery. I’m very happy where I am now. I have great stories and a lot to do an an actor, I’m not about to jump ship any time soon.”
Emmerdale airs on weekdays at 7:30pm on ITV1 and is available to stream on ITVX.
