Emmerdale star Andrew Scarborough has teased that his character Graham Foster will be in the firing line upon his return to the Dales. As he reunites with Kim and Joe Tate, it won’t be all pleasantries for the comeback king.

The actor made a sensational return to the ITV soap earlier this month after a six-year absence, with it being revealed that the character managed to fake his own death after seemingly being murdered by Pierce Harris.’

Naturally, Graham’s return will cause quite the stir in the village, with Kim and Joe – his respective ex-wife and adoptive son – being particularly surprised as they had long thought that he was gone.

“Kim thought she had cremated me, so she’ll be the most shocked, because she actually physically was there to witness what she thought was my body in the coffin,” explained Scarborough.

“But Kim wouldn’t show her shock as she’s a cool cat. Joe is shocked, obviously. Rhona would be surprised, because she’s not involved in that dark world at all,” continued the star, who added that it may take “months” for Graham to be forgiven.

Despite noting the “poisonous” nature of Kim and Graham’s relationship, Scarborough did explain that “love” was present, noting: “It’s more complicated – as much as it is poisonous on paper, there is tenderness.

“They fight like cat-and-dog, but there is a lot of love there. They’re just incredibly attracted to each other, like moths to a flame. But also at the same time, they live off that flame.”

While Kim and Graham have some issues to resolve, he also has history with Joe, who feels as if he was abandoned by his adoptive father. Joe will confront Graham over this, and Scarborough said the results were powerful.

“It was brilliant because it was like a Play For Today. It was lovely to flesh that out and it was very well written,” he said. “The scenes are quite heightened, which I think they should be, as it’s an unreal situation for somebody to come back from the dead.”

“I loved acting in these scenes because we were bouncing things around like tennis balls and that is what it should be. I think many actors would know what I’m talking about,” added the star, who has also appeared in Casualty and Holby City.