Emmerdale fans have been left floored after realising Joe Tate star Ned Porteous once starred in EastEnders. As fans of the ITV soap will know, Joe returned to the village on Christmas Day and has been concealing a serious health issue.
Earlier this week, Joe finally confirmed he is suffering from chronic kidney disease and is on the hunt for an eligible organ donor. Despite being seriously unwell, Joe has been having a secret affair with Dawn Fletcher (Olivia Bromley) and is also blackmailing GP Manpreet Sharma (Rebecca Sarker) after she posted adult content online.
After Joe's half-brother Noah Dingle (Jack Downham) failed to provide a match, he has now turned his attention to his half-uncle Caleb Milligan (William Ash). Rather than seek an organ donation through legal means, Joe appears to be unlawfully planning to harvest Caleb's kidney.
As Joe's dark health plot intensifies in the ITV soap, some viewers have been left shocked after realising actor Ned once starred in EastEnders as the son of Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp).
In 2016, Ned was cast in the role of Mark Fowler Jr, the son of Michelle Fowler (Jenna Russell ) and hardman Grant, and the nephew of the late Martin Fowler (James Bye).
Mark Jr's surprise entrance came when he flew from Florida to London in search of his real dad Grant, but he didn't stay around for long.
In 1995, Pauline Fowler's (Wendy Richard) daughter Michelle (played then by Susan Tully) waved goodbye to Walford and headed to the US without telling Grant she was carrying his baby.
Mark Jr was then born off-screen in 1996, and after 20 years the secret about the Mitchell/Fowler love child was finally unearthed when he rolled up to the Square in search of answers about his paternity.
But Mark's presence only lasted a month before he left the East End and returned to America in a bid not to get caught up in the Mitchell madness.
"Being part of two iconic families and the longest kept secret in EastEnders' history is beyond exciting!" Ned revealed at the time of his arrival on the soap. He added: "I’m honoured to be here and can’t wait for viewers to meet Mark Jr."
Taking to social media, Emmerdale fans have shared their surprise at Ned's EastEnders role, with one person writing on Facebook: "I never knew that the actor who plays Joe played Mark Fowler in EastEnders in 2016."
A second wrote: "I didn't know that Joe [has] been in Bridgerton, and EastEnders as Mark Jnr."
Taking to X, another added: "Didn't know the actor that plays Joe was in #eastenders #emmerdale."
"How have I only just found out Joe Tate in #Emmerdale is played by the same actor that played Mark Fowler Jr in #EastEnders", asked one fan.
As Vicki Fowler is set to return to Walford, another added: "With Ned Porteous likely to have a shelf life as Joe, and Vicki Fowler being recast, will he be rehired as Mark Fowler? #Emmerdale #EastEnders. "
Emmerdale airs weekdays at 7:30pm on ITV and ITVX
