Emmerdale legend reveals Nicola and Jimmy King’s lives change forever with big twists ahead
Emmerdale legend Nicola Wheeler has revealed that Nicola and Jimmy King’s (Nick Miles) lives are set to change forever following daughter Angelica’s (Rebecca Bakes) sentencing.
After confessing to crashing the car that killed Heath Hope, Angel is set to spend eight months in a secure children’s home, much to the horror of her parents.
Originally, both Nicola and Jimmy encouraged Angel to hide the truth of her actions, allowing Cathy Hope (Gabrielle Dowling) to take the blame.
However, Angel finally came clean, and was horrified to learn that she would receive a custodial sentence.
‘I think what Nicola and Jimmy have been trying to do is protect Angel from the truth which is the fact that she is probably likely to have a custodial sentence, which they learned as time went on,’ actress Nicola explained.
‘Because a child has died, even though it’s an accident, really, a custodial sentence is looking likely. So they try to protect Angel from that and give her happy memories with family. They underplay the length of sentence she might get. To be honest I think it’s wishful thinking on their behalf as well.’
In Angel’s absence, the family aren’t set to cope very well, as Nicola revealed.
‘Initially Nicola lashes out because she can’t cope, she doesn’t know how to cope. Jimmy gives her a stern talking-to and says, “Look, this is what it is, we have to deal with it.”‘
According to Nicola, both Nicola and Jimmy’s lives will never be the same following Angel’s sentencing.
‘I don’t think they possibly can be, can they? That’s not to say they will be miserable forever, but I think something like that taints or stains you slightly.
‘And looking to the future I would just say what is to come? What is Angel going to be like when she leaves the place? That’s the big question, isn’t it?
‘For eight months of her life Nicola and Jimmy don’t really have any control or influence on her at all. That, I think, is probably quite crushing for a parent. For every parent who’d been in this situation, the fact that they are literally handing their child over. And that’s what they’re doing.’