Revealing the incredible details behind Andrew Scarborough’s explosive return to Emmerdale

Emmerdale fans were gobsmacked to see Graham Foster return from the dead in the celebrated Corriedale episode. And actor Andrew Scarborough says huge measures were taken to keep it under wraps

Emmerdale’s Graham Foster was believed to have been murdered in 2020 by his girlfriend Rhona Goskirk’s jealous ex-husband, Pierce Harris, his ex-wife Kim Tate even had him cremated. Now, in a series of explosive episodes, viewers will discover what really happened. Andrew Scarborough, 52, who plays Graham, says: “I remember watching Bobby Ewing come back from the dead [in Dallas] and how the whole series had been a dream. Ours is more real – the way I come back is unbelievably entertaining. I was scared about the reaction when Corriedale was aired. I have been away for six years. But I’m extremely chuffed [by the reaction]. I’m very excited to be back in the soap.”

Andrew, who also starred in Downton Abbey and ITV’s Code of Silence, was invited to return to Emmerdale last summer, but only told very close family the storyline, which he started filming two months ago. And huge measures were taken to keep it under wraps. Given the code name ‘Bruce Wayne’ – Batman’s alter ego – on scripts, he says: “I’ve had six months of secrecy.

“I had to come and go through a special entrance, I wore a hood, or a hat, and I probably looked very suspicious. In all documentation and scripts, I was called Bruce. Laura, the producer, called to tell me I was being given a code name. I felt very flattered because she said ‘we’ve got a code name for Graham. It is Bruce Wayne.’

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In the immediate aftermath of his reappearance at Home Farm it’s difficult to know who finds it harder to accept Graham’s return from the dead; Joe Tate or Kim Tate (Image: )

“But when I got to the studios on the first day, I saw the name down as Bruce Forsyth. That was the first wind up from some of my old friends – very funny!” He continues: “When I left six years ago, it really did hit me how much I missed it a month later. I was like ‘oh god, it was such a lovely place to work’. So, when I got back on my first day, I was a bit misty eyed. It’s such a lovely place. It’s like putting on a pair of slippers again.”

A highly trained SAS operative, Andrew says Graham would have found faking his death easy. He adds: “Graham has been highly trained as a sniper. Plus, he is very highly connected with some of the ‘institutions’ like the government, high ranking police. So, I always presumed that if anybody could come back from the dead – he could.

“And don’t forget Graham did actually arrange the false death of Joe, proving he knows the art of smoke and mirrors. He is in that dark, murky world. Or certainly has been.” Fans he sees out and about, says Andrew, tell him they loved seeing Graham return. He says: “It has been excellent feedback. They told me, ‘we are glad to see you back, we’ve missed you.’ It has been positive banter; it’s been fun, so far.”

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Rhona Goskirk is stopped dead in her tracks to find a smiling Graham waiting for her in the surgery. (Image: )

Remaining firm friends with fellow actors Claire King, Ned Porteous, Jeff Hordley, James Hooton and old cast member, Liam Fox, during his time away from Emmerdale, Andrew has loved being back. He says: “What really sparked me off was when I worked with Harvey, who plays Leo, because I actually did my last scene with him. He came on set, and he’s now grown up and he gave me a massive hug. I was just like ‘Oh, God’, it was really lovely. Another thing I love about Emmerdale is the work ethic, I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“I was sad, but his storyline was very powerful. Soaps have a tremendous capability first and foremost to entertain. They explain things and they are powerful.” But Andrew’s scenes will have more than enough drama to make up for Joe Absolom’s departure.

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Graham is back! And Andrew says it was a tense six months of total secrecy in the build up(Image: )

He says: “Graham’s a man of few words. But he’s fiercely loyal. He generally does things for the right reasons, but sometimes uses the wrong method. I think he’s an incredibly solid guy. I think he’s clever, incredibly observant, fiercely protective and he’s mysterious. It is like he is an onion; his layers keep unravelling.”

But some Emmerdale residents like Kim Tate, her son Joe and Rhona may be less welcoming. Asked who would be the most shocked by his return, Andrew says: “I think technically, Kim, because she was the only one at my funeral.

“She 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. “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.”

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Graham’s time on Emmerdale has been dramatic(Image: )

They will all need time to forgive Graham, according to Andrew, who says of Kim: “it might take some months. I was gonna say they have a poisonous relationship, but 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 flame.”

Tender scenes, he teases, will also be aired between Graham and Joe. He adds: “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 Andrew predicts plenty of fireworks ahead. Unsure if Rhona will want to ditch Marlon and get back with Graham, he hints that Kim could technically still be married to him. “Now he’s alive, is it [their marriage] still legitimate?” he asks. “Who knows, maybe this might be a plot for the future? Will Rhona and Graham’s relationship be rekindled?

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“Obviously, she would have to forgive him first. Plus, her relationship with Marlon is very strong. But Graham did love her. The fact he has landed has caused a stir. I’m buzzing!”

*Emmerdale airs every weekday at 8pm on ITV1 and STV1. Episodes can be downloaded on ITVX.

Other soap stars who have come back from the dead

Bobby Ewing, Dallas

Bobby famously returned from the dead in May 1986 in a shower scene. It was revealed his wife, Pam, had been dreaming and rather than being dead, Bobby was very much alive – a surprise to both Pam and to Dallas fans.

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American actor Patrick Duff, who played Bobby Ewing, in Dallas(Image: Getty Images)

Den Watts, EastEnders

Dirty Den was killed off by the soap in 1989 after falling into a river. Adopted daughter, Sharon, was asked to confirm the body was him. But 14 years later, he returned, explaining he’d gone into hiding and had been alive the whole time.

Harold Bishop, Neighbours

Harold was swept out to sea in 1991, with fans presuming he’d drowned. But he returned five years later with amnesia and was working for the Salvation Army. It was revealed on the soap that he’d been lost at sea.

But some Emmerdale residents like Kim Tate, her son Joe and Rhona may be less welcoming. Asked who would be the most shocked by his return, Andrew says: “I think technically, Kim, because she was the only one at my funeral.

“She 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. “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.”

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Graham’s time on Emmerdale has been dramatic(Image: )

They will all need time to forgive Graham, according to Andrew, who says of Kim: “it might take some months. I was gonna say they have a poisonous relationship, but 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 flame.”

Tender scenes, he teases, will also be aired between Graham and Joe. He adds: “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 Andrew predicts plenty of fireworks ahead. Unsure if Rhona will want to ditch Marlon and get back with Graham, he hints that Kim could technically still be married to him. “Now he’s alive, is it [their marriage] still legitimate?” he asks. “Who knows, maybe this might be a plot for the future? Will Rhona and Graham’s relationship be rekindled?

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“Obviously, she would have to forgive him first. Plus, her relationship with Marlon is very strong. But Graham did love her. The fact he has landed has caused a stir. I’m buzzing!”

*Emmerdale airs every weekday at 8pm on ITV1 and STV1. Episodes can be downloaded on ITVX.

Other soap stars who have come back from the dead

Bobby Ewing, Dallas

Bobby famously returned from the dead in May 1986 in a shower scene. It was revealed his wife, Pam, had been dreaming and rather than being dead, Bobby was very much alive – a surprise to both Pam and to Dallas fans.

View 7 Images

American actor Patrick Duff, who played Bobby Ewing, in Dallas(Image: Getty Images)

Den Watts, EastEnders

Dirty Den was killed off by the soap in 1989 after falling into a river. Adopted daughter, Sharon, was asked to confirm the body was him. But 14 years later, he returned, explaining he’d gone into hiding and had been alive the whole time.

Harold Bishop, Neighbours

Harold was swept out to sea in 1991, with fans presuming he’d drowned. But he returned five years later with amnesia and was working for the Salvation Army. It was revealed on the soap that he’d been lost at sea.