Emmerdale original Tate family stars now – tragic d.e.a.t.h to marrying on-screen mum

Emmerdale’s Tate family were first introduced to viewers in November 1989 and when they joined the soap fans had no idea that they would become an iconic part of the show.

Introduced during the same period that the show was rebranded from Emmerdale Farm to just Emmerdale, it’s safe to say that the family brought plenty of drama and dramatic storylines to the Dale.

The family, headed by patriarch Frank Tate, consisted also of his son Chris, daughter Zoe and his wife Kim. Frank was the soap’s first true villain, with a fiery, alcohol-fuelled temper and tendency towards spousal violence.

Kim is the only member of the original Tate family to remain in Emmerdale, here is where the other actors are now.

Frank Tate – Norman Bowler

Well before Kim Tate was at the head of Home Farm, it was her husband Frank Tate who was in charge of the estate on Emmerdale.

Played by Norman Bowler, the classic character was introduced to the ITV soap in 1989, when he relocated to the village with his children and his second wife, a young Kim.

Frank was k.i.l.l.e.d off in 1997, when the shock of Kim’s dramatic return caused him to suffer a fatal heart attack. His d.e.a.t.h was one of the most iconic episodes of Emmerdale.

Away from the soap, Norman spent some time in India doing charity work with his wife, Dianne. Dianne d.i.e.d in 2012 and Norman now spends his time split between India and the UK.

Chris Tate – Peter Amory

Christopher ‘Chris’ Tate was the son of Frank and his first wife, Jean. Playing into the ‘evil step mum’ trope, there was certainly no love lost between him and Kim as he swore revenge after finding out that she had watched his dad d.i.e and did nothing to save him.

But he was no match for Kim, who left him hospitalised after hitting him on the head with a large paperweight. In 2001, the character married his third wife, Charity Dingle, but after repeated affairs on her part he poisoned himself in order to frame her for his m.u.r.d.e.r and d.i.e.d in 2003.

Since leaving the soap, Peter prefers to live a more private life with just a few minor roles in TV dramas. He also married his on-screen step mum after tying the knot with Kim Tate actress Claire King in 1994. They divorced 10 years later and are said to still be friends.

Zoe Tate – Leah Bracknell

Emmerdale star Leah Bracknell was best recognised for her role as Zoe Tate in the long running ITV soap, a role in which she played for 16 years.

Zoe Tate was Chris’ sister, Frank and Jean’s only daughter and she first appeared in the Dales in 1989. But her first major storyline was when she revealed she was gay in 1993, a momentous occasion which marked the very first lesbian character to ever appear in a British soap.

In 2006 Zoe left the ITV soap and departure from the show was named Best Exit at The British Soap Awards.

After leaving the show, The actress was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in October 2016. At the time her husband Jez Hughes launched a GoFundMe page to raise money for her to undergo treatment overseas, due to a lack of options available on the NHS.

Soap fans helped her raise more than £50,000 to undergo ground-breaking treatment in Germany. She started taking new medication, but later revealed that it had failed and the star tragically d.i.e.d three years later at just 55 years old.

Emmerdale fans recently took to social media to lovingly remember the late Leah Bracknell on her would-be 60th birthday, honouring the actress who left an indelible mark as Zoe Tate.

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