Emmerdale viewers were thrilled over Wednesday’s episode that saw Joe Tate confront Graham Foster for faking his death on the ITV soap, but one ‘mistake’ left some fans disappointed
20:00, 28 Jan 2026Updated 20:01, 28 Jan 2026
Emmerdale viewers were thrilled over Wednesday’s episode that saw Joe Tate confront Graham Foster for faking his death (Image: ITV)
Fans were thrilled over Emmerdale‘s special episode focusing on Graham Foster and Kim and Joe Tate, while one moment left some annoyed.
Wednesday’s visit to the Dales saw Joe and Kim confront Graham over his fake death. The character was killed off in a whodunnit on the ITV soap in 2020, but a few weeks ago, during the Corriedale crossover, Graham returned very much alive.
Tuesday’s cliffhanger saw Graham head back to Home Farm for the first time in six years, shocking Kim and Joe with his true fate. On Wednesday, we saw Joe and Kim struggling to process the truth, with plenty of questions.
As Joe ended up throwing up from the shock of his father figure, the man he’s grieved for six years, being alive, Graham tried to explain himself. Joe didn’t want to hear it though, furious that his life had been torn apart for no reason.
READ MORE: Emmerdale Graham Foster’s ‘ridiculous’ return scene has fans making same commentREAD MORE: Emmerdale’s Joe Tate vomits as he reacts to Graham’s return in spoiler clip
Fans were thrilled over Emmerdale’s special episode focusing on Graham Foster and Kim and Joe Tate(Image: ITV)
Of course Joe proceeded to suggest Graham’s death was to blame for every sick thing he has done since 2020, including him stealing a kidney from his uncle Caleb Miligan, and him now blackmailing the Sugdens. His latest plot has seen him target Moira Dingle too, leading to her arrest.
Joe sobbed, as he screamed at Graham for abandoning him. He explained with detail the grief he had experience, and how it had shaped him into the villain he was today.
Fans didn’t know whether to feel sorry for Joe or not, but what they did know was that it was some of the best and most emotional scenes the soap had aired in a while. Viewers were quick to praise actors Andrew Scarborough and Ned Porteous for their performances, with one fan even calling it “the best episode in years”.
A viewer said online: “Wow Andrew and Ned were absolutely incredible in tonight’s Emmerdale. You could see just how much Graham coming back has impacted Joe. Hats off to Emmerdale for pulling this off!”
Wednesday’s visit to the Dales saw Joe and Kim confront Graham over his fake death(Image: ITV)
Another fan said: “They were phenomenal. I loved how we didn’t just get to see how Graham being back is affecting Joe, but also that we now know how his ‘death’ was revealed to Joe and how it nearly killed him. I can’t wait to see what happens next.”
A third fan wrote: “Tonight’s Kim, Joe and Graham Three Hander is SENSATIONAL,” as a further post read: “Can’t lie today’s #Emmerdale with Kim, Joe and Graham was so so so good.”
One fan then added: “I have physical chills after watching tonight’s special #Emmerdale! That was the BEST episode I’ve watched in the last 6 years. Spine tingling performances from Andrew Scarborough, Claire King and Ned Porteous WOW! I HAVE NO WORDS!”
One fan couldn’t hide their disappointment though, admitting a “mistake” in the writing “made no sense” after Joe reported Graham to the police over his fake demise. They fumed: “I love the storylines atm, best soap by far but Joe would never call the police on Graham idc what he’s done,” adding: “Makes no sense at all.”
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