Emmerdale fans are only just realising Joe Tate star Ned Porteous had major EastEnders role
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Actor Ned Porteous made an unexpected return to Emmerdale as Joe Tate on Christmas Day, but this isn’t the only soap role he has under his belt, as fans have realised. The actor also had a major role in BBC soap EastEnders in 2016, where he played the son of two soap icons.
![[Ned Porteous as Mark Fowler Jr standing with his hands in his pockets in front of Walford East tube station in EastEnders]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/PRI_13675895-1cf5.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
Joe’s return to the Emmerdale village came as a huge shock to viewers, and to Kim Tate (Claire King). As Joe uncovered Will Taylor’s (Dean Andrews) plot to destroy Kim, he was harbouring a secret of his own, as later scenes proved that he was gravely ill.
![[Grant and Mark sit in a car together in EastEnders]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/PRI_12439087-c78b.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
With Ned at the forefront of fans’ minds after his dramatic return, they were shocked to realise that he had previously played the role of Mark Fowler Jr in EastEnders. Soap fans took to social media to express their surprise at seeing the actor, with one writing: ‘How have I only just found out Joe Tate in Emmerdale is played by the same actor that played Mark Fowler Jr in EastEnders?’.
![[Grant Mitchell stood outside of Walford East tube station in EastEnders]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SEI_234628605-00e5.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
‘I didn’t know he’d been in EastEnders,’ another said. ‘Ned Porteous back as Joe Tate is awesome but I preferred him playing Mark fowler Jr (Mitchell) in EastEnders. We didn’t have him long enough as Grant’s son,’ A third added. Mark was the son of show stalwarts Michelle Fowler and Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp), though he had been lied to about his paternity growing up.
With the Mitchells knowing the truth about Grant being Mark’s father, they all agreed to keep it under wraps. However, when Mark and Courtney Mitchell began to grow close, the family were forced to intervene, with Grant stopping the pair from kissing.
