Zoe Tate

Zoe Tate is the second child and only daughter of Frank and Jean Tate, she is the mother of Jean Tate Jr., sister of Chris Tate, half-sister of Liam Hammond, Caleb Miligan, and James Tate and legal guardian of Joseph Tate as well as auntie to him and Noah Tate.
Zoe was part of the original Tate family, the then-new wealthy family taking over Home Farm in 1989. During her time in the village, Zoe was involved in many major storylines, including coming out as a lesbian, the deaths of her father and brother Frank and Chris, the betrayal and departure of her stepmother, Kim and a battle with schizophrenia.
==Biography==
===1968-1989: Early life===
Zoe was born to Frank and Jean Tate on 27th April 1968. In 1982 Jean was diagnosed with liver cancer and passed away 2 years later when Zoe was 16 years old. In 1984 Zoe started studying at the University of Edinburgh to become a vet as it was what her mother wished. Her father went on to remarry in March 1986 and while her older brother Chris disliked her, Zoe got on well with her step-mother, Kim.
===1989-1991: Arrival in Beckindale===
In late 1989, Zoe's family moved to Beckindale after buying Home Farm while Zoe was still studying at university. When she arrived in the village she was struggling with her studies and considering quitting, afraid that she was not cut out for it and unimpressed by the sexist attitudes of the local farmers. However, in January 1990, after Seth Armstrong fell ill while working at Alan Turner's fish farm, Zoe's interest was sparked and she started looking into it closer and testing the water. The test came up positive for cryptosporidium causing her to suspects it had been contaminated by Emmerdale Farm's slurry tank. Afterwards, she spoke to Jack Sugden who convinced her to not give up and leave the field clear to those who do not care and thus resumed her studies.
Pending on her graduation, Zoe confined herself to several animal-helping causes. In April 1990, Zoe caught wind of Jock MacDonald and Bill Middleton asking around for beaters and suspected they were planning illegal hare coursing and became determined to stop it. She and some friends intervened when Nick Bates, who was pretending to participate to catch them, got found out and a fight broke out. The police were called and one man got arrested but Zoe was disappointed when Jock was the only one getting charged. She was later annoyed and horrified when Jock was hired as help at Home Farm and tried to convince Frank to fire him but to no avail. In July she and Seth helped a fox get free who was stuck in beercan rings and afterwards Zoe became determined to stop Beckindale’s littering problem as it was affecting the wildlife.
On 26th July 1990, Zoe officially graduated from University of Edinburgh but was disappointed when Frank couldn't make it, which she later finds out was due to his returning drinking problem. Following her graduation, Zoe moved to the village permanently and found employment at Bennetts Veterinary Practice in Hotten. In September, she attacked Home Farm-worker Jock MacDonald for hurting a horse and had to be pulled back by Kim. After she told Frank about the incident, he sacked Jock who got revenge by setting fire to the Home Farm stables. Meanwhile, Zoe grew close to Archie Brooks who took a liking to her, and they formed a friend group with Michael Feldmann and Rachel Hughes. However, things got complicated when Michael starts to fancy Zoe, bringing complications as Archie likes her as well and Rachel was interested in Michael. In January 1991, Zoe slept with Michael, despite not having any feelings for him, and avoided him afterwards, damaging her friendships with both him and Rachel in the process.
In March 1991, Rachel, Archie and Michael discovered that Zoe's boss Martin Bennett had signed a contract with Skipdale Laboratories, allowing them to experiment on animals. Furious, she confronted Martin and threatened to resign, however, Martin insisted that he only took part under the pretense that Skipdale Laboratories only experimented on animals for medical research and he did not approve of the involvement of animals in cosmetic research. He agreed to disassociate his company with them but in late May, Zoe discovered that Martin was still working with them and subsequently quit her job. On 11th June 1991, Zoe left the village after she got a job as a flying vet in New Zealand.
Zoe briefly returned to the village in November for Chris’ wedding to Kathy Merrick, and again for Christmas, bringing her new boyfriend Patrick whom Frank strongly disapproved of due to their large age difference.
===1992-1995: Return and coming out===
Zoe returned permanently in December the following year when her contract was up. She was shocked when on Christmas she and the entire family learnt that Kim has been having an affair, resulting in Frank throwing her out and spiraling back into alcoholism. Zoe struggled as she took care of her father who refused help and grew closer to Archie again as he supported her through it. In March 1993, Archie told Zoe he wanted a relationship with her but she was reluctant. After Zoe was offered a job in Edinburgh she asked Archie to come with her but was annoyed when he couldn't make up his mind. She turned it down but told Archie that he failed her by not agreeing to go with her and said they should continue as just friends. 
In May 1993, Zoe slept with Archie and began a relationship with him but found herself struggling to be intimate with him and even Archie started noticing something was wrong. On 27th May, Archie found Zoe crying in the kitchen after sleeping together and she eventually admits that everything between them had been a pretence, admitting that she knew that if it wouldn't work with him she knew it would never work with any man. Archie was initially angry and upset, having misunderstood Zoe's confession and began avoiding her. Zoe desperately tried to get him to talk to her again and eventually got him to hear her out, telling him in no uncertain terms that she think she's gay. Although initially thrown, Archie supported her through it. 
By July, Zoe started throwing herself into her work as a distraction, making Frank grow worried about something being wrong but she pushed him away when he tried to get to the bottom of it. Archie told her she needed to tell her father about her sexuality but Zoe insisted it was not the right time. Meanwhile, Frank was driving Zoe crazy as he continued to drink too much a stay out all night, making everyone but Zoe give up on him. On 17th August Zoe finally came out to Frank who although he initially expressed his shock and disappointment, assured her that he would always be proud of her and vowed to support her. Frank sorted himself out and stopped drinking in order to be there for Zoe.
Archie, who wanted to help Zoe with her struggles, set it up a meeting with Richard, a gay friend of Rachel. Despite finding the whole thing embarrassing at first, Zoe ended up befriending Richard who helped her talk through her issues and invited her to various events and gay clubs to meet like-minded people. He suggested a poetry reading where she ended up meeting Jude Clayton who despite Zoe originally offending her by dismissing the whole thing, later took a liking to Zoe. Frank was very supportive of the relationship and even invited Jude for dinner but Zoe admitted to Frank that although Jude helped her realise for sure that she was gay, just because she was gay as well didn’t mean she was the right person for her. In mid-November Zoe told Chris that she was a lesbian. Although he first didn’t take it well, he came to his senses a few days later and told her that as long as she was happy that was all that mattered. 
Like most of the village, Zoe was affected by the devastating plane crash in December 1993. She was in The Woolpack when the plane crashed and spent most of the coming days looking after the hurt and dead animals in the crisis. The crash affected Zoe's life as it soon became apparent that Archie had died in the crash and Chris was left paralyzed from the waist down after being stuck in the rubble of the Woolpack wine bar. Zoe was skeptical as Frank started growing closer to Kim again in the wake of the crash but decided to give her another chance as they gave their relationship another go. 
In February 1994 Zoe started making plans to open up a veterinary practice in Beckindale and asked her boss, Paul Worsley, to expand the business to include an office in the village. She became a partner with the help of a loan from Kim and set up the surgery at the Heritage Farm. They officially opened on 22nd February but throughout the coming months Zoe struggled to get customers so she hired Chris to help her with advertisement and PR which was also a ploy to help Chris who had become bitter after his accident and spent most of his time stuck at home. In June, Nick Bates asked for Zoe's help when his ex Elsa tried to take his daughter away from him. Before Archie's death, rumours went around that he and Nick were a couple which Elsa was trying to use against him in court. Archie never denied them as he was actually protecting Zoe but Nick now asked her to make a statement to the court which she agreed to. Frank advised her against it as she was establishing a new business and had enough of an uphill battle being a young woman in a male-dominated field as it was but Zoe had made up her mind. 
In late August, Zoe, Kim and Frank got into a car accident when Frank had a heart attack while driving. Zoe cared for Frank and he regained consciousness after Zoe performed CPR while waiting for an ambulance. The ambulance finally arrived and Frank was taken to hospital and eventually recovered. However, Zoe got worried as, although Frank wanted to slow down, Kim insisted on working to expand the business which made Zoe worry that she was prioritizing the business over Frank's wellbeing as well as feeling like Kim she is trying to take over. Zoe urged Kim and Frank to talk things through and not let the business come before their relationship.
In November 1994 Zoe got into a bit of drama when she befriended a man named Martin. His wife came to see her, accusing her of having an affair with him. Shortly after, Martin showed up, telling her he had left his wife and wanted to be with her. She told him she wasn’t interested and asked him to leave her alone but he persisted. After he still refused to leave, she told him she was gay which only made him angry. He was about to attack her but Frank interrupted and he left. Rumours started spreading around the village both about Zoe’s supposed affair and her sexuality. She was upset when Linda Glover resigned as her assistant after her father, Ned Glover didn’t want her to work for a lesbian or adulterer. 
Zoe continued to be on bad terms with Ned and it got even worse when in mid-December she got a visit from her boss, saying they had gotten some complaints from clients about her personal life which originated from Ned. However, in January 1995 Ned started to realise that he might have made a mistake and apologised to Zoe for bad-mouthing her to other farmers and stopping Linda from working for her. Zoe then re-hired Linda.
===1995-1996: Relationships with Emma Nightingale and Susie Wilde===
Also in January, Zoe met interior designer Emma Nightingale when she accidentally crashed into her car. Despite the unpleasant circumstances of their first meeting, they soon hit it off and Zoe invited Emma to stay at Home Farm while she was finishing her work redecorating The Woolpack and Kim and Frank were away on their honeymoon. They soon pursued a relationship but Emma moved out when Kim and Frank returned and then asked Zoe to move in with her in Leeds. Zoe was reluctant though due to all her life and work being in the village but eventually suggested they buy their own place together in the village instead, which Emma accepted. 
In April, after being unable to find a place to buy, they started renting Smithy Cottage together which was located central in the village, drawing much attention from the other villagers. Zoe also refurbished the adjoined forge and set up her veterinary practice, Tate's Veterinary Surgery, on the premises with Linda as receptionist. However, shortly after moving in someone threw a stone through their window and graffitied "lesbeans" on their front door, making Zoe feel unsafe in their new home. They quickly discovered local teenagers Scott Windsor and Roy Glover were the culprits. After telling their parents and agreeing not to call the police, they forced the teens to help clean up what they did.
On 17th August 1995, after being called out to Ken Adlington's farm, Zoe was almost raped by Ken. She managed to escape but was left extremely shaken and shocked by the attack. Emma tried to convince her to tell the police but Zoe refused as it would be her words against his and she worried about the press going after her for being gay. After Frank found out, he furiously attacked Ken but his wife stuck up for him and they denied everything. Appalled by his wife lying for him, Emma eventually convinced Zoe to call the police but in the end, they couldn't prove anything and Zoe struggled to go back to work after the incident. In September she returned to going on callouts and went to the Sugdens' but struggled and opened up to Sarah Sugden.
Zoe was upset when Emma and Linda took matters into their own hands and put up posters around the village warning women against Ken. She told them she just wanted to forget about it and move on. Soon, Ken’s wife saw the posters and confronted them. Zoe, however, was having none of it and demanded to know why she was protecting him. She admitted that he beat her and feared that if she spoke up and nothing came of it, she would be the one suffering the consequences. Ken got some sort of justice when he showed up in the village furious and started pulling down the posters. Frank, Ned Glover and Jack Sugden all stood up to him, threatening him to not return to Emmerdale ever again, humiliating him.
While Zoe and Emma spent some time away in America, Frank relapsed and ended up in hospital with liver failure. Linda called to inform Zoe who returned to visit her father in hospital in early 1996. She was shocked, however, when Kim revealed that she was pregnant with Frank's baby although even more so when speaking to Frank who told her that Kim had been having an affair and he believed the baby was David Glover's. Frank revealed that he was plotting revenge and asked her to help him. She was reluctant as she wanted him to forget about Kim and focus on his health, although agreed after realizing he wouldn't change his mind and thus helped him get in contact with an old associate. 
In February 1996, Emma asked Zoe to marry her and they decided to have a blessing in church to recognize their relationship. However, The surprise arrival of Emma's ex-girlfriend Susie Wilde began to cause problems as Zoe didn't get along with Susie and became jealous of her and Emma. Though after spending some time with her, Zoe began to take a liking to Susie. In April Susie kissed Zoe and then tried to convince her to break it off with Emma, making Zoe start having doubts. On the day of Emma and Zoe's blessing on 25th May 1996, Susie continued to flirt with Zoe and gave her second thoughts although she still ended up going through with it. 
Shortly after the blessing ceremony, Emma found out about Zoe and Susie's relationship and Zoe decided to leave Emma for Susie. However, their relationship was less than smooth as Zoe often found Susie immature and irresponsible while Susie got annoyed when Zoe didn't want to participate in her wild nights out. Zoe's relationship with Susie eventually fell apart completely after she found her having taken another woman to their home in autumn of 1996. Susie tried to apologise and they argued as Zoe refused to accept her explanation, though Zoe was then left heartbroken when their disagreement resulted in Susie walking out on her.
At the same time, Zoe's relationship with Kim Tate hit an all-time low in September 1996 after Kim gave birth to Zoe's baby brother James. While she was in hospital, Zoe was forced to put Kim's favourite horse, Valentine, down and Kim felt that this was done out of some vague revenge. Kim threatened to sue Zoe for malpractice which could jeopardise her business. On 24th October, Zoe attended James' christening after being asked by Frank to be his godmother and again tried to make Kim see sense but to no avail. Zoe started losing work due to news of Kim's impending suit spreading among her clients. Zoe angrily confronts Kim who told her all she wanted to drop the case was for Zoe to tell her she was sorry. Baffled, Zoe earnestly apologised which Kim appreciated.
===1997-1999: Death of Frank and Kim's betrayal===
Zoe was mystified by Kim's disappearance and supposed death in March 1997, but never believed the accusations that Frank murdered her, so she was devastated when he was arrested and denied bail. When Zoe visits Frank in prison, he asks her to take over Home Farm Estate as, unlike Chris, she's the only person he trusts, upsetting Chris when he finds out. Soon, Zoe, who was always certain of her father's innocence, gets some doubt after young Andy Sugden finds one of Frank's cufflinks at the scene of Kim's death. Zoe buys it from Andy although when Jack Sugden asks her about it, Zoe panics and lies about it but he soon finds out the truth and informs the police. The police accused Zoe of being an accomplice in Kim's murder and held her for questioning the whole night.
On 2nd April 1997, Zoe and Chris attend Kim's will reading and are shocked when she names Zoe as one of three trustees of James trust fund as well as leaving half her estate, including her company, to her on account of her being the only one of the family with honesty, integrity, and decency. This makes Chris furious as Zoe now has even more control of the business while he is left in severe financial trouble. Wanting to get closer to the surgery and get away from Chris, Zoe decides to move back home and asks if James' nanny Sophie Wright, as well as James, wants to come with her as she herself has gotten enough of Chris.
While living together, Zoe and Sophie grow closer and Zoe develops feelings for her. In early May Zoe confesses her feelings and the two are about to kiss when suddenly Frank barges in and reveals he has been released, much to the family's relief. Zoe's joy was short-lived though as two weeks later, Zoe found Frank suffering from a heart attack and he died right in front of her only moments later. A few days later, Zoe was shocked when Kim reappeared on the day of Frank's funeral. Zoe and Chris were even more displeased when realizing Frank had left his entire estate to Kim in his will and suspected meddling but were unable to prove anything. With her owning the majority share in the company, Kim started taking charge, wanting to sell off the holiday village much to Zoe and Chris' chagrin as that was Frank's vision. 
Zoe and Sophie found themselves in a bit of turmoil during the summer when Butch Dingle started harassing them and stalking Sophie, believing they were meant to be together. Zoe eventually got enough and confronted Butch, threatening to call the police if he continued. That night, Zoe and Sophie returned home to find the place has been trashed and "Dirty Tate Bitch" written on the wall. Zoe called the police and wanted Butch to be charged but she was annoyed when the Dingles covered for him and his father, Zak Dingle took the blame for it. Despite Zak promising to get Butch to leave them alone, he continued to bother them, culminating in him trapping Sophie in Zoe's house while tricking Zoe away with a fake call. When Zoe realized what he was doing she rushed back and reunited with Sophie who after a lengthy confrontation finally managed to get through to Butch.
In October 1997, Zoe told Sophie that she wanted a baby but she was hurt when Sophie revealed that she thought a baby needed a father. Zoe then took a holiday to clear her head and was devastated when she returned a few weeks later and found out that Linda had died. Soon after, Zoe and Sophie made up and resumed their relationship with Sophie even telling Zoe she has changed her mind about the prospect of having a baby together. Zoe and Sophie started making serious plans of having a child and even visited a fertility clinic for Zoe to get artificially inseminated. However, Sophie soon changed her mind and realised she couldn't go through with it so she broke it off, leaving Zoe heartbroken. 
In January 1998, Zoe became suspicious when Steve Marchant, now Kim's fiancé, entrusted her with a key to a safety deposit and asked her to only use it if something happened to her. Feeling something was wrong, Zoe eventually went to collect it and found it contained a tape from last year of Kim arranging to set up Frank for the murder of her lookalike. Zoe and Chris then tracked down the man Kim talked to on the tape to get him to make a statement to the police about Kim's involvement but he shocks them by revealing he never killed the girl - Frank did, believing it was Kim. Zoe was devastated and upset when Chris continued to defend Frank. Zoe told Chris that their family feuds had gone too far and decided to call for a truce with Kim, even agreeing to be her bridesmaid. 
In March, Zoe's new receptionist Becky Cairns started showing an interest in Zoe as she sought her comfort in her marital problems. Meanwhile, Zoe disapproved after learning of Chris' relationship with Kelly Windsor but became invested upon learning she was expecting Chris' baby as she felt this was the closest she could get to having kids of her own. Therefore Zoe was devastated when Kelly suffered a miscarriage. Zoe was comforted by Becky and the two ended up kissing, however, Becky's son Will saw them and threatened to tell his father. Becky eventually admitted to the ordeal herself, wanting to pursue a relationship with Zoe although Zoe shot her down, telling her she did not want to be accused of tearing apart a family and did not feel as strongly about Becky as she did.
In May 1998, Recently married Kim and Steve were forced to sell their shares in Home Farm and shocked Zoe and Chris by selling to Lady Tara Oakwell who became the new chairwoman of the company. As a Home Farm shareholder, Zoe got involved in the eviction crisis in the village in autumn. She was shocked and appalled when realizing Lady Tara was selling off Home Farm property and thus forcing people out of their homes in order to settle her own debts. Zoe was disappointed when, despite initially agreeing with her, Chris switched positions after some sweet-talking from Tara's lawyer, Laura and with only a 20% share in the business, Zoe was powerless to stop it.
In September, Zoe defended Kim when she was accused of a robbery at the stud farm during which Kathy Glover was almost killed in the hit-and-run escape as Zoe had spent the entire evening at Kim and Steve's. However, unbeknownst to Zoe, Steve had sneaked out during the evening while pretending to make a phone call upstairs. Zoe was shocked when in late October, Kathy woke up and pointed Steve out as her attacker, but stood by Kim as she never believed she had any involvement. The following month, Zoe was questioned again as evidence against Kim surfaced although Zoe still stood firm in standing by Kim and even posted her bail after she was arrested, infuriating Chris and causing the two siblings to fall out. 
However, Zoe was made to look foolish when Kim escaped the village with the loot in January 1999, leaving Chris for dead. She realised Kim had used her as an unwitting alibi on the night of the robbery. Zoe was deeply affected by Kim's betrayal, feeling foolish for trusting her again and guilty for what happened to her brother. Feeling down and lonely, Rachel Hughes convinced Zoe to go with her to a gay bar where she met and hit it off with a woman. They ended up sleeping together but Zoe was crushed when she told her it was just a one night stand. Zoe drowned her sorrows at the Woolpack and ended up drinking too much, causing a scene and ending up severely hungover the next day. 
With Zoe still in bed, temp-receptionist Lyn Hutchinson accidentally killed one of Jack Sugden's sheep whilst trying to cover for her and Paddy. Enraged, Jack confronted Zoe who clumsily tried to smooth things over with a bottle of wine but ended up making things worse. The irate farmer decided to withdraw his business from her as she failed to take responsibility for her actions. By March the practice started losing clients as Jack had tainted their reputation among other farmers and Zoe fell out with Paddy as she wouldn't take the situation seriously or own up to her mistake. However, Zoe eventually got her act together in time for the annual Vet's ball and smoothed things over with Paddy by helping him get back together with his ex Mandy and used the ball to mend bridges with some old clients.
===1999-2000: Relationship with Frankie Smith===
In April 1999 Zoe became infatuated with Frankie Smith, a lorry driver at Chris' new haulage company although was disappointed when she reveals she has a girlfriend, Maggie. A few weeks later, Zoe brought Frankie along after on an emergency call at the Sugdens'. Zoe successfully brought life to a newly born calf, repairing her relationship with Jack and impressing Frankie who then kissed her before rushing out. Zoe was delighted after the kiss although Frankie insisted that it was just in the spur of the moment would not go further. Shortly after, Chris convinced Zoe to invest in the haulage business to save them from financial ruin although he was displeased when Zoe agreed on the condition that he also sold Laura Johnstone, Zoe's friend and Chris' ex-girlfriend, a 10% share and gave them both director roles in the company.
The following month, Zoe accompanied Frankie on an overnight job in Southampton under the guise of getting to know more about the company. Frankie was initially annoyed but the two ended up having a good time and when Zoe started giving Frankie the cold shoulder, Frankie began taking an interest in her. When Zoe accompanied Frankie on a day off the two ended up getting spontaneous tattoos together which then caused problems between Frankie and Maggie. Zoe then set Frankie up for a three-week trip to Eastern Europe in an attempt to break up her and Maggie up. While Frankie was away, Zoe butted heads with Maggie who blew up at her in the Woolpack after finding out about their trip to Southampton. Soon, Maggie discovered Zoe was behind Frankie's trip and after calling to tell her she ended up having a drink and gets arrested in Germany for drunk-driving, causing problems for the company as well. Chris lectured Zoe for her handling of the whole situation and letting her personal life affect the business.
In September 1999, Home Farm went back on the market and Chris, who didn't have the money himself, pleaded with Zoe to buy it but she refused. Soon thereafter, Zoe was horrified when Chris suddenly disappeared and she was left to take care of his young son Joseph and worrying about what could have possibly happened to her brother. Zoe was finding it difficult to come to terms with her brother's disappearance. In desperation, she decided to honour his last request - to buy Home Farm. Zoe moved back into Home Fram with Joseph the following month. She soon learned that Sean Reynolds, co-owner of Tate Haulage, had been using the business for illegal smuggling and informed the police who arrested him. 
On 13th October Zoe got a demand for money in exchange for Chris' return in her mail. After going over it with the police she decided to meet with them but was led on a wild goose-chase ending with a message warning her to not involve the police the next time. Zoe kept in contact with the kidnapper and was relived when he eventually sent proof that Chris was still alive. Meanwhile, Zoe grew close to Tate Haulage employee Liam Hammond who took a special interest in her and her brother's disappearance. However, by November Zoe stated to suspect Liam was somehow involved in Chris' disappearance. To test her suspicions, Zoe sent Liam on a job at the same time as she was meant to meet the kidnapper for a trade off, confirming to her that he was indeed guilty when the kidnapper didn't show. 
Zoe set Liam on an overnight run to Portsmouth to get him out of the way so she could break into his house and investigate but Liam smelled a rat and switched his run. Liam caught Zoe snooping through his house and took her captive at gun-point. He took her to where he had been holding Chris and the two siblings were tearfully reunited but Zoe was soon shocked to learn that Liam was Frank's secret illegitimate child and thus her half-brother. The hostage situation reached its climax with Liam emotionally telling them he had no other choice but to kill them. However, Zoe managed to get her hands on his gun and pointed it at him. He smiled at her, saying that she wouldn't dare pull the trigger, but she fired and looked on in shock at what she'd done. Zoe was devastated about what she'd done and got into an argument with Chris who believed he could have talked Liam down and that Zoe didn't need to kill him. 
In the aftermath of Liam's death, Zoe struggled with what she had done and she and Chris agreed to cover up the crime by destroying any evidence that Liam was Frank's son, ensuring the police would have less reason to question his death. DI Spalding, however, suspected that Liam was a secret family member with an axe to grind and harassed Zoe on the matter throughout the coming weeks but was unable to prove anything and a jury reached a verdict of lawful killing. Meanwhile, in early January 2000 Frankie made her surprise return at Home Farm to confront Zoe but the two ended up reconnecting and eventually got together. However, Zoe would break up with her later in the years as she no longer had feelings for her. 
===2000-2003: Schizophrenia and birth of Jean===
Zoe was not happy upon discovering Chris' relationship with Charity Dingle in December 2000 and even less so when he moved her into Home Farm after she was throw out by the Dingles. Zoe attempted to get rid of her on multiple occasions and even offered her money to leave but Charity took the money and told Chris who responded by renting her a cottage in the village and eventually employing her as his PA. Zoe soon made another attempt to scare Charity off but not willing to back down so easily, she responded by kissing Zoe, leaving her speechless. It soon transpired that Zoe fancied Charity herself, and in May 2001, it was revealed that the two had begun an affair behind Chis' back. However, when Zoe started exhibiting obsessive behaviour towards Charity, she ends it and want back to Chris. 
In September 2001 Chris proposed to Charity but Zoe was not happy with their engagement and secretly recorded Charity confessing to the affair on tape and started blackmailing Charity, who eventually confessed the affair herself. In November Zoe left Home Farm after Chris and Charity got married and became depressed. Zoe then began talking to her deceased father and during one of her early schizophrenic episodes, she ended up having sex with Scott Windsor but had no memory of the event. Chris and Charity began noticing Zoe's months of bizarre behaviour and when Charity saw the state of Zoe's house she realised she was ill. In October 2002, Zoe was sectioned after setting fire to the church and was diagnosed with schizophrenia. 
Once on the road to recovery, Zoe was shocked to discover that she was 5 months pregnant as she had thought the baby's movements were a symptom of her illness. As she is a lesbian, she assumed she had been raped and planned a termination, although after seeing the baby during a scan, Zoe changed her mind and decided to put the baby up for adoption instead. Zoe later chose to keep her baby and she gave birth to a daughter that she named Jean, after her late mother in January 2003.
Zoe returned to work at the veterinary surgery and hired Chloe Atkinson to be Jean's nanny. Zoe noticed Jean was crying more often but was reassured by Chloe that it was due to Jean’s teething. However, after an accident at Home Farm, Jean was rushed to hospital and Zoe was later told that Jean had a broken rib. Syd Woolfe eventually confessed that Jean's injuries occurred when he and Chloe took their eyes off her when they were together which resulted in Zoe immediately firing Chloe. Scott realised that he was Jean's father and when Zoe found out she became convinced that he raped her. Ashley Thomas told Zoe that she had, in fact, tried to kiss him before being diagnosed and Zoe accepted that she willingly had sex with Scott, albeit with no recollection of the incident. 
===2003-2005: Death of Chris and departure===
In September 2003, Chris committed suicide after learning he had an inoperable brain tumour and framed Charity for his murder. Charity became aware that Zoe knew the truth and tried to seduce her. However, this did not change Zoe's mind and she testified that Charity killed Chris. Charity was found guilty and sent to prison. However, whilst serving time she gave birth to Zoe's nephew, Noah. Zoe, in her time of loneliness and feeling like her daughter, should have a mother and father in her life had a very brief relationship with Scott. She tried to be romantic with him, but since she was obviously not attracted to him, she had an affair with Rachel Whatmore.
Charity agreed to give Zoe custody of Noah for the evidence that Chris committed suicide. Zoe tried to adopt Noah, but she was refused permission. Noah was later returned to his mother, although Charity promised Zoe she would still be allowed to see him. Zoe continued to run Home Farm and the businesses Chris left her, aided by estate manager Callum Rennie and nanny Effie Harrison. Zoe planned to emigrate to New Zealand with Jean and Chis' son Joseph. Zoe took revenge on Scott after she learnt he was going to betray her by letting him think that they were going to reunite and when he proposed, she turned him down, stating she would rather "put needles in her eyes". Scott then attacked Zoe and attempted to rape her. Trying to defend herself, Zoe threw a vase at him and escaped to the kitchen where she injected him with ketamine. When Scott fell unconscious, she attempted to injected him again and was stopped by Paddy Kirk. Zoe was later arrested. 
Effie revealed her feelings for Zoe and shortly before she was due to stand trial, Zoe planned to run away with her and the children. Effie left Home Farm with Joseph and Jean, set to re-unite with Zoe. Zoe travelled by boat to a slipway where a seaplane arrived with Joseph and unexpectedly Sadie. Sadie King blackmailed Zoe into selling Home Farm to her at a reduced price, Zoe refused unless she could see that Jean was safe. When Zoe returned home, Effie pleaded with her to understand her betrayal, but Zoe punched her. 
She stood trial for attempted murder and was freed when Paddy revealed that Scott was angry on the night of the attack and had threatened him the night previous to his appearance as a witness in court. Zoe packed up Home Farm and planned to leave with Callum, who refused to stay behind with the Kings. Zoe arranged to emigrate to New Zealand with Joseph and Jean after Callum decided to stay behind. Zoe and Callum broke a gas pipe and set a timer to go off just as Tom, Jimmy and Max King arrived. Callum stopped the car and he and Zoe watched the house explode before driving away.
==Career==
Zoe always had a passion for animals which made her want to study to be a veterinarian. After graduating she quickly got a job at Bennetts Veterinary Practice but would go on to work at multiple practices during her time in the village, most notably setting up her own practice in May 1995. Zoe has also been prolific in the business world, owning shares in Home Farm Estate since her arrival and later investing in her brother's haulage business.
===Employment history===
Role 	Institution 	Duration
Student 	University of Edinburgh 	1984 to 26th July 1990
Company director/Share-holder (20%)	Home Farm Estate 	1989 to December 1998
Veterinary Surgeon 	Bennetts Veterinary Practice 	2nd August 1990 to 30th May 1991
Junior Partner 	Frank Tate & Son Ltd 	1991 to September 1993
Flying vet 	Unknown practice in New Zealand	11th June 1991 to 17th December 1992
Veterinary Surgeon 	Unknown practice in Hotten 	1st June 1993 to February 1994
Resident vet 	Heritage Farm 	22nd February 1994 to May 1995
Owner 	Tate’s Veterinary Surgery 	25th May 1995 to September 2005
Veterinary Surgeon 	Tate’s Veterinary Surgery 	25th May 1995 to September 2005
Company director/Share-holder (30%)	Tate Haulage 	10th June 1999 to 2004
Owner 	Home Farm Estate 	October 1999 to September 2005
==Residences==
Address 	Duration
Skipdale 	Until 12th December 1989
Home Farm 	12th December 1989 to 11th June 1991
New Zealand 	11th June 1991 to December 1992
Home Farm 	17th December 1992 to November 1994
Mill Cottage 	November 1994 to 8th December 1994
Home Farm 	8th December 1994 to 25th April 1995
Smithy Cottage	25th April 1995 to 6th March 1997
Home Farm 	6th March 1997 to 10th April 1997
Smithy Cottage	10th April 1997 to 6th October 1999
Home Farm 	6th October 1999 to 27th September 2001
Smithy Cottage	27th September 2001 to 23rd October 2001
Home Farm 	23rd October 2001 to 22nd September 2005
New Zealand 	September 2005 to present
==Background information==
*When Leah Bracknell left the programme in 1991 to have a baby, Zoe left the village for a job in New Zealand. Zoe made her on-screen departure in Episode 1564 (11th June 1991) although continued to make a few sporadic appearances throughout the coming months before officially returning over a year later in Episode 1722 (17th December 1992). Bracknell had initially not planned to return to the programme but the producer asked her to come back for a couple of months and she ended up staying long term.
*Until her departure in September 2005, Zoe was the longest-serving female character.
*In March 2005, Leah Bracknell announced she was to take a nine-month break from Emmerdale. Despite initial reports that it would be a temporary break, Bracknell had not returned to the soap. A return was less likely as she was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in October 2016, eleven years after her departure. She passed away in September 2019.
==Quotes==
"Scuse me, do you know where Home Farm is please?" (First line, to Bill Whiteley)
----
"Feeling about you the way I do, I- I knew that if it didn't work with you... I knew that if it didn't work with you, that it'll never work with any man." (Zoe coming out to Archie Brooks)
----
Zoe: "I wouldn't have been there if it wasn't what I wanted. I knew she was gay, I liked her. I just got scared."
Frank: "What are you telling me?"
Zoe: "You know what I'm telling you."
– Zoe coming out to Frank Tate
----
"Chris, much as I sympathise with your predicament, I have been up before dawn dealing with sick animals, I've been trying to fathom out why a seemingly intelligent man would leave his family after what amounts to no more than a few hours with me, I have lost a good assistant, and I've been up to my knees in real bullshit. Please don't give me any of yours."
----
"How dare you, you bitch!" (to the police officer who charged Frank with murdering Kim)
----
"Chris has spent months accusing you of having an affair with any man you so much as speak to. It has never crossed his mind that the real culprits, are right under his nose" (Zoe and Charity's affair revealed)
----
"I hope the Kings enjoy their housewarming present..." (before blowing up Home Farm)
----
"Stop the car. Do it, Callum." (Final line)
==See also==
*Full list of appearances
Category:Emmerdale characters
Category:1989 debuts
Category:2005 departures
Category:1968 births
Category:Tate family
Category:Residents of Home Farm
Category:Veterinary Surgeons
Category:Businesswomen
Category:Owners of Home Farm
Category:Residents of Smithy Cottage
Category:Residents of Mill Cottage