It has finally been confirmed who DS Thea Ramsden's (Chelsea Edge) biological father is in new Emmerdale spoilers.
The copper arrived in the village earlier this year with a clear vendetta towards Kim Tate (Claire King). From trying to frame her for causing death by dangerous driving to reporting her to social services, it seemed that she would stop at nothing to bring the millionaire down.
A flashback scene then revealed that the driving force behind her resentment is because Kim is her birth mother, who gave her up for adoption in 1999.
The truth was revealed in explosive episodes that aired this week. During a scuffle at Home Farm, Kim accidentally stabbed Thea and rushed her to hospital. While looking at her drivers license, she took note of her full name - Anthea - and the connection was realised.
Thea confirmed that this was the motivation behind her recent actions, and the pair shared an emotional conversation about the last 27 years. Kim wanted to know whether her daughter had received a happy upbringing, and was saddened to hear that her adoptive mother had died sometime after Thea's seventh birthday.
In the aftermath, the already fractured bond between Thea and her adoptive father was forever tarnished.
Kim was left concerned that she would face the consequences of her actions when the police were summoned to investigate the stabbing. However, Thea lied, saying that she'd tried to intervene with poachers on the Home Farm Estate and they'd retaliated.
In forthcoming scenes, Thea concedes that the impression she first had of her mum isn't what has transpired. Although Kim wants to make amends and move forward, there's still a lot of water under the bridge and it will take time.
Thea then takes time to ask about her father, and during the difficult exchange, Kim blurts out that he's her ex-husband - Steve Marchant (Paul Opacic).
Opacic originally appeared in Emmerdale between 1996 and 1999. The former university friend of Joe Tate's (Ned Porteous) mother Rachel Hughes (Glenda McKay), Steve befriended Zoe Tate (Leah Bracknell) and worked to form a business partnership with her brother Chris (Peter Amory) and their dad Frank (Norman Bowler).
After Frank's death, Steve grew closer to Kim and they were engaged, though he was hesitant to marry her.
Facing financial troubles after their eventual nuptials, Steve plotted to steal a horse from one of Kim's business rivals. In doing so, he struck Kathy Bates (Malandra Burrows) with his car and tried to smother her in hospital.
Kim hoped that by fleeing the country, he could evade justice for the crimes. However, at the airport, he was arrested for theft and attempted murder.
Steve later learnt that Kim was trying to frame him for their conspiracy plan and a vicious feud emerged. An explosive trial followed, with Steve pleading guilty, and Kim the opposite. She then left the village in a helicopter the night before the verdict was delivered, and it was announced without her being there.
She received a 12 month sentence, while he ended up being bars for 10 years.
As we now know, Kim stopped off at a hospital to give birth to Thea before leaving again with infant son Jamie - fearful that the police would soon catchup with her.
But will Thea look to track Steve down now that she knows the truth?
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Emmerdale airs weeknights at 8pm on ITV1 and from 7am on ITVX.
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