Emmerdale reveals Joe Tate's secret in ITVX episode – and teases sinister new scheme

For months now, viewers have known that Joe has an ulterior motive for being back in the village, and his actions were the catalyst for the fatal limousine crash after he drugged half-brother Noah Dingle (Jack Downham).

As the ITV soap continued, Joe was distracted and clearly not well as he turned down married lover Dawn Fletcher (Olivia Bromley).

After rejecting Dawn again, Joe was left alone in his room at Home Farm - and if you hadn't guessed it already, this was the moment that the nature of Joe's illness was unveiled.

Joe opened his mysterious suitcase, which held a dialysis machine. A visit from Crowley then told us that Joe has chronic kidney disease, and now we know that Joe is seeking a kidney transplant.

It was for this reason that Joe had targeted Noah, although he and Crowley had failed to check if the young man was a donor match first.

With Noah having escaped the pair's clutches and remaining unaware of what really happened that night, Joe commented that the drugging had been a mistake.

Yet he was determined that his donor had to be a relative, and Joe already had a new plan at the ready - whether the character consented to giving away their kidney or not!

Is this storyline set to get even darker? It appears so, but what's Joe's next move?

Anyone affected by chronic kidney disease can read more on the NHS website or visit Kidney research UK.

Read more:

• Emmerdale exposes two shattering secrets as lives change forever in dramatic ITVX episode
• Emmerdale star reveals he knows who killed Nate after horrific twist discovery
• 5 Emmerdale spoilers: Joe Tate's secret revealed and newcomer Kammy arrives
• Emmerdale star Natalie Ann Jamieson on Amy's tragic death: 'As a soap exit, it's iconic!'
• Emmerdale's Natalie Ann Jamieson on Nate body twist: "She's taken it to the grave!"
• Emmerdale 2025 preview: 12 spoilers for the year ahead
• Emmerdale casts Casualty actor Shebz Miah in new role - and he's trouble

Emmerdale airs Monday to Friday at 7:30pm on ITV1. Stream on ITVX.

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