This article includes reference to domestic abuse, including coercive control, that some readers may find upsetting.
Some soap deaths just hit differently, and the tragic demise of Emmerdale fan-favourite Jimmy King (Nick Miles) certainly falls into that category.
After inexplicably crashing his car into Dawn Fletcher (Olivia Bromley) and Joe Tate’s (Ned Porteous) wedding marquee, Jimmy succumbed to his injuries with wife Nicola (Nicola Wheeler) by his side.
Such a major loss marks the end of life in the village as we know it, and there are a multitude of reasons why.
Jimmy started out following in the ruthless footsteps of his wealthy father Tom (Ken Farrington), alongside brothers Matthew (Matt Healy) and Carl (Tom Lister). But one by one, they all perished, including youngest brother Max (Charlie Kemp), and the hapless Jimmy evolved into a funny, lovable and sweet-hearted family man.
Serial drama, by definition, is all about chaos and calamity, so the bumbling, well-meaning Jimmy became a real asset, and an institution.
Whether he was in the background or the spotlight, his gentleness, hopefulness and warmth always shone through, and his delightfully trivial comments were a pure tonic.
And, until news first broke of his fate, we thought Jimmy would simply always be there.
Yes, future Emmerdale legacies may be built through Serena Sugden (Casey Al-Shaqsy) and the arrival of another Tate, while the return of Jimmy’s ex-wife Sadie (Patsy Kensit) also beckons. But he was the last original King standing, so it’s no cliché: this really is the end of an era.
His family’s turbulent history never defined Jimmy, but it was always a part of him and significant plot points like the show home explosion and Carl's twisted nature were habitually remembered in scripts. Now, following a recent, comedic yet poignant scene of reflection with Charity Dingle (Emma Atkins), Jimmy’s death has officially severed the direct line to King lore.
But his impact went far beyond his role in one of the biggest soap dynasties.
A community fixture, Jimmy was known by every character and his absence in the café and the Woolpack will be felt for years to come. Even as the locals move on, as is the brutal nature of the genre, viewers like me will always see an empty space where Jimmy should be.
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He was the ultimate everyman, representing the ordinary at a time where episodes are dominated more than ever by outrageous antics from the likes of kidney thief Joe and sword-wielding Kev Barton (Chris Coghill). No matter what shocking, scandalous crisis was playing out, the reassuring presence of salt of the earth Jimmy and his realistic, relatable problems often balanced it out.
Villains have also been in endless supply lately, and during his 22 year tenure, a line from Jimmy at his most entertaining could offset the darkest of material and allow a laugh or two to break through the gloom.
Yet he was much more than a mere figure of fun. When his nephew Tom Junior (James Chase) inflicted violence and coercive control on Belle Dingle (Eden Taylor-Draper), Jimmy’s innocence and optimism were a welcome contrast. But as Jimmy desperately clung onto their familial link, before gradually coming to terms with Tom’s actions, Miles’s performances reminded us just how skilled the actor is when it comes to emotional drama.
This was just as evident in his final episode, as a trapped Jimmy heroically tried to help a pregnant Dawn stay calm and safe. His efforts went some way to remedy Emmerdale’s recent overload in evil, and ensured that the essence of who Jimmy was took centre stage.
Of course, the twist that saw Jimmy cruelly duped by Caleb (William Ash) and Ruby Miligan (Beth Cordingly) into selling his share of the haulage firm behind Nicola’s back will inevitably cause problems at the worst possible time for her. But this was never going to tarnish our opinion of Jimmy, who was taken advantage of amid mounting debts and clearly felt he was doing his duty in looking after his wife and children.
The abrupt end to Jimmy and Nicola’s strong union creates a large void in itself, with their enduring love story standing the test of time in a world where marriages are traditionally torn apart.
Even in Jimmy’s dying moments, he was still protecting his beloved Nicola, downplaying his suffering and joyously exclaiming “Nico” one bittersweet last time, despite the gravity of the situation he found himself in.
The couple then imagined their vow renewal, and that gut-punch moment when a heartbroken Nicola realised Jimmy had passed away could be felt through the screen.
This is testament and tribute to the wonderful, long-standing partnership between Miles and Wheeler, but what will we do without Jimmy and Nicola’s light bickering, relatable kitchen sink drama and deep-rooted affection for one another through it all?
And what will we do without the universally adored Jimmy to brighten our day? The show must go on, but there will be a gaping hole at the heart of it.
A vital cog in the Emmerdale machine, his beaming face was a gift to the very end. As we brace for the next onslaught of soap anguish, that’s how I’ll always remember Jimmy King.
Read more:
Emmerdale airs devastating car crash as 3 lives hang in the balance in early ITVX releaseEmmerdale boss Laura Shaw reveals 5 spoilers for the year ahead - and huge detail on new Tate family memberEmmerdale's Patsy Kensit reveals "explosive secret" will blow the King family apart upon Sadie's returnEmmerdale exit revealed for long-running character after over 20 years in popular role5 Emmerdale spoilers next week: Aftermath Week sees DS Thea Ramsden’s secret revealed and shock village arrivalEmmerdale airs weeknights at 8pm on ITV1 and from 7am on ITVX.
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