Emmerdale spoilers follow from Monday’s episode (15 December), which is available to watch now on ITVX and YouTube but hasn’t yet aired on ITV1.
Emmerdale drives a wedge between Kim and Joe Tate tonight, as they fall out in upsetting circumstances ahead of a dramatic Christmas storyline. With Joe facing tough decisions at Home Farm while Kim is recovering in hospital, he soon finds himself in the legendary character’s firing line.
In tonight’s episode, there’s positive news on Kim’s condition after the nasty accident that took place on the estate last week. Kim had been left in a perilous situation when her leg got caught in a snare while she was investigating an unauthorised shoot on her land.
The good news this evening is that it seems like Kim will make a full recovery. Sadly, things are looking far worse for her beloved horse Ice, who was also injured at the scene.
Up at Home Farm, Vanessa Woodfield informs Joe and his partner Dawn Fletcher that Ice’s injuries are terminal. She believes it’d be best for him to be put to sleep, as he’ll be in considerable pain – with the situation only set to get worse over time.
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Dawn expects that Joe will wait to seek Kim’s opinion, so she’s stunned when he ploughs ahead and agrees to have the horse euthanised straight away.
Later at the hospital, tactless Joe messes up by speaking candidly to Dawn about the longer-term future for Home Farm – unaware that Kim is listening to every word.
After making a difficult phone call to a business partner, Joe tells Dawn: “I suppose I’ll be dealing with these calls for the foreseeable. I guess it’s good practice, though, for when I take over things permanently.”
When Dawn protests over his remark, Joe replies: “I was just being realistic, you know? We almost lost her yesterday and none of us are here forever.”
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Once they get a moment alone in her hospital room, Kim is quick to put Joe in his place over his comments – with a seed of mistrust now clearly sown. Joe believes that grief for Ice is making Kim more sensitive than usual, but is there more to it?
Fans can see how the conversation plays out when the episode airs tonight at 7.30pm on ITV1, or it’s streaming early now on ITVX and YouTube.
Emmerdale has previously confirmed plans for Kim to have a lonely Christmas at Home Farm, haunted by memories of the past. But can things get back on track in time for New Year?