It's so much fun playing a villain...but not everyone is happy I'm back

Ned Porteous on Emmerdale return as Joe Tate & his time in Hollywood

-  CHRISTINE SMITH

Joe Tate only made his shock Emmerdale return on Christmas Eve but he has already wreaked havoc at Home Farm.

His presence culminated in Will Taylor's sudden death from a heart attack on the ITV soap last night.

Christmas viewers were stunned to learn that Joe 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, Joe revealed the truth to Kim - and Will immediately keeled over, clutching his chest.

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 weeks.

Ned, 30, says: "It's so much fun playing a villain. 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.