Joe Tate found unconscious surrounded by pills as Dawn Taylor affair takes dark turn in Emmerdale

JOE Tate will be found unconscious next week surrounded by pills as his affair with Dawn Taylor takes a dark twist in Emmerdale next week.

The scheming businessman - who is played by actor Ned Porteous in the ITV soap - has been hiding a mystery condition ever since he returned at Christmas.

He has been seen taking pills for what appears to be seizures - but it’s not become clear what is wrong with him.

Whatever it is, it hasn’t stopped him from beginning a passionate affair with Dawn Taylor.

And Dawn will be riddled with guilt over her betrayal of husband Billy.

Next week, things are flat out for Dawn and Billy and soon Kim’s got an interesting proposal - for Dawn to give up her job at the vets and work full time for Home Farm Estates. 

But Dawn learns Joe is her new boss and is suspicious he’s orchestrated the whole thing.

Meanwhile Joe reels in Noah by handing him an heirloom. 

Dawn confronts Joe over the job and they end up kissing passionately. Post-coital in a Home Farm Bedroom, Dawn and Joe tidy themselves up. 

When Billy returns home from hospital with Evan after his first outpatient chemotherapy appointment, Dawn’s guilt threatens to overwhelm her. 

Later, Joe is struggling to maintain consciousness as he sits in his parked car on a deserted country road  

Dawn finds Joe slumped at the wheel and a bottle of pills on the floor and jumps to conclusions.

Back at Home Farm, Dawn takes a deep breath and prepares to confess to Billy about cheating on him.

Will she got through with it? Or will Joe find a way to keep her quiet?

Meanwhile Joe and Kim chat in the graveyard he sees she genuinely misses Graham. 

Her grief over Will remains raw but she feels bolstered by Joe’s support but what does he really want?