A villain is returning to the village after nearly 30 years away.
Emmerdale fans will see the return of Steve Marchant, played by Paul Opacic, who first appeared on the ITV soap in 1996 and made his final appearance in 1999.
The character, who was framed by Kim Tate and later jailed for attempted murder, will make a surprise comeback after 28 years away from the Dales.
Mr Opacic said: "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."
In Monday night’s episode, Kim revealed to DS Thea Ramsden that Steve is her father, prompting the detective to begin a search for him.
A spokesperson for ITV said: "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."
Thea originally arrived in the village seeking revenge on her estranged mother Kim, played by Claire King.
After months of tension and stalking, the two women have reached a fragile truce.
Emmerdale producer Laura Shaw said: "Determined to uncover the truth about her father, Thea devises a clever ruse to lure him into a meeting under false pretences.
"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?"
Mr Opacic was originally cast as Steve for a six-episode run, with the character introduced as a former university friend of Rachel Hughes, played by Glenda McKay.
He is also known for his roles as Carl Costello in Hollyoaks and Stefan Brent in Coronation Street.
Fans can look forward to dramatic scenes as Steve is drawn back into Kim Tate’s orbit and faces the revelation of a daughter he may not know exists.
Emmerdale airs weeknights at 8pm on ITV1.
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