Key Emmerdale scene ‘confirms’ end of Joe as major exit looms

If Emmerdale’s Graham Foster (Andrew Scarborough) tells you to stop doing something, you should listen.

Looking at you, Joe Tate (Ned Porteous).

At the start of this year, Joe became hellbent on securing the Sugden farmland and Butler’s Farm for Kim Tate (Claire King).

He achieved his goals, but did it through manipulation, blackmail, and coercion.

Graham made it clear to Joe that he’d always be on his side, but wouldn’t always agree with what he’s doing.

As he witnessed Joe put pressure on Victoria Sugden (Isabel Hodgins) and use Moira Dingle’s (Natalie J Robb) imprisonment to his advantage, Graham stepped in and told Joe that if he didn’t stop, the power he’s holding would eventually turn poisonous.

That really was Joe’s cue to chill out a bit, but the temptation of more money and more land was too much.

He went on to target Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) in the hope he’d get Moira to sell Butler’s Farm.

She did in the end, but only because she had found out about Cain’s cancer diagnosis.

Still, it was a win in Joe’s eyes.

Joe’s greed has repeatedly disappointed Graham, and a few days ago he found yet another reason to be frustrated when Joe tried to project an untouchable image and made a decision that horrified everyone.

On Butler’s Farm, Joe instructed two builders to knock down Holly Barton’s memorial.

Holly is Moira’s late daughter, who died as a result of a drug addiction.

A tree was planted after her death, which was regularly visited by Moira and Matty Barton (Ash Palmisciano).

When the Dingles discovered Holly’s memorial had been destroyed, they all naturally assumed Joe had something to do with it, but no-one got actual confirmation due to lack of proof and well, the fact Joe would rather lie to everyone than tell the truth and face the Dingles wrath.

It was perhaps Dawn Taylor’s (Olivia Bromley) reaction to Holly’s tree getting cut down that left Joe the most fearful.

He told Dawn that he didn’t have anything to do with it and while she said that she believes him, she also said that if he did, they wouldn’t continue their relationship.

Given the news Olivia Bromley is set to leave her role as Dawn later this year, was this scene foreshadowing Joe’s downfall?

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The Dingles and Bartons are desperate to knock Joe off his high horse – will they succeed and help Dawn see that Joe was responsible for destroying Holly’s memorial in the process?

It’s been confirmed that star Olivia is still filming at the ITV soap, with an explosive final storyline for Dawn set to play out in the summer.

Olivia has played the role of Dawn Taylor since 2018.