Emmerdale stars shared a "bittersweet" behind-the-scenes look at Jimmy King's funeral as the residents of the Dales bid their final farewell to the legend. It comes just weeks after viewers were left saddened over his death.
Jimmy's time in the Dales came to a shocking and tragic end last month after 22 years. While driving to set up a surprise picnic for his wife, Nicola, Jimmy lost control of his vehicle and crashed violently through the wedding marquee of Joe Tate and Dawn Taylor. Nicola found him and sat with him as he told her he had planned for them to renew their wedding vows. What followed was a heart-wrenching dream sequence that showed just that before Jimmy died from his injuries.
Dramatic funeral scenes
Dawn and Nicola managed to escape the marquee, but with Joe trapped under fallen debris, there was, at the time, no saying whether he would make it after an explosion set off in the marquee, just as Graham Foster charged at the wreckage to try and save him. This week, Jimmy's funeral finally arrived and it wasn't without drama. With Nicola believing Jimmy was having an affair with ex-wife Sadie King, her and Laurel were shocked as they listened to his voice messages on his laptop.
It was then that she learned Jimmy wasn't having an affair, and was instead trying to help Sadie who was struggling with financial debt. At the funeral itself, Nicola gave a heartfelt speech before later telling Sadie to leave, adding that she knows the truth.
Cast share behind-the-scenes snaps
Now, the cast have shared various behind-the-scenes snaps of the "bittersweet" funeral. Laura Norton wrote: "Bittersweet BEHIND THE SCENES Love my @emmerdale fam" as she shared snaps of herself with Charlotte Bellamy, Chris Coghill, Bradley Riches and Eden Taylor-Draper inside the church. Meanwhile, Danny Miller also shared a video of him helping to carry Jimmy's coffin from the church alongside Ryan Hawley and Emmerdale icon Patrick Mower.
Following the dramatic episodes, Nick said of his exit: "It's strange to be leaving, as Emmerdale has been a huge part of my life since I joined in 2004. I've always known that being a King meant Jimmy was a precarious character, so while the news was shocking, it makes sense. I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunities the show presented and the life it has given me."
Jimmy was originally a tough, unkind character - part of a family of snakes. The turning point was the house collapse; I realised Jimmy needed an epiphany to survive. I took the idea of him becoming a softer, more comedic man to the producer, Kath, and she agreed. Without that shift, I think he would have been written out years ago.
Emmerdale airs on weeknights at 8pm on ITV1 and is available to stream from 7am on ITVX and YouTube.
