Even the grim reaper can’t keep Graham Foster (Andrew Scarborough) from his woman. After a jaw-dropping return from the dead, everyone’s favourite smartly-dressed sociopath is back in Emmerdale and carrying a torch for an old flame… but which one? Rhona Goskirk (Zoe Henry) or Kim Tate? (Claire King).
If Graham was on Tinder, ‘It’s Complicated’ would not cover his complex relationship history. The former soldier turned criminal has never had a romance that wasn’t tainted with toxicity or tragedy.
He was responsible for the deaths of first wife Cheryl Foster (Vanessa Earl) and the daughter after drunkenly crashing their car on the day of his little girl’s baby shower.
Then there was Andrea Tate (Anna Nightingale). While Graham was originally hired by former flame Kim Tate to keep an eye on her wayward son Jamie Tate while she was in prison, he paid barmaid Andrea to do it for him. This led to Andrea falling for Jamie for real, her steamy fling with Graham, a messy breakup with Jamie… and a scorned Kim gunning for Graham.
With a back story that tragic, it’s little wonder that Mister Foster finds it so difficult to get close to someone. That, and the tiny obstacle of being dead…
Everyone thought Graham Foster met his untimely demise at the hands of Zoe’s abuse husband Pierce Harris (Jonathan Wrather). Along came Corriedale, and the suited and booted sociopath delighted fans with a shock return after Coronation Street newcomer Jodie Ramsay (Olivia Frances Brown) escaped from the back of his van.
Later, in Hotten General, Graham was on the phone to a mystery client explaining that he was cancelling their contract because (cue Graham’s trademark gravelly tones) ‘I’ve got something I need to do’
Something… or someone? Now Graham’s set to make a triumphant return to Emmerdale village, actor Andrew Scarborough reminds us what makes him such an awesome character.
‘He’s fiercely loyal.’ Andrew insists. ‘He seemingly knows what’s right and wrong. And although he is in the world of smoke and mirrors, usually at the end of it, there’s a good thing that he’s done. He generally does things for the right reasons, but maybe sometimes uses the wrong method. Or you could judge them to be wrong.
‘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. And I think it was Sharon Marshall who said, “and he makes you cry”. I thought that was very funny.’
Not exactly a biog you’d put up on a dating site. But two Emmerdale residents would definitely swipe right. One of them is the Lady of Home Farm herself, Kim Tate. Graham and Kim’s love story was always characterised by passion, mistrust and betrayal. But I’ll let Andrew explain…
‘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. So, on paper they’re poisonous, but they’re just incredibly attracted to each other, like moths to flame, and but also at the same time, they live off that flame.’
That flame has grown pretty hot over the years – like the time Kim ordered Graham to kill her step-grandson Joe Tate (Ned Porteous) only for Graham to help the lad fake his death and flee with village with a hundred grand. Obviously when Kim discovered CCTV images that confirmed Joe was alive, she was none too pleased with Graham.
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So much so that she one of the suspects in his ‘murder’. Given that he faked his death to escape Kim’s wrath, it seems unlikely that she would ever find it in her shrivelled black heart to forgive. Andrew Scarborough, however, is more hopeful.
‘Well, I think if Kim Tate can forgive Joe for harvesting an organ she can forgive Graham for coming back from the dead. And if he helps matters by proving himself by fixing some things for them, they will appreciate his skills and his loyalty. But it might take some months.’
Will Kim and Graham find their way back together? Stranger things have happened. As Andrew reminds us, they are technically married.‘ I suppose him being dead means that the marriage was cancelled. But now he’s alive, is it still legitimate? Who knows? Maybe this might be a plot for the future?’
Or maybe Graham’s got eyes for his other lost love in the village – Rhona Goskirk.
The strong-willed and big-hearted veterinary surgeon is the closest thing Grahan’s ever had to a pure and healthy love story. Their deep and complicated bond was constantly complicated by Kim’s machinations, not to mention Rhona’s violent husband Pierce – who until recently, Rhona was certain killed him.
That all changed with their shocking reunion. In a heart to heart, Graham revealed to a stunned Rhona how he managed to fake his ow death to avoid Kim and admitted that he had been hired by a “powerful man” in his new line of work which he described as “to fix problems the police can’t”.
This was likely none other than Ray Walters (Joe Absolom) the ruthless criminal who ran a people trafficking operation with his mother Celia Daniels’ (Jaye Griffiths) and forced Rhona’s step-daughter April Windsor (Amelia Flanagan) into drug trafficking. When Graham learned of his employer’s “true nature”, he admitted that he had a “change of heart”. With April still missing, Graham promised Rhona that he’d get April home safe and vowed not to spare Ray like he spared Pierce.
Rhona is of course, happily married to Marlon Dingle (Mark Charnock). But surely Graham’s return changes everything? Andrew Scarborough insists that Graham’s love for Rhona will never die – just like the man himself.
‘Who knows? Obviously (Rhona) would have to forgive him first. Plus her relationship with Marlon is very strong. But Graham did love her. He has been away, and probably has lived quite a lonely life, because he’d have had to go from country to country doing his various jobs that he does freelance. So I would imagine he probably still hankers after her and probably is still in love with her. Watch the space.’
Will Graham get his girl? What does the future hold?
‘I am quite excited’ teases Andrew. ‘I can’t say any more than that, but it involves a bit of his, well just to say that somethings catch up on him.’
