Emmerdale viewers think a former character could have been the one helping Joe Tate with his apparent plan to drug his brother Noah Dingle in scenes last week on the ITV soap

Fans of Emmerdale think they’ve rumbled who really drugged Noah Dingle, and who might be helping Joe Tate with his mystery plan.

Joe has been having cryptic phone calls ever since his December return, and he also seems to be hiding a health issue. Experiencing pains and collapsing, with him also seen taking medication, fans are sure he is unwell.

He’s also been trying to get his brother Noah to move to Dubai with him, and when Noah said no Joe turned on him. He’s clearly desperate and pushing a mystery agenda, with something up his sleeve.

So when someone spiked poor Noah in a recent episode, it soon became apparent Joe could be behind it. A blurry flashback showed someone who looked and sounded like Joe by Noah’s bedside, as someone dressed like a doctor approached him.

He was holding a syringe and appeared to drug Noah with it, with Joe telling the unknown person he was running out of time. The spiking led to Noah staggering around outside before collapsing, while he also inadvertently caused the limo crash that killed Amy Wyatt, Leyla Harding and Suzy Merton.

Are Graham or Jamie helping Joe Tate? (Image: ITV)

Now, some fans are convinced they have worked out the identity of the doctor who drugged Noah, and the person working with Joe. Amid a theory that Joe needs a donor for a transplant, viewers think someone from the past could be helping the new villain.

One theory is that his former close friend and guardian Graham Foster is secretly still alive despite is murder a few years back. Fans say they noticed some clues that he was alive and helping Joe with his plan.

Others wondered whether it was Jamie Tate helping his nephew Joe, after the pair got into contact offscreen not too long ago. Taking to social media, one fan posted: “Hope it’s Graham,” while others pointed out this “could not be the case” and instead called for a Jamie return.

A viewer said: “Hope it’s her son,” as another said: “It’s Jamie.” A third added: “Joe & Jamie working together,” as a further comment read: “With Joe, I think he’s colluding with an undead Graham, if not Jamie.”

It’s yet to be revealed what is wrong with Joe or why he is targeting his own brother. Noah is also yet to remember what happened to him and that Joe is somehow involved, but surely it’s only a matter of time.

Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX, with an hour-long episode on Thursdays.