6 ways Emmerdale’s shock Jimmy King demise will impact the village

Reports have been circulating that Emmerdale favourite Jimmy King is to be killed off later this year, with the shock storyline said to coincide with the explosive return of his ex-wife Sadie.

The news first appeared in the tabloids last weekend and has left fans bereft at the prospect of losing the beloved character, played since 2004 by Nick Miles.

Businessman Jimmy stepped out from the shadows of his ruthless relatives to build a family unit with wife Nicola, becoming a warm and (mostly) respectable member of the village.

As we come to terms with his fate, we’re taking a look at all the ways Jimmy’s demise will leave a hole within the very fabric of the ITV soap…

1. We’re losing a community fixture

As co-owner of the B&B and café, as well as running the local haulage firm, Jimmy certainly gets around. And when he’s not serving coffee or making up guest rooms, he can be seen propping up the bar in The Woolpack, usually in a transparent bid to skive from his duties.

Unlike those who stick to their own character groups, Jimmy’s public-facing roles have allowed him to share believable scenes with pretty much everybody. He’s also always on hand to comment on all the drama and mundanities of village life – whether the locals want to hear it or not!

2. Jimmy and Nicola are a rare stable soap couple

There’s no denying this pair have had their share of ups and downs, from forbidden kisses behind each other’s backs, to surprise children, near-death experiences and criminal scandals. But despite some close calls, Jimmy and his ‘Nico’ have always come back stronger than ever.

This is a rarity in soaps these days, with so many couples seemingly always on the brink of a split. Nicola and Jimmy may bicker, but it’s clear they’re still madly in love.

Facing the kind of everyday challenges we wish we could see more of, the Kings’ marriage is rooted in realism. Seamlessly played by Nick and co-star Nicola Wheeler, we’ll never be ready to watch Jimmy and Nicola be torn apart forever.

3. Jimmy provides welcome light relief

Like its fellow soaps, Emmerdale is constantly delivering hard-hitting storylines and, while it’s important to raise awareness of abuse, modern slavery and serious illness, light-hearted and engaging characters like Jimmy are just as vital.

Lovable Jimmy won our hearts long ago with his affable nature, and he often slots into heavy episodes as a gentle presence, offering support or simply voicing his thoughts out loud.

Jimmy’s words are never mean-spirited, but he often misreads the moment, so how are we going to cope without his regular dose of daftness?