Nicola Blackstock
Encyclopedia
Nicola King is a fictional character
in the British ITV
soap opera
Emmerdale
. She has been played by Nicola Wheeler
since she joined the soap in 2001.
in 2001. She arrived after getting in touch with her father Rodney
(Patrick Mower
). He had come to Emmerdale to get to know his older daughter, Bernice Thomas
(Samantha Giles
). In January 2006, it was announced that Wheeler had quit her role after five years on the show as she felt the time was right to try something new. Wheeler left in March 2006 and returned 18 months later in September 2007.
Within months, Nicola was interested in chef Carlos Diaz
, unaware that he was already involved with Bernice. She chased him for a while before ending up in bed with him after Bernice dumped him, wanting to make her marriage work. Scared she might lose Carlos, Nicola announced she was pregnant and was stunned yet elated when he proposed, which she accepted.
On her hen night, Bernice caught her drinking vodka and Nicola admitted that she wasn't pregnant. Bernice, (expecting herself), was horrified and insisted she tell Carlos before the ceremony. Horrified at the deception, Carlos told Nicola that he and Bernice had been having an affair and that Bernice's child could be his. After fighting Bernice, Nicola stormed into the church and announced that the wedding was off, due to Carlos's infidelity. Despite her mother's suggestion that she leave the village, Nicola stayed with Rodney and eventually forgave Bernice. She became godmother to Ashley and Bernice's daughter, Gabby Thomas.
Nicola's once kind and friendly attitude altered dramatically and she severed ties with Emily, although they later made up. Nicola was bridesmaid when she married Paddy Kirk
in October 2002. She became enemies of postmistress Vivienne Hope, and local siren, Chloe Atkinson
, and caused heartbreak when she seduced Robert Sugden
. She dumped Robert by allowing him to see her having sex with builder Syd Woolfe
in her living room. Nicola had a brief relationship with Syd, which ended when she discovered that he was also having an affair with Chloe, who was dating Scott Windsor
at the time.
After successfully starting a cleaning business and employing Pearl
, Betty
and Laurel, Nicola met fishmonger Simon Meredith
in November 2003 and after a bumpy start, they began dating.
However, there were many obstacles, such as his ex-fiancée Tash and his mother Lesley Meredith. Nicola was desperate to settle down and dreamed of the perfect marriage. After they got engaged, Lesley constantly put a spanner in the works. It later emerged Lesley had stolen Kelly Windsor
's credit card and eventually her debts began to mount up. This resulted in Lesley and Simon losing everything, meaning he and Nicola had to postpone the wedding. Bored with Simon and their financial problems, Nicola hatched a plan to snare Paul Lambert
's bisexual lover, Ivan, who was mates with Simon. After failing repeatedly to seduce him, Nicola plied Ivan with alcohol and tried again, a moment witnessed by Lesley. However, she didn't see Ivan rejecting Nicola. Assuming that they were having an affair, Lesley told her son about Nicola's "infidelity".
When the truth came out, Simon ended their relationship. Nicola was disgraced as she also destroyed Ivan and Paul's relationship. Paul and Rodney disowned her so Nicola left the village in March 2006.
, a millionaire tycoon. She restarted her cleaning empire and threatened to put David out of business.
After meeting him a few times, she returned to an unenthusiastic response, as it was clear that she hadn't been forgiven. Nicola pursued David, despite him dating Jasmine Thomas
. Nicola and David slept together and Jasmine caught them. She ended things with David and wrote an article, exposing the fact that Donald was still alive. He was in a coma, following a brain haemorrhage.
Nicola told Rodney and Paul that she had said he was dead because unless she could prove Donald's son, Miles, was still drinking, she would inherit nothing. Nicola insisted that Donald be kept alive until she had the proof she needed and then she would allow the machines to be switched off. However, Jasmine got Miles back on the wagon.
On 28 December, Nicola was called to the hospital as there was a significant change in Donald's condition. Arriving, Nicola was stunned to learn that Donald was conscious. He claimed not to remember her and spent the evening with Miles. Realizing Donald was likely to make a full recovery, Nicola planned to murder him and asked David to help her but, disgusted, he refused to get involved. Fearing for Donald's life, David sabotaged plots to electrocute and poison him. Knowing Nicola was determined, David told Donald, who confronted her on some local cliffs, giving her the perfect opportunity. Shocked, she confessed and even tried to save him when he looked like he might go over the edge. He agreed not to tell the police, providing she left his house immediately and David didn't want her either.
Rodney, unaware of this, rented Mill Brook Cottage, providing she paid half the rent. She asked David for a job but all he offered was scrubbing floors. She worked for him briefly but soon went to work for Paddy Kirk
. He didn't want to hire her but when she accidentally injured him, leaving him unable to drive, he hired her to be his chauffeur. Nicola spent most of her time with Rodney, and attempted to become respectable again. When celebrity chef Anthony Worrall Thompson visited, Nicola tried to get to know him and was soon bragging that they were going to work together but was embarrassed when Bob gave her a message from Anthony's people, asking her to stop bothering him.
In June 2008, Nicola started dog-sitting briefly. Rodney wasn't happy about it but she and David reconciled after he helped her find some missing dogs. He was dating Val's daughter, Sharon Lambert, and that was how Nicola's business started. One of Sharon's friends had a dog that needed looking after while she was out of the country. She and David reconciled after hearing Sharon telling a friend that she wasn't that interested in David. Nicola told Sharon and they had a fight in the Woolpack until David separated them. This also ended Nicola's dog-sitting business as she had planned to use Sharon's WAG contacts to start it.
Trying to cheer Gabby up after Ashley and Laurel explained how Daniel and Arthur had been accidentally swapped in the hospital, Rodney started telling her stories based on his fairground days. She planned to publish the stories and sent them to a publisher who planned to publish them in March 2009. When Rodney found out, he gave her an ultimatum - tell the truth or stop calling him Dad. She refused so he kicked her out. She moved in with Edna Birch
, following brief stays with the Pollards and her brother, Paul Lambert
and Katie Sugden
.
When Nicola discovered that Ashley's boss told him that they were considering closing the church in late 2008, she and David planned to buy it and make it their dream home. However, there was a problem: the church choir. Nicola planned to ruin the choir by telling Ashley and Laurel she was there to help them but would make the choir so bad, they would have no chance in a competition. In November, she changed her mind after becoming closer to her family and friends because they were impressed by her attempts to help the community. She focused her efforts on saving the church by helping the choir sing "O Happy Day".
David and Eric discovered what she was up to and tried sabotaging the choir. They failed and the choir won a special recognition award so Eric and David revealed Nicola's original plan so she was shunned by the choir and estranged again from Laurel. Nicola worked hard to convince people that she was truly reformed and wanted them to succeed. She made headway on December 15, just after the competition, when she was allowed to collect Gabby, her niece, from playgroup. On December 19, Edna asked Nicola to move out so her sister, Lily, could move in. Alone, with no job or money, she moved into the church. Laurel took pity on her, asking her to stay with her and Ashley. On December 25, after the Christmas Service, Nicola started a sit-in protest in the church to stop its closure with the choir in tow. They convinced Eric and David not to buy the church but this meant the church was still for sale. The church was purchased by newcomers Mark Wylde
and Natasha Wylde
who also bought Home Farm Estates.
The villagers convinced the Wyldes to let them have the church but this was the start of Nicola's relationship with them. When Nicola learned that Natasha was advertising for the estate manager's job, she and Rodney applied. Rodney was estate manager for the Kings but Natasha chose to employ Nicola as she admired her determination. Nicola often struggled to stay within her boundaries as she was also expected to be the Wyldes' personal assistant too.
In February 2009, Nicola and Jimmy drowned their sorrows in the Woolpack and carried on drinking in the back of an Emmerdale Haulage van. They spent the night together and woke up to discover themselves en route to Hull. Nicola was horrified but Jimmy was more amused. They got a cab back to the village. Nicola asked Jimmy to hide when they saw David but he saw Jimmy and laughed at them. Nicola was embarrassed and rebuffed Jimmy's attempts at a relationship.
After several weeks, Nicola asked Jimmy to go with her when Mark and Natasha invited her to dinner. She thought their motive was much more personal but Jimmy wasn't happy returning to Home Farm and drank more than he should. Nicola, humiliated by the Wyldes', also got drunk and spent the night with him. Nicola pushed Jimmy away but was intrigued when Rodney told her Jimmy may not be as broke as she thought. Thinking Jimmy had money hidden away in Switzerland, Nicola charmed her way back into his bed and convinced him she cared about him, when he said he was going there. Jimmy guessed her true intentions and humiliated her by wining and dining her, then telling her that they were going to Switzerland in the haulage truck and telling everyone that she was a golddigger. Nicola was furious.
In spite of the hurt feelings between the pair, they were still attracted to each other. This was clear to everyone around them so Ashley's father, Sandy, and Laurel's father, Doug, sick of the overcrowding, wrote a love letter, apparently from Jimmy. Nicola was moved by "Jimmy's" romantic prose and visited him. After a passionate night, she told Jimmy she would move in with him, as this was what he had asked her. Jimmy was stunned but kept quiet as he didn't want to lose her. Unfortunately the relationship was rocky and after one row too many, Jimmy dumped her. Carl and Lexi insisted she move out so Laurel asked her to move back in with her.
Nicola told Laurel on 8 May 2009 that she thought she was pregnant. Laurel persuaded her to do a pregnancy test and a few days later, the doctor told them that she was seventeen weeks pregnant. Shocked, she didn't believe it and thought that the doctor was wrong, insisting to Laurel that she and Jimmy had always been careful except the night they spent in the van. She considered an abortion and even booked an appointment but after discussing it with Laurel and her father, changed her mind and cancelled the appointment. She was also persuaded not to put the baby up for adoption by Laurel and Lexi.
Nicola moved back into Mill Cottage with Jimmy and they are looking forward to the arrival of their baby. Lexi was surprised that Nicola hadn't started thinking about the nursery so when her pregnancy was confirmed, they went shopping for nursery furniture. Unfortunately Lexi was admitted to hospital with an ectopic pregnancy
and had to have her fallopian tube and the baby removed. Nicola has been there, trying to look after Lexi, when it was clear that Carl was struggling to cope. She has also backed her up when Carl made excuses about not being able to go to an appointment at an IVF clinic with Lexi.
On 23 July, Nicola was forced to jump out of the way of a runaway van, which belonged to Rodney. She and the baby were unharmed, thanks to Aaron Livesy
managing to steer the van away from her.
On 3 August, Lexi pushes Nicola down the stairs after a vicious row, leaving her unconscious
. Lexi immediately calls an ambulance and Nicola is rushed to hospital. Luckily, everything is okay and she is discharged. On 6 August, Nicola goes into premature labor while locked in the farm shop but luckily Rodney and Cain manage to get her to hospital where she gives birth to a baby girl, with Jimmy at her side. They name her Angelica. The little girl is put in an incubator and rushed away for further treatment, but Nicola and Jimmy are reassured by the doctor that their little girl is going to be just fine. The baby is then kidnapped by a jealous Lexi and she takes her on to a roof but later returns the little girl to her worried parents. She was accused by Viv Hope
of biting her child, Cathy, after protecting Angelica from Cathy.
In July 2010 Nicola and Jimmy consider buying the Woolpack from Diane Sugden with the help of money from Scarlett, but they pull out in September as Nicola fears she cannot cope with being landlady and a new mother.
in February 2011, Nicola discovers Jimmy has been involved in an accident and is receiving treatment in hospital. However, on arrival, she is shocked to learn he has lost all memory and has no idea who she or Angelica are. Jimmy is persuaded by Kelly that she and him were having an affair before his accident, and that he was ready to leave Nicola. Jimmy and Nicola split as Jimmy takes Kelly's side of the story and the pair get together, with the son Kelly tells him is his. Jimmy's memory begins to return and he sees Kelly's true colours. Despite this, Nicola is hurt that Jimmy has slept with Kelly, and refuses to get back with him. The pair prepare for a divorce but after an argument in September 2011, the pair end up in a passionate kiss.
Nicola was also nominated for "Best Villain" at the British Soap Awards in 2002, 2008 and 2009.
She was nominated for the All About Soap
"Bad Girl" award in 2009 and was nominated for most shocking baby plot in 2010.
She was nominated for Inside Soap
's "Bad Bitch" award in 2009
In a poll run by website Digital Spy
, 95% of voters were on Nicola's side of Jimmy's amnesia storyline
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 the British 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 has been played by Nicola Wheeler
Nicola Wheeler
Nicola Wheeler is an English actress, best known for playing the role of Nicola King in ITV's Emmerdale.She was born Nicola Hodge, but raised with the name Nicola Palmer...
since she joined the soap in 2001.
Casting
Nicola Blackstock was first introduced by series producer Kieran Roberts, who cast Nicola WheelerNicola Wheeler
Nicola Wheeler is an English actress, best known for playing the role of Nicola King in ITV's Emmerdale.She was born Nicola Hodge, but raised with the name Nicola Palmer...
in 2001. She arrived after getting in touch with her father Rodney
Rodney Blackstock
Rodney Blackstock is a fictional character on the ITV soap opera Emmerdale. He is played by Patrick Mower.-2000–:When Rodney Blackstock turned up in Emmerdale, no one was more surprised to see him than his ex-wife Diane...
(Patrick Mower
Patrick Mower
Patrick Mower , whose original name was Patrick Archibald Shaw, is an English actor well known for his many television and occasional film roles, often as a detective or secret agent.-Life:...
). He had come to Emmerdale to get to know his older daughter, Bernice Thomas
Bernice Thomas
Bernice Marie Thomas is a fictional character in the British ITV soap opera Emmerdale. She was played by Samantha Giles.-Storylines:...
(Samantha Giles
Samantha Giles
Samantha Giles is a British actress, probably best known for playing Bernice Thomas in Emmerdale , a role which earned her a TV Quick Award for Best Actress and a nomination for a National Television Awards for Most Popular Actress , and Sally Boothe in Where the Heart Is .Giles's other TV...
). In January 2006, it was announced that Wheeler had quit her role after five years on the show as she felt the time was right to try something new. Wheeler left in March 2006 and returned 18 months later in September 2007.
2001–06
On her first day, she befriended kindly post office assistant Emily Dingle and stayed with her father, Rodney. She was nervous and anxious about meeting Bernice, whom she was desperate to impress.Within months, Nicola was interested in chef Carlos Diaz
Carlos Diaz (Emmerdale)
Carlos Diaz was a fictional character in ITV's Emmerdale from 2000-2001. He was played by Gary Turner.-Character's background:Carlos had an on-off-on affair with Bernice Thomas while he was engaged to Bernice's half sister Nicola Blackstock. Bernice was married to vicar Ashley Thomas during her...
, unaware that he was already involved with Bernice. She chased him for a while before ending up in bed with him after Bernice dumped him, wanting to make her marriage work. Scared she might lose Carlos, Nicola announced she was pregnant and was stunned yet elated when he proposed, which she accepted.
Nicola's once kind and friendly attitude altered dramatically and she severed ties with Emily, although they later made up. Nicola was bridesmaid when she married 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...
in October 2002. She became enemies of postmistress Vivienne Hope, and local siren, Chloe Atkinson
Chloe Atkinson
Chloe Atkinson is a fictional character in the British soap opera Emmerdale, played by Amy Nuttall. She debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 4 December 2000. Nuttal quit the serial in order to pursue a singing career after performing at a football event.-Character casting and...
, and caused heartbreak when she seduced Robert Sugden
Robert Sugden
Robert Jacob Sugden is a fictional character in the British soap opera Emmerdale. He was played by three different actors: Richard Smith , Christopher Smith and Karl Davies .-Storylines:A character that was born on the show, Robert was notorious for the number of romantic relationships in...
. She dumped Robert by allowing him to see her having sex with builder Syd Woolfe
Syd Woolfe
Sydney "Syd" Woolfe was a fictional character in the soap opera Emmerdale, played by Nathan Gladwell.-Character's background:A jack the lad builder who arrived in the village with his workmate Jerry "Mack" MacKinley...
in her living room. Nicola had a brief relationship with Syd, which ended when she discovered that he was also having an affair with Chloe, who was dating Scott Windsor
Scott Windsor
Scott Windsor is a fictional character in the British ITV soap opera Emmerdale.From 1993-1996, Scott Windsor was played by Toby Cockerell...
at the time.
Pearl
A pearl is a hard object produced within the soft tissue of a living shelled mollusk. Just like the shell of a mollusk, a pearl is made up of calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form, which has been deposited in concentric layers. The ideal pearl is perfectly round and smooth, but many other...
, Betty
Betty
Betty is a common diminutive for the names "Elizabeth" and "Bethany".-Actresses and musicians:*Betty , American alternative rock band*Betty Boo, English dance-music artist, singer, and songwriter...
and Laurel, Nicola met fishmonger Simon Meredith
Simon Meredith
Simon Meredith was a fictional character on the ITV soap opera Emmerdale. He was played by Dale Meeks.-Background:When Simon Meredith first laid eyes on Nicola Blackstock, he knew she was the woman for him. Unfortunately for the friendly fishmonger, it took the object of his affections longer to...
in November 2003 and after a bumpy start, they began dating.
However, there were many obstacles, such as his ex-fiancée Tash and his mother Lesley Meredith. Nicola was desperate to settle down and dreamed of the perfect marriage. After they got engaged, Lesley constantly put a spanner in the works. It later emerged Lesley had stolen Kelly Windsor
Kelly Windsor
Kelly Windsor is a fictional character from the British ITV1 soap opera Emmerdale, played by Adele Silva. The character first appeared on 10 August 1993. Silva portrayed her from August 1993 until November 2000. In February 2005 it was announced that Silva would be reprising her role and she...
's credit card and eventually her debts began to mount up. This resulted in Lesley and Simon losing everything, meaning he and Nicola had to postpone the wedding. Bored with Simon and their financial problems, Nicola hatched a plan to snare Paul Lambert
Paul Lambert
Paul Christopher Lambert is a Scottish football manager and former player who is the manager of Norwich City. He won numerous trophies as a player, winning the Scottish Cup with St...
's bisexual lover, Ivan, who was mates with Simon. After failing repeatedly to seduce him, Nicola plied Ivan with alcohol and tried again, a moment witnessed by Lesley. However, she didn't see Ivan rejecting Nicola. Assuming that they were having an affair, Lesley told her son about Nicola's "infidelity".
When the truth came out, Simon ended their relationship. Nicola was disgraced as she also destroyed Ivan and Paul's relationship. Paul and Rodney disowned her so Nicola left the village in March 2006.
2007—
Nicola returned in September 2007 with a business proposition for David Metcalfe. He had taken over the cleaning business from Laurel and Nicola wanted it back. Nicola was now a wealthy widow, having been married briefly to Donald De SouzaDonald De Souza
Donald De Souza is a fictional character in the British soap opera Emmerdale played by Michael Jayston. Appearing between 2007 and 2008, Donald De Souza arrives as the husband of Nicola Blackstock, although their marriage quickly falls apart...
, a millionaire tycoon. She restarted her cleaning empire and threatened to put David out of business.
After meeting him a few times, she returned to an unenthusiastic response, as it was clear that she hadn't been forgiven. Nicola pursued David, despite him dating Jasmine Thomas
Jasmine Thomas
Jasmine Thomas is a fictional character in the British ITV soap opera Emmerdale. She was played by Jenna-Louise Coleman.-Storylines:Jasmine arrived in Emmerdale on 30 June 2005. Sent to the village by her parents during her holidays from boarding school, she stayed with her uncle Ashley Thomas, the...
. Nicola and David slept together and Jasmine caught them. She ended things with David and wrote an article, exposing the fact that Donald was still alive. He was in a coma, following a brain haemorrhage.
Nicola told Rodney and Paul that she had said he was dead because unless she could prove Donald's son, Miles, was still drinking, she would inherit nothing. Nicola insisted that Donald be kept alive until she had the proof she needed and then she would allow the machines to be switched off. However, Jasmine got Miles back on the wagon.
On 28 December, Nicola was called to the hospital as there was a significant change in Donald's condition. Arriving, Nicola was stunned to learn that Donald was conscious. He claimed not to remember her and spent the evening with Miles. Realizing Donald was likely to make a full recovery, Nicola planned to murder him and asked David to help her but, disgusted, he refused to get involved. Fearing for Donald's life, David sabotaged plots to electrocute and poison him. Knowing Nicola was determined, David told Donald, who confronted her on some local cliffs, giving her the perfect opportunity. Shocked, she confessed and even tried to save him when he looked like he might go over the edge. He agreed not to tell the police, providing she left his house immediately and David didn't want her either.
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...
. He didn't want to hire her but when she accidentally injured him, leaving him unable to drive, he hired her to be his chauffeur. Nicola spent most of her time with Rodney, and attempted to become respectable again. When celebrity chef Anthony Worrall Thompson visited, Nicola tried to get to know him and was soon bragging that they were going to work together but was embarrassed when Bob gave her a message from Anthony's people, asking her to stop bothering him.
In June 2008, Nicola started dog-sitting briefly. Rodney wasn't happy about it but she and David reconciled after he helped her find some missing dogs. He was dating Val's daughter, Sharon Lambert, and that was how Nicola's business started. One of Sharon's friends had a dog that needed looking after while she was out of the country. She and David reconciled after hearing Sharon telling a friend that she wasn't that interested in David. Nicola told Sharon and they had a fight in the Woolpack until David separated them. This also ended Nicola's dog-sitting business as she had planned to use Sharon's WAG contacts to start it.
Trying to cheer Gabby up after Ashley and Laurel explained how Daniel and Arthur had been accidentally swapped in the hospital, Rodney started telling her stories based on his fairground days. She planned to publish the stories and sent them to a publisher who planned to publish them in March 2009. When Rodney found out, he gave her an ultimatum - tell the truth or stop calling him Dad. She refused so he kicked her out. She moved in with Edna Birch
Edna Birch
Edna Birch is a fictional character on the ITV soap opera Emmerdale. She is played by Shirley Stelfox.In a village marred by affairs, double-crossing and sin, widow Edna is a paragon of virtue. She first appeared on the show in 2000, but had been living in the village for many years...
, following brief stays with the Pollards and her brother, Paul Lambert
Paul Lambert
Paul Christopher Lambert is a Scottish football manager and former player who is the manager of Norwich City. He won numerous trophies as a player, winning the Scottish Cup with St...
and Katie Sugden
Katie Sugden
Katherine "Katie" Sugden is a fictional character in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale, and is played by Sammy Winward. She originally appeared between 2001 and 2005 and returned in 2006 and has remained in the show since.-Casting:...
.
When Nicola discovered that Ashley's boss told him that they were considering closing the church in late 2008, she and David planned to buy it and make it their dream home. However, there was a problem: the church choir. Nicola planned to ruin the choir by telling Ashley and Laurel she was there to help them but would make the choir so bad, they would have no chance in a competition. In November, she changed her mind after becoming closer to her family and friends because they were impressed by her attempts to help the community. She focused her efforts on saving the church by helping the choir sing "O Happy Day".
David and Eric discovered what she was up to and tried sabotaging the choir. They failed and the choir won a special recognition award so Eric and David revealed Nicola's original plan so she was shunned by the choir and estranged again from Laurel. Nicola worked hard to convince people that she was truly reformed and wanted them to succeed. She made headway on December 15, just after the competition, when she was allowed to collect Gabby, her niece, from playgroup. On December 19, Edna asked Nicola to move out so her sister, Lily, could move in. Alone, with no job or money, she moved into the church. Laurel took pity on her, asking her to stay with her and Ashley. On December 25, after the Christmas Service, Nicola started a sit-in protest in the church to stop its closure with the choir in tow. They convinced Eric and David not to buy the church but this meant the church was still for sale. The church was purchased by newcomers Mark Wylde
Mark Wylde
Mark Wylde was a fictional character in the British soap opera Emmerdale played by Maxwell Caulfield. He made his first appearance on 15 January 2009 and departed on 3 January 2010....
and Natasha Wylde
Natasha Wylde
Natasha Jane Wylde is a fictional character from the British soap opera Emmerdale played by Amanda Donohoe. She made her first appearance, along with her husband Mark Wylde, on 15 January 2009. It was announced in July 2010 that Donohoe had quit her role as Natasha, and would leave the series later...
who also bought Home Farm Estates.
The villagers convinced the Wyldes to let them have the church but this was the start of Nicola's relationship with them. When Nicola learned that Natasha was advertising for the estate manager's job, she and Rodney applied. Rodney was estate manager for the Kings but Natasha chose to employ Nicola as she admired her determination. Nicola often struggled to stay within her boundaries as she was also expected to be the Wyldes' personal assistant too.
In February 2009, Nicola and Jimmy drowned their sorrows in the Woolpack and carried on drinking in the back of an Emmerdale Haulage van. They spent the night together and woke up to discover themselves en route to Hull. Nicola was horrified but Jimmy was more amused. They got a cab back to the village. Nicola asked Jimmy to hide when they saw David but he saw Jimmy and laughed at them. Nicola was embarrassed and rebuffed Jimmy's attempts at a relationship.
After several weeks, Nicola asked Jimmy to go with her when Mark and Natasha invited her to dinner. She thought their motive was much more personal but Jimmy wasn't happy returning to Home Farm and drank more than he should. Nicola, humiliated by the Wyldes', also got drunk and spent the night with him. Nicola pushed Jimmy away but was intrigued when Rodney told her Jimmy may not be as broke as she thought. Thinking Jimmy had money hidden away in Switzerland, Nicola charmed her way back into his bed and convinced him she cared about him, when he said he was going there. Jimmy guessed her true intentions and humiliated her by wining and dining her, then telling her that they were going to Switzerland in the haulage truck and telling everyone that she was a golddigger. Nicola was furious.
In spite of the hurt feelings between the pair, they were still attracted to each other. This was clear to everyone around them so Ashley's father, Sandy, and Laurel's father, Doug, sick of the overcrowding, wrote a love letter, apparently from Jimmy. Nicola was moved by "Jimmy's" romantic prose and visited him. After a passionate night, she told Jimmy she would move in with him, as this was what he had asked her. Jimmy was stunned but kept quiet as he didn't want to lose her. Unfortunately the relationship was rocky and after one row too many, Jimmy dumped her. Carl and Lexi insisted she move out so Laurel asked her to move back in with her.
Nicola told Laurel on 8 May 2009 that she thought she was pregnant. Laurel persuaded her to do a pregnancy test and a few days later, the doctor told them that she was seventeen weeks pregnant. Shocked, she didn't believe it and thought that the doctor was wrong, insisting to Laurel that she and Jimmy had always been careful except the night they spent in the van. She considered an abortion and even booked an appointment but after discussing it with Laurel and her father, changed her mind and cancelled the appointment. She was also persuaded not to put the baby up for adoption by Laurel and Lexi.
Nicola moved back into Mill Cottage with Jimmy and they are looking forward to the arrival of their baby. Lexi was surprised that Nicola hadn't started thinking about the nursery so when her pregnancy was confirmed, they went shopping for nursery furniture. Unfortunately Lexi was admitted to hospital with an ectopic pregnancy
Ectopic pregnancy
An ectopic pregnancy, or eccysis , is a complication of pregnancy in which the embryo implants outside the uterine cavity. With rare exceptions, ectopic pregnancies are not viable. Furthermore, they are dangerous for the parent, since internal haemorrhage is a life threatening complication...
and had to have her fallopian tube and the baby removed. Nicola has been there, trying to look after Lexi, when it was clear that Carl was struggling to cope. She has also backed her up when Carl made excuses about not being able to go to an appointment at an IVF clinic with Lexi.
On 23 July, Nicola was forced to jump out of the way of a runaway van, which belonged to Rodney. She and the baby were unharmed, thanks to Aaron Livesy
Aaron Livesy
Aaron Livesy is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Emmerdale, played by Danny Miller, who took over the role from Danny Webb in 2008. He made his first on-screen appearance on 24 December 2003. Aaron is the son of Chastity Dingle and Gordon Livesy...
managing to steer the van away from her.
On 3 August, Lexi pushes Nicola down the stairs after a vicious row, leaving her unconscious
Unconsciousness
Unconsciousness is the condition of being not conscious—in a mental state that involves complete or near-complete lack of responsiveness to people and other environmental stimuli. Being in a comatose state or coma is a type of unconsciousness. Fainting due to a drop in blood pressure and a...
. Lexi immediately calls an ambulance and Nicola is rushed to hospital. Luckily, everything is okay and she is discharged. On 6 August, Nicola goes into premature labor while locked in the farm shop but luckily Rodney and Cain manage to get her to hospital where she gives birth to a baby girl, with Jimmy at her side. They name her Angelica. The little girl is put in an incubator and rushed away for further treatment, but Nicola and Jimmy are reassured by the doctor that their little girl is going to be just fine. The baby is then kidnapped by a jealous Lexi and she takes her on to a roof but later returns the little girl to her worried parents. She was accused by Viv Hope
Viv Hope
Vivienne "Viv" Hope was a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Emmerdale. Portrayed by Deena Payne, the character first appeared on 10 August 1993, and remained until 13 January 2011, becoming one of the longest serving characters, after nearly 18 years in the show.In November...
of biting her child, Cathy, after protecting Angelica from Cathy.
In July 2010 Nicola and Jimmy consider buying the Woolpack from Diane Sugden with the help of money from Scarlett, but they pull out in September as Nicola fears she cannot cope with being landlady and a new mother.
in February 2011, Nicola discovers Jimmy has been involved in an accident and is receiving treatment in hospital. However, on arrival, she is shocked to learn he has lost all memory and has no idea who she or Angelica are. Jimmy is persuaded by Kelly that she and him were having an affair before his accident, and that he was ready to leave Nicola. Jimmy and Nicola split as Jimmy takes Kelly's side of the story and the pair get together, with the son Kelly tells him is his. Jimmy's memory begins to return and he sees Kelly's true colours. Despite this, Nicola is hurt that Jimmy has slept with Kelly, and refuses to get back with him. The pair prepare for a divorce but after an argument in September 2011, the pair end up in a passionate kiss.
Reception
Nicola was voted "Best Bitch" at the 2006 British Soap AwardsBritish Soap Awards
The British Soap Awards is an annual awards ceremony to honour the best of British soap operas.The first event took place in 1999 and takes place in May each year. Although it is an ITV production, the events were held at the BBC Television Centre, in London until 2010. The 2011 awards relocated to...
Nicola was also nominated for "Best Villain" at the British Soap Awards in 2002, 2008 and 2009.
She was nominated for the All About Soap
All About Soap
All About Soap is a fortnightly UK magazine, released on Tuesday. Storylines of the shows it covers are from soap operas shown in the United Kingdom and from Australia....
"Bad Girl" award in 2009 and was nominated for most shocking baby plot in 2010.
She was nominated for Inside Soap
Inside Soap
Inside Soap is a weekly UK magazine, released every Tuesday. It covers current and future storylines in soap operas shown in the United Kingdom....
's "Bad Bitch" award in 2009
In a poll run by website Digital Spy
Digital Spy
Digital 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....
, 95% of voters were on Nicola's side of Jimmy's amnesia storyline
External links
- Nicola De Souza 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...