EMMERDALE FANS Demand The Return Of 8 Iconic Characters—From The D3AD! The Shocking List That Has Everyone Talking, And The REASONS Behind Their Unexpected Resurrections! Which Characters Do Fans Think Deserve A Second Chance, And What Could They Bring Back To The Show?

As a soap that’s been on air for over fifty years, Emmerdale has seen many characters come and go in its time – many of them suffering horrible d3aths. However, this is a world in which Kim Tate once faked her d3ath in one of its most iconic scenes, setting quite the precedent.

Ghosts too! Emmerdale has a surprising history of the und3ad haunting its residents, from the ghost of Christmas Val to spooky Tricia Dingle, tragic Holly Barton, and a menacing Emma Barton.

And, with rumours spiralling that one monster still lives (we’d rather he stayed d3ad, to be honest), while another may have also faked her d3ath, here are our picks of the Emmerdale legends past we’d like to return from beyond the grave… whether it makes sense or not.
Viv suffered a tragic fate (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)

1. Viv Windsor – one of the most regrettable Emmerdale d3aths

Viv Windsor was one of the soap’s most iconic figures, k!lled off in one of its more controversial twists. As a fire broke out in the Post Office she was k!lled in the subsequent explosion, along with lover Terry Woods. The soap hasn’t been the same since.

Leicestershire Live have reported a striking new fan theory – with some wondering whether Viv might have faked her own d3ath, possibly due to her ex-husband Reg Dawson’s history with the criminal underworld.

“Maybe she faked her d3ath because Reg Dawson’s old gangster mates found out about some cash he stashed away and wanted to come after her,” wrote one fan in a Facebook post.

Terry can stay d3ad, though.
She’s Val (Credit: ITV/YouTube)

2. Val Pollard… again

K!lled in a mirror maze during one of the soap’s most shocking scenes, Val Pollard has already come back from the d3ad once – paying Robert Sugden a visit in one Christmas Carol-inspired sequence.

We hate to say it, but Eric Pollard isn’t getting any younger. And, as his Parkinson’s symptoms worsen, it’s likely that his exit from the soap will air over the coming years. And what better farewell for Eric than a visit from the one and only Val? Well, any excuse to get her back on our screens.
Leyla died in the limousine crash (Credit: ITV)

3. Leyla Harding

Leyla’s d3ath was pretty definitive – bleeding out in the wake of February’s limousine lake crash and dying on the way to hospital. And, as Jacob grieved the d3ath of his mum, viewers saw her, d3ad and lifeless, in the hospital morgue.

She’s d3ad, then, but if the flashbacks which aired a few weeks later proved anything, it’s that k!lling Leyla off was a big mistake. Whether it be more flashbacks, or returning as a ghost to give Jacob a kick in the pants, we’ll take whatever we can get.
Rebecca had a sad life (Credit: ITV/YouTube)

4. Rebecca White – one of many Emmerdale off-screen d3aths

Last seen leaving the village with Ross for their happily ever after, Rebecca White died offscreen. Ross shared the news upon his return last year, revealing that she’d died in a routine surgery gone wrong.

With Rebecca having died offscreen, there’s always room for the soap to bring her back in another twist – well, who’s to say Ross was telling the truth? Whether the soap would want to is a different matter, but Rebecca deserved better than a sad offscreen d3ath. Especially given all she suffered in life.
Graham was a fan favourite (Credit: ITV/YouTube)

5. Emmerdale favourite Graham Foster was one of its saddest d3aths

Someone needs to give Joe Tate a good talking to. Between stealing kidneys and other villagers’ wives, his behaviour’s been at an all-time low since his return last year. And how better to make Joe see the error of his ways than father figure Graham Foster?

“Can’t believe they k!lled him off. I keep on forgetting that they k!lled him off. I hate that they k!lled him off,” wrote one fan in a recent Emmerdale fan, confirming that Graham still lives on in all of our hearts.
Al was shot d3ad in 2023 (Credit: ITV)

6. The d3ad exes of Chas Dingle

Liam wants to watch his back -those who get mixed up with Chas tend to meet an unpleasant end. This includes Carl King (bashed with a brick), Cameron Murray (electrocuted) and Al Chapman (shot by a child), all d3ad after getting mixed up with Chas.

Given Emmerdale’s habit of bringing the d3ad back as ghosts, let’s have the d3ad men in her life return to duke it out like some sort of Freddy vs Jason, but for d3ad ex-boyfriends.
Moira k!lled the monstrous Emma Barton, ending her reign of terror (Credit: ITV)

7. Emma Barton

What, again? After being pushed off a viaduct by Moira, Emma returned from beyond the grave to torment her former nemesis as she suffered a series of brain tumour-related visions.

Given that these were some of the soap’s best in recent years, we wouldn’t be opposed to seeing her pop up again. Who knows, maybe she could ‘return’ to torment son Ross this time? Especially as the monstrous matriarch is fresh on our minds, after filling Steph in on his messy family history.
Rishi was k!lled on his son’s wedding day (Credit: ITV)

8. Rishi Sharma

No ghosts or faked d3aths needed here, just a simple retcon. With Jai’s behaviour becoming ever-more indefensible, our suggestion for this one is that we just switch the two around.

No explanation needed – lovely Rishi’s back, as though he never left… and Jai’s d3ad, off haunting an orphanage somewhere with his sour face.