There was a hark back to some iconic characters in Emmerdale history in Monday (October 21)’s episode, as Jimmy King (Nick Miles) reminisced about his father and brothers as he contemplated the end of his involvement in the haulage firm that had been the family business.
Will Taylor (Dean Andrews) was with Jimmy watching him go through a box of framed photographs and other memorabilia. The first picture he picked up was of Edna Birch (Shirley Stelfox) with her beloved dog Tootsie.
‘I know her,’ Will said, recalling that Harriet Finch (Katherine Dow Blyton) had had a picture of Edna on her wall. Jimmy said Edna used to run the office – ‘Ran the company, really.’
Emmerdale said a poignant farewell to iconic character Edna in 2016, following the death of Shirley Stelfox. The character was honoured in Emmerdale’s 10,000th episode earlier this year when a scarecrow contest in the village featured one dressed up like Edna, sitting outside the cafe with another scarecrow dressed as her friend Betty Eagleton (Paula Tilbrook).
Delving further into the box he took out a picture of himself with his dad, Tom King (Ken Farrington), and his brothers Matthew (Matt Healy), Max (Charlie Kemp) and Carl (Tom Lister), as well as the old ‘King and Sons’ business sign.
He recalled how the business used to involve waste management, plant hire, property – ‘and lots of squabbling. Great squabbling.’ Then Emmerdale Haulage came along in 2009, ‘Me and my brother (Carl) and a few vans.’
King & Sons was owned by Tom King and Jimmy, Matthew and Carl worked together in the business. The fourth King brother, Max, was also involved for a while.
After the business went bankrupt in 2009 Jimmy and Carl founded Emmerdale Haulage and in 2012 Charity Dingle (Emma Atkins) blackmailed her way into the business. On Carl’s death Jimmy and Charity became equal partners, until she dissolved the company and it became Home James.
Will hadn’t realised that Home James wasn’t just a business to Jimmy, it was part of his family history. But he urged Jimmy to be realistic and accept that the business is failing and told him he should talk to Caleb (William Ash) about his offer for Jimmy’s share.
Reluctantly, Jimmy agreed that he would see what Caleb was offering but it was obvious that the thought of parting with his family’s legacy hurts him deeply as he contemplates the end of an era.
