A dramatic new fan theory has begun to gain traction among Emmerdale viewers, suggesting that both Joe Tate and Dawn Fletcher could meet tragic ends in a shocking turn of events — a twist that would abruptly halt Billy Fletcher’s escalating custody battle. The speculation comes in the wake of a tense scene where Billy, clearly consumed by desperation and resentment, confessed his intention to fight for custody of the children with whatever means necessary, regardless of the emotional or legal consequences. With Joe still lying in hospital, recovering from a violent fall after being pushed out of a window at Home Farm, the stakes are higher than ever. In a chilling exchange, Billy confronted Dawn and coldly warned her that unless she cooperated with his custody demands, he wouldn’t hesitate to implicate her in Joe’s attempted murder — telling the police that she was responsible for the attack. This veiled threat revealed just how far Billy is willing to go to gain control over the situation, and has led fans to theorise that things could spiral out of control, ultimately resulting in not just one, but two d3aths. If both Joe and Dawn were to die under suspicious circumstances, Billy’s storyline would take a much darker, irreversible turn, with long-lasting repercussions for everyone involved.

However, Joe soon regained consciousness, coming out of his coma. Learning what Billy had planned, he summoned him to the hospital and told him he’d stop at nothing to ensure that Dawn got to keep the children.

But could the unexpected d3ath of Joe and Dawn work in Billy’s favour?
Billy wants revenge on Joe for stealing Dawn (Credit: ITV)

Viewers predict d3ath to Joe and Dawn, leaving Billy the children

Writing on Reddit, fans shared their theories as to how the rest of the story might play out. And with the whodunnit having been quickly solved, many expected that there might still be a twist in store.

Could Joe and Dawn die?

“I actually have a weird feeling that Joe and Dawn will both die, like Romeo Juliet. leading to Billy actually getting custody of Clemmie and Lucas,” wrote one fan.

“I need Dawn and Billy to die in a horrific Chrissie White style car crash please! I can’t stand either of them,” said another on X.
Joe’s out of his coma… but is he out of danger too? (Credit: ITV)

Joe could still die, Emmerdale fans point out

Meanwhile, others were quick to point out that Joe might not be out of the woods yet. Could he die so soon after re-awakening after his coma?

“I’m holding out that this storyline is still going to move in a direction where Joe bites the dust,” said one fan.

“Something else is definitely going to happen with this story! Billy threatened him today and Jacob had to stop himself from hurting him. I think it’s a good bet that Joe will die soon with a long list of suspects,” another predicted.

Is Joe still in danger?