Paul Opacic is returning to Emmerdale as Steve Marchant

Almost 30 years after his dramatic departure!

Emmerdale has revealed that Paul Opacic will be returning to the village as notorious rogue Steve Marchant, nearly three decades after his dramatic departure.

After 28 years away from the Dales, Steve makes a shock comeback when DS Thea Ramsden tracks him down in a relentless pursuit to uncover the identity of her biological father.

In tonight’s episode, Kim dropped a bombshell on Thea, telling her, “Your father is a man called Steve Marchant. We were married.”

With only a name to go on, the determined detective wastes no time initiating her search.

DS Thea Ramsden originally arrived in the village with a single-minded focus: seeking revenge on her estranged mother, Kim Tate.

Following months of stalking, escalating tension, and deep-seated misunderstandings, the two have recently reconnected and forged a tentative truce, leaving fans wondering whether their fractured relationship can truly be repaired.

With her mother finally tracked down, the ultimate question remains: Who is Thea’s father?

When Kim finally discloses Steve Marchant's identity, Thea sets out to locate him, completely unaware of whether he even knows she exists.

Because Kim previously sent Steve to prison, a romantic reunion between the former spouses is out of the question. However, whether Steve can build a relationship with his detective daughter remains to be seen.

In a calculated move, Thea poses as a solicitor during her initial contact. Cautious and suspicious, Steve is quickly drawn back toward the village in search of answers.

Ahead of his return, Paul Opacic said "Things were left rather bitter between Kim and Steve, so he’s very surprised when a solicitor contacts him out of the blue. He guesses something is afoot when Kim starts brandishing notes to keep him away. With the sniff of more cash to be made, Steve wonders what is going on. And soon Thea leaves him a jaw-dropping voicemail."

To which Emmerdale's Producer Laura Shaw added "Determined to uncover the truth about her father, Thea devises a clever ruse to lure him into a meeting under false pretences. But will Steve fall for her deception, and does he even realise he has a child - or could he know secrets that even Kim isn't aware of?"

Emmerdale continues Monday to Friday at 8pm on ITV1 with first look episodes available from 7am on ITVX