Long-time Emmerdale character Jimmy King has died following a dramatic car crash. The scenes, which aired in Thursday night's episode, saw the character succumb to his injuries shortly after the collision. The episode was available to stream early on ITVX.
Jimmy, portrayed by Nick Miles, crashed into the wedding reception of Dawn and Joe, leaving him fighting for his life. His death marks the end of his on-screen marriage to Nicola King, played by Nicola Wheeler. Fans shared their emotional reactions on social media platform X, with many expressing disbelief and sadness over the departure of the character who has been a fixture in the village since 2004.
Miles's portrayal of Jimmy King spanned 22 years on the soap. His exit comes amidst wider cost-cutting measures at ITV, which have led to significant cast reductions. Last year, ITV reduced Emmerdale's weekly output from six 30-minute episodes to five.
Once a show that drew up to 12 million viewers per episode, Emmerdale now struggles to attract four million. Nearly 30 cast members have reportedly lost their roles since the cuts began in 2024, a period described by some stars as a 'bloodbath.' The recent return of Patsy Kensit as villain Sadie King after a 20-year absence has also generated buzz, though it has reportedly caused friction among other cast members.