Emmerdale fans were left stunned as Graham Foster made a shocking return from the dead in the explosive Corriedale crossover episode with Coronation Street

On Monday night, Emmerdale fans were left gobsmacked as the enigmatic hooded figure lurking in the Corriedale horror scenes was unveiled to be Graham Foster – a character believed to have been killed off over half a decade ago.

The year kicked off with a bang as the eagerly awaited crossover of Coronation Street and Emmerdale finally aired, marking the first-ever collision of the two ITV soaps that viewers had been anticipating for months.

Corriedale witnessed the lives of 40 cherished characters from both soaps alter dramatically, with two confirmed fatalities and a surge of drama for others involved.

In Emmerdale, John Sugden was seen driving recklessly with Aaron Dingle in the car, having returned to reclaim his ex-husband from Robert Sugden.

However, as Aaron attempted to get John to the police station to surrender, John crashed, causing the car to overturn.

Aaron and Robert decided to tie the knot again (Image: ITV)

This led to a pile-up involving multiple vehicles, including the mini bus transporting some of Coronation Street’s cast back from Debbie Webster’s Yorkshire wedding, reports the Manchester Evening News.

As the chaos unfolded, a mysterious hooded figure was spotted observing the mayhem, remaining unfazed even by the explosion that set the minibus ablaze.

An unidentified woman was seen bound in the back of the van but managed to escape before running for her life through the woods. Kit Green from Corrie intercepted her as she fled from her captor.

In the aftermath of a catastrophe, Joe Tate was seen lying injured in a hospital bed, under the watchful eye of a hooded figure. The mysterious individual was then revealed to be none other than Graham Foster.

But who exactly is Graham Foster?

Emmerdale fans were shocked by the reveal (Image: ITV)

Graham Foster made his first appearance in Emmerdale in 2017 as Joe’s right-hand man, operating under the pseudonym Tom Waterhouse. He assisted Joe in seeking vengeance on those he believed had wronged him following his father Chris Tate’s death.

Graham evolved into a paternal figure for Joe and has been married to Cheryl Foster and Kim Tate, and romantically involved with Rhona Goskirk.

When Joe was assaulted by Cain Dingle, Graham helped him escape the country, leading everyone to believe that Joe had died post-conflict. His relationship with Kim Tate flourished upon her release from prison, but it eventually ended, paving the way for a new romance with Rhona.

However, his life came to a brutal end when Rhona Goskirk’s ex-husband and abuser, Pierce Harris, struck him with a torch after a struggle that saw Graham fall off a cliff.

The mysterious figure was finally revealed on Monday night (Image: ITV)

His “death” sparked a “whodunnit” spanning several episodes, as he had amassed numerous adversaries in the village prior to the tragic event.

A flashback later provided insight into Graham’s perspective of the night, revealing Pierce as the one who took his life – at least, that’s what viewers have been led to believe over the past six years.

Last spotted in the Dales in 2020, actor Andrew Scarborough recently featured in the ITV drama Code of Silence, but now seems to be making a surprising return.

Emmerdale is available to watch on ITVX.