Kim Tate (Claire King) was left horrified in Sunday's (25th October 2026) Emmerdale, when word reached her that baby Tate had been kidnapped.
The child was being looked after in secret by Graham Foster (Andrew Scarborough) until a grieving Joe Tate (Ned Porteous) is ready to step up and be a father.
But Kim is unaware that DS Thea Ramsden (Chelsea Edge) is actually her own daughter and that she believes this baby has been illegally adopted just like she was.
In Friday's (23rd October) episode, Thea got hold of Kim's phone and discovered the address of the cottage where Graham was living with the little boy.
Worried about the lengths Thea might go to for revenge on Kim, Serena Sugden (Casey Al-Shaqsy) tried to call her friend for an update.
Meanwhile, we saw Graham leave the baby to sleep while he took a shower, at which point a hooded figure broke in through the window.
Back at Home Farm, Joe was upset when he accidentally broke a painted plate that Lucas Taylor (Noah Ryan Aspinall) had made for the late Dawn Fletcher (Olivia Bromley).
As Kim ushered him away so she could clear up the mess, Graham arrived unannounced and, crucially, without the baby.
He revealed that the child had been taken, and a card had been left with the words: 'Baby is safe. No police. Await further instructions.'
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Graham insisted that they must do as they were told and leave the police out of it, so he and Kim could do nothing but wait to be contacted by the kidnapper.
Kim didn't want to risk Joe hearing about any of this, and so she bought him a ticket to Monaco to clear his head - and Joe, although taken aback, admitted he loved the place.
Later, Thea paid Kim a visit, this time claiming that the poachers she had warned her about were due to target the estate.
But Thea noted that Kim seemed troubled and coaxed her into confiding in her.
Handing Thea the kidnapper's message, Kim explained that she needed her help, but couldn't risk making an official report about the baby going missing for fear it would put him in more danger.
It remained to be seen whether Thea believed Kim's admission that baby Tate had not been adopted and was supposed to be safe with Graham, but she did agree to investigate the kidnapping.
After speaking with Graham, who had still not heard anything more, Kim was spooked when her grandson Thomas Tate's (Bertie Brotherton) toy appeared to have moved of its own accord.
And after she went to bed, the hooded figure from earlier was seen lurking in the shadows at Home Farm.
But who is it? Could it be Thea, seeing as she's the only other known person aware of the location of Graham's cottage - or is someone else involved?
Read more:
- Emmerdale airs Rhona Goskirk warning ahead of Tom King's return in early ITVX release
- Emmerdale reveals who stole Robert Sugden's poker winnings in early ITVX release
- Emmerdale airs major Tate family twist - as Graham Foster returns with Joe's baby
- Emmerdale airs Vinny Dingle exit after 7 years with major sentencing twist in early ITVX release
- Emmerdale star teases "rocky road" for Sarah Sugden - and reveals hopes for Debbie Dingle return
- Emmerdale airs explosive Nicola and Sadie King scenes at Jimmy's funeral in early ITVX release
Emmerdale airs weeknights at 8pm on ITV1 and from 7am on ITVX.
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