Emmerdale viewers were left stunned this week as a character long thought dead made a shocking and sinister return. The explosive crossover event, Corriedale, ended with the unmistakable voice of Graham Foster (Andrew Scarborough) being heard for the first time in five years.
A Ghost From The Past Returns
Fans had presumed Graham was killed in 2021, but the dramatic episode revealed he is very much alive. He was seen transporting a bound woman in a van before aborting his mission upon seeing Joe Tate (Ned Porteous), the man he views as a son. Emmerdale's producer, Laura Shaw, confirmed the sensational comeback, stating it will have massive repercussions.
"His return will have massive repercussions for both Kim Tate (Claire King), with whom he shares a complex love and hate relationship, and Rhona Goskirk (Zoe Henry), who was about to run away with him," Shaw enthused. Graham will finally explain what happened when he was supposedly killed, but the big question is whether Joe can ever forgive his father-figure for letting him believe he was dead.
Major Storylines Set To Rock The Dales in 2026
Laura Shaw also unveiled a slate of huge plots for the coming year. In devastating news, Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) will be at the centre of a major prostate cancer storyline after something sinister is found during treatment for his gunshot wound. The diagnosis coincides with his wife Moira (Natalie J Robb) being arrested for human trafficking, testing their complex marriage to the limit.
Elsewhere, the truth about John Sugden's (Oliver Farnworth) death will be revealed. His sister Victoria (Isabel Hodgins) cleverly made it look like suicide, but evil Joe Tate has damning video evidence and plans to use it to potentially seize control of Butler's Farm. Robert Sugden (Ryan Hawley) will fight to protect Victoria by planting evidence.
A Classic Whodunnit And Emotional Discoveries
The village will also be gripped by a classic murder mystery following the death of Ray Walters (Joe Absolom). A special flashback week at the end of January will reveal which of the multiple suspects is responsible. This plot ties into Paddy Kirk's (Dominic Brunt) heartbreaking search for his missing father, Bear Wolf. The bleak truth is that Bear has been killed by the villainous Celia Daniels (Jaye Griffiths), bringing Paddy's mental health struggles back to the forefront.
Finally, Charity Dingle's (Emma Atkins) surrogacy secret is on the verge of exploding. While Mackenzie Boyd (Lawrence Robb) mistakenly believes he is the father, the truth that Ross Barton (Michael Parr) is the real dad remains hidden. With the baby due in spring, the birth may expose everything.
The fallout from Corriedale also saw Becky Swain finally arrested and Theo Silverton cross the line from abuser to murderer, killing vicar Billy Mayhew in a bus explosion. With Graham's resurrection and these explosive plots, 2026 is set to be a tumultuous year in the Dales.
