Emmerdale star Nick Miles has spoken about his departure from the ITV soap after more than two decades, admitting it feels "strange" to move on and revealing the kinds of roles he now hopes to secure.
The actor joined Emmerdale in 2004 as Jimmy King and quickly became a fan favourite. This week, however, the character was killed off after his car ploughed into the wedding marquee of Joe Tate (Ned Porteous) and Dawn Taylor (Olivia Bromley). Although Jimmy initially appeared unharmed, a bloodied and battered Jimmy, trapped inside the vehicle, deteriorated rapidly. In heartbreaking scenes, he drew his final breath and died with his wife Nicola (Nicola Wheeler) at his side.
Nick Miles on his Emmerdale exit
Reflecting on his departure, Nick said: "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."
Praising his on-screen wife Nicola, he added: "We had such fun exploring their relationship - the deep love beneath the surface-level bickering and moaning really struck a chord with the audience. Off-set, we were like an old married couple, warming up our banter in the makeup room before heading to the studio floor. I will miss working with her enormously; we both cried on my last day, but we remain firm friends."
What's next for Nick Miles
Nick also looked back on Jimmy's "sexy" storylines, including scenes with Charity (Emma Atkins), Nicola, Kelly and Sadie (Patsy Kensit). He said: "[They] were a huge surprise, especially coming from a background where I was predominantly cast as thugs or coppers."
Discussing his future, he revealed: "Looking ahead, I'm excited for new adventures. I'd be happy to return to playing coppers and thugs, and I look forward to watching Emmerdale to see how Nicola handles the mess Jimmy has left behind."
Jimmy's transformation over the years
Explaining how Jimmy evolved, Nick said: "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 Monday to Friday at 8:00pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
