ITV Share By Carena Crawford Jan 28 2026 By Carena Crawford Jan 28 2026 'Sensational': 5 reasons Emmerdale has got Graham's return so right and the one thing they could have done differently Graham is back for good and we couldn't be happier Features Graham Foster Joe Tate Kim Tate Rhona Goskirk Share By Carena Crawford Jan 28 2026 By Carena Crawford Jan 28 2026 Graham Foster’s return to Emmerdale sent shockwave through us all. How, why, what and HOW again have been buzzing through our heads – after all he’s been ‘dead’ for six years. But despite how ridiculous it is; how unapologetically camp, deliciously over the top and unbelievable it is. Despite all of that, it is nothing short of brilliant. So why are we all loving it so much? Graham’s return left Rhona stunned (Credit: ITV) Graham returns from the dead in Emmerdale Having been ‘killed’ by Pierce Harris in 2020, Graham returned to Emmerdale six years to the day of his ‘death’. We’d had a brief glimpse of him in Corriedale so we knew he was still alive, but it was on Tuesday January 20 that we found out exactly what had happened to him. Graham appeared to former partner Rhona Gorskirk and told her he had faked his own death. He said he did it to protect her from Kim Tate. article continues below Read all the latest spoilers He had help from a former SAS colleague and DI Dent who bribed everyone involved to confirm he was dead. Then he was smuggled out of the country where he started drinking again to numb the pain of what he’d done. And once he pulled himself together, he started working fixing people’s problems for them. It was through his work he discovered April was in trouble with drug dealers and human traffickers. He knew he had to come back to save Rhona and her family. And now he wants to stay back – for Rhona? For Joe? Or even for Kim? We don’t know exactly yet, but we’re sure to find out. Kim and Joe are almost lost for words to see him again (Credit: ITV) Emmerdale tonight In the episode on Wednesday January 28 Graham faces Kim and Joe for the first time. He will explain why he left and why he’s back now. But both of them are more than a little stunned at his return. Joe can’t take it in and Kim is incredulous given she cremated his body. Will they find a way to forgive him? The episode is airing on ITV tonight, but it is already available on ITVX and YouTube. And those who have watched the special three-hander have hailed it ‘sensational’. “I have physical chills after watching tonight’s special Emmerdale!” said one on social media. “That was the BEST episode I’ve watched in the last six years. Spine tingling performances from Andrew Scarborough, Claire King and Ned Porteous WOW! I HAVE NO WORDS! ED YOU ARE UNSTOPPABLE RIGHT NOW.” A second agreed: “Tonight’s Emmerdale is so good, they are so good at the single story/minimal cast episodes,” “Can’t lie today’s Emmerdale with Kim, Joe and Graham was so so so good,” added a third. A fourth echoed the sentiment: “Tonight’s Kim, Joe and Graham three hander is SENSATIONAL.” “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!” enthused another. Hats off indeed. But how have they managed to make a return from the dead so appealing? Everyone loved Graham (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock) 1. Emmerdale chose the right character in Graham Graham was a hugely popular character during his time in Emmerdale. Fans have wanted him back for years. Killing him off was a mistake of EastEnders’ Ronnie and Roxy proportions! Especially as it seemed so final. He still has connections to plenty of people in the village – the Tates of course, Rhona and her family too. He terrorised Ryan Stocks, Charity’s son and he also let Cain believe he was a killer. It means there is plenty of story potential for Graham in the Dales right now – and for a long time to come. Graham returning to Emmerdale has got us gripped (Credit: ITV) 2. They got the timing right Emmerdale characters have returned from the dead before (just ask Kim Tate herself!), but usually they tell us days or weeks after that the person is still alive. This time Emmerdale has bided their time. They’ve let us believe it would never be possible, so the shock that it is possible and it is happening is truly iconic. Graham is back for Rhona (Credit: ITV) 3. They gave us an explanation Too often inconsistencies are brushed over in Soapland. But this time Emmerdale gave us a full explanation as to why Graham faked his death, how he did it and why is is back now. It might have been a bit far-fetched, but it also made sense with his character background, so we could just about buy it. Graham looking dashing (Credit: ITV) 4. Graham’s still got it! The bad-boy temperament, somewhere between the Milk Tray man and James Bond, the sexy voice that hits like melted chocolate and the fact he will do anything to protect those he loves. Graham is still Graham and he is still captivating to watch on screen. The chemistry he shared with Rhona has never gone away and the bond he has with Joe remains. Plus, his love/hate relationship with Kim still sizzles. Emmerdale hasn’t changed Graham into someone unrecognisable and it’s a definite winner for us. He’s definitely still got it! (Credit: ITV) 5. Emmerdale has leaned into the ridiculous with Graham’s return One thing Emmerdale does better than all the other soaps is take slightly bonkers storylines and make them work. The village is all doom and gloom, but sometimes a bit of a far-fetched storyline is just what we need to lighten the load. Take Meena and John Sugden before, long-running storylines that got to a point where they were pushing into the realms of silliness, but still had us gripped. Graham’s return is up there with those. Would Graham really be scared of Kim? (Credit: ITV) But there’s one thing that still sticks out about Graham’s return to Emmerdale… We’ve loved every second of it, but we’re still a little stuck on just why Graham would fake his death. Could they not have come up with a slightly better explanation than he overheard Kim putting a hit on him? Graham could absolutely have taken Al Chapman in a minute. Graham is ex-SAS. He fought in Afghanistan and Iraq. Kim Tate of Home Farm, Emmerdale, would not scare him into going to quite such exteme lengths. It would have been far better if something from his past in the SAS – a secret from his time at war – had found him and he had no other choice but to seem dead to protect his loved ones. But that’s just our opinion – and we’re still totally behind his comeback, no question! Read more: Who’s leaving Emmerdale? All the cast exits, arrivals and returns Share Good to Know Share By Carena Crawford Jan 28 2026 By Carena Crawford Jan 28 2026 Previous Story Next Story
