They say when someone shows you their true colours you should believe them, and when Emmerdale’s Joe Tate (Ned Porteous) told Dawn Taylor (Olivia Bromley) from his hospital bed that he likes to hurt people, she should have taken him at his word.
And with Billy (Jay Kontzle) being such a big thorn in his side, it’s easy to see who’s next for Joe.
He’s been keen to get rid of Billy for a long while but Billy blackmailing Dawn (Olivia Bromley) over pushing Joe out of the window has expedited things. Billy had found himself being accused of pushing Joe, but Dawn came to his rescue by giving him an alibi.
It was only afterwards he learned that this was to save herself too, as she was the true culprit.
Billy’s response? To blackmail her into giving him full custody of the kids, or he’d tell the police.
Joe forgave Dawn for the shove to his almost death and though she initially said there was no way they were getting back together, Dawn couldn’t keep away from Joe for long, though they have kept this to themselves.
But Joe and Dawn hit a setback when a social worker arrives to interview them following a safeguarding concern for the kids.
The interview goes alright and there is relief when no further action is needed, but it makes Joe realise he needs to make things up to Clemmie, and sort things with Billy.
Before he can make good on that promise, Clemmie goes missing on Joe’s watch. Great start to their new relationship. Billy then decides Dawn needs to leave Home Farm to get away from Joe.
When Dawn refuses, Billy accuses her of still having feelings for Joe and it looks like his nasty side might rear its ugly head again.
This is one step too far for Joe. He decides it’s time to get rid of Billy once and for all to clear a path for him and Dawn to have the space they need to get their relationship off the ground.
Joe usually gets what he wants. How does Joe plan to permanently remove Billy from their lives?
