Emmerdale fans have predicted a shock new romance for Nicola King (Nicola Wheeler) with Kev Barton (Chris Coghill), sparking fury among viewers who believe it comes at the expense of her long-time husband Jimmy King (Nick Miles). The speculation follows reports that Jimmy will be killed off in a jaw-dropping stunt later this year.
Nicola and Kev's Growing Tension
Nicola, the daughter of Rodney Blackstock and half-sister of Bernice Blackstock, is currently married to Jimmy King, with whom she shares daughter Angelica. She also acts as a mother figure to Jimmy's other children, Elliot and Carl. In recent weeks, Nicola has been locked in a tense feud with Kev, who returned to the village to reconnect with his son Lewis. To drive Kev away, Nicola and Ross Barton faked a robbery at the café, but Kev agreed to keep their secret in exchange for staying. He now works at the café, much to Nicola's frustration.
Now, several fans believe the animosity is masking romantic chemistry. "Nicola and Kev will get together, there's chemistry there," one person wrote on a Facebook fan page. Another added: "Yesss, that will be a spicy one!" while a third said: "Omg I can totally see a Nicola/Kev romance."
Jimmy King's Reported Exit
The rumoured romance comes ahead of Jimmy King's reported death. Earlier this year, a source told The Sun: "Everyone is shocked and it shows that no one is safe from the budget cuts. Bosses are under pressure to cut costs, and sadly, that means popular cast members being told their time is up." The source added: "Once the decision was made that Nick would be leaving, the writers quickly realised his character wouldn't abandon his wife and children, so they had to kill him off." ITV has yet to officially confirm the news.
Many viewers are frustrated by the timing. One angry fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter): "It's clear as day Jimmy's being killed off to replace him in all aspects by Kev. Total disgrace." Another added: "Yes, it's painful to watch," while a third said: "I'm so mad about it. Gonna miss Jimmy and Nicola together as a couple so much." Someone else commented: "All these [rumours] about Nicola's next love being the one and only-but-fabulous Kev is a bit too much. We haven't even had the not-eagerly-awaited death of fictional hubby Jimmy yet!"
Mixed Reactions from Fans
Not all viewers are opposed. One fan wrote: "I prefer Kevin, and I think it's weird how much vitriol he is getting." The split reaction highlights the deep attachment fans have to the Nicola and Jimmy pairing, which has been a staple of the soap for nearly two decades.
Nicola has been involved in several memorable storylines, including the 2022 car park attack, her failed plot to kill husband Donald De Souza, and supporting her family after Tom's abuse of Belle Dingle. Now, with Kev's return and Jimmy's imminent departure, her next chapter promises to be equally dramatic.
Emmerdale airs weekday nights at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
