Exclusive: Emmerdale’s Ned Porteous lifts lid on Joe Tate’s ‘sinister’ plans for village after dramatic return
The actor's character made a shock return to the soap this week after a six-year hiatus and hints Joe will be involved in much more drama in the Dales following his hand in Will Taylor's sudden death
There’s a big twist brewing on Emmerdale it seems following a worrying scene with Joe Tate (Image: ITV)
Joe Tate only made his shock Emmerdale return on Christmas Eve and he has has already wreaked havoc at Home Farm – culminating in Will Taylor’s sudden death from a heart attack, revealed last night.
Christmas viewers were stunned to learn he was the mastermind behind Pete and Will’s plan to topple Kim Tate. Then, just after Kim and Will decided to get back together on Christmas Day, watched on in horror as Joe revealed the truth to Kim, and Will immediately keeled over and clutched his chest in agony.
The shocking death was kept top secret by soap bosses. And actor Ned Porteous, stepping back into Joe’s shoes after a six-year break, says he will cause plenty more drama in the Dales in the coming days and weeks.
Emmerdale’s Joe Tate made a shocking comeback to the ITV soap this week ( Image: ITV)
“It’s so much fun playing a villain,” laughs Ned, 30. “There has been this very dramatic unplanned death that, as well as the devastation caused, also leaves lots of questions of why, in fact, is Joe even back?
“There are multiple sides to Joe and you will see him go to dark places. He is a control freak and he’s afraid of showing his true feelings.
“I don’t want to give the game away too much, but there could also be something else sinister going on.
“The things you can’t buy in life, potentially, become the most important to him.
“It’s also safe to say I’m not too sure many of the villagers are that happy to see him back! But the truth of why Joe has returned will, in time, come out.”
After leaving the soap in 2018, during dramatic scenes that saw Joe seemingly get murdered by evil Graham Foster, Joe spent three years trying his luck in Hollywood.
Viewers thought Joe had been murdered by evil Graham Foster ( Image: ITV)
But the Covid pandemic hit the acting industry hard and he landed only a few small roles, playing Henry Granville’s lover, Lord Wetherby, in Bridgerton and Luke in Disney Plus’ Extraordinary.
Ned recalls: “A part of going out there was looking for work. It is an amazing but mad place.
“Acting in Hollywood is not too far off what you have seen in the films. The thing about LA is you have this strange feeling you have been there before even though it is thousands of miles away.
“It was surreal at times and it was interesting to dip my toe into the casting world out there.
“I got pretty close to a lot of projects. I’ve definitely got no regrets, as the life of an actor is a life of constantly trying things and failing, then hopefully one day being fortunate to nab something!”
With more time on his hands that he had imagined, Ned says he became passionate about rock climbing in California’s Yosemite National Park – a hobby he got introduced to during his first stint in Emmerdale.
He says: “I got into indoor bouldering at Emmerdale in Leeds, as a few members of the cast did it. I fell in love with it.
“During my time out in the States, I spent a lot of time in Yosemite, which is home to one of the greatest walls in the world, El Capitan. Although I didn’t climb that one, I did go up others and becoming a rock climber became my entire personality for a while! It’s a magnificent place. I loved it.”
Back in the UK, he has more recently starred in Doctor Who, Here We Go and Grantchester, before being asked to reprise his Emmerdale role.
In his first newspaper interview since his Christmas Eve comeback, Ned says: “To play a character again that I’d previously enjoyed so much was a no brainer. I enjoyed my time away but, if anything, it’s been perspective building.
“Over time, you realise how great it was being on such a brilliant soap and when the call came to play Joe again, I accepted it immediately.
“What a valuable thing stability is. It doesn’t matter what industry you are in – to be able to say you know what you are doing next week, next month, is a beautiful thing.
“It’s great to be back playing Joe.”
Ned, who is single, is currently commuting from his home in London to the Emmerdale TV studios in Leeds.
He says the cast have been incredibly welcoming. Jim Hooton, who plays Sam Dingle, is a fellow fan of rock climbing and they are already planning a climbing trip in the Dales together.
He says: “Meeting the cast who I haven’t seen for ages was great. They were so welcoming and, after a few scenes, I felt like I hadn’t been away. My nerves quickly disappeared after walking on set.
Ned also played Luke in Disney Plus’ Extraordinary.
Joe played Henry Granville’s lover, Lord Wetherby, in Bridgerton
“It was also nice to see things hadn’t changed while I was away.
“With a great soap like Emmerdale that has been going on for so long, things don’t change – because if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!”
He singles out Claire King, who plays Kim, for praise. “Claire rejoined the show just after I left and so I hadn’t met her before. She really is a force on set. She is fantastic and it’s been brilliant working with her. I’ve been involved in some dramatic scenes and the power she brings to filming is amazing.”
Staying mum on what happens to Joe next, Ned does reveal he is back in Emmerdale to ruffle feathers
“I am really enjoying the fact the viewers will never really be sure of what Joe’s true intentions are,” he says. “In fact, I don’t think Joe is fully aware! He does bring a lot of drama but there is always comedy within and I want to find the lightness in that too.”
So, is Ned looking forward to being back in the limelight after his time away from Emmerdale?
He confesses that being famous is the part he least enjoys about acting.
“I’m a bit of a hermit,” says Ned. “For me, anonymity is a valued thing. Anyone who craves the spotlight is probably doing it for the wrong reasons.”
Reflecting on the past and the present, he adds: “It was great being away from Emmerdale, dipping my toe in things and, while my part on Bridgerton was small, it was great to be part of an absolute monster that is Disney.
“But now it is fantastic to be back in Emmerdale playing Joe.
“I would never want to get in the way of the writers in saying what should happen to Joe, as I am enjoying everything they have created. I am now looking forward to seeing where they take him next.”
