Emmerdale has recently introduced mysterious Dr Crowley, who has been assisting Joe Tate amid his health secret

Emmerdale fans are convinced they’ve rumbled Dr Crowley’s true identity.

Only recently, viewers were introduced to the mysterious Dr Crowley, who has been assisting Joe Tate amid his health secret.

In recent episodes, a frustrated Joe was seen calling a mystery person as he fumed: “It isn’t working! You know what! Well if I could fix it, I would have done it by now wouldn’t I? I know, I know! It needs to be sooner than that, please try, thank you!” to which he kicked a black case under his bed.

However, later, soap watchers finally met his mystery doctor after Joe collapsed, where he received treatment at Home Farm in his room.

After taking care of Joe, the doctor pointed at the black case in the room and warned: “That, my friend, is not a long term plan!” to which Joe snapped: “I know, the long term plan we do have needs to hurry up, I’m not sure how much time I’ve got left!”

Soap watchers will recall that ever since Joe returned to the village over Christmas, he has been seen collapsing and taking medication while keeping it a secret from those around him.

It comes as Joe recently spiked his younger brother Noah Dingle, where it seemed tests were being carried out in a hospital setting, with a confused Noah traumatised by the incident as he doesn’t remember what happened or where he was although he’s been having chilling flashbacks.

Amid Joe’s health mystery, soap watchers have been sharing their theories online about Dr Crowley’s true identity from a revenge bombshell to a ‘brilliant’ twist, here we look at all the theories…

Joe revenge

Taking to Reddit, one soap fan penned: “I’m not sure if this contains any spoilers to be honest but I marked it in case. I just find Dr Crowley such a weird addition to the show and Joe’s storyline

“Something is telling me that either he isn’t really a doctor, or he has ties to the Tates. Why would he help Joe and go to so much length and secrecy to do so? How comes only Joe has seen him, and no one’s seen him sneaking into home farm?

“The relationship between Joe and Crowley just seems a bit closer than doctor and patient? He seems to be going all out to help Joe and whatever their plan is?

“I wonder if the reason he’s not been with other characters onscreen yet is because someone might recognise him or know who he is? I saw someone suggest he wasn’t real and was in Joe’s head so that’s also a possibility? But who do people think he’s linked to if anyone, and what’s his game?”

Responding, one account penned: “What if he conning Joe pretending to help but he isn’t a real doctor” while a different person put: “Yes! Could be giving pills that are making him sicker to ensure joes dependence on him (and money!)?”

‘Brilliant twist’

Elsewhere, one theory read: “Amazing how that mystery bloke known only to Joe keeps appearing at Home Farm. Is he actually just in Joe’s imagination? Nobody else sees him.” Another fan replied: “That would be a brilliant twist.”

Dodgy past

Meanwhile, most viewers think he’s a dodgy doctor and only in it for the money. One person said: “Dodgy private doctor for money” while a different account wrote: “He’s probably just some dodgy private doctor willing to go to lengths as Joe is willing to pay.”

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