The Tate family have been a staple of Emmerdale since 1989 and they’ve been at the centre of some of the soap’s biggest storylines

The Tate family first graced the screens of Emmerdale viewers in November 1989, and when they made their debut, fans had no inkling that they would become such an integral part of the soap.

Sine the show’s rebranding from Emmerdale Farm to simply Emmerdale, it’s fair to say that the family brought a wealth of drama and gripping storylines to the Dale.

Headed by patriarch Frank Tate, the family also included his son Chris, daughter Zoe, and wife Kim. Frank was the soap’s inaugural ‘true’ villain, characterised by his fiery temper, alcohol issues, and propensity for domestic violence. Kim is the sole member of the original Tate family still present in Emmerdale, but what about the other actors?

Frank Tate – Norman Bowler

Before Kim Tate took the reins at Home Farm, her husband Frank Tate was the one running the estate on Emmerdale. Portrayed by Norman Bowler, this iconic character was introduced to the ITV soap in 1989, when he moved to the village with his children and his second wife, a youthful Kim.

Frank met his end in 1997, when the shock of Kim’s dramatic return led him to suffer a fatal heart attack. His death remains one of the most memorable episodes of Emmerdale.

Off-screen, Norman spent some time in India doing charity work with his wife, Dianne. Following Dianne’s death in 2012, Norman now divides his time between India and the UK.

Chris Tate – Peter Amory

Christopher ‘Chris’ Tate was the offspring of Frank and his first wife, Jean. Embodying the ‘wicked stepmother’ stereotype, there was a palpable animosity between him and Kim after he discovered that she had stood by as his father died without intervening.

However, he was no match for Kim, who left him hospitalised after striking him on the head with a hefty paperweight. In 2001, Chris married his third wife, Charity Dingle, but following numerous infidelities on her part, he poisoned himself in an attempt to frame her for his murder, dying in 2003.

Since departing from the soap, Peter has chosen a more private lifestyle, taking on only a few minor roles in TV dramas. He also wed his on-screen stepmother after marrying Kim Tate actress Claire King in 1994. They divorced a decade later but are reportedly still friends.

Zoe Tate – Leah Bracknell

Leah Bracknell was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in October 2016 and died three years later (Image: ITV)

Emmerdale actress Leah Bracknell was best known for her portrayal of Zoe Tate in the long-standing ITV soap, a role she held for 16 years.

Zoe Tate was Chris’ sister, the only daughter of Frank and Jean, and she made her first appearance in the Dales in 1989. Her first significant storyline came when she disclosed her homosexuality in 1993, marking the debut of the first lesbian character in a British soap.

In 2006, Zoe exited the ITV soap, and her departure was awarded Best Exit at The British Soap Awards. After her departure from the show, the actress was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in October 2016. Her husband Jez Hughes initiated a GoFundMe campaign to fund her treatment abroad, as NHS options were limited.

Generous soap fans contributed over £50,000 for her to receive pioneering treatment in Germany. She began a new medication regimen, but sadly disclosed later that it had been unsuccessful.

The star tragically passed away three years later at the tender age of 55. Recently, Emmerdale devotees took to social media to fondly commemorate Leah Bracknell on what would have been her 60th birthday, paying tribute to the actress who left an unforgettable legacy as Zoe Tate.

Emmerdale airs weeknights on ITV1 at 7.30pm and available to stream from 7am on ITVX