It makes a LOT of sense.
The mystery of wether or not Emmerdale’s Joe Tate was actually alive has been going on for what
The businessman was seemingly killed off in October last year, after he hit his head when he was punched by Cain Dingle.
He was then seen unconscious in the boot of Graham Foster’s car, with Kim Tate’s ‘henchman’ driving Joe to the viaduct and supposedly murdering him.
But without a body – or even just someone in the village actually confirming the news – many fans became convinced that Joe was actually still alive.
And on Monday, fans were proven right when it was revealed Joe was actually in Monte Carlo.
The news was revealed after Kim Tate tried to figure out who had been withdrawing funds from one of her offshore accounts.
She hired a PI to get to the bottom of what has been happening, and was left stunned when she saw it was none other than a not-at-all-dead Joe was the culprit.
Now, fans have begun to wonder if Joe’s brief cameo has something to do with Debbie Dingle’s exit from the show.
Charley Webb – who plays Debbie – recently confirmed that she and her husband, Matthew Wolfenden, are expecting their third child. Ever since then, fans have been wondering how she would leave the show for maternity leave.
Following the big Joe reveal, fans took to Twitter to share their theories.
Oooh how's Debbie gona react when she finds out Joe's alive still alive & perfectly well? Cos she's obviously gona find out sooner or later right? Maybe that's how she gets written out?(Temporarily) #Emmerdale ♥️
— Grianne Doherty (@GrianneDoherty9) March 18, 2019
Joe Tate is only alive now as a plot device for Debbie to leave for a few months whilst the actress who plays her is on maternity leave…#emmerdale
— Wooding (@Lorrain23194306) March 18, 2019
Anyone else think Joe is only alive to give Debbie a sl so she can go on maternity? So will be interesting to see how he manages to talk Debbie round considering he allowed her to believe he was dead at the hands of her dad #Emmerdale
— Lorna Rafferty (@RaffertyLorna) March 18, 2019
Well I knew all along Joe was still alive!! Wonder if he will come back though? #Emmerdale or maybe this is how Charley will take her maternity when Debbie goes to find Joe??
— Nic (@Nicola07196629) March 18, 2019