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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Lauren Morris

Emmerdale star to be killed off in brutal exit after 22 years on soap

Jimmy King in 'Emmerdale' - (ITV)

Tragedy is set to strike Emmerdale Farm, with longtime resident Jimmy King being killed off the soap after 22 years on our screens.

The Emmerdale character, played by Nick Miles, first arrived on the ITV soap in 2004 and has survived being stabbed, the breakdown of his first marriage and a bout of amnesia since then.

However, Jimmy will reportedly be killed off in an explosive storyline as his ex-wife Sadie King (played by Patsy Kensit) returns to the village.

According to Radio Times, the actor was aware of his forthcoming exit and is filming scenes at the soap’s studios in Leeds. He will reportedly be on the soap until autumn.

Nick Miles has played Jimmy King for over 20 years (ITV)

The Independent has contacted Emmerdale and Nick Miles’ representatives for comment.

Earlier in May, Emmerdale announced that Kensit would be returning to the soap after over 20 years to play the villainous Sadie King.

In a statement, Kensit said: “I am really exited to return to Emmerdale. I treasure the years I was here before. Sadie King is a character that I really loved playing.

“The cast and crew are absolutely brilliant and I am so grateful for the chance to return to the show - it’s absolutely amazing.”

While soap producer Laura Shaw teased that her return is “guaranteed to shock” fans. “Sadie’s seductive demeanor, combined with her utterly ruthless nature, are set to deliver a spectacular and highly dramatic touch of class to the Yorkshire Dales,” she added.

Kensit made her Emmerdale debut in May 2004, with Sadie joining her then-husband Jimmy in the village. She spent two years on the soap before Sadie fled the village after faking a kidnapping plot with Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley).

Patsy Kensit is returning to Emmerdale (Getty)

Kensit left the role to join Holby City, but received three award nominations from her stint on Emmerdale – a National Television Award for Most Popular Newcomer and the British Soap Awards’ Soap Bitch of the Year in both 2005 and 2006.

Last year, ITV announced that that it would be reducing the runtime for both Coronation Street and Emmerdale, which could also see a reduction in the workforce at its sets in Manchester and Leeds.

“We will support our colleagues in ITV Studios as they work through these changes, and will do what we can to mitigate the impact on our people,” ITV boss Kevin Lygo said at the time.

“These changes are motivated by doing what we believe is best for the continuing success of these important programmes in the long term. They also create headroom in the overall programme budget for investment in programming that can help ITV grow reach in a very, very competitive market.”

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