Emmerdale‘s Joe Tate shows no mercy next week, when he cold-heartedly orders his workers to demolish everything on the Butlers Farm field – including a memorial where Holly Barton is buried.

His brutal actions go against the solemn promise that Kim made to Moira when they negotiated the Tate takeover of her farm.

One of the most painful aspects of selling Butlers was that Moira also had to surrender access to her daughter’s final resting place. Kim swore she’d honour and protect the memorial, and Moira co

uld visit whenever she wanted. But Joe shows no respect as he bulldozes over the land and Kim’s promise.

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“This is one of the most utterly vile things Joe Tate has ever done – and that’s saying something,” explains our Emmerdale insider. “Moira is going through hell right now, and when she finds out that he’s trashed Holly’s memorial, it’s going to cause her untold heartbreak.

“Moira is currently languishing in prison for crimes she didn’t commit, but when she finds out what Joe has done, there’s a good chance she’ll be moved to murder him!”

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If the Dingles thought that Joe would be more sensitive now that he’s won the battle to get the land, and is aware of Cain’s cancer diagnosis, they were wrong. Instead of being sympathetic, Joe seems to have doubled down on causing them distress.

Related: Emmerdale‘s Kim Tate to collapse after mysterious poisoning

That’s why he presses ahead with the plans for the farm and doesn’t think twice about desecrating Holly’s grave, even though he must know that it will cut deep for Moira and her loved ones and cause another massive drama between them.

Plus, it makes a mockery of Kim’s vow to preserve the place and ensure that the grieving mother could always visit and remember her lost daughter.

Will Joe live to regret his nasty antics when Moira finally wins her freedom?

Emmerdale airs on weeknights at 8pm on ITV1, and streams on ITVX.

Read more Emmerdale spoilers on our dedicated homepage

For exclusive soap star interviews, gossip, spoilers and theories every week, don’t miss the Soap Scoop podcast from Inside Soap magazine. The latest episode delves into next week’s soap spoilers for EastEnders, Coronation Street and Emmerdale – from Jodie’s latest move in Weatherfield, to Oscar’s new romance on the Square!