What’s wrong with Joe Tate in Emmerdale ‘revealed’ as soap airs health twist

Joe Tate sparked concern once more on Emmerdale on Friday night (Image: ITV)

Joe Tate sparked concern once more on Emmerdale on Friday night, amid a possible health twist.

After previous scenes had hinted at an issue involving drugs or painkillers or maybe a health diagnosis, the latest episode brought this mystery plot back to the forefront. We’d just seen him teasing Dawn Taylor about their kiss, amid affair predictions for the pair.

Dawn asked Joe not to tell her husband Billy about their smooch, but it was clear she could be tempted once more. As Joe flirted with her after moving in with her and the family at Home Farm, Dawn was clearly torn.

Joe had gone up to his room, and minutes later Dawn was shown making her way to his door. She changed her mind though, shaking her head before sneaking back down the hall.

But as the camera moved into Joe’s room on the other side of the closed door, it was clear Joe was in some sort of trouble. His bags were sprawled open once more on the bed in a scene familiar to those when he returned weeks earlier.

Suddenly there was the noise of someone gasping for air, and we saw Joe seemingly collapsed on the floor. Leaning upright against his bed, Joe appeared to be experiencing some sort of medical or health incident.

Joe was breathless and unable to move, shown clutching with his hands and clearly in pain. As he looked tearful, one worrying moment looked as though his eyes were rolling back.

Emmerdale aired another worrying scene for Joe Tate on Friday night appearing to confirm he had a health issue ( Image: ITV)

Whether it was a seizure or a moment of paralysis was not clear, but it was obvious something was wrong with him. With these ‘episodes’ happening so often, and Dawn almost walking in on him, might we learn the truth about the plot soon?

Viewers already believe they know what could be wrong with Joe, and it might explain his sudden return to the village after six years away. With him befriending Kim Tate, the woman who ordered his death back in 2018, fans believe their is an ulterior motive for his comeback.

The key theory is that Joe is sick and needs a transplant, so might he be sticking around in the hope of getting a donor with his relatives living in the village? One viewer posted: “Is it Joe and the Tablets again? He is ill and needs a transplant?”

Another fan said: “My theory is that Joe needs some kind of organ transplant,” as a third posted: “I do think he’s back for a transplant too so keep Kim soft until he finds a donor?” After a worrying flashforward showed Joe’s uncle Caleb Miligan in hospital, a viewer predicted: “Hear me out: Joe came back because he needs some kind of transplant and is looking for a donor —which is why he’s constantly sucking up to Noah and reminding him that they’re family. Also we saw him have some kind of medical episode and take meds. Caleb is also a Tate and maybe donates something to Joe. Caleb ends up in hospital after some sort of complication.”