Emmerdale’s most memorable d.e.a.t.h.s – from Gemma Andrews to Graham Foster

As we close the 2024 chapter of soaps, we thought it would be good to look back on Emmerdale character’s most memorable deaths. It might seem a slightly glib thing to do but at this time of year our thoughts often turn to those loved ones lost, so why not remember those from the fictional world we came to know and love too?

Gemma Andrews 2014

Gemma Andrews, played by Tendai Rinomhota, was the daughter of Dom Andrews and first appeared in the village in 2012. Later that year, she discovered she was pregnant with Sean Spencer’s baby, which she later aborted and was the school gossip thanks to Belle Dingle.

A year later, Sean, Belle and Gemma all became all friends again until they attended a party. The mood soured when Gemma got jealous of how close Sean was getting to Belle. Trying to reason with her, Belle and Gemma fought. Gemma was pushed to the ground and hit her head on a rock. On her walk home she collapsed and was found by Harriet Finch a day later and rushed to hospital.

Gemma needed surgery but tragically, doctors told Dom that Gemma had lost brain stem function and she would not recover. A devastated Dom sat by Gemma’s side as her life support was switched off.

Belle, initially up on a murder charge, was later sentenced to three years in a detention centre but this was soon shortened. During her time in the centre, the psychological impact of k.i.l.l.i.n.g Gemma began to affect Belle and she began hearing Gemma’s voice in her head.

Val Pollard 2015

Val Pollard, played by Charlie Hardwick, made her first screen appearance in February 2004 as the sister of Diane Sugden. She later married Eric Pollard.

The fire-cracker character was known as the village gossip but had her own drama when she was diagnosed with HIV in 2014 after a holiday fling in Portugal.

In the months before her death, Val created a plan to fake her own death after she helped Carly Hope and her dad Bob commit fraud so Carly could keep David’s shop. When Diane found out, the pair had a huge argument and so Eric locked them in the hall of mirrors at the village summer fair to get them to talk.

It was also the day of Debbie Dingle and Peter Barton’s wedding, where an explosion caused a helicopter to crash into the reception at the village hall. In a chain reaction, the hall of mirrors collapsed, trapping Val and Diane.

When emergency services arrived, Val said they should save Diane first. Before she could escape herself, a large shard of glass fell on Val and k.i.l.l.e.d her. Val’s character then made a one off appearance in 2017, appearing as a ghost in Robert Sugden’s dream.

Holly Barton 2016

Holly Barton, played by Sophie Powles, was first introduced into the show in July 2009 as her family took over Butlers Farm. From the get go, Holly was the wild child of the family as she was known for taking drugs and was a party-loving schoolgirl.

Holly returned in 2016 and began an affair with fellow recovering addict Jai Sharma. Everything was going well until Holly’s new boss Suzy Merton, gave her money to buy d.r.u.g.s. Little did she know that this led to Holly suffering a fatal heroin overdose.

Ashley Thomas 2017

Ashley Thomas, played by John Middleton, made his first appearance in December 1996 as the village’s vicar. He was the son of Sandy Thomas, husband of Laurel Thomas and the father of Gabby, Arthur and Dotty Thomas. His most famous storylines included abusing his father, being held hostage by Declan Macey and being accidentally run over by Victoria Sugden, which led to his diagnosis of epilepsy and later dementia.

He died on April 7, 2017 and left fans sobbing after residents of the village paid him a visit at his home to say goodbye. He then regained consciousness during a moment alone with Laurel, clutching her hand and saying her name.

After looking at family photographs around the room as she rushed to get him another pillow, Ashley closed his eyes for the last time. Laurel was then joined by Arthur, Gabby, Bernice and Sandy, who were distraught by their loss.

Chrissie White 2018

Chrissie White, played by Louise Marwood, made her first screen appearance in October 2014. Christine “Chrissie” White (previously Sugden) was the mother of Lachlan White as well as the ex-wife of Robert Sugden.

After a lot of drama with her family, including finding out that she was not the daughter of Lawrence White, she decided that they all needed to Australia to start a new life. However, Lachlan did not want to and grabbed the wheel, crashing the car and wiping out Chrissie and Lawrence.

Frank Clayton 2019

Frank Clayton, played by Michael Praed, first appeared in the village in 2016. He was Vanessa and Tracy’s father as well as being a grandfather to their kids. He was k.i.l.l.e.d by a horrifying blaze accidentally set by Kerry Wyatt and her daughter Amy, who were raiding the factory when they noticed the CCTV cameras. They tried to destroy the footage but carelessly left wires exposed, which sparked and set the building on fire.

Frank, who had been sacked earlier that day, noticed that the factory was on fire. He went in to see what was happening and saw his daughter Tracey. He got Tracey out but went back to retrieve an engagement ring that he was going to give Megan that day. He successfully got out but then was fatally injured after the explosion.

Graham Foster 2020

Graham Foster, played by Andrew Scarborough, was in 304 episodes of Emmerdale and was brutally murdered by Pierce Harris in revenge for the relationship he had with his wife Rhona.

It was revealed Graham had visited Pierce at his apartment after he got released from prison on January 13, 2020, and had proceeded to warn him to stay away from Rhona before beating him up. Pierce then returned to the village and spied on Rhona.

He also revealed he was the one who had taken Leo’s passport, which Rhona had blamed Marlon for. After realising she was planning to move away to France with Graham, he decided to take him out before they had a chance to.

Graham attacked Pierce and a fight ensued where Graham got the upper hand. However, he refrained himself from killing him in an act of mercy which he later came to regret when Pierce came after him again. Pierce hit Graham with his car, causing him to fall off a cliff.

Graham was surprisingly still alive and another deadly fight ensued. Pierce struck him with a final fatal blow to the head, covered him with some leaves and hid when Al came onto the scene, discovering the body.

Later, Pierce returned to the village, looking at Rhona’s house as she talked to Marlon, worried about Graham’s whereabouts.

Liv Flaherty 2022

Liv Flaherty, played by Isobel Steele, made her first on-screen appearance on February 25, 2016, when introduced as part of her half-brother Aaron Livesy’s s.e.x abuse storyline, which would see her realise that her father is a s.e.x offender.

Liv ended up being pinned against a wall by a flying caravan while trying to make her way to the Woolpack with husband Vinny.

Heath Hope 2023

Heath Hope, played by Sebastian Dowling, was the son of Bob and Viv Hope, as well as the twin brother of Cathy Hope. But since Viv’s passing, the twins referred to Brenda Walker as their mother figure.

Heath died when he, Cathy and Angelica King wanted to go to a party in nearby Hotten. Cathy stole Wendy Posner’s car and they went joyriding. This resulted in tragedy when Angelica took the wheel and crashed the car into a wall. Although the girls escaped with cuts and bruises, Heath died on impact.

Bob, Wendy and an ambulance arrived on the scene soon after but it was too late. Heath died shortly before midnight on New Year’s Eve, but he wasn’t declared legally dead until after midnight. As a result, Heath’s grave marker reads he died on 1st January

Zak Dingle 2024

The Dingle patriarch Zak Dingle (played by Steve Halliwell) who was the father of Nathan, Butch, Ben, Cain, Sam, Tina and Belle Dingle and the widower of Lisa Dingle. He first appeared in 1994, challenging old adversary Ned Glover to a bare-knuckle fight, which he went on to lose.

The character’s final scene was last year when he was chatting with Dan while sitting on his mobility scooter. Dan called him Evel Knievel, to which Zak replied, “I’ll give the ring of fire a miss”. It was then believed that he headed to Scotland to live with Debbie.

Earlier this year, viewers were told of Zak’s health was deteriorating, so Cain left the Dales for Scotland where Zak has been living with Debbie but he soon came back home. However, when he arrived home and decided to go in the shower, Debbie calls and tells Moira that he has d.i.e.d.