ITV Share Add as preferred source on Google Add as preferred source on Google By Carena Crawford 20 Feb 2026, 20:02 By Carena Crawford 20 Feb 2026, 20:02 Why we're all fed up of Joe Tate and his scheming: what Emmerdale must do to fix it How do you solve a problem like Joe? Cain Dingle Dawn Fletcher Joe Tate Moira Dingle Share Add as preferred source on Google Add as preferred source on Google By Carena Crawford 20 Feb 2026, 20:02 By Carena Crawford 20 Feb 2026, 20:02 Emmerdale has got itself a problem: Joe Tate. His scheming, vendettas and nastiness are just, well, boring and tired. So how can they fix it? They need to act fast, that’s for sure, as his behaviour is becoming more abhorrent by the minute. Emmerdale is running out of time to redeem him – or is it already too late? Joe’s return was much-longed for (Credit: ITV) The return of Joe Tate to Emmerdale fell flat It was Christmas Eve 2024 that we got the news us Emmerdale fans had all hoped for: Joe Tate was on his way back. It promised to be delicious, juicy and unmissable. What it delivered, however, fell short. Very short. Joe started off as working with the late Will Taylor to bring Kim down. Then Will died, suddenly that was all forgotten and Joe and Kim started to bond. So what was that all about? article continues below Read all the latest spoilers His next storyline became his kidney disease and stealing Caleb’s kidney. In the process he was responsible for the deaths of three people: Leyla, Amy and Suzy, by causing the lake limo crash when he drugged Noah. He continued to use underhand tactics, eventually stabbing Caleb to get him under the knife. And all-the-while we were thinking: why doesn’t he just ask for a kidney? Then came his other big storyline: a huge, passionate love affair with Dawn Fletcher. Except they have about as much chemistry as a bowl of soggy chips. Dawn is painfully dull and despite her makeover there is no way Joe would be this mad about her. Joe has been blackmailing Victoria (Credit: ITV) Joe’s scheming leaves a bitter taste Currently we have Joe lying, blackmailing and manipulating in order to get his hands on Moira’s farm. He had a hand in sending her to prison, he then blackmailed Victoria and Robert over John’s death so they’d sign their share of Butler’s over to him, and he’s wasted no time in pouncing on the vulnerable Dingle/Barton clan since. In tonight’s episode (Friday February 20) Joe bought the DeLorean to impress Lucas. He then rubbed it in Billy’s face, but was soon the one with egg on his face when it was stolen. Viewers know Cain and Sarah stole it, and Joe suspects as much. But when he went to the farm to challenge them, Cain fronted it out and Joe walked away. In the pub later, Cain made it clear he had taken the car, but there was no way Joe could prove it. Joe then told Graham: “That car is now priority number two. Priority number one is turning that man’s life inside out, back to front and to absolute ruin. By whatever means necessary.” Sigh. Graham and Cain have a mutual respect (Credit: ITV) Graham teams up with Cain Next week sees Graham head to Cain’s to steal the keys back. But when he notices the oncology letter confirming Cain has cancer it stops him in his tracks. Cain confronts Graham, but is easily overpowered and Graham returns home to Joe – but lies joyriders took the car, not Cain. So why is he protecting Mr Dingle? Later in the week, Graham tells Cain he knows he has cancer. He encourages him to focus on getting better and supporting Moira rather than fighting the Tates. As the two men share a handshake, Kim clocks it and is convinced they are working together against her. She urges Joe to test Graham and he does so by ordering his henchman to sabotage Cain’s farm machinery. Will Graham go through with it? Joe Tate blackmails Robert (Credit: ITV) How can Emmerdale solve its Joe Tate problem? All of this is really, really, really boring. It actually got boring a while ago as Robert and Victoria bowed down to his demands without so much as attempting to fight back. And now Graham is doing Joe’s bidding for what reason we’re not sure. Dawn doesn’t seem to care about the bad stuff he does and Joe’s moral compass has all-but disappeared. It seems particularly strange given at Christmas Joe was wanting to be more like his mother, Rachel Hughes, rather than his father, Chris. In fact, Christmas Joe might be just what we need. His scenes with Sam and the Dingles were quite heartwarming. Perhaps fix him by giving him a family? There has been much talk of Joe having a lonely childhood. That’s not exactly true, is it? Zoe loved him like her own and he grew up alongside cousin Jean Tate. Whilst Zoe actress Leah Bracknell is tragically no longer with us, it’s not beyond the realms of possibility to bring Jean back and have them have a sibling-like bond. Joe was pushed out of a window, but didn’t learn anything (Credit: ITV) Comeuppance incoming But what Joe really needs is his just deserts. Yes, he got pushed out of a window by Dawn. But he was in a wheelchair for five seconds, back hiking and running within days, forgave Dawn and got engaged. He has never paid for killing those women, nor has he ever been punished for stealing Caleb’s kidney. Helping get Ruby off a murder charge doesn’t really cut it. And the stuff with Moira is unforgivable. So, Emmerdale has a choice: either make Joe and out and out villain – expose him as being Celia’s big boss – and give him an end date. OR stop all the scheming, lying and cheating, give him a stint in prison and bring him back a better man. Over to you, Emmerdale Read more: Who’s leaving Emmerdale? All the cast exits, arrivals and returns Share Add as preferred source on Google Add as preferred source on Google Good to Know Share Add as preferred source on Google Add as preferred source on Google By Carena Crawford 20 Feb 2026, 20:02 By Carena Crawford 20 Feb 2026, 20:02 Next Story
