Emmerdale fans have been left stunned after unearthing a major character's forgotten return from the dead in 1997.
The Legendary Kim Tate
Kim Tate is a force to be reckoned with on the Dales and has been one of the most recognisable characters on the ITV soap since her debut in 1989.
A Shocking Revelation
However, many fans are only just realising that her character was seemingly killed off in 1997 only to be brought back just months later.
A Mystery Resurrection
Reports at the time indicated that actress Claire King had chosen to leave the show in 1996, prompting her character's exit. Kim Tate's final scenes aired in February the following year.
It was then that bosses made the surprising decision to kill off her character in a shock storyline. However, three months later, Kim re-appeared on screens after Claire negotiated a new soap deal during her brief time away.
The Plot Twist
As a result of Claire's return, producers came up with a plot that saw Kim pay a lookalike to drive her car around the village, fooling her neighbors and making them believe she was still there when she had actually fled to the Carribbean.
Unfortunately, Kim's lookalike had a car accident and died, leading to her husband Frank suffering a fatal heart attack upon realizing that his wife was alive.
Fan Reactions
Commenting on the story online, one fan said, "Her return from the dead in 1997 was infamous and [if I remember correctly], the first time it was done in British soap."
Another fan added, "Kim is the only one where the character was intended to die but it was reversed. However, this occurred such a short amount of time after the death that I hardly think it counts when compared to the EE ones."
A third fan explained, "It was believed that she was dead. There was a body recovered from her crashed, flooded car which was identified as her, and a funeral. That's how it was storylined and written."
Kim Tate's Legacy
After her eventful resurrection, Kim eventually left again in 1999, just over 18 months later, after informing producers that she would not be staying long.
Since her return in 2018, Kim Tate, the soap's first bad girl, has been back in her rightful home of Home Farm and involved in some of the show's biggest stories, including taking center stage in last year's 60th anniversary celebrations.
Fans continue to be captivated by the legendary character's shocking return from the dead.
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