Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Emmerdale spoilers, news and interviews sent straight to your inbox for free Something went wrong, please try again later. Emmerdale spoilers, news and interviews sent straight to your inbox for free Emmerdale fans are hailing Joe Tate as a "hero" as they speculate that he will play a crucial role in exposing the show's secret villain, John Sugden. Ned Porteous made a surprise return as the cunning Joe Tate towards the end of 2024, sending shockwaves through the village. His comeback revealed that he was the mastermind behind Will Taylor's revenge plot against Kim Tate. Although Will's subsequent death from a heart attack seemed unrelated to Joe's return, the latter's mysterious behavior and true intentions for staying at Home Farm sparked suspicion. After being struck by a mysterious illness and multiple visits from the enigmatic Dr. Crowley, it was revealed that Joe was suffering from chronic kidney disease and desperately needed a transplant. Rather than waiting for a match through the NHS, Joe leveraged his wealth and connections to take matters into his own hands. His attempt to get close to half-brother Noah Dingle ultimately led to the disastrous Valentine's limo crash, which claimed the lives of Leyla Harding, Amy Wyatt, and Suzy Merton, reports the Manchester Evening News. Joe eventually obtained a kidney from Caleb, putting his uncle's life at risk. The truth has since come to light, sparking a bitter feud between the two before Kim Tate intervened. In the soap's village, it seems there's no shortage of scheming characters. The latest to arouse suspicion is newcomer John Sugden, who has caused waves since his arrival in the Dales last year. He managed to form a bond with Aaron, yet recently, his darker side has begun to emerge. Past events revealed he was responsible for the untimely demise of Nate Robinson, who had "left the village" last year, and switched Chas' medication, pinning the deed on Ella. Audiences have concocted theories around John's motivations, including one positing that he harbours a "hero complex" having intentionally induced an anaphylactic reaction in Jacob to stage a rescue scenario. Now, with Mackenzie Boyd openly engaged to Aaron and firmly in John's sights, fans are worried that John may claim another victim. The speculation doesn't stop at potential crimes; some viewers believe Joe Tate might be destined for a moment of heroism. From conversations on a Reddit thread, user u/Lego_Panda_Bear predicts: "I don't know if Joe is redeemable, but I think the writers will have Joe be instrumental in the takedown of John. He becomes a 'real' hero, unlike fake hero John. Suddenly in soapland all is forgotten and forgiven." Joining in the conjecture, user u/Cautious_Summer3482 chimed in with their expectations: "I can see this happening - the Joe storyline and the John storyline colliding and Joe coming out of it with a grudging pass for his past crimes."