Will Kim and Thea's Growing Bond Survive Steve Marchant's Return to Emmerdale?
Will Kim and Thea's growing relationship survive Steve Marchant's return? Paul Opacic is returning to Emmerdale as Thea searches for her father.
Kim Tate takes an important step towards rebuilding her relationship with daughter Thea Ramsden in Emmerdale next week, but the confirmed return of her former husband Steve Marchant could bring fresh complications for the family.
Kim recently revealed that Steve is Thea's biological father, bringing an end to her daughter's search for his identity. However, Thea is determined to discover more about the man she has never known, despite Kim's deeply troubled history with him.
The mother and daughter are still learning to trust one another, and Thea is hurt when Kim initially appears reluctant to tell Mary Goskirk about their relationship.
After years of separation, Thea understandably wants to feel accepted rather than kept away from the rest of Kim's life.
Kim eventually shares the news with Mary before taking a bigger step by publicly acknowledging Thea as her daughter at the Woolpack. The announcement leaves Thea delighted and represents significant progress in their relationship.
However, the arrival of Steve could prove another difficult test. Paul Opacic is reprising his role as Steve, who appeared in Emmerdale between 1996 and 1999.
His marriage to Kim ended bitterly, with Steve receiving a ten-year prison sentence following crimes that included the attempted murder of Kathy Glover.
Steve's comeback is prompted by Thea, who contacts him while pretending to be a solicitor. Suspicious of the unexpected approach, he begins investigating, while Kim attempts to keep him away by offering money.
The possibility of gaining further money interests Steve, but his daughter ultimately becomes the reason he is drawn back towards the village.
Although his return has been officially confirmed, an exact broadcast date has not been announced. Thea has finally received the public recognition she wanted from Kim, but meeting Steve could introduce another complicated relationship into her life.
Will Kim support her daughter's attempts to get to know her father, or could their bitter history threaten the progress she and Thea have made?
Emmerdale continues on ITV1 and ITVX.
Images: ITV.
