In a dramatic twist for Emmerdale fans, a familiar face from the past has reappeared as the mystery surrounding Graham Foster's 'death' deepens. The latest episode, released early on ITVX on January 16, 2026, saw the return of a detective who originally investigated the case six years ago.
The Ghost of Graham Foster Haunts Joe Tate
The episode picked up after the recent catastrophic crash in Corriedale. Joe Tate, played by Ned Porteous, was left concussed after being hit by the exploding minibus. In his dazed state, he saw a man in a hooded jacket standing over him, who he later became convinced was Graham Foster (Andrew Scarborough).
Viewers know Graham was actually at the scene, stuck in traffic with Jodie Ramsey in his van. After spotting Joe, he visited him in hospital, where the pair made brief eye contact. Joe has tried to dismiss the sighting as a hallucination, but he couldn't shake the feeling it was real.
Detective Dent's Deceptive Reassurance
Concerned by her partner's unusual anxiety, Dawn Taylor (Olivia Bromley) accompanied Joe to a meeting with a private investigator. To their surprise, they were introduced to Detective Dent, played by Linda Armstrong. Dent was the officer who investigated Graham's murder back in 2020.
Looking at a picture of Graham, Dent outright confirmed he is definitely dead, stating she had seen his body herself. This seemed to put Joe's fears to rest. However, in a later scene, Dent was shown on the phone, telling an unknown person that she had told Joe "exactly what he needed to hear," strongly implying she is covering up the truth.
Producer Teases Major Repercussions for the Village
This return is just the beginning. Emmerdale producer Laura Shaw has confirmed that Graham will be heading back to the village, and we will learn the full story of how he faked his death.
She explained that his comeback will have "massive repercussions" for both Kim Tate (Claire King), with whom he shares a complex love-hate relationship, and Rhona Goskirk (Zoe Henry), who was about to run away with him when he was supposedly killed.
"Graham will explain exactly what happened six years ago when he was 'killed'," Shaw said. "But the question will be whether Joe can ever forgive his father-figure for allowing him to believe he was dead."
While Joe may try to put the sighting behind him for now, a face-to-face confrontation with the man he thought was dead seems inevitable.
