Emmerdale fans are convinced Joe Tate is alive after Jeff Hordley interview
He plays Cain Dingle on the soap
Author: Emma DoddsPublished 18th Jan 2019 Last updated 18th Jan 2019
The question on every Emmerdale fan's lips is: Did Joe Tate survive? Is he alive? The character, played by Ned Porteous, was seemingly written out of the soap last year after his father-in-law-to-be, Cain Dingle, played by Jeff Hordley, punched him to the ground.
Joe then knocked his head on a rock, and his body was taken away by his business associate Graham Foster, who had actually been hired by Joe's step-grandmother Kim Tate to murder him.
However, fans have been convinced ever since then that Joe actually survived the beating - and that Graham helped him escape, since the body that was recovered the other day wasn't him.
However, with Cain confessing to daughter Debbie Dingle - who was meant to marry Joe - that he bumped him off, things will never be the same between the father and daughter, who have always been incredibly close throughout their time on the soap.
But Emmerdale fans are convinced that actor Jeff has given away Joe's survival in an interview on This Morning earlier today with Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford.
Swipe through to see all the Emmerdale spoilers you need to know for this week...
Emmerdale spoilers
The Dingle sisters know that someone needs to confront Cain. It's Charity who draws the short straw, and when she arrives at Home Farm, she's shocked at the state of the house and of him.
Emmerdale fans are convinced Joe Tate is alive after Jeff Hordley interview
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Emmerdale spoilers
Jacob finally deletes Maya's contact details from his phone, vowing to move on from the affair, and tries to make amends with Liv.
Emmerdale spoilers
The Dingle sisters know that someone needs to confront Cain. It's Charity who draws the short straw, and when she arrives at Home Farm, she's shocked at the state of the house and of him.
Emmerdale spoilers
Charity thinks she's making progress with Cain, until he leans in for a kiss. She's appalled, but is concerned about Cain when she realises that Matty has filmed the whole thing,
Emmerdale spoilers
A glum Moira returns to the farm, where she's intercepted by a tentative looking Matty.
Emmerdale spoilers
How will Moira react when Matty tells her that Cain has launched himself at another woman?
Emmerdale spoilers
Later on, an optimistic Aaron tells Moira that everything will be okay in the end – but Moira isn't so sure.
Emmerdale spoilers
Cain's story begins to unravel as Debbie tells Faith the truth about Cain murdering Joe, and then Faith unknowingly lets slip to Matty. Matty
Emmerdale spoilers
Before long, the police turn up at the Woolpack and make a beeline for Cain. But when Cain refuses to go quietly, the arrest him there and then for Joe's murder.
Emmerdale spoilers
Bob's hard times are showing no sign of letting up, as Diane unwittingly removes his bag of food tins from the hostel, leaving him with nothing.
Emmerdale spoilers
Finding himself without money to pay for accommodation, he offers to close up the pub, and settles down for a night in the Woolpack cellar.
Emmerdale spoilers
However the following morning he's nearly caught. A weary Bob decides his only option is to bed down in the back of Brenda's car...
Emmerdale spoilers
But things go from bad to worse when Brenda asks for her car keys back. Now Bob's only option is a bench in the local park.
Emmerdale spoilers
Aaron and Robert have planned to spend a quiet night in together, but Robert isn't pleased when Aaron shows up with Kyle and Noah.
Emmerdale spoilers
Soon after, Liv turns up with Belle's new piglet. But things quickly descend into chaos when they realise the piglet has gone missing!
Emmerdale spoilers
Manpreet hopes that Risihi will invite her to live with him at Holdgate.
Emmerdale spoilers
But her hints go unnoticed, and Jai and Priya take it into their own hands to convince Manpreet to pop the question.
Emmerdale spoilers
Tired of the brother's bickering, Victoria locks Billy and Ellis in the portakabin to smooth things over.
Emmerdale spoilers
But Ellis soon becomes concerned for his brother, as being locked in the confined space causes Billy to have a panic attack.
Emmerdale spoilers
Later on, Victoria leaves an urgent message for Ellis but when Marlon and Jessie come barging down the stairs she panics and throws a pregnancy test under the sofa. Soon Victoria and Ellis have some things to work out…
Emmerdale spoilers
Jacob finally deletes Maya's contact details from his phone, vowing to move on from the affair, and tries to make amends with Liv.
Emmerdale spoilers
The Dingle sisters know that someone needs to confront Cain. It's Charity who draws the short straw, and when she arrives at Home Farm, she's shocked at the state of the house and of him.
Emmerdale spoilers
Charity thinks she's making progress with Cain, until he leans in for a kiss. She's appalled, but is concerned about Cain when she realises that Matty has filmed the whole thing,
Emmerdale spoilers
A glum Moira returns to the farm, where she's intercepted by a tentative looking Matty.
Emmerdale spoilers
How will Moira react when Matty tells her that Cain has launched himself at another woman?
Emmerdale spoilers
Later on, an optimistic Aaron tells Moira that everything will be okay in the end – but Moira isn't so sure.
Emmerdale spoilers
Cain's story begins to unravel as Debbie tells Faith the truth about Cain murdering Joe, and then Faith unknowingly lets slip to Matty. Matty
Emmerdale spoilers
Before long, the police turn up at the Woolpack and make a beeline for Cain. But when Cain refuses to go quietly, the arrest him there and then for Joe's murder.
Emmerdale spoilers
Bob's hard times are showing no sign of letting up, as Diane unwittingly removes his bag of food tins from the hostel, leaving him with nothing.
Emmerdale spoilers
Finding himself without money to pay for accommodation, he offers to close up the pub, and settles down for a night in the Woolpack cellar.
Emmerdale spoilers
However the following morning he's nearly caught. A weary Bob decides his only option is to bed down in the back of Brenda's car...
Emmerdale spoilers
But things go from bad to worse when Brenda asks for her car keys back. Now Bob's only option is a bench in the local park.
Emmerdale spoilers
Aaron and Robert have planned to spend a quiet night in together, but Robert isn't pleased when Aaron shows up with Kyle and Noah.
Emmerdale spoilers
Soon after, Liv turns up with Belle's new piglet. But things quickly descend into chaos when they realise the piglet has gone missing!
Emmerdale spoilers
Manpreet hopes that Risihi will invite her to live with him at Holdgate.
Emmerdale spoilers
But her hints go unnoticed, and Jai and Priya take it into their own hands to convince Manpreet to pop the question.
Emmerdale spoilers
Tired of the brother's bickering, Victoria locks Billy and Ellis in the portakabin to smooth things over.
Emmerdale spoilers
But Ellis soon becomes concerned for his brother, as being locked in the confined space causes Billy to have a panic attack.
Emmerdale spoilers
Later on, Victoria leaves an urgent message for Ellis but when Marlon and Jessie come barging down the stairs she panics and throws a pregnancy test under the sofa. Soon Victoria and Ellis have some things to work out…
Emmerdale spoilers
Jacob finally deletes Maya's contact details from his phone, vowing to move on from the affair, and tries to make amends with Liv.
Jeff became very serious around the question of whether Joe had survived, and when referring to the body that wasn't Joe, he said, "It wasn't him - but as far as Cain's concerned, Joe's dead.
"People are asking the questions, 'Is he alive? Is he not?' but as far as Cain is concerned, he's dead, and as far as Debbie's concerned, he's dead. And I killed him. For the first time - blood on my hands."
Opening up about how Cain's relationship with Debbie will change, Jeff admitted, "If there's been one constant in Cain's life, it's been his daughter, and now that this has happened, it's rocked his world because she's always been there for him and he's always been there for her, and now this seems to be the end for them."
Later on, Jeff was prompted once again to speculate over whether he thought Joe would return, and he coyly answered, "I've not seen any evidence in the scripts that he is otherwise."
He didn't manage to convince viewers, however, with many taking to Twitter to question his wording. One wrote, '"As far as he’s concerned", the lack of a straight answer suggests he’s not dead', as another added, 'So Joe isn't dead then.'
Emmerdale airs every weeknight at 7pm on ITV, with a second showing on Tuesday nights at 8pm.
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