Emmerdale may have just confirmed Nicola King's new love interest following the tragic ending of her partnership with Jimmy King, as actor Nick Miles is leaving the soap and his character is being killed off. The devastation for Nicola, played by Nicola Wheeler, is imminent, but producer Laura Shaw teased back in May that a surprise village resident will support her through her troubles.
Kev Townsend Emerges as a Key Figure
The resident in question is Kev Townsend, played by Chris Coghill, who is the biological father of Lewis Barton (Bradley Riches). Kev has clashed with Nicola multiple times since his return because she is convinced he will end up breaking Lewis' heart. However, the foundations for a new dynamic between them are being laid. In tonight's episode, Kev performed surprisingly well during his shift at the cafe and later helped Lewis and Vinny Dingle clean the bins.
Playful Hose Incident Sparks Speculation
While outside, the trio heard Nicola confronting Jimmy, who had skived off work to play golf with Manpreet Sharma. As Jimmy slipped away, Nicola approached Kev, Vinny, and Lewis. Seconds later, Kev decided to spray Nicola with the hose. Given Nicola's tendency to be loud when angry, it's possible Kev was trying to distract her. This playful act suggests Kev may not find Nicola as annoying as he makes out.
If Jimmy continues skiving off work and annoying Nicola, she may find herself spending more time with Kev, potentially foreshadowing a new romance. A poll asked viewers if they ship Nicola and Kev, with options for 'No way!' and 'Don't tell anyone...yes!'.
Actor Chris Coghill on Their Dynamic
Chris Coghill summarized their relationship: 'They've got a funny relationship. I think he likes the fact that she's protective of Lewis, which he does appreciate. But at the same time she doesn't want Kev there and there's a bit of him that does want to win her over. Especially after her trying to get rid of him. And to be fair, him parking the van right outside the cafe was quite an antagonistic thing to do.'
Interestingly, Chris isn't ruling out the possibility of Kev finding a new love interest. 'There could be,' he teased. 'Not with anyone in particular at the moment but he is open to offers.'
