The Tate family has been a central part of Emmerdale since the early days of the soap, as a feud between Kim and Joe heats up.

The Tate family, a cornerstone of Emmerdale since their debut in November 1989, has undoubtedly made a lasting impact on the ITV soap.

Headed by Frank Tate and comprising of his son Chris, daughter Zoe, and wife Kim, the family was introduced during the show’s transition from ‘Emmerdale Farm’ to simply ‘Emmerdale’.

They brought a wealth of drama and captivating storylines to the Dales. Kim, played by Claire King, is the sole original member of the Tate family still gracing Emmerdale.

In recent scenes of the ITV soap, Home Farm owner Kim is now in cahoots with her step-grandson (Joe Tate). But what happened to the other members of the Tate family?

Frank Tate – Norman Bowler

Emmerdale character Frank Tate was played by Norman Bowler (Image: ITV)

Frank Tate, portrayed by Norman Bowler, was head of the family and the soap’s inaugural ‘true’ villain, notorious for his explosive temper and propensity for violence.

Before Kim assumed control of Home Farm, Frank was the lucky owner, reports OK!.

His character met a dramatic demise in 1997 when the shock of Kim’s return triggered a fatal heart attack, marking one of Emmerdale’s most memorable episodes.

After leaving the soap, Norman dedicated some time to charity work in India with his wife, Dianne. Following Dianne’s passing in 2012, Norman now divides his time between India and the UK.

Chris Tate – Peter Amory

Claire King once dated her Emmerdale co-star Peter Amory (Image: Getty)

Christopher ‘Chris’ Tate, the son of Frank and his first wife, Jean, was a quintessential character in Emmerdale. He had a stormy relationship with his stepmother Kim, swearing vengeance after learning she did nothing to save his father’s life.

However, Chris was no match for Kim, who left him hospitalised after hitting him with a hefty paperweight.

In 2001, he tied the knot with his third wife, Charity Dingle, but their marriage was riddled with infidelity. In a shocking turn of events, Chris poisoned himself to frame Charity for his murder, meeting his end in 2003.

Peter Amory, who portrayed Chris, has since led a more private life, taking on minor roles in TV dramas.

Intriguingly, he wed his on-screen stepmother, Claire King, who played Kim Tate, in 1994. They divorced ten years later but are reportedly still friends.

Zoe Tate – Leah Bracknell

Actress Leah Bracknell passed away in 2019 (Image: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Leah Bracknell is best remembered for her role as Zoe Tate, Chris’s sister and the only daughter of Frank and Jean. She first graced the Dales in 1989.

Her character made history in 1993 when she came out as gay, becoming the first lesbian character in a British soap. Zoe bid farewell to Emmerdale in 2006, and her departure was honoured with the Best Exit award at The British Soap Awards.

After leaving the show, the actress was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in October 2016. Her husband Jez Hughes set up a GoFundMe page to raise funds for her to receive treatment abroad due to limited options on the NHS.

Generous soap fans helped her raise over £50,000 for pioneering treatment in Germany. She embarked on a new medication regime, but sadly revealed later that it had not been successful. The star sadly died three years later at the tender age of 55.

Emmerdale airs weekdays on ITV and ITVX