Emmerdale‘s Joe Tate makes a drastic bid to get his love rival Billy Fletcher out of the picture tonight.

Joe shamelessly attempts to buy off Billy in the hope of making life easier for Dawn, who’s been caught between the two men in recent weeks.

Although Joe and Dawn are tentatively trying to make their relationship work, the presence of Dawn’s estranged husband Billy in the village is making life difficult for them.

With Dawn growing tired of all the rows, Joe approaches Billy this evening in the hope of making life a little easier for her. But of course, in true Joe style, this involves using his influence and fortune for a speedy resolution…

While Joe is happy – ish – for Billy to play a role in the lives of his kids, he has an idea that will keep his enemy busy in another city for five days a week.

“You’re at the front and centre of it all,” Joe promises as he reveals his masterplan.

Reminding Billy of his past as a successful personal trainer, Joe continues: “I have a friend who lives not too far from here, in Liverpool, and he’s in that field. And it just so happens that he’s starting his own chain of gyms.

“He’s looking for the right guy to be the face of the whole operation. We go way back and when I give him a tip-off of a metaphorical horse, he’s smart enough to back it.

“Obviously, Monday to Friday you’ll be in Liverpool, but on the weekend you’ll have all the time you want to spend with the kids.”

Will Billy accept Joe’s offer – or make matters even worse by refusing it? Fans can see his response tonight at 7.30pm on ITV1, or right now via the early release on ITVX.

Speaking earlier this year about his character’s marriage breakdown, Jay Kontzle – who plays Billy – told us: “From a viewer’s point of view, I think it’s nice to have a really good bond within the show like a good family unit.

“Over the years there have been really nice moments with all of them as a family, the nice Christmases and birthdays. They have done fun things together and we have seen Clemmie and Lucas, and seen those little lovely moments between the family that will be missed.

“But it feels like it’s a huge sacrifice for what’s to come. Joe’s come in as this nasty character and Dawn’s fallen into that. It’s not what she was about, that’s not what we’ve grown our family into and it’s a shame that that’s lost, but it’s part and parcel of soap, I think!”