Emmerdale’s Joe Tate ‘d.e.a.d’ but who are the 9 suspects and what are their motivations?
Emmerdale's Joe Tate was pushed out of a window at Home Farm, and now there are nine suspects who could all be as guilty as each other
There are nine suspects and they all have motives (Image: ITV)
Emmerdale’s Joe Tate has been a d.e.a.d man walking all week after the village residents discovered just how dastardly he is and what he’s exactly responsible for. The list includes manslaughter, drugging, organ theft and adultery – no small things.
On Thursday, 8th May, things reached a climax when he was unceremoniously shoved out of a window at Home Farm, leaving nine potential culprits in the mix.
The drama has been escalating since Ned Porteous returned to his role as Joe Tate late last year. Initially pulling the strings behind Will Taylor’s revenge plot against Kim Tate, but the full extent of his deceit was yet to be revealed.
After discovering he has chronic kidney disease, viewers saw a determined Joe on a mission to secure a kidney transplant. Of course, not happy to go down the simple route, he enlisted the enigmatic Dr. Crowley and embarked on a search for his ideal donor.
Joe was pushed at Lydia’s party (Image: ITV)
Initially targeting Noah by drugging him, he turned out not to be a match for the transplant. In a tragic turn of events, Charity swerved her limo to avoid hitting her son who was stranded on the road, resulting in the unfortunate d.e.a.t.h.s of Leyla Harding, Amy Wyatt, and Suzy Merton.
Next, he focused on Caleb, and after coercing Manpreet into obtaining a blood sample, he confirmed that his uncle would be a suitable donor. Caleb later discovered that Joe was behind his stabbing and the removal of his kidney, but agreed to keep quiet so that Joe wouldn’t inform the police about the m.u.r.d.e.r of Anthony Fox.
Now, after being pushed from a window at Home Farm, his fate hangs in the balance with nine villagers under suspicion. But who are they and why do they want him d.e.a.d.?
Billy Fletcher hates Joe (Image: ITV)
Billy Fletcher
Motivation: Heartache struck Billy when Dawn ended their relationship, leading him to blame himself for not being an ideal husband due to illicit boxing matches and a kiss with Manpreet. Discovering that Dawn had been secretly seeing Joe and that Joe had menaced Clemmie, could Billy have been driven to take drastic action against Joe? After discovering some of the vile things Joe had said to his adopted daughter on Tuesday evening, he told her, “Leave Joe to me.”
Dawn Fletcher discovered her new boyfriend isn’t as great as she thought (Image: ITV)
Dawn Fletcher
Motivation: Dawn may be the only person in the village who thinks Joe has a good side. She even left her marriage with Billy to be with him, and on the morning of Lydia’s party, they woke up together. Despite keeping their relationship quiet in the aftermath of her marriage breakdown, they appear blissfully happy.
However, Dawn didn’t look happy when she discovered the truth about him spiking Noah, causing the crash and threatening Clemmie. Could she have had enough and shoved him out the window?
Joe threatened to send Clemmie away (Image: ITV)
Clemmie Fletcher
Motivation: Clemmie caught Joe in a clandestine kiss with her mum Dawn, and in her distress, she bit him when he pleaded for her silence. He later attempted to sway her with a present, only to threaten her with being sent away to a place for “damaged kids” if she disclosed what she witnessed. She told her dad Billy about the affair who was understandably quite upset. Does she have it in her to take out the main problem in her parents’ marriage?
Caleb had his kidney stolen by Joe (Image: ITV)
Caleb Miligan
Motivation: If anyone has a reason to want to inflict some pain on Joe, it’s Caleb. The man stole his kidney! Although it appeared he was trying to coerce Billy into doing the dirty work, did he snap at the party and attack his nephew shoving him out of the window to his possible d.e.a.t.h? It would mean getting closure over his missing organ and silencing the only person who knows his wife Ruby k.i.l.l.e.d Anthony Fox.
Ruby is upset about her husband Caleb and generally hates Joe (Image: ITV)
Ruby Miligan
Motivation: Joe Tate stole her husband’s kidney. If that’s not enough then what about him being the only person who could potentially link her to the m.u.r.d.e.r of her dad, abuser Anthony Fox? She’s made it clear that she hates him and has been openly rude and disdainful towards him. Was it a ruse? Or could she not hide her feelings and reacted on impulse to push him out of the window?
Kerry blames Joe for her daughter’s d.e.a.t.h (Image: ITV)
Kerry Wyatt
Motivation: While Kerry had no real issue with Joe Tate before the party, that evening she discovered that he’s the reason her daughter Amy tragically d.i.e.d. Having only just started to truly connect with her over the past few years, could Kerry feel like she has nothing left to lose? She did leave Matty and Eric in the kitchen saying she was heading back to Home Farm to confront him. Did she?
Joe drugged her son Noah (Image: ITV)
Charity Dingle
Motivation: Fans will remember that Charity has been against Joe since his return, and her suspicions were recently confirmed when Ruby revealed that he was the one who drugged Noah. Joe has managed to aggrieve three mums by either verbally abusing their kids (Dawn), accidentally k.i.l.l.i.n.g them (Kerry), or drugging them to try and steal their kidney (Charity). How far would she go to protect her child?
Cain doesn’t like many people and hates Joe even more (Image: ITV)
Cain Dingle
Motivation: Although Cain agreed with Kim Tate that Caleb and Joe need to find a resolution, will he feel obligated to punish Joe after Matty discovers that he’s the reason Amy d.i.e.d in the crash? Amy was the mother of his child, Kyle, could he want revenge?
Noah discovered his fave half-brother drugged him (Image: ITV)
Noah Dingle
Motivation: Noah was also one of Joe’s biggest supporters, hoping to form a genuine bond with his half-brother. However, after discovering he was the one who drugged him, tried to steal his kidney, dumped him in the woods which then caused a crash that he blamed himself for – could he finally lose control and lash out?
Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm, with an early release on ITVX at 7am
