ITV Share Add as preferred source on Google Add as preferred source on Google By Carena Crawford 25 Feb 2026, 14:02 By Carena Crawford 25 Feb 2026, 14:02 What is Graham REALLY up to? 5 theories on his master plan as Joe Tate should be worried Graham is more than Joe's puppet, so what's going on here? Features Graham Foster Joe Tate Share Add as preferred source on Google Add as preferred source on Google By Carena Crawford 25 Feb 2026, 14:02 By Carena Crawford 25 Feb 2026, 14:02 Ever since his return to Emmerdale Graham Foster has been busy playing lapdog to Joe Tate. He has fallen into line with everything Joe has said and it’s becoming increasingly uncomfortable to watch. But surely the Graham we know, the Graham who was trained in the SAS and has spent the last six years ‘fixing’ problems the police couldn’t, wouldn’t just bow down to Joe and do everything he asked? So what is going on here? Does Graham have a master plan – and should Joe be worried? Joe told Graham he should have stayed dead (Credit: ITV) Joe treats Graham like dirt in Emmerdale Joe does have a history of treating people as he pleases and still getting what he wants. And ever since Graham returned from the dead, Joe has been pretty harsh on him. Understandable, maybe, but what’s not clear is exactly why Graham is sucking it up. Earlier this month Graham expressed his disapproval over how Joe destroyed Robert and Victoria for financial gain. Joe told him: “You better fall in line. If you want to be on my team, Graham, you will play by my rules.” Graham simply nodded his head in agreement. article continues below Read all the latest spoilers This week Graham has been on Joe’s mission to ‘destroy Cain’. But when he went to Butlers to get back the keys to the DeLorean, Graham discovered Cain had cancer. Since then he’s been trying to help Cain while also seeming to Joe like he was still Team Tate. However Kim has grown suspicious and urged Joe to test Graham. Joe did just that, over some farm machinery, and it turned out Graham was helping Cain and lying to Joe. Now Joe isn’t very happy and has told Graham he should have “stayed dead”. Ouch.Don't miss a single story! Add us as a Preferred Source in Google for all your Emmerdale newsIt's important to us that you never miss our articles when searching for stories! We have all the latest TV news & schedules to share with our community of loyal readers. Click here and tick TVGuide.co.uk to ensure you see stories from us first in Google Search. Graham takes everything Joe says without fighting back (Credit: ITV) So what is really going on with Graham in Emmerdale? Once again Graham just took Joe’s harsh words and apologised. But is all this easily explained by Graham’s guilt over leaving Joe all those years ago? Or is there more to it? We are pretty sure there is far more to it – and so are plenty of fans… Graham was working for somebody when he returned (Credit: ITV) 1. Graham working for the police in Emmerdale? When he returned we discovered Graham had been working for the police a lot, ‘fixing’ problems they couldn’t solve. And fans are convinced that’s why he’s really back and his involvement with force is on-going… “Working with, but not for the police,” one suggested on social media. Another referenced his connection to Coronation Street’s Jodie. They said: “Tonight Jodie told someone she was in witness protection so is [Graham] working for the police? Don’t forget a top police officer took part in covering his death so he could be in her pocket.” “Working with the police to bring Joe and Kim down,” added a third. Joe and Kim were blindsided by Graham’s Emmerdale return (Credit: ITV) 2. To bring Kim and Joe’s empire crashing down Speaking of which, whether he’s working with the police or not, many viewers are convinced he is here to bring the Tates down. So does Graham have revenge in mind? “Yes, I’m hoping Graham (as much as he cares about Joe) has come back to get his revenge on them both and it would be satisfying to wipe Joe’s smug smile off his face. Really not liking Kim right now,” shared one. A second added: “I’m hoping he teams up with Robert and Aaron to bring down the Tates.” “He wants to bring Kim down…after all she did put a hit on him…” mused a third. “A complex plot maybe. Graham and Joe pretending there’s friction between them but it’s all an elaborate act to overthrow Kim…” a fourth suggested. Was Joe Celia’s boss? (Credit: ITV) 3. Is Joe the real criminal mastermind? Rumours that the end is nigh for Joe Tate just won’t go away and fans think they know why – and why Graham is behind it all. “I reckon Joe is the big boss of Celia etc and Graham is working undercover to bring him down,” suggested one viewer. Another agreed: “I think Joe is behind all the bad stuff going on in Emmerdale. Maybe one of his victims has a conection to Graham?” “Think Graham might be working under cover to catch the gang and drug smugglers and Joe could have something to do with it,” added a third. A fourth thought Graham and Kim’s hatred was all an act: “I am thinking is Graham working with Kim to flush out Joe,” they said. “No way would Kim want Moira in prison and farm taken off her which makes Joe the lord of that Ray and vile mother of his.” Graham certaily has the swagger of someone in charge (Credit: ITV) 4. Or is Graham in charge? Some think Graham is not as good as he’s cracked up to be. One suggested Graham is the one in charge… “Graham could control the power across the board,” they said. “He already knows Joe hates what he did and Joe’s just using him. Kim’s picking the wrong enemy, one that was trained by the state so bring it on Graham.” Are Graham and Joe related? (Credit: ITV) 5. Joe’s real dad? A slightly out-there theory, but one that isn’t going away, none-the-less: is Graham Joe Tate’s real dad? Viewers know Chris Tate and Rachel Hughes are Joe’s parents. Graham was not even known of back when Joe was born. But could the soap be about to rewrite history? “Father possibly????” and “Could he be Joe’s dad?” queried several fans. Another added: “I think Joe is Graham’s son.” Whatever the outcome, it had better be good – because Graham needs to stop playing the lapdog and start being the leader he was born to be or else his return was pointless. 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 25 Feb 2026, 14:02 By Carena Crawford 25 Feb 2026, 14:02 Next Story
