Emmerdale viewers applaud 'power couple' as they say Joe Tate is 'dead man walking'

must be feeling like his ears are burning lately, as it seems every resident of the village is out to make the slimy businessman pay for his criminal ways.

In the Wednesday (7 May) episode, it became clear that the list of people who want his blood is growing by the day as more and more of his secrets are exposed, with a fan-favourite 'power couple' appearing to pull the strings.

Following his return to the Dales in December 2024, Joe has been secretly wreaking havoc among the village residents. In his quest for a new kidney, rather than ask his brother to see if he was a match, he spiked his brother Noah Dingle and then left him for dead in the woods. This caused the tragic limo crash that claimed the lives of Amy Barton, Leyla Harding and Suzy Merton.

He was also the mastermind behind Manpreet Sharma's blackmailing as he wanted the village GP to help him get a blood sample from his uncle, Caleb Milligan, to see if he could steal his kidney. Again, why didn't he ask?

After successfully getting said sample and discovering that Caleb was indeed a match, he orchestrated a plan to steal his uncle's kidney by getting his associate to stab him. Thankfully, Joe just so happened to be walking by and rushed him to his dodgy physician, Dr Crowley, who performed the kidney transplant.

But that's not all! Joe has also been busy having an affair with his 'mate', Billy's wife, Dawn. Billy discovered the news when his adopted daughter Clemmie admitted that Joe had threatened her. As the youngster tearfully told her dad about the cruel things he'd said, Billy assured her that "Joe is my problem now."

In Wednesday's episode, things took a turn when Caleb's wife Ruby Miligan let the cat out of the bag to Joe's sister Charity, and revealed he was behind the spiking, her limo crash and Caleb's missing kidney. Not only that, but Caleb was on hand to offer Billy a friendly ear when he wanted to tell him all about Joe's affair with his wife and his nasty comments to his daughter. After listening to him, he said: "If I was you, I'd be out for blood."

At the end of the episode, Joe came in looking chirpy with Noah, as a scowling Billy nursed his beer and a dumbfounded Charity served him. Behind them, Caleb looked smug as they poured wine for him and Ruby. After his wife sat down and the two started chatting and discussing their "productive" day. Ruby told her husband she nudged a friend "in the right direction", while Caleb revealed he'd "convinced someone to do the heavy lifting" for him so he didn't have to get his hands "dirty".

People watching at home were delighted with Ruby and Caleb's meddling. One user wrote on X: "OMG CALEB AND RUBY BOTH CONVINCING SOMEONE ELSE TO KILL JOE!!! WHAT A POWER COUPLE!!!" Another user penned: "What a scene with ruby and caleb clinking glasses all happy with the chaos they've caused happening in front of them #emmerdale." And someone else added: "Obsessed with that final shot of Ruby and Caleb, joe tate you are going downnnn !!!"

Joe's fate is set to be sealed on Thursday (8 May) as villagers gather at Home Farm to celebrate Lydia Dingle's 50th birthday. The ITV soap has since confirmed that nine characters could be the perpetrator.