List of Emmerdale characters (2016)

Emmerdale is a British soap opera first broadcast on 16 October 1972. The following is a list of characters that will appear in 2016, by order of first appearance. All characters are introduced by series producer Kate Oates, or her successor Iain MacLeod. Pierce Harris, the husband of established character Tess Harris, was introduced in February, followed by Ryan and Aaron Livesy's half-sister, Liv Flaherty, Holly Barton's ex-boyfriend Dean appear in March and plumber Ronnie Hale was introduced in April.

Pierce Harris

Pierce Harris, played by Jonathan Wrather, made his first screen appearance on 11 February 2016.^[1] The character and Wrather's casting was announced on 10 January 2016.^[2] Of his casting, Warner said "I am thrilled to be joining Emmerdale. It's a great opportunity to be offered the chance to create a new character in one of TV's most popular shows and I'm very excited to be working with such an outstanding cast and team."^[2] Pierce is the husband of established character, Tess Harris (Nicola Stephenson) and has been mentioned on several occasions since Tess' arrival.^[2] Tess has been having an affair with Paddy Kirk (Dominic Brunt), who was described as not expecting to meet Tess' husband.^[2]

Pierce turns up at the hospital to see his wife Tess, who was admitted after being struck by a car driven by a drunk Kirin Kotecha (Adam Fielding). Tess' friends, Paddy and his wife Rhona Goskirk (Zoe Henry), introduce themselves to Pierce, but he is led away by the doctors who want to discuss Tess' operation. Pierce is later told that Tess has died during surgery due to her injuries, and he rushes from the hospital.

The following month, Pierce was given personal items of Tess' that were in her car. He discovered Tess had been having an affair and had a secret phone. He also found a brochure for the Mill Cottage development and wanted to have a look. Before looking at the development he went into The Woolpack for a drink where he saw Paddy and Rhona. He revealed that he had Tess's affair phone, which made Paddy squirm. Paddy's best friend Marlon Dingle (Mark Charnock) came to his rescue, but Rhona, who knew about the affair, agreed to meet with Pierce the following day. Pierce showed Rhona some of the texts Tess had sent to her lover, and after learning they were texting on Christmas Day and planning to go to Paris, Rhona cracked and revealed to Pierce that Paddy was Tess' mystery man.

Pierce wrote numerous bad reviews for Paddy and Rhona's vet's surgery on a local business review site. Rhona realised he was behind them and confronted Pierce. Pierce tried to make Rhona she was kidding herself that she could patch up her marriage to Paddy. A few days later, Pierce handed out flyers on Hotten Road hoping to find a witness to Tess' death. Pierce handed Rhona and her friend Vanessa Woodfield (Michelle Hardwick) one, so Rhona invited him back to Smithy Cottage for a cup of tea. Pierce explained he had moved into a hotel since Tess died, so Rhona allowed him to temporarily stay with her and son Leo for a few days as she and Paddy had split up.

Pierce continued looking for answers on how Tess died, and questioned Rakesh Kotecha (Pasha Bocarie) about if he knew Tess, as Rakesh's was the owner of the flat development Tess had a brochure of. Rakesh denied knowing Tess but Rhona later admitted that Rakesh's son Kirin was the police's main suspect in Tess' death before he scarpered. Pierce confronted Rakesh and called the police to say Rakesh was covering for his son. PC Williams visited Pierce and told him as there was no evidence of Rakesh being in contact with Kirin, the police couldn't do anything, although she told him the investigation was still ongoing.

Ryan Harred

Ryan Harred, played by George Sampson, made his first screen appearance on 22 February 2016.^[3] Sampson's casting was announced on 14 January 2016. He will appear in four episodes. It was later announced he will return following Gordon Livesy's trial.^[4] Of his casting, Sampson commented "I'm really excited to play a guest part in Emmerdale. The cast and crew have been really friendly, and the village is a spectacular place to be. It's such an iconic show and it's brilliant to be able to be a part of it."^[4]

Sampson's character and storyline were initially kept secret ahead of his first scenes. The actor later revealed that his character is called Ryan and would be sharing scenes with Aaron Livesy (Danny Miller) and Robert Sugden (Ryan Hawley).^[3] Sampson described Ryan as "a lads' lad. He's a local guy who just wants to intervene in people's business. Where he can get what he wants in a certain situation, he will do so."^[3]

Ryan first appears outside Gordon Livesy (Gary Mavers)'s house when his ex-wife, Chas Dingle (Lucy Pargeter) spray paints "paedo" on his car, following the recent revelation, that Gordon abused their son, Aaron Livesy when he was a child. Ryan is next seen four days later, after it is revealed that Robert Sugden is secretly paying him to be an invented sexual abuse victim so that Gordon can be charged after the abuse allegations made by Aaron are taken seriously. Robert's bribery is discovered by Chas after she is threatened by Gordon. She is determined to make her son aware of what Robert is up to, but he tries to convince her not to say anything. Eventually, Aaron learns the truth behind Robert's scheme and angrily confronts him. When Aaron visits Ryan and convinces him to retract his statement, Ryan agrees.

Nearly two months later, Ryan ran into Gordon's daughter Liv Flaherty (Isobel Steele). Liv realised Ryan was the man Robert paid to lie to the police and offered him £50,000 to tell the police the truth about Robert paying him. Ryan agreed, but Liv later decided to call the arrangement off but she couldn't get hold of Ryan and Robert was arrested.

A months later, Ryan arrived at the pub and wants his money. Robert refuses to give him money. Ryan threatens to report Robert to the police for assaults him. Robert kidnaps Ryan and puts him in the boot of his car. The next day, Ryan begs Robert to let him out and tells him his mum will be worried. Robert decided to free Ryan out of his boot, unaware Aaron was watching. Ryan tells Robert that he needs £200 because he owes some lads. Robert gives Ryan £100 and tells him never come back to the village again.

Liv Flaherty

Olivia "Liv" Flaherty, played by Isobel Steele, made her first screen appearance on 25 February 2016.^[5] The character and casting was announced on 16 February.^[5] Liv is the daughter of Sandra Flaherty (Joanne Mitchell) and Gordon Livesy (Gary Mavers) and the half-sister of Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller).^[5] She is being introduced as part of Aaron's child sex abuse storyline.^[5]

In the park, Liv asks Robert Sugden (Ryan Hawley) and Aaron for money to get the bus home. Aaron gives her some change, but he encounters her a second time later that day. Liv tries to guilt trip Aaron into giving her more money and when she takes his wallet, Robert stops her and she knees him in the groin. When Aaron visits his stepmother, Sandra, he is confused when the same girl who mugged him answers the door. Sandra comes face-to-face with Aaron for the first time since he was a teenager and she introduces him to Liv as her half-brother. Liv takes a liking to Aaron, up until she witnesses him harming her mother after he finds out she knew about his past of being sexually abused by his and Liv's father, Gordon. Liv visits Aaron and he finds out she was the one who scratched his car. Aaron takes Liv to his mother, Chas Dingle (Lucy Pargeter) and demands answers from them as Sandra is not telling her anything. When Aaron tries to explain to Liv, she is convinced he is lying and Chas contacts Sandra to collect her. Liv goes through Chas' mobile phone and finds her father's address, but Aaron and Zak Dingle (Steve Halliwell) later go after Liv. At Gordon's, he gives Liv his mother's necklace and when Aaron and Zak turn up, Liv apologises to Aaron. Liv helps Aaron at the scrapyard whilst Sandra makes her statement. Later, Liv meets up with Gordon and it transpires that Liv believes him over Aaron and she promises to help prove his innocence.

Liv turns up unexpectedly to stay for a while, which Chas and Aaron agree to. Liv buys chocolate from the local shop and she hides £10 up her sleeve and tries to con a further £10 out of Jacob Gallagher (Joe Warren-Plant). David Metcalfe (Matthew Wolfenden) witnesses Liv doing this and orders her to put it back or he will get it himself, but she refuses and threatens to report David for assault. She throws fruit at David and Jacob but is caught by Aaron, who gives the money back. Chas is informed of Liv's actions by Leyla Harding (Roxy Shahidi) and Chas confronts Liv and Aaron and she apologises. Chas feels it is too soon for Liv to stay with her and Aaron. Liv packs her bags, but Aaron tells Chas and Liv that he wants Liv to stay, which Chas agrees to, knowing how happy Liv has made Aaron. Liv meets up with Gordon and wants her to find out about Ryan (George Sampson). Liv questions Robert over Ryan and when Robert tells Aaron about her questioning over Ryan, Aaron puts it down to curiosity and he brings up that Robert paid him. Unknown to Aaron and Robert, Liv records their conversation. Liv overhears Aaron telling Chas that he wants to be a proper brother to Liv and when Liv is given a tablet computer by Gordon, she tells him that she believes Aaron isn't lying. A tearful Liv apologises to Aaron and she believes him. Chas and Aaron find out she has been in contact with Gordon and he sent her to spy on them. An angry Aaron tells her to leave and she goes home. Liv arrives at court with Sandra to testify for Gordon. The case stops for the day when Liv becomes distressed answering questions for Gordon's defence barrister. Liv later tells Aaron that she doesn't want to lie for Gordon and when Aaron is unsure about her moving in when she asks, Liv threatens to play the recorded conversation. Liv takes the stand again the following day and is positive about Gordon, but she tells everyone that Aaron isn't lying. Aaron later thanks Liv for what she did.

Liv is brought to The Woolpack after being caught shoplifting and Liv tells Aaron what things are like when her mother is stressed. Sandra comes to collect Liv, but Liv, Aaron and Chas persuade Sandra to let Liv stay for a couple of weeks. Sandra tells Liv that they are moving to Dublin for good, but after hesitation, Sandra allows Liv to live with Aaron and Chas. Liv goes shopping for school-wear with Gabby Thomas (Rosie Bentham). Liv falls out with Gabby when Aaron believes Liv has a crush on Jacob and lets it slip to Gabby. Gabby insults Liv and her parents. Liv is brought home by DS Wise (Neil Roberts) after being accused of shoplifting and Liv is furious with Aaron when she finds out he kept Gordon's sentencing from her. Liv skips school and Aaron thinks she is faking being ill, but Chas realises that Liv has started her periods and later tells Liv she has bought her sanitary products. Liv tells Aaron she has decided not to go to Gordon's sentencing. Liv and Gabby make friends and Liv skips school to go to Gordon's sentencing. Robert turns up and contacts Aaron for Liv and Aaron decides to stay. Gordon is sentenced to 18 years imprisonment. Liv and Aaron are told the following day that Gordon has died. Liv is distraught and Chas comforts her and Liv later overhears Aaron, Chas and Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) discuss the possibility of Robert causing Gordon's death. Liv contacts DS Wise and when he arrives, Liv blames Robert for Gordon's death, however, DS Wise tells Liv and Aaron that Gordon committed suicide. Liv and Aaron are left £250,000 each from Gordon in his will, but they decide not to take the money. Aaron persuades Liv to take her inheritance. Liv finds out about when Gordon's funeral is and she later confides in Gabby about the horrible messages she is receiving online. Liv and Gabby decide to arrange a party at Gordon's house, which he left to Liv and they are collected by Chas and Bernice Thomas (Samantha Giles). Liv accuses Robert of sending the messages in front of her family, but it turns out Liv is being bullied at school and Aaron agrees to go to Gordon's funeral. Liv meets Ryan and offers him £50,000 to get rid of Robert, which he agrees to. Liv runs out of Gordon's funeral and Robert goes after her. After he talks to her, telling her she managed longer than Robert made at his fathers funeral, Liv leaves Ryan messages calling off the deal, but he doesn't get it and Robert is arrested. Liv confesses to Aaron what she did and apologises. Liv runs away, but is found by Robert and the pair make amends. Robert discovers that Noah Dingle (Jack Downham) is behind Liv's bullying and the online account is closed.

Aaron ends his relationship with Robert when he witnesses him letting Ryan go from being tied up in his car boot. Liv asks Robert why they broke up and she asks Finn Barton (Joe Gill) for advice on how to get Aaron and Robert back together. Liv tricks Aaron and Robert to be at The Woolpack to sort things out and she is pleased to overhear them make up. Liv and Gabby break into Victoria Sugden's (Isabel Hodgins) house and steal her clothes. Liv tells Gabby not to pretend Ashley caused her injury. Liv wants her inheritance to do up an old car and then sell it and Adam Barton (Adam Thomas) persuades Chas to put an offer in. Liv takes Adam's quad and covers Paddy Kirk (Dominic Brunt) in mud. Liv asks Chas for her money, but refuses, especially when she learns what she did to Paddy. Charity Dingle (Emma Atkins) learns Chas used Liv's inheritance to lend Lisa Dingle (Jane Cox) the money to try and get Belle Dingle (Eden Taylor-Draper) into a private mental health unit. Belle ends up going to Surrey, but Lisa decides to use the money for expenses. Charity lets slip to Liv about Chas and the money and she is initially annoyed, but Liv allows Lisa and Zak to use it and Chas apologises.

A month later, Liv sends Rhona Goskirk (Zoe Henry) flowers, signing them with the initial P. Pierce Harris (Jonathan Wrather) accuses Paddy, but he finds out it was Liv. He confronts Liv and she compares him to her father.

For her portrayal as Liv, Steele was nominated for Best Newcomer at the 2016 British Soap Awards.^[6] Steele is nominated for Best Young Actor at the 2016 Inside Soap Awards and Best Soap Newcomer at the 2016 TV Choice Awards.^[7][8]

Eliza Macey

Eliza Macey made her first appearance on 3 March 2016.^[9][10] She is the daughter of Jai Sharma (Chris Bisson) and Megan Macey (Gaynor Faye)

During Eliza's birth, she suffers shoulder dystocia and her brain is deprived of oxygen for some time. Jai and Megan are told it's too early to tell if Eliza will have permanent brain damage. They are later informed that Eliza could have cerebral palsy. Eliza suffers a seizure and Megan is annoyed with Jai not being able to handle it. When Eliza arrives home, Megan refuses to let Jai near Eliza, but he soon convinces Megan to let him be apart of Eliza's life.

Dean

Dean, played by Craig Vye, made his first screen appearance on 25 March 2016.^[11] The character and casting was announced on 22 March 2016. Vye was initially contracted for a short guest stint.^[11] Dean is the antagonizing ex-boyfriend of Holly Barton (Sophie Powles).^[11][12][13] Powles, who portrays Holly, stated "Holly was doing very well in London. She was having a great time and working hard, but then people she was working with on a weekend were doing the party lifestyle and dabbling in cocaine. Holly, being Holly, thought: 'I'll be fine now, I'm clean, I'll be fine with a bit of coke'. But then it turned from cocaine to harder substances and she got herself into a bit of a mess. Dean didn't want to go out with her anymore as she was a mess, but she still owes him money for the drugs she had. When Dean comes back, to everybody else it seems like he's just her boyfriend, but later on when everyone is gone we're left with a very intimidated Holly and a boyfriend demanding money."^[11] Dean will be dealt with by Holly's mother Moira Barton (Natalie J. Robb) and stepfather Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley).^[11]

Holly arrives home to find Dean at the house and he has introduced himself as Holly's boyfriend. When Holly and Dean are left alone, Dean demands £2,000, a drug debt. Moira pays off the money, but Dean demands more. A plan is formed by Moira and Cain, using Charity Dingle (Emma Atkins) and Ross Barton (Michael Parr). Cain forcefully drags Holly into one of Charity's vans and drives off and Charity reports it stolen. Cain meets with Dean and bribes him into taking the van loaded with goods, but Holly tells Dean that Cain is most likely scamming him. When Dean persuades Holly to leave with him, he turns violent on Holly and Cain fights Dean and another man off Holly. Later, Charity and Ross spot Dean with the van and Ross phones the police, reporting Dean and causing his arrest later on.

Ronnie Hale

Ronnie Hale, played by John McArdle, made his first screen appearance on 14 April 2016.^[14] Of his casting, McArdle stated "I am really pleased to be joining the cast of Emmerdale. The standard of the show is equal to anything I have worked on before and I am really happy to become part of that."^[14] The character was introduced as the potential biological father of established character Chrissie White (Louise Marwood).^[14] He will also be the centre of a big storyline at Home Farm.^[14] New show series producer, Iain MacLeod, stated "I am thrilled to welcome an actor of John's pedigree to the show. And in Ronnie, we have a character that will unearth every painful fragment of love and loss buried in the White family's past - with the odd unexploded bomb thrown in for good measure!"^[14]

Chrissie finds a love letter from Ronnie Hale in her mother, Ellen's, belongings, believing him to be her biological father after discovering that Lawrence White (John Bowe) is not. Chrissie calls Ronnie to Home Farm to fix a leak. Before he leaves, Chrissie shows him a picture of Ellen asking if he knew her, but Ronnie says he does not. Ronnie turns up at Home Farm looking for Lawrence. Lawrence tries to blackmail Ronnie into staying away, leading to an argument between the pair. Lawrence's wife, Bernice (Samantha Giles), interrupts the argument. Ronnie says goodbye to Lawrence before leaving. It is then discovered that the love letter that Ronnie wrote wasn't to Ellen, but it was to Lawrence. Ronnie and Lawrence were having an affair while Lawrence was married to Ellen. When Lawrence sees Ronnie talking to Chrissie's son Lachlan (Thomas Atkinson), he tells Ronnie to leave the village but Ronnie insists he's staying. Lawrence then asks Sam Dingle (James Hooton) to shoot him. Sam reluctantly agrees. When Sam goes to shoot Ronnie he talks him down and Sam gives him the gun. Ronnie then pays Lawrence a visit and gives him back the gun threatening to tell the police about his plan to kill him. Lawrence accidentally punches Ronnie and Ronnie leaves telling Lawrence that he won't be bothering him again.

Ronnie saves Nicola King (Nicola Wheeler) from a fire started by Rakesh Kotecha (Pasha Bocarie). He goes back in for Rakesh and his wife Priya (Fiona Wade), who are not in the house. He is knocked unconscious when he is hit over the head with a candlestick. He is later pulled out by Rakesh and Carly Hope (Gemma Atkinson). The next day, Lawrence visits Ronnie in hospital and apologises for being so cruel to him. He is seen holding his hand by Chrissie's boyfriend, Andy Sugden (Kelvin Fletcher). Just after Lawrence leaves, Ronnie moves his head. He discharges himself the following day. Douglas Potts (Duncan Preston) gives him a place to stay in the B&B. Ronnie later finds an ornament Priya bought into the house before the fire started. He then confronts Rakesh and suspects that he started the fire. Rakesh admits that he did and Ronnie tells him he has no choice but to tell the police. However, when the police question Ronnie he keeps quiet about Rakesh's involvement.

Bernice secretly books a hotel room for Ronnie and Lawrence although Lawrence thinks it is for him and Bernice. When Lawrence goes ahead he is surprised to see Ronnie there. Lawrence leaves Bernice a message telling her that he doesn't blame her and he is coming home but is stopped by Ronnie. The pair break down in tears and admit their feelings for each other while Bernice leaves for the airport in a taxi. The next day, Chrissie finds a love letter written from Ronnie to Lawrence and hints that Ronnie is her father. She then humiliates both Ronnie and Lawrence in front of the whole pub, in which Ronnie admits that he and Lawrence were lovers. Chrissie and Lachlan are then thrown out of Home Farm by Lawrence and go to stay in the B&B where Ronnie is still staying. Chrissie confides in Ronnie about how Lawrence threw her out and Ronnie decides to go and talk to him. When he does so, Lawrence comes out with a gun threatening to shoot Ronnie. Ronnie doesn't believe that Lawrence would have it in him to shoot him. Lawrence shoots a hole in the window of Ronnie's van and Ronnie drives off while Lawrence breaks down on the doorstep.

After Lawrence is shot by Lachlan, there are several suspects. Chrissie frames Andy after discovering he had sex with Bernice, and he is charged with attempted murder. Chrissie pretends to help Andy and accuses Ronnie of shooting Lawrence in front of a whole pub. This upsets Ronnie and he denies the allegations. Chrissie later apologises to Ronnie.

Frank Clayton

Frank Clayton, played by Michael Praed, will make his first screen appearance in 2016.^[15] The character and casting was announced on 9 July 2016. Of his casting, Praed stated "I'm thrilled to be joining the cast of Emmerdale to play the role of Frank. From what I understand his life is fairly complicated and I'm looking forward to getting to know him and portraying this complex man."^[15]

The character was introduced as the father of established character Tracy Shankley (Amy Walsh).^[15] He will first appear when unbeknownst to her, Tracy's boyfriend David Metcalfe (Matthew Wolfenden) visits him in prison, where he has spent "the last few years".^[15] Series producer Iain MacLeod stated "The character of Frank is really fascinating: flawed, funny, flirtatious – even fatherly, when it suits him! His tale is a story of a man trying to find redemption in the face of huge temptation, with a massive twist or two thrown in for good measure. I am thrilled that Michael is on board in the role. He is an actor of real skill and understatement and a brilliant addition to the cast."^[15]

Frank is a convicted criminal and has spent the last few years in prison. His daughter, Tracy's boyfriend, David Metcalfe (Matthew Wolfenden), visits him in prison and tells him about his testicular cancer. David also informs him about his relationship with Tracy and that they're getting married. Frank tells David he's been writing to her and wants to reconcile with her, and that he is being released. He later calls Vanessa Woodfield (Michelle Hardwick), who also turns out to be his daughter.

A few days later, Vanessa and Tracy receive a phonecall explaining that Frank has been hospitalised after a fight in prison. Vanessa visits him in hospital the next day. She refuses to call him, "dad", and uses his name. Frank asks her if she wants to talk about her ex-boyfriend Kirin Kotecha (Adam Fielding) and if he can see a photo of her infant son, Johnny, which she shows him. Frank tells Vanessa a fake story about when they went away together, which infuriates Vanessa and she storms out, just as Frank suffers a seizure. The doctors inform Vanessa that the injuries Frank sustained have created several blood clots in his lungs and that he has been moved to intensive care and is in a coma. David and Tracy later visit Frank and are also informed of this. Tracy decides that visiting Frank was a bad idea and leaves, however she returns the following day. Tracy tells Frank that she remembers little about him. She finds some photos of them together when she was a child. The following week, Vanessa and Tracy receive a phonecall to say that Frank is being brought out of the coma. Vanessa visits him and sees Tracy there. The pair have engage in a blazing argument and the nurse threatens to call security. Frank regains consciousness and tells Vanessa and Tracy that they are half-sisters. Neither can forgive Frank for not telling them the truth and disown him.

A few weeks later, Vanessa calls Frank and tells him that he can stay with her, on the condition that he reconciles with Tracy. He is released a few days later. Vanessa tells Frank not to tell anybody that he is her father. They then go for a drink in the pub, where Tracy and her friend Leyla Harding (Roxy Shahidi) are. Tracy furious that Frank is moving in with Vanessa and while she shouts at Vanessa, Frank collapses. Tracy is adamant that she wants nothing more to do with Frank and walks out. Charity Dingle (Emma Atkins) later suspects that Frank pretended to collapse to stop Vanessa and Tracy arguing. He tells Vanessa it is best they forget about Tracy, which she and David overhear. Frank is also introduced to David's father Eric Pollard (Chris Chittell). Tracy decides to give Frank another chance after being persuaded by David. They have drinks to celebrate while Tracy puts Eric's credit card in Frank's pocket to make him look like a thief. She arrange to meet him so she can take it back but puts it back in. When Eric realises his credit card his missing he immediately suspects Frank and calls the police and Frank is arrested. He is later charged with theft and Vanessa tells Tracy that Frank is being sent back to prison. Tracy later confesses the truth to Eric and he calls the police to drop the charges and Frank is released. He believes Eric put his credit card in his pocket on purpose and grabs hold of him. He lets go when Tracy confesses to him. Frank later tells Vanessa the truth and she apologises for believing he could ever have stolen Eric's credit card. He later tells Tracy he forgives her. Tracy tells Frank that he has no right to forgive her and that she hates him for the way he treated her and her mother and that she will never forgive him. Frank just walks away. When David finds out his cancer is gone him and Tracy celebrate but throws a drink at Frank when he interrupts the stag and hen do. Eric tries to convince Frank to stay away from Tracy. When Tracy sees him in carrying a back pack she asks him what his doing. Frank tells her he wants to do right by her and that his leaving the village. Tracy tells him to prove that he loves her. Frank tells her to get into the back of his car which she does and he drives off with Tracy clinging on in the back of the car. The next day Tracy wakes up to discover she's in a woods with Frank asleep in the driving seat. She wakes him up and isn't impressed with him. She calls Vanessa and tells her she's in a woods with Frank and he'll text her the directions. While they wait for her Frank shows Tracy a tree he carved her name into. He also tells her that was where her mother went into labour with her and that he couldn't help crying and that the labour lasted 18 hours. Vanessa then arrives and Tracy goes to get her wedding dress on. Vanessa confronts Frank and asks him what he was doing. Tracy then gets out of the car with the wedding dress on. Vanessa and Frank think she looks stunning. Vanessa car then rolls into a pond. Tracy tries to stop it but ends up falling into a big piece of mud causing her wedding dress to get muddy. She is angry with Frank as his the reason they ended up there. They then hear a car and try catch it but miss it causing Tracy get splashed by a puddle. Frank later brings them a tractor to get to the church. They soon get there to David's relief. Tracy allows Frank to walk her up to the isle. During the wedding ceremony Tracy finds a frog in her dress and her and David say their vows and officially become husband and wife. Eric later warns Frank not to hurt Tracy.

Frank finds a new love interest in Megan Macey (Gaynor Faye). However, he lies to her about his criminal past and tells her he's just returned from travelling in Australia. Leyla warns her about him but the pair sleep together. After finding out about Frank's criminal past from Leyla, Megan dumps him on the spot with Vanessa watching.

Frank starts using Johnny as an excuse to spend more time with Megan. He asks her on a date to go the dales on a motorbike. Megan tells him it would be better if they just went for a drive with Johnny and her intranet daughter Eliza. Frank tells her that would be boring as they don't do much when their that young which Vanessa overhears and tells Frank she'll never trust him with Johnny again and Megan turns down his date. She later asks Tracy if Frank can move in with her and David as his taking up to much space which they don't agree to but Vanessa doesn't give them a choice.

Megan accidentally punches Frank when he comes up to her wearing a mask at a Halloween party. She starts avoiding Frank and he sees her talking to Jermaine Bailey (Micah Balfour). When Frank starts working at David's shop he serves Megan's friend Sam Dingle (James Hooton). He confides in him about eerything and Sam tries to get them a date. Megan lets Frank mind Eliza which her father Jai (Chris Bisson) isn't happy about when he finds out that Frank was in prison and orders Megan to ask him what he was in there for. Megan does what Jai asks. Frank tells her that he was on a night out when he got into a fight with someone and accidentally knocked him out. Megan decides that she can't take any chances and officially ends things with Frank. She meets him the next day and decides to give him another chance which Jai isn't impressed about.

Frank and Megan go on a date to a restaurant where Frank sees a familiar face from the past, a man called Bobby working. During dinner he starts to get shifty with Megan and eventually decides to leave with her. On his way out Bobby confronts Frank. Megan isn't happy with him for leaving early and tells him he can make it up to her by spending the night with her which he does. He is shifty again the next morning and later decides to end their relationship which Megan reacts badly to. A week later it's David's birthday and Frank and Tracy decide to organise a surprise parachute jump for him. David later finds out about this thanks to Eric but tells Tracy he knew anyway because she left the stuff lying around and tells her that he wants to raise money for the cancer fund instead. Frank decides t help by dressing up as an elf while Bobby tracks him down and arrives in the village and sees him dressed as the elf. He meets Tracy and tells her he wants to speak to Frank. Tracy tells him his busy and they have a drink together while he waits for him. Tracy tells Bobby why Frank was in prison. He comes into the pub and sees Bobby. Vanessa comes into the pub to and Bobby sees her. They leave them alone and Bobby guesses that their Frank's daughters. Frank tells Bobby that his changed. Bobby tells Frank what Tracy told him about him being in prison. Later Bobby confronts Frank and tells him his ruined his life and demands money from him by tomorrow. He punches Frank in the gut and tells him that if he doesn't have it by then he'll tell Vanessa and Tracy that he really went to prison for conning him. The following day Frank arranges to meet Bobby the following day and steals David's money for the cancer fund to pay him off. When Frank meets Bobby he has a baseball bat and Frank tries to run but Bobby attacks him with the baseball bat. Frank has the money in a safe and lets Bobby take it. He soon returns to the village and informs Vanessa, Tracy and David about this. He tells Tracy and David he'll go to the police. However when he doesn't he goes round to Vanessa's where there is a police officer waiting for him. Frank lies to the police about what happened and they aren't very convinced by his story. He later decides to go away for a while. Vanessa demands to know if he took the charity money or not and tells him not to come back if he walks out. Tracy and David soon come round and Frank is forced to admit that he took the charity money and that fraud was the real reason he was in prison. Tracy is upset that Frank lied to her. He decides to leave anyhow despite Vanessa's ultimation.

Dotty Thomas

Dotty Thomas made her first appearance on 2 September 2016.^[16][17] She is the daughter of Ashley Thomas (John Middleton) and Laurel Thomas (Charlotte Bellamy), the sister of Arthur Thomas (Alfie Clarke) and half-sister of Gabby Thomas (Rosie Bentham)

Laurel starts getting twinges at work and is taken to hospital by Rishi Sharma (Bhasker Patel), however, it turns out to be a false alarm and she is sent home. A few hours later, Laurel's waters break and she goes into labour. Ashley delivers their daughter, who they decide to name Dotty after Ashley's mother, Dorothy.

Rebecca White

Rebecca White, played by Emily Head, made her first screen appearance on 11 October 2016.^[18] Head's casting was announced on 12 September, while the character has often been referred to by members of her family.^[18] Of joining the show, Head commented "I am really looking forward to joining the Emmerdale cast, and so excited to be the one to put a face to the name Rebecca White. I can't wait to see how the village reacts to her arrival."^[18]

Rebecca will have "a dramatic entrance", as she joins her father Lawrence (John Bowe), sister Chrissie (Louise Marwood) and nephew Lachlan White (Thomas Atkinson) in the village.^[18] The show's series producer Iain MacLeod described Rebecca as "funny, feisty and flirtatious" and added that she had "a good heart."^[18] A reporter writing for the Inside Soap Yearbook described Rebecca's entrance as "a great arrival", before noting that she "swept into Emmerdale village courtesy of a helicopter".^[19]

Rebecca first arrives by helicopter in the village during Ashley Thomas' (John Middleton) dementia fundraising event. This frustrates Chrissie, as she caused a helicopter crash which killed two residents the previous year, and Rebecca's insensitivity upsets the locals. The Whites are delighted to see her, and she angrily slaps Chrissie's former husband, Robert Sugden (Ryan Hawley), for cheating on Chrissie with another man, Aaron Livesy (Danny Miller). It is later revealed that Robert asked Rebecca to come to Emmerdale to help him expose Chrissie for framing his adoptive brother Andy Sugden (Kelvin Fletcher) for shooting Lawrence, and that Rebecca is aware that Chrissie is not Lawrence's biological daughter. The following day, Rebecca attempts to lure Robert into bed, and it becomes apparent that they had an affair while he was engaged to Chrissie, which her son Lachlan overhears. Rebecca kisses Robert, however he insults her by stating that he is now certain that he is gay, humiliating Rebecca. On Rebecca's birthday, Lachlan finds Chrissie's birthday card ripped up and in the fire, so exposes her affair with Robert publicly in The Woolpack to Chrissie and Lawrence. Chrissie slaps Rebecca, but Rebecca slaps her right back, and upon arriving back at Home Farm, Rebecca reveals that she knows Chrissie is not Lawrence's daughter, also revealing that she has took a DNA sample from Lawrence to see if he is her father, too. The results reveal that Rebecca is Lawrence's biological daughter, panicking Chrissie. She also promises to stay in Emmerdale, after Lachlan shot Lawrence in a rage back in July, in an attempt to protect Lawrence from Chrissie and Lachlan. Rebecca then manipulates Lawrence into giving her a role in the family business, which angers Chrissie.

Rebecca manipulates Lachlan into thinking that Robert has found the evidence incriminating him, and follows him to the stream where the evidence is concealed. Chrissie later realises what Rebecca is up to, and so with Lachlan, confronts her outside The Woolpack. When Rebecca attempts to walk away, a scuffle ensues between her and Chrissie, resulting in Chrissie pushing Rebecca and her hitting her head, knocking her unconscious. Chrissie and Lachlan flee the scene with the evidence, and Rebecca is found by Doug Potts (Duncan Preston). At the Whites' bonfire party, Rebecca arrives and exposes to the entire village that Lachlan shot Lawrence and that Chrissie framed Andy, bitter that Chrissie and Lachlan left her for dead.

Others

References

External links

• Characters and cast at itv.com
• Characters and cast at the Internet Movie Database