Emily Kirk
Encyclopedia
Emily Kirk was a fictional character
in ITV
Soap opera
Emmerdale
. She was played by Kate McGregor
.
When she arrived in the village, Emily Wylie (as she was known then) had lived a sheltered life with only her strict father in her life. Having lost his wife when Emily was just two, John was fiercely protective of his little girl and brought her up to be afraid of the outside world. But when she took a job at Viv Windsor’s post office, Emily’s life was transformed.
Sadly, fate got in the way. Butch was seriously injured in a bus crash that left him clinging to life. As it became clear he wouldn’t make it, Emily and Butch seized their moment and had an emotional wedding at his hospital bed before Butch died.
Alone again, Emily kept a low profile until she met a sweet-natured local lad called Ed. Everyone thought Ed and Emily were perfectly suited, but she didn’t feel a spark between them.
However, on a night she was supposed to be seeing Ed, Emily ended up sleeping with close pal Paddy Kirk
and the second most important relationship of her life began.
Like Emily, Paddy has also been married to a Dingle - Butch’s cousin and, bizarrely, ex-wife Mandy
- and their relationship went from strength to strength. Having got engaged, Paddy and Emily sprung a surprise marriage on the village when their close friends Marlon
and Tricia called off their own nuptials at the last moment.
Now married again, Emily was desperate for children and she and Paddy became foster parents. After a couple of false starts, the couple were delighted when they forged a close bond with Debbie Jones
.
But when it was revealed that Debbie was the daughter of Charity and Cain Dingle
, Emily was left bereft. However, she remained close to Debbie and supported her through tough times.
Although their marriage seemed rock solid, Paddy and Emily were having big problems. Having lost the passion in their relationship, Paddy began looking for it elsewhere and started an affair with Emily’s boss, Viv.
When she discovered their deception, Emily was heartbroken and threw her husband out, then had a complete nervous breakdown
and smashed up the Post Office in a rage. Having lost everything, Emily decided to leave the village unless she received a sign to stay.
That sign came when Daz Eden
arrived in the middle of the night, begging her to help Debbie who was having a baby alone in the woods. On arriving, Emily found Debbie with a baby that was losing the fight for life. Her quick thinking saved baby Sarah’s life and Emily decided to stick around.
However, life at the Dingles wasn’t a barrel of laughs for Emily. Unable to cope as a mother, Debbie left the childcare to Emily – who loved being so actively involved in Sarah’s life. But, her presence began to rile Debbie’s violent dad Cain. When he attacked Emily for interfering, she decided she’d had enough and made plans to move away.
However, for Debbie, the thought of losing Emily was too much to bear. She knew she didn’t want to be Sarah’s mum and that Emily did, so she begged her friend to take the baby. After much soul-searching, Emily did and left Emmerdale.
Cain rushed to find her after getting a lead that she’d gone to Ireland
but by the time he got there, Emily was gone.
had spotted movement in the now abandoned house in which the Wylies had lived. She was branded a child-snatcher and was ignored by the village. Although during 2007, she became more a part of village life.
Emily tried to commit suicide on one occasion but was stopped by former brother-in-law Sam Dingle
, who soon developed (unreciprocated) romantic feelings for her. After disastrously making a pass at Ashley Thomas
, his wife Laurel
tried setting her up with Bishop George Postlethwaite.
It was revealed on 30 October 2007 that Emily would be leaving in December after 8 years in the Dales, as Emily would begin training to become a vicar. Thanks to Bishop George, they both discussed possible training processes. Others in the village believed that the two were seeing each other. On 7 December 2007, Emily said goodbye to the Dales and went to Manchester to be a vicar.
Emily returned briefly on March 3, 2008, for the soap's Paul Lambert
and Jonny Foster
's commitment ceremony. She also offered her condolences to the Thomases, who had lost their baby son, Daniel
. She also attended Daniel's funeral and left shortly afterwards.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
in ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
Soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
Emmerdale
Emmerdale
Emmerdale, is a long-running British soap opera set in Emmerdale , a fictional village in the Yorkshire Dales. Created by Kevin Laffan, Emmerdale was first broadcast on 16 October 1972...
. She was played by Kate McGregor
Kate McGregor
Kate McGregor is an English actress best known for her role as shop keeper Emily Kirk in ITV's Emmerdale. She played the role from 1999–2005, at which point she took maternity leave and returned to the show in October 2006....
.
When she arrived in the village, Emily Wylie (as she was known then) had lived a sheltered life with only her strict father in her life. Having lost his wife when Emily was just two, John was fiercely protective of his little girl and brought her up to be afraid of the outside world. But when she took a job at Viv Windsor’s post office, Emily’s life was transformed.
1999–2005
A total misfit, Emily was drawn to fellow oddball Butch Dingle but had to cope with her father's disapproval. Despite the problems that faced them, Emily and Butch were deeply in love and it looked like they were going to get their happy ever after.Sadly, fate got in the way. Butch was seriously injured in a bus crash that left him clinging to life. As it became clear he wouldn’t make it, Emily and Butch seized their moment and had an emotional wedding at his hospital bed before Butch died.
However, on a night she was supposed to be seeing Ed, Emily ended up sleeping with close pal Paddy Kirk
Paddy Kirk
Patrick Frederick "Paddy" Kirk is a fictional character in the British soap opera Emmerdale played by Dominic Brunt. Paddy demonstrates the dedication of the soap's writers towards maintaining a comedic tone in plotlines. While he has appeared at the centre of some grave storylines, Paddy is often...
and the second most important relationship of her life began.
Like Emily, Paddy has also been married to a Dingle - Butch’s cousin and, bizarrely, ex-wife Mandy
Mandy Dingle
Amanda "Mandy" Rose Dingle is a fictional character in the British ITV soap opera Emmerdale. She was played by Lisa Riley. Her large bust served as one of her main attributes and most endearing traits, and she would openly flaunt her huge chest in the direction of men she was attracted to...
- and their relationship went from strength to strength. Having got engaged, Paddy and Emily sprung a surprise marriage on the village when their close friends Marlon
Marlon Dingle
Marlon Sebastian Dingle is a fictional character in the British soap opera Emmerdale played by Mark Charnock. -1996–:...
and Tricia called off their own nuptials at the last moment.
Debbie Dingle
Deborah "Debbie" Dingle is a fictional character in the British ITV1 soap opera Emmerdale. She is portrayed by Charley Webb...
.
But when it was revealed that Debbie was the daughter of Charity and Cain Dingle
Cain Dingle
Cain Dingle is a fictional character in the British ITV soap opera Emmerdale. He is played by Jeff Hordley.-Character creation:In 2000 series producer Kieran Roberts introduced three new members of the Dingle family. The new characters were introduced to the regular cast in 2000, who first arrived...
, Emily was left bereft. However, she remained close to Debbie and supported her through tough times.
Although their marriage seemed rock solid, Paddy and Emily were having big problems. Having lost the passion in their relationship, Paddy began looking for it elsewhere and started an affair with Emily’s boss, Viv.
When she discovered their deception, Emily was heartbroken and threw her husband out, then had a complete nervous breakdown
Nervous breakdown
Mental breakdown is a non-medical term used to describe an acute, time-limited phase of a specific disorder that presents primarily with features of depression or anxiety.-Definition:...
and smashed up the Post Office in a rage. Having lost everything, Emily decided to leave the village unless she received a sign to stay.
Daz Eden
Darren "Daz" Eden is a fictional character in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale, portrayed by Luke Tittensor until April 2009. He made his first appearance in the show on 9 October 2003....
arrived in the middle of the night, begging her to help Debbie who was having a baby alone in the woods. On arriving, Emily found Debbie with a baby that was losing the fight for life. Her quick thinking saved baby Sarah’s life and Emily decided to stick around.
However, life at the Dingles wasn’t a barrel of laughs for Emily. Unable to cope as a mother, Debbie left the childcare to Emily – who loved being so actively involved in Sarah’s life. But, her presence began to rile Debbie’s violent dad Cain. When he attacked Emily for interfering, she decided she’d had enough and made plans to move away.
However, for Debbie, the thought of losing Emily was too much to bear. She knew she didn’t want to be Sarah’s mum and that Emily did, so she begged her friend to take the baby. After much soul-searching, Emily did and left Emmerdale.
Cain rushed to find her after getting a lead that she’d gone to Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
but by the time he got there, Emily was gone.
2006–2008
Emily returned to the village on October 15, 2006. Local schoolgirl Victoria SugdenVictoria Sugden
Victoria Anne Sugden is a fictional character in the British soap opera Emmerdale originally played by Jessica Heywood, then Hannah Midgley and currently Isabel Hodgins.-1994–:...
had spotted movement in the now abandoned house in which the Wylies had lived. She was branded a child-snatcher and was ignored by the village. Although during 2007, she became more a part of village life.
Emily tried to commit suicide on one occasion but was stopped by former brother-in-law Sam Dingle
Sam Dingle
Samuel Jonah "Sam" Dingle is a fictional character from the British soap opera Emmerdale played by James Hooton.-Storylines:Sam first appears in 1995 and he demands ransom money from the Sugden family. After his release from prison, he worked as a dogsbody for Eric Pollard and was constantly conned...
, who soon developed (unreciprocated) romantic feelings for her. After disastrously making a pass at Ashley Thomas
Ashley Thomas
Ashley Michael Thomas is a fictional character in the British soap opera Emmerdale played by John Middleton.-1996–99:Ashley soon began developing feelings for the landlady of the Woolpack pub, Bernice Blackstock. He tried putting them aside as Bernice was engaged to Gavin, despite suspecting that...
, his wife Laurel
Laurel Thomas
Laurel Thomas is a fictional character in the British soap opera Emmerdale, played by Charlotte Bellamy. She debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 3 September 2002. Laurel has been off-screen at various times while Bellamy has taken maternity leave.-Casting:In 2004, Bellamy announced she...
tried setting her up with Bishop George Postlethwaite.
It was revealed on 30 October 2007 that Emily would be leaving in December after 8 years in the Dales, as Emily would begin training to become a vicar. Thanks to Bishop George, they both discussed possible training processes. Others in the village believed that the two were seeing each other. On 7 December 2007, Emily said goodbye to the Dales and went to Manchester to be a vicar.
Emily returned briefly on March 3, 2008, for the soap's Paul Lambert
Paul Lambert (Emmerdale)
Paul Lambert is a fictional character in the British soap opera Emmerdale played by Mathew Bose. Paul appeared between 2004 and 2009. He arrives as the son of existing characters Val Lambert and Rodney Blackstock and in 2008 Paul, who is openly gay, enters into a civil partnership with Jonny...
and Jonny Foster
Jonny Foster
Jonathan "Jonny" Foster is a fictional character in the British soap opera Emmerdale played by Richard Grieve. He appeared from 2007 to 2008 and in 2009...
's commitment ceremony. She also offered her condolences to the Thomases, who had lost their baby son, Daniel
Daniel
Daniel is the protagonist in the Book of Daniel of the Hebrew Bible. In the narrative, when Daniel was a young man, he was taken into Babylonian captivity where he was educated in Chaldean thought. However, he never converted to Neo-Babylonian ways...
. She also attended Daniel's funeral and left shortly afterwards.
External links
- Emily Kirk at itv.comItv.comitv.com is the main website of ITV plc, the UK's largest commercial television broadcaster which operates 11 out of 15 regions on the ITV network under the ITV1 brand. The website offers on-line streaming, ITV archive, news, sport, entertainment, games, soaps, lifestyle, drama and an interactive TV...
- http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/a87568/dales-emily-returns-for-gay-wedding.html at Digital SpyDigital SpyDigital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....
.