Tag: What’s Wrong With Joe?

When Emmerdale brought back Joe Tate it was clear that he was hiding a mystery illness that requires an on-call doctor. And nearly three full months later, we still don’t know what it actually is.

But recent episodes gave us more of an insight as he got progressively worse and called for his doctor. But Dr Crowley didn’t seem like any normal doctor. He has been visiting Joe in the evenings, checking up on him during the days. Anyone would think he’s the new Graham.

He told Joe that he needed to stop his affair with Dawn (hasn’t really gone to plan). And on one occasion used whatever was in Joe’s black small suitcase to make him feel temporarily better – leading viewers to believe he has kidney failure. But could the mystery doctor be in Joe’s life for another, more sinister reason?

Viewers are now suspicious about Joe’s doctors true intentions are. And even think he may be more than a doctor to him. But what exactly could he be hiding?

Tate connection?

Some fans think Dr Crowley and Joe may actually be related. And if that’s true, and the doc is somehow connected to the Tate family, then maybe he is up to his own con. Could he have his own plan in motion to take over Home Farm?

Taking to a reddit thread, one fan theorised: “Something is telling me that he isn’t really a doctor, or he has ties to the Tate’s. Why would he help Joe and go to so much length and secrecy to do so? How come he only Joe has seen him?

The relationship between Joe and Crowley seems a bit closer than doctor and patient? I wonder if the reason he hasn’t been seen with other characters yet is because someone might recognise him?”

Dodgy doc

Another popular theory seems to be that he isn’t a doctor at all and is actually pretending that he is to Joe for money.

Knowing Joe, he is probably paying a lot of money for Dr Crowley. So if he finds out this whole time he hasn’t been honest with him, it will sure cause some chaos.

One fan suggested: “I think he could be conning Joe, pretending to be a doctor when he isn’t really.” And another agreed: “That would be so good. Conning the conner.”

What his exact motive would be is unknown, but are we about to find out there’s more than meets the eye?

Another fan believes this is a likely situation, and that the medication he is giving Joe may actually be making him sicker.

They wrote: “He could giving pills to Joe that are making him more ill. To ensure that Joe is dependant on him (and get money).”

Secret relationship?

This one feels a bit of a reach. But some fans think his need for Joe and Dawn to stop their affair is actually because he is jealous.

This theory doesn’t seem too plausible considering if this was the case, Joe could have just avoided Dawn for good. So maybe even if it isn’t a proper relationship, could Dr Crowley have a crush on him?..

One fan noticed: “I wondered whether he was a lover of sorts. He uses ‘we’ a lot, but a doctor would more likely say ‘you’.”

A second viewer added: “I did think after last week that there might be a romance going on. Purely based on the way he spoke to him.”

Figment of imagination

Another popular theory is Dr Crowley actually isn’t real. And instead is just purely in Joe’s imagination.

As fans have pointed out, only Joe has ever seen him. And he seems to appear right when Joe needs him the most then disappears for a while.

The same reddit thread suggested: “It’s also a possibility that Joe is imagining him and he isn’t really there?”

It could suggest that Joe’s illness is actually deteriorating quicker than anyone would like. And maybe, he is running out of time.

Whatever his connection is, it’s time we found out the truth – before it’s too late!

Read more: Who’s leaving Emmerdale in 2025? A complete guide to departures, returns and new arrivals in the Dales

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkE3YvrTopc?si=h2eoBN64-Y-FDnO7]

Emmerdale usually airs weeknights at 7.30pm on ITV, with an early release at 7am on ITVX. 

Classic Emmerdale usually airs weekdays at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm on ITV3.

Follow our Facebook page @Emmerdaleinsider for the latest Emmerdale news, gossip and spoilers. Or find us on Twitter @Emmerdaleinside. Let us know your thoughts on Joe’s mystery illness. 

When Emmerdale brought Joe Tate back on at the end of 2024, there was a clear mystery. But two months on and we still have no answers. It’s time for Emmerdale to give us some – without killing him off.

There have been so many different theories as to what’s actually wrong with Joe. And while last night we looked like we were about to get some answers, we still don’t actually know anything.

Viewers were thrilled at his return announcement. But his mystery storyline is becoming extreme and lengthy, when it could be neatly wrapped up. And with so much potential for his character, killing him off would be a huge mistake.

Why Emmerdale should not kill Joe Tate

If it is to be revealed that Emmerdale did truly bring Ned Porteous back just to give Joe a final exit, what was the point? They could have left it as it was so that there was always that opportunity for a return.

Not to mention, his return storyline hasn’t actually brought that much to further plots. Yes, he was linked to Will’s exit, and he’s providing somewhat of a storyline for Noah. And there is the whole affair with Dawn.

But if progressing other people’s stories was the only reason that he was brought back before he dies, then what a waste of a character. And what a waste of the talent that Ned is.

When Joe was previously on our screens, he was the ultimate bad boy, who was embroiled in so many different storylines and feuds. But whatever is going on with him prevents him from reaching the potential that is clearly there.

If Emmerdale were to fix whatever is going on, then we could see the old Joe come back. And perhaps he could even get back to his scheming. The soap needs someone like him.

There is also the fact that his comeback paves the way for some iconic Tate comebacks and mentions. Away from the village there are still a few Tate’s around, so by having Joe in the village, there will always be that connection and that possibility.

With Kim, Noah and Caleb the only other ties Joe has to family, it should make for some interesting scenes. the dynamics have so much potential. But at the minute they’re trapped by this illness storyline.

It’s time to tell us what’s happening

For the last two months the storyline has been lingering. And quite frankly, if it lasts any longer it’s going to lose any shock factor at all. It’s already been going on long enough.

Things move quickly in soaps, and so if a storyline is unnecessarily lengthy, viewers will become bored of it. And Joe Tate is not a boring character – so let’s not make him one.

Not only have we been waiting way too long for answers, but the storyline is also taking a strange turn. If Joe needs a donor, why doesn’t he just ask? Noah has always worshipped his brother, so he would have jumped at the chance to help.

And let’s face it, while people in Emmerdale may say they hate Joe Tate, when it comes down to reality, someone would step up and help him stay alive. But going to the extreme lengths of drugging Noah and having mysterious late night doctor calls just seems a bit far-fetched – even for Joe.

We, along with a lot of others, love Joe Tate and the potential he brings to the show. And because of that, watching a slow burner storyline of him dying is not something we want to see.

So Emmerdale, tell us what’s going on and sort it out. Let’s not have it drag on much longer, please.

Read more: 15 Emmerdale spoilers for next week: funerals, pregnancy and a return

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vugyyqW8fbI?si=Y8ufsyozLYPCuTMO]

Emmerdale usually airs weeknights at 7.30pm on ITV, with an early release at 7am on ITVX. 

Classic Emmerdale usually airs weekdays at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm on ITV3. 

Follow our Facebook page @EmmerdaleInsider for the latest Emmerdale news, spoilers and gossip. Or find us on Twitter @EmmerdaleInside. Let us know your thoughts!

For months Emmerdale fans have been asking what is wrong with Joe Tate, and now they think they have finally worked it out.

When Joe arrived back in the village on Christmas Day, there was clearly something going on. And it was clearly down to his health. But two months on and we still don’t have a clear answer.

However, in last night’s episode (February 27), viewers got a glimpse at just how ill Joe is. And after spotting a huge clue in the form of a suitcase, many think they know exactly what is going on.

What is wrong with Joe Tate?

On the night of the limo crash, Noah had been drugged. And after spending so long trying to get him to go to Dubai, Joe was clearly a suspect. And when Noah began having flashbacks to what had happened, it wasn’t long before we knew his older brother was responsible.

Last night saw Joe slip up and cause Charity and Ross to become even more suspicious that he had something to do with Noah’s drugging. And Ross wanted answers so badly that he took him hostage, holding him in the barn to get him to confess.

But Joe being Joe already had a backup plan incase anyone ever alleged that it was him. So, he got Ross to check his phone, which had proof he had purchased flight tickets to and from Brussels at the time of the accident.

Ross took this as proof, but still left Joe tied up. And he wasn’t looking good. By the time he managed to get to Home Farm, he had seriously deteriorated and made a suspicious phone call. That’s when his mysterious doctor arrived, holding a briefcase, insisting that what’s inside is “not a long term solution”.

And after Joe admitted he doesn’t know how much time he has left, many fans believe it was a dialysis machine that was inside.

Fans ‘work out’ the truth

Taking to X, one fan wrote: “Joe has kidney or organ failure? Hence potentially using a dialysis machine?” Another replied: “I think so.”

Another penned: “I think Joe has kidney failure. The case may have had a dialysis machine? So he needs a kidney match. Maybe the theories about Caleb on the operating table could be true.”

A third commented: “So, what’s meant to be up with Joe then? Portable dialysis machine?”

And while he seems intent on Noah’s help, another pointed out that due to Noah’s overdose storyline back in 2019, his kidney’s probably wouldn’t work for Joe.

They wrote: “If that machine is Joe’s dialysis, then what use would Noah’s kidney be? After his overdose years ago, could he even be a donor?”

A fan responded: “I don’t think he can. Which is maybe what Joe found out when he was drugged and so he let him go. The overdose happened after Joe had left, so he may not have known about it.”

Joe’s clearly going to extreme lengths to get something, and many have wondered why he just doesn’t ask for help. But with his time clearly running out, it doesn’t look like we have much longer to wait.

Read more: 15 Emmerdale spoilers for next week: Three funerals, Sarah pregnant and Dylan returns

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vugyyqW8fbI?si=Y8ufsyozLYPCuTMO]

Emmerdale usually airs weeknights at 7.30pm on ITV, with an early release at 7am on ITVX. 

Classic Emmerdale usually airs weekdays at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm on ITV3.

Follow our Facebook page @EmmerdaleInsider for the latest Emmerdale news, spoilers and gossip. Or find us on Twitter @EmmerdaleInside. What do you think is wrong with Joe Tate? Let us know!