In a stunning twist that has left the soap world reeling, Emmerdale favourite Andrew Scarborough has broken his silence on his dramatic return to the ITV series, six full years after his character was brutally killed off. The actor, who portrays the enigmatic Graham Foster, has spoken for the first time about the secretive plot that brought him back from the dead, a move that shocked viewers during the recent Corriedale crossover event.
The Shocking Comeback: From Woods to Village
Fans last saw Graham Foster lying dead in the woods back in 2020, a victim in a grim whodunnit that ultimately pinned the blame on Pierce Harris. Next week, the character will stride back into the Emmerdale village, forcing viewers to question everything they thought they knew. Andrew Scarborough, 52, admitted the call to return was as much a surprise to him as it will be to the audience. "It was a complete surprise. I never expected it at all," he revealed. However, he always held a belief that if any character could cheat death, it was Graham.
"He was a highly trained SAS operative. He was used to smoke and mirrors," Scarborough explained, defending the plausibility of the plot. "Graham has been highly trained to do certain things like to hold one's breath when diving, to remain motionless when being trained as a sniper." He also pointed to the character's powerful connections within government and police institutions as a key factor in making a resurrection feasible.
Secret Filming and Coded Scripts
Keeping the monumental return under wraps required military-level secrecy from both the actor and the Emmerdale production team. Scarborough had to keep the news quiet for an agonising six months, a task he described as "tricky." The soap went to extraordinary lengths to prevent leaks. In all scripts and documentation, Scarborough's character was referred to by the fake name 'Bruce', and he was deliberately left off cast billing lists to avoid alerting eagle-eyed fans.
"I had to come and go through the special entrance, I wore a hood, or a hat, and I probably looked very suspicious actually," the actor confessed, detailing the cloak-and-dagger measures taken during filming. This ensured his comeback remained one of the best-kept secrets in soap history until the moment it aired.
Emotional Reunions and Future Fallout
For Scarborough, returning to the set was an emotional experience. "I didn't realise how much I missed it," he shared, noting that he even shed a few tears. A particularly moving moment was reuniting with Harvey, the actor who plays Leo, with whom he filmed his final scene six years prior. "He's now grown up, and he gave me a massive hug and I was just like, Oh, God, it was really lovely."
The return will send shockwaves through the village, particularly for Joe Tate, whom Graham once helped fake his own death in 2018. Now, with Joe grown close to Kim Tate—Graham's former flame—the dynamic is set to explode. Scarborough promises "heightened" and powerful scenes as Joe discovers his father figure is alive. He also hinted at potential romantic repercussions for his ex, Rhona Goskirk, and her husband Marlon Dingle, suggesting Graham's feelings may not have faded during his lonely exile.
Looking ahead, the actor warns that while some villagers may eventually forgive the deception, Graham will have to watch his back as past actions catch up with him. He believes characters like Kim Tate, who forgave Joe for organ harvesting, could find room for forgiveness if Graham proves his loyalty anew. Emmerdale airs weeknights at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
