Emmerdale confirms return for Steve Marchant after 28 years – and he has a huge shock for Kim Tate

Emmerdale confirms return for Steve Marchant after 28 years – and he has a huge shock for Kim Tate | Soaps Editor and Editorial Training Manager Published November 2, 2026 8:30pm 28 years, guy hasn’t aged a day! (Picture: ITV) Well, the moment his name passed the venomous-turned-empathetic lips of Kim Tate (Claire King), it was only a matter of time before I’d be revealing the return of Steve Marchant, played by soap royalty Paul Opacic. Lo and behold, almost three decades on, he’s back in the village. To be specific, it’s been 28 years since Kim engineered it for him to be landed in jail over the horse theft scam. And how come Paul hasn’t changed a bit!? Perhaps Steve’s big secret is he holds the elixir of life. Well, he does ACTUALLY have a secret, one that will blow apart Kim’s life. Not for the first time, Kim doesn’t hold all the cards and, despite throwing Steve under the bus, she will meet her match in him this time. Paul told us: ‘Things were left rather bitter between Kim and Steve, so he’s very surprised when a solicitor contacts him out of the blue. He guesses something is afoot when Kim starts brandishing notes to keep him away. ‘With the sniff of more cash to be made, Steve wonders what is going on. And soon Thea leaves him a jaw-dropping voicemail.’ Emmerdale Producer Laura Shaw added: ‘Determined to uncover the truth about her father, Thea devises a clever ruse to lure him into a meeting under false pretences. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The smiles didn’t last long (Picture: ITV) ‘But will Steve fall for her deception, and does he even realise he has a child – or could he know secrets that even Kim isn’t aware of?’ DS Thea Ramsden originally arrived in the village with a single-minded focus: seeking revenge on her estranged mother, Kim – not the first person to attempt this. Following months of stalking, escalating tension, and deep-seated misunderstandings, the two have recently reconnected and forged a tentative truce – leaving fans wondering whether their fractured relationship can truly be repaired. He wants answers! (Picture: ITV) Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. With Kim finally disclosing Steve’s identity, Thea sets out to locate him – completely unaware of whether he even knows she exists. Because Kim previously sent Steve to prison, a romantic reunion between the former spouses is out of the question. However, whether Steve can build a relationship with his detective daughter remains to be seen. In a calculated move, Thea poses as a solicitor during her initial contact. Cautious and suspicious, Steve is quickly drawn back toward the village in search of answers. Deals of the Day QVC shoppers can save £159 on Elemis' biggest beauty gift set of the year This Hoover vacuum is a game-changer for pet owners and muddy homes The wellbeing brand behind everyone's favourite candles has launched its biggest sale yet See London's Christmas lights from an open-top double-decker bus this winter My skin always suffers when the heating goes on but this serum changed that But with him carrying one or two bombshells of his own, it’s clear that it’s going to be explosive… Arrow MORE: Kim’s fate confirmed as Emmerdale spoilers reveal what happens next Arrow MORE: Emmerdale’s Kim rocked by two game-changing shocks following Thea’s stabbing Arrow MORE: The Chase repeats are defeating Coronation Street and Emmerdale – should we be worried? The Soaps Newsletter – Weekly Sign up for exclusive spoilers and interviews, handpicked by our Soaps Editor.