Emmerdale fans were left stunned as the mystery hooded figure stalking the Corriedale scenes was unmasked as former character Graham Foster.

On Monday night, Emmerdale fans were left gobsmacked as the enigmatic hooded figure lurking in the Corriedale horror scenes was unveiled to be none other than Graham Foster – a character believed to have been killed off over half a decade ago.

The New Year kicked off with a bang as the eagerly awaited crossover of Coronation Street and Emmerdale finally hit our screens, marking the first time these two ITV soaps have collided.

Corriedale brought about seismic changes for 40 cherished characters from both soaps, with two confirmed fatalities and a whirlwind of drama for others caught up in the chaos.

In Emmerdale, John Sugden was seen driving recklessly with Aaron Dingle in tow, having returned to reclaim his ex-husband from Robert Sugden.

However, just as Aaron thought he could persuade John to turn himself into the police, disaster struck and their car flipped over.

This triggered a catastrophic pile-up involving multiple vehicles, including the mini bus ferrying some of Coronation Street’s cast back from Debbie Webster’s Yorkshire nuptials, reports the Manchester Evening News.

As the mayhem unfolded, a mysterious hooded figure was spotted observing the pandemonium, seemingly unfazed even by the explosion that engulfed the minibus.

A woman, whose identity remains unknown, was found bound in the back of the van but managed to break free and make a run for it through the woods. Kit Green from Corrie intercepted her as she fled from her captor.

Later, as chaos unfolded in the hospital, Joe Tate was seen lying wounded on a hospital bed, with a hooded figure keeping a watchful eye nearby. It was at this moment that the enigmatic individual was finally revealed – Graham Foster.

Who is Graham Foster?

Graham Foster made his debut in Emmerdale in 2017, serving as Joe’s trusted aide whilst Joe operated under the false identity of Tom Waterhouse. Graham was instrumental in helping Joe seek vengeance against those he believed had wronged him following his father Chris Tate’s death.

He developed into something of a paternal figure for Joe, and was previously married to both Cheryl Foster and Kim Tate, whilst also having a romantic relationship with Rhona Goskirk.

Graham assisted Joe in escaping the country after Cain Dingle’s attack, allowing Cain to think he had actually murdered Joe during their confrontation. Whilst his romance with Kim Tate flourished upon her release from prison, it ultimately crumbled and he began a fresh relationship with Rhona.

Nevertheless, he met his demise when Rhona Goskirk’s former husband and rapist Pierce Harris struck him with a torch following a struggle that saw Graham plummet from a cliff edge. His “death” sparked a “whodunnit” mystery that spanned several episodes, as he had accumulated numerous adversaries in the village prior to the tragic event.

A flashback later revealed Graham’s version of events from that fateful night, with Pierce apparently being responsible for ending his life – or so audiences have been led to believe for the past six years. Last spotted in the Dales in 2020, actor Andrew Scarborough recently featured in the ITV drama Code of Silence, but now seems to be making a surprising return.

Emmerdale is available to watch on ITVX.