Emmerdale killed off Jimmy King during Thursday's episode of the ITV soap, now available on ITVX, after more than two decades on the show. The character died in tragic scenes following a crash that saw his car plough into a marquee where Dawn Taylor and Joe Tate were on their wedding day.
Wednesday's episode ended with the car hitting the tent, leaving Jimmy, Dawn and Joe unconscious and their fates unknown. Thursday's episode, airing on ITV1 at 8PM, revealed that Jimmy did not survive, while Joe's fate remains uncertain.
Fan reaction to the death
Fans expressed their anger and sadness over the character's exit online. One fan said: "He deserved better." Another commented: "I'm still in bits what an episode. Bravo to the cast," as a third added: "I can't get over the episode. I was in tears."
Another fan wrote: "I hate that they are getting rid of [name]." A further post read: "He deserved something more epic," while a final fan said: "You've done [name] dirty!" Other fans confessed they couldn't believe the show was getting rid of the character, with one saying they were "fuming" given how long he had been part of the show.
Final scenes and Joe's fate
In the episode, Nicola raced into the marquee to find her husband Jimmy, who was in a bad way and suggested he might not make it out. As Dawn woke up, she found Joe trapped under debris and tried to help him. Meanwhile, Jimmy and Nicola reminisced about the past and had a heart-to-heart.
Jimmy shared his love for his wife but succumbed to his injuries and died in the car. Moments later, the marquee looked as though it was about to be engulfed in flames. Joe demanded pregnant Dawn leave, and she and Nicola fled for their lives. As the explosion hit, it was left unknown if Joe had made it out.
