{"id":50916,"date":"2025-12-18T19:25:31","date_gmt":"2025-12-18T19:25:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tvguide.co.uk\/emmerdale-insider\/?p=50916"},"modified":"2025-12-18T14:29:51","modified_gmt":"2025-12-18T14:29:51","slug":"who-was-joe-tate-mum-emmerdale-rachel-hughes-explained-including-tragic-murder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tvguide.co.uk\/emmerdale-insider\/characters\/who-was-joe-tate-mum-emmerdale-rachel-hughes-explained-including-tragic-murder\/","title":{"rendered":" Who was Joe Tate&#8217;s mum in Emmerdale? Rachel Hughes&#8217; history explained, including tragic murder"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Joe Tate\u2019s mum Rachel Hughes appeared in Emmerdale for 11 years until her tragic murder in 1999. Joe was just a boy when his mum was killed and he was taken in by his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tvguide.co.uk\/emmerdale-insider\/characters\/tate-family-emmerdale-frank-kim-jamie-history-iconic-dynasty\/\">aunt Zoe after his father\u2019s death<\/a> in 2003.<\/p><div class=\"dbxgas:ad-container dbxgas:mpu-container dbxgas:block dbxgas:md:hidden\"><div class=\"dbxgas:slot\" data-ad-slot=\"inarticle-1st\"><\/div><\/div>\n<p>So what happened to Rachel? How did Joe Tate lose his beloved mum?<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_50972\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-50972\" style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-50972 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/shutterstock_editorial_15409462il.jpg\" alt=\"Rachel arrived with her brother Mark in 1988 (Credit: ITV\/Shutterstock)\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1283\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/shutterstock_editorial_15409462il.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/shutterstock_editorial_15409462il-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/shutterstock_editorial_15409462il-1300x869.jpg 1300w, https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/shutterstock_editorial_15409462il-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/shutterstock_editorial_15409462il-1536x1026.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/shutterstock_editorial_15409462il-180x120.jpg 180w, https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/shutterstock_editorial_15409462il-96x64.jpg 96w, https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/shutterstock_editorial_15409462il-512x342.jpg 512w, https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/shutterstock_editorial_15409462il-192x128.jpg 192w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-50972\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Rachel arrived with her brother Mark in 1988 (Credit: ITV\/Shutterstock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Joe Tate\u2019s mum, Rachel Hughes, arrives in Emmerdale<\/h2>\n<p>The Hughes family \u2013 mum Kate, 17-year-old Rachel and 15-year-old Mark \u2013 arrived in Emmerdale in 1988. Rachel\u2019s mother married Joe Sugden, but Mark was unhappy about the union.<\/p>\n<p>Rachel began an affair with married man Pete Whiteley on her 18th birthday. But Pete was killed when Kate ran him over when driving whilst drunk.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_50968\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-50968\" style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-50968 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/shutterstock_editorial_8858811bj.jpg\" alt=\"Rachel and Chris were Joe Tate's mum and dad in Emmerdale (Credit: ITV\/Shutterstock)\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1137\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/shutterstock_editorial_8858811bj.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/shutterstock_editorial_8858811bj-1024x606.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/shutterstock_editorial_8858811bj-1300x770.jpg 1300w, https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/shutterstock_editorial_8858811bj-768x455.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/shutterstock_editorial_8858811bj-1536x910.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/shutterstock_editorial_8858811bj-180x107.jpg 180w, https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/shutterstock_editorial_8858811bj-96x57.jpg 96w, https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/shutterstock_editorial_8858811bj-512x303.jpg 512w, https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/shutterstock_editorial_8858811bj-192x114.jpg 192w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-50968\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Rachel and Chris were Joe Tate\u2019s mum and dad in Emmerdale (Credit: ITV\/Shutterstock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Affair with Chris Tate and birth of Joe Tate<\/h2>\n<p>Mark Hughes was killed in the plane crash of 1993. The same plane crash left Chris Tate in a wheelchair and Rachel began helping him by giving him swimming lessons. Their closeness soon blossomed into an affair. Chris\u2019 wife Kathy saw them kissing and banged Rachel\u2019s head against a wall in anger.<\/p><section class=\"widget block-30 widget_block mb-4\"><div class=\"mb-3 stories-slider-container overflow-hidden w-[100%] max-sm:w-[108%] max-sm:ml-[-15px]\" data-items-visible=\"2\">\n  <h3 class=\"w-full text-center mb-5 uppercase\">article continues below<\/h3>  <div class=\"grid md:grid-cols-5 grid-cols-6\">\n          <a class=\"!no-underline col-span-4 mr-5 cursor-pointer mb-3 hover:!bg-[var(--color-v-white)] hover:!text-[var(--color-v-primary)] block [-webkit-tap-highlight-color:transparent] uppercase\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tvguide.co.uk\/emmerdale-insider\/category\/spoilers\/\">\n        <h2 class=\"font-[var(--font-v-font)] text-[var(--color-v-primary)] font-bold !text-2xl flex flex-row place-content-baseline !mb-0 max-sm:ml-[10px]\">\n          <span class=\"flex-initial mr-2 transition-all duration-300 hover:-translate-y-1 ease-in-out !leading-[var(--title-line-height)]\">Read all the latest spoilers<\/span>\n          <span class=\"mt-auto mb-2 self-baseline h-1 bg-[var(--color-v-primary)] block w-[100%] flex-1\"><\/span>\n        <\/h2>\n      <\/a>\n    \n\n\n\n\n    \n    <div class=\"rounded-tl-xl md:rounded-tr-xl bg-[var(--color-v-footer)] flex flex-row gap-4 md:col-span-1 col-span-2 justify-center pt-2\">\n      <button class=\"prev-btn h-8 w-8 rounded-full bg-[var(--color-v-white)] hover:bg-[var(--color-v-primary)] hover:text-[var(--color-v-white)] items-center justify-center text-sm transition delay-50 duration-100 cursor-pointer\" href=\"#\" alt=\"right\">\n        <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"w-5 h-5 justify-self-center inline\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"3\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" d=\"M15 19l-7-7 7-7\"><\/path><\/svg>\n      <\/button>\n      <button class=\"next-btn h-8 w-8 rounded-full bg-[var(--color-v-white)] hover:bg-[var(--color-v-primary)] hover:text-[var(--color-v-white)] font-bold items-center justify-center transition delay-50 duration-100 cursor-pointer \" href=\"#\" alt=\"left\">\n        <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"w-5 h-5 justify-self-center inline\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"3\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" d=\"M9 5l7 7-7 7\"><\/path><\/svg>\n      <\/button>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n  \n  \n  <div class=\"px-[10px] bg-[var(--color-v-footer)] rounded-none md:rounded-l-xl md:rounded-br-xl max-sm:pb-3\">\n    <div class=\"stories-slider-viewport group overflow-x-auto relative scroll-smooth\">\n      \n      <div class=\"invisible md:block slide\">\n        <img class=\"h-[250px]\" src=\"https:\/\/placehold.co\/1x250\" alt=\"placeholder\">\n      <\/div>\n      \n      <div class=\"stories-slider-track top-[10px] max-sm:h-[233px] absolute flex flex-row flex-nowrap transition-all duration-300 ease-in-out\">\n                              <div class=\"story-item flex-none slide\">\n              <div class=\"dbxgas:ad-container dbxgas:mpu-container dbxgas:hidden dbxgas:md:block dbxgas:mb-0!\"><div class=\"dbxgas:slot\" data-ad-slot=\"inarticle-desktop\"><\/div><\/div>            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\" md:ml-3  w-[200px] max-sm:w-[180px] story-item flex-shrink-0\">\n            <a class=\"!no-underline relative h-[100%] block !text-[var(--color-v-text-gray)] hover:!text-[var(--color-v-primary)] transition delay-150 duration-150 ease-in-out\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tvguide.co.uk\/emmerdale-insider\/spoilers\/paddy-bear-dylan-face-jury-on-trial\/\">\n              <div class=\"relative\">\n                <img class=\"rounded-xl !my-0 md:w-[200px] md:h-[133px] max-sm:w-[180px] max-sm:h-[120px] object-cover mb-3\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Emm-Banners-ExclusiveOp-Templates-11.jpg\" alt=\"Paddy, Bear and Dylan face the jury as they go on trial\">\n                                                   <span class=\"!text-[var(--color-v-white)] text-xs rounded-xl px-2 py-1 absolute bg-[var(--color-v-primary)] bottom-3 left-3\"> Mon, May 4<\/span>                <\/div>\n              <h4 class=\"!font-semibold !text-sm md:!text-base !leading-[var(--title-line-height)] mt-2 max-sm:line-clamp-5 line-clamp-4 text-base font-semibold\">Paddy, Bear and Dylan face the jury as they go on trial<\/h4>\n              <span class=\"text-xs text-[var(--color-v-primary-dark)] align-baseline absolute bottom-2\">2 days ago<\/span>\n            <\/a>\n          <\/div>\n                            <div class=\" ml-3  w-[200px] max-sm:w-[180px] story-item flex-shrink-0\">\n            <a class=\"!no-underline relative h-[100%] block !text-[var(--color-v-text-gray)] hover:!text-[var(--color-v-primary)] transition delay-150 duration-150 ease-in-out\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tvguide.co.uk\/emmerdale-insider\/spoilers\/kevs-comeback-dawn-exit-return-sadie-king\/\">\n              <div class=\"relative\">\n                <img class=\"rounded-xl !my-0 md:w-[200px] md:h-[133px] max-sm:w-[180px] max-sm:h-[120px] object-cover mb-3\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/News-split-2026-04-10T172033.421.jpg\" alt=\"Kev's comeback, Dawn's exit and the 'return of Sadie King'\">\n                                                   <span class=\"!text-[var(--color-v-white)] text-xs rounded-xl px-2 py-1 absolute bg-[var(--color-v-primary)] bottom-3 left-3\">Upcoming<\/span>                <\/div>\n              <h4 class=\"!font-semibold !text-sm md:!text-base !leading-[var(--title-line-height)] mt-2 max-sm:line-clamp-5 line-clamp-4 text-base font-semibold\">Kev's comeback, Dawn's exit and the 'return of Sadie King'<\/h4>\n              <span class=\"text-xs text-[var(--color-v-primary-dark)] align-baseline absolute bottom-2\">2 days ago<\/span>\n            <\/a>\n          <\/div>\n                            <div class=\" ml-3  w-[200px] max-sm:w-[180px] story-item flex-shrink-0\">\n            <a class=\"!no-underline relative h-[100%] block !text-[var(--color-v-text-gray)] hover:!text-[var(--color-v-primary)] transition delay-150 duration-150 ease-in-out\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tvguide.co.uk\/emmerdale-insider\/spoilers\/joe-exposes-dawn-big-secret-paddy-faces-his-last-night-village\/\">\n              <div class=\"relative\">\n                <img class=\"rounded-xl !my-0 md:w-[200px] md:h-[133px] max-sm:w-[180px] max-sm:h-[120px] object-cover mb-3\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/DATE-split-2026-04-30T131946.383.jpg\" alt=\"Joe exposes Dawn's big secret and Paddy faces his last night in the village\">\n                                                   <span class=\"!text-[var(--color-v-white)] text-xs rounded-xl px-2 py-1 absolute bg-[var(--color-v-primary)] bottom-3 left-3\"> Fri, May 1<\/span>                <\/div>\n              <h4 class=\"!font-semibold !text-sm md:!text-base !leading-[var(--title-line-height)] mt-2 max-sm:line-clamp-5 line-clamp-4 text-base font-semibold\">Joe exposes Dawn's big secret and Paddy faces his last night in the village<\/h4>\n              <span class=\"text-xs text-[var(--color-v-primary-dark)] align-baseline absolute bottom-2\">3 days ago<\/span>\n            <\/a>\n          <\/div>\n                            <div class=\" ml-3  w-[200px] max-sm:w-[180px] story-item flex-shrink-0\">\n            <a class=\"!no-underline relative h-[100%] block !text-[var(--color-v-text-gray)] hover:!text-[var(--color-v-primary)] transition delay-150 duration-150 ease-in-out\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tvguide.co.uk\/emmerdale-insider\/spoilers\/moira-recruits-dawn-todd-beds-hope-bear\/\">\n              <div class=\"relative\">\n                <img class=\"rounded-xl !my-0 md:w-[200px] md:h-[133px] max-sm:w-[180px] max-sm:h-[120px] object-cover mb-3\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Fan-theory-Split-36.jpg\" alt=\"Moira recruits Dawn, Todd beds in and hope for Bear\">\n                                                   <span class=\"!text-[var(--color-v-white)] text-xs rounded-xl px-2 py-1 absolute bg-[var(--color-v-primary)] bottom-3 left-3\"> Thu, Apr 30<\/span>                <\/div>\n              <h4 class=\"!font-semibold !text-sm md:!text-base !leading-[var(--title-line-height)] mt-2 max-sm:line-clamp-5 line-clamp-4 text-base font-semibold\">Moira recruits Dawn, Todd beds in and hope for Bear<\/h4>\n              <span class=\"text-xs text-[var(--color-v-primary-dark)] align-baseline absolute bottom-2\">4 days ago<\/span>\n            <\/a>\n          <\/div>\n                            <div class=\" ml-3  w-[200px] max-sm:w-[180px] story-item flex-shrink-0\">\n            <a class=\"!no-underline relative h-[100%] block !text-[var(--color-v-text-gray)] hover:!text-[var(--color-v-primary)] transition delay-150 duration-150 ease-in-out\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tvguide.co.uk\/emmerdale-insider\/spoilers\/dont-worry-that-was-not-moira-revenge-joe-emmerdale-spoilers-confirm-real-plan-next-week\/\">\n              <div class=\"relative\">\n                <img class=\"rounded-xl !my-0 md:w-[200px] md:h-[133px] max-sm:w-[180px] max-sm:h-[120px] object-cover mb-3\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/News-split-2026-04-28T153547.115.jpg\" alt=\"Moira's real plan confirmed after letting Joe live\">\n                                                   <span class=\"!text-[var(--color-v-white)] text-xs rounded-xl px-2 py-1 absolute bg-[var(--color-v-primary)] bottom-3 left-3\">May 4 - 8<\/span>                <\/div>\n              <h4 class=\"!font-semibold !text-sm md:!text-base !leading-[var(--title-line-height)] mt-2 max-sm:line-clamp-5 line-clamp-4 text-base font-semibold\">Moira's real plan confirmed after letting Joe live<\/h4>\n              <span class=\"text-xs text-[var(--color-v-primary-dark)] align-baseline absolute bottom-2\">5 days ago<\/span>\n            <\/a>\n          <\/div>\n                            <div class=\" ml-3  w-[200px] max-sm:w-[180px] story-item flex-shrink-0\">\n            <a class=\"!no-underline relative h-[100%] block !text-[var(--color-v-text-gray)] hover:!text-[var(--color-v-primary)] transition delay-150 duration-150 ease-in-out\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tvguide.co.uk\/emmerdale-insider\/spoilers\/cain-moira-crisis-revelation-leaves-family-distraught\/\">\n              <div class=\"relative\">\n                <img class=\"rounded-xl !my-0 md:w-[200px] md:h-[133px] max-sm:w-[180px] max-sm:h-[120px] object-cover mb-3\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2026\/04\/DATE-split-2026-04-28T132835.379.jpg\" alt=\"Cain and Moira in crisis as his revelation leaves the family distraught\">\n                                                   <span class=\"!text-[var(--color-v-white)] text-xs rounded-xl px-2 py-1 absolute bg-[var(--color-v-primary)] bottom-3 left-3\"> Wed, Apr 29<\/span>                <\/div>\n              <h4 class=\"!font-semibold !text-sm md:!text-base !leading-[var(--title-line-height)] mt-2 max-sm:line-clamp-5 line-clamp-4 text-base font-semibold\">Cain and Moira in crisis as his revelation leaves the family distraught<\/h4>\n              <span class=\"text-xs text-[var(--color-v-primary-dark)] align-baseline absolute bottom-2\">5 days ago<\/span>\n            <\/a>\n          <\/div>\n              <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"story-item mx-auto flex-none md:hidden sm:block w-[300px]\">\n    <div class=\"dbxgas:ad-container dbxgas:mpu-container dbxgas:block dbxgas:md:hidden dbxgas:mb-0!\"><div class=\"dbxgas:slot\" data-ad-slot=\"inarticle-mpu\"><\/div><\/div>    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section><div class=\"dbxgas:ad-container dbxgas:double-mpu-container dbxgas:block dbxgas:md:hidden\"><div class=\"dbxgas:slot\" data-ad-slot=\"inarticle\"><\/div><\/div><div data-ad-slot=\"ad-slot2\"><\/div>\n<p>But in December 1994 Rachel discovered she was pregnant with Chris\u2019 baby. She gave birth to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tvguide.co.uk\/emmerdale-insider\/tag\/joe-tate\/\">Joseph Mark Tate<\/a> on the same day her stepfather Joe Sugden died. Joe was named in his honour. Kathy was with Rachel during the labour and the pair put their differences aside \u2013 Kathy was even named Joe\u2019s godmother!<\/p>\n<p>Chris and Rachel married on December 7 1995. Chris was desperate for another child, but Rachel did not want one so secretly went on the pill. The couple split when he stole confidential information from her work file and she was granted full custody of Joseph.<\/p>\n<p>Rachel embarked on her third affair with a married man when she started sleeping with Jack Sugden. But he went back to wife Sarah.<\/p><div class=\"my-5 boxout\"><div><h2 class=\"!text-2xl p-3 !my-0 bg-[var(--color-v-primary)]\">Don't miss a single story! Add us as a Preferred Source in Google for all your Emmerdale news<\/h2><\/div><div class=\"p-3 bg-[var(--color-v-primary)]\/50 text-base\">It's important to us that you never miss our articles when searching for stories! We have all the latest TV news &amp; schedules to share with our community of loyal readers.\r\n\r\nClick\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tvguide.co.uk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q%3Dtvguide.co.uk&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1771925084739000&amp;usg=AOvVaw26YBpjtwUOaDOV8IYgQAmD\" data-track=\"preferred-source\" data-placement=\"article_body\"><b>here<\/b><\/a>\u00a0and tick\u00a0<strong><a href=\"http:\/\/tvguide.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=http:\/\/tvguide.co.uk\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1771925084739000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3Uu9xte1Ig7bDiZNlkPjpu\">TVGuide.co.uk<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0to ensure you see stories from us first in Google Search.<\/div><\/div>\n<figure id=\"attachment_50969\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-50969\" style=\"width: 1287px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-50969 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/shutterstock_editorial_9480985cd.jpg\" alt=\"Graham turned out to be a killer (Credit: ITV\/Shutterstock)\" width=\"1287\" height=\"1920\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/shutterstock_editorial_9480985cd.jpg 1287w, https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/shutterstock_editorial_9480985cd-686x1024.jpg 686w, https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/shutterstock_editorial_9480985cd-871x1300.jpg 871w, https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/shutterstock_editorial_9480985cd-768x1146.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/shutterstock_editorial_9480985cd-1030x1536.jpg 1030w, https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/shutterstock_editorial_9480985cd-121x180.jpg 121w, https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/shutterstock_editorial_9480985cd-64x96.jpg 64w, https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/shutterstock_editorial_9480985cd-343x512.jpg 343w, https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/shutterstock_editorial_9480985cd-129x192.jpg 129w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1287px) 100vw, 1287px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-50969\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Graham turned out to be a killer (Credit: ITV\/Shutterstock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Rachel meets Graham<\/h2>\n<p>After starting work as a secretary at Hotton Comprehensive, Rachel met teacher <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tvguide.co.uk\/emmerdale-insider\/news\/11-most-iconic-emmerdale-villains-psychotic-killers-violent-abusers-master-manipulators\/\">Graham Clark<\/a>. He soon moved in with her. But it wasn\u2019t long before his controlling nature began to show.<\/p>\n<p>He started off small \u2013 rearranging her CD collection and the furniture in her house. He then tried to donate her clothes and got a hairdresser to come and change her image. Rachel agreed, but was horrified to find Graham had changed her into his late-wife Rebecca who had supposedly taken her own life.<\/p>\n<p>The pair also argued about having children with Graham wanting Rachel to be a housewife. Although she refused, Graham planted drugs on her in order to get her fired so he could have his wish.<\/p><div class=\"dbxgas:ad-container dbxgas:double-mpu-container dbxgas:block dbxgas:md:hidden\"><div class=\"dbxgas:slot\" data-ad-slot=\"inarticle\"><\/div><\/div>\n<p>Graham then started organising for them to move away, despite Rachel insisting she was going nowhere. She confided in Eric Pollard she was going to leave Graham and was going to break the news during a picnic.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_50970\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-50970\" style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-50970 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/shutterstock_editorial_9686818gu.jpg\" alt=\"Graham pushed Joe Tate's mum Rachel off a cliff (Credit: ITV\/Shutterstock)\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1283\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/shutterstock_editorial_9686818gu.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/shutterstock_editorial_9686818gu-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/shutterstock_editorial_9686818gu-1300x869.jpg 1300w, https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/shutterstock_editorial_9686818gu-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/shutterstock_editorial_9686818gu-1536x1026.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/shutterstock_editorial_9686818gu-180x120.jpg 180w, https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/shutterstock_editorial_9686818gu-96x64.jpg 96w, https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/shutterstock_editorial_9686818gu-512x342.jpg 512w, https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/shutterstock_editorial_9686818gu-192x128.jpg 192w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-50970\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Graham pushed Rachel off a cliff (Credit: ITV\/Shutterstock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>The tragic death of Joe Tate\u2019s mum Rachel Hughes in Emmerdale<\/h2>\n<p>Graham quickly realised what Rachel was planning and proposed instead. She felt unable to say no.<\/p>\n<p>But then he started talking about their wedding being down south and Rachel snapped. She once again told him she would not be moving away.<\/p>\n<p>As things got heated, Rachel realised she was in danger. She tried to run. But Graham cornered her on the clifftop.<\/p><div class=\"dbxgas:ad-container dbxgas:double-mpu-container dbxgas:block dbxgas:md:hidden\"><div class=\"dbxgas:slot\" data-ad-slot=\"inarticle\"><\/div><\/div>\n<p>It soon became clear his first wife had not committed suicide, but he had killed her. Panicking Graham then pushed Rachel off the cliff to her death.<\/p>\n<p>Graham returned to the village and pretended he and Rachel had been separated while playing a game of who could get back to the village first. A search party was launched and Jack Sugden found Rachel\u2019s body the next morning. It was concluded that Rachel must have fallen.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_50971\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-50971\" style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-50971 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/shutterstock_editorial_9912651cw.jpg\" alt=\"Kathy exposed Graham and then he was killed (Credit: ITV\/Shutterstock)\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1143\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/shutterstock_editorial_9912651cw.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/shutterstock_editorial_9912651cw-1024x610.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/shutterstock_editorial_9912651cw-1300x774.jpg 1300w, https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/shutterstock_editorial_9912651cw-768x457.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/shutterstock_editorial_9912651cw-1536x914.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/shutterstock_editorial_9912651cw-180x107.jpg 180w, https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/shutterstock_editorial_9912651cw-96x57.jpg 96w, https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/shutterstock_editorial_9912651cw-512x305.jpg 512w, https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/shutterstock_editorial_9912651cw-192x114.jpg 192w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-50971\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kathy exposed Graham and then he was killed (Credit: ITV\/Shutterstock)<\/figcaption><\/figure><div class=\"dbxgas:ad-container dbxgas:double-mpu-container dbxgas:block dbxgas:md:hidden\"><div class=\"dbxgas:slot\" data-ad-slot=\"inarticle\"><\/div><\/div>\n<h2>Graham caught<\/h2>\n<p>Eric knew Rachel had been planning to leave Graham and suspected the fall was not an accident. Realising he was under suspicion, Graham, who had got together with Kathy Glover by this point, persuaded her to leave the village with him.<\/p>\n<p>However, they had an argument in the car and Graham grabbed the wheel, causing it to get stuck on the edge of a cliff. Graham confessed he had killed Rachel.<\/p><div class=\"dbxgas:ad-container dbxgas:double-mpu-container dbxgas:block dbxgas:md:hidden\"><div class=\"dbxgas:slot\" data-ad-slot=\"inarticle\"><\/div><\/div>\n<p>Kathy managed to escape, but Graham was in the car when it fell to the bottom and exploded.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_50255\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-50255\" style=\"width: 1720px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-50255 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/News-standard-3.jpg\" alt=\"Joe Tate looking confused in Emmerdale\" width=\"1720\" height=\"978\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/News-standard-3.jpg 1720w, https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/News-standard-3-1024x582.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/News-standard-3-1300x739.jpg 1300w, https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/News-standard-3-768x437.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/News-standard-3-1536x873.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/News-standard-3-180x102.jpg 180w, https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/News-standard-3-96x55.jpg 96w, https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/News-standard-3-512x291.jpg 512w, https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/News-standard-3-192x109.jpg 192w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1720px) 100vw, 1720px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-50255\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Joe Tate returned in 2017 (Credit: ITV)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>What happened to Joe Tate after his mum\u2019s death in Emmerdale?<\/h2>\n<p>Joe was just four years old when his mum died and he went to live with dad Chris. Chris then died in 2003 and his sister, Zoe, was given custody. They then emigrated to New Zealand in 2005.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tvguide.co.uk\/emmerdale-insider\/characters\/joe-tate-emmerdale-revenge-plots-fake-deaths-exit-why-returning-now\/\">Joe returned to Emmerdale<\/a> in 2017 under the guise of Tom Waterhouse. He left again in 2018, but <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tvguide.co.uk\/emmerdale-insider\/news\/joe-tate-returns-emmerdale-fans-excited\/\">returned in 2024<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><b>Read more: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tvguide.co.uk\/emmerdale-insider\/news\/whos-leaving-emmerdale-2025-complete-guide-departures-returns-new-arrivals\/\"><b>Who\u2019s leaving Emmerdale? All the cast exits, arrivals and returns<\/b><\/a><\/p><div class=\"dbxgas:ad-container dbxgas:double-mpu-container dbxgas:block dbxgas:md:hidden\"><div class=\"dbxgas:slot\" data-ad-slot=\"inarticle\"><\/div><\/div>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src-consent=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/5ZbfHs3XAHo?si=LaQgufJyTl8nIWs7\" data-consent-required=\"true\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p><div class=\"dbxgas:ad-container dbxgas:double-mpu-container dbxgas:block dbxgas:md:hidden\"><div class=\"dbxgas:slot\" data-ad-slot=\"inarticle\"><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Joe remembers his mum alongside Sam Dingle<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":249734177,"featured_media":50973,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":"Joe Tate's mum Rachel Emmerdale","_yoast_wpseo_title":"Who was Joe Tate's mum in Emmerdale? Rachel Hughes' history explained, including tragic murder","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Joe Tate's mum Rachel Hughes appeared in Emmerdale for 11 years until her tragic murder in 1999. Joe was just a boy when his mum was killed.","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-title":"Who was Joe Tate's mum in Emmerdale? Rachel Hughes' history explained, including tragic murder","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_schema_page_type":"","_yoast_wpseo_schema_article_type":"","_secondary_title":"Who was Joe Tate&#039;s mum in Emmerdale? Rachel Hughes&#039; history explained, including tragic murder","secondary_post_title":"","dbc_origin_post_id":0,"dbc_origin_site_url":"","homepage_headline":"","excerpt":"","dbc_special_tags":"","_yoast_wpseo_focuskeywords":"","_yoast_wpseo_keywordsynonyms":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":"1359","slider_placement":"","_slider_placement":"field_681be083af7d6","footnotes":""},"categories":[1359],"tags":[1626,1605,1776],"coauthors":[1763],"class_list":["post-50916","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-characters","tag-chris-tate","tag-joe-tate","tag-rachel-hughes"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.4 (Yoast SEO v25.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Who was Joe Tate&#039;s mum in Emmerdale? Rachel Hughes&#039; history explained, including tragic murder<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Joe Tate&#039;s mum Rachel Hughes appeared in Emmerdale for 11 years until her tragic murder in 1999. Joe was just a boy when his mum was killed.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tvguide.co.uk\/emmerdale-insider\/characters\/who-was-joe-tate-mum-emmerdale-rachel-hughes-explained-including-tragic-murder\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Who was Joe Tate&#039;s mum in Emmerdale? Rachel Hughes&#039; history explained, including tragic murder\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Joe Tate&#039;s mum Rachel Hughes appeared in Emmerdale for 11 years until her tragic murder in 1999. Joe was just a boy when his mum was killed.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.tvguide.co.uk\/emmerdale-insider\/characters\/who-was-joe-tate-mum-emmerdale-rachel-hughes-explained-including-tragic-murder\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Emmerdale Insider for spoilers, breaking news, first-look pictures, previews and fan theories\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/profile.php?id=61563250212838\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-12-18T19:25:31+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/cdn.emmerdale-insider.com\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Character-split-9.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1720\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"978\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Carena Crawford\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Who was Joe Tate&#039;s mum in Emmerdale? Rachel Hughes&#039; history explained, including tragic murder\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@Caz81\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@EmmerdaleInside\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Carena Crawford\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"NewsArticle\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.tvguide.co.uk\/emmerdale-insider\/characters\/who-was-joe-tate-mum-emmerdale-rachel-hughes-explained-including-tragic-murder\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.tvguide.co.uk\/emmerdale-insider\/characters\/who-was-joe-tate-mum-emmerdale-rachel-hughes-explained-including-tragic-murder\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Carena Crawford\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.tvguide.co.uk\/emmerdale-insider\/#\/schema\/person\/24b2b55a5d690b73a6f1e04f730f9449\"},\"headline\":\"Who was Joe Tate&#8217;s mum in Emmerdale? 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