List of Emmerdale characters introduced in 2014
Emmerdale is a British soap opera first broadcast on 16 October 1972. The following is a list of characters that first appeared or will appear during 2014, by order of first appearance. [|William Makepeace] and his grandson, [|Seb] arrived in February. The following month saw the introduction of Donna Windsor and Marlon Dingle's daughter, [|April]. Tracy Shankley, Daz Spencer, Rakesh Kotecha and [|Carole] made their first appearances in July. Rakesh's son, [|Kirin], made his debut in August. The White family – [|Lawrence], [|Chrissie] and [|Lachlan] – arrived in September, October and November. Additionally, multiple [|other characters] appeared in 2014.
Ian Chamberlain
Ian Chamberlain, played by Robert Cavanah was a man who Val Pollard had a fling with Ian while she was in Portugal. The character's arrival was announced on 28 December 2013, and made his first appearance on 6 January 2014.Ian arrives in Emmerdale to look for Val. Finn Barton points Ian in the direction of The Woolpack, but as he arrives Val hides in the back. Her sister, Diane Sugden tries to persuade him to leave, but she can see what he needs to see is really important. Ian later manages to catch up with Val and their fling in Portugal transpires. Ian's identity is finally revealed, but Val makes it clear that they won't be repeating their fling. He then informs Val that he has HIV and may have passed it on to her. Ian tells Val that she needs to get herself tested. He returns later and they go on a few dates. Val then decides to split with him and he leaves.
Cavanah, who played Ian, returned to Emmerdale on 30 September 2024, but this time playing DS Foy, who was investigating the attack on Thomas King.
Liam Cavanagh
Dr Liam Cavanagh, played by Jonny McPherson, made his first appearance on 9 January 2014. In June 2018, it was confirmed that McPherson had been promoted to the regular cast. The news came shortly after the character's wife and daughter were introduced.Dr Cavanagh examines a pregnant Priya Sharma after there are concerns that her eating disorder may be returning. Dr Cavanagh tells her that her baby is fine, but he is still concerned for the health of her and the baby. He tries to give Priya the number for a support group but she refuses to take it, determined that everything will be fine. Later the same month, Val Pollard called Dr Cavanagh out to Pollard's Barn to examine her husband Eric Pollard, whom she was concerned had contracted HIV. The doctor examined Eric and came to the conclusion that Eric had flu. Liam briefly visits the village and encounters James Barton and Finn Barton who express to him their concerns for their family member and his colleague, Emma Barton, who has gone missing. James and Finn ask him if he knows anything such as where she might currently be working. Liam is initially reluctant, citing reasons of professional confidentiality but later relents and discreetly slips James some information.
When Leanna tells Liam that she has taken a morning after pill as a result of being sick after losing her virginity to Jacob Gallagher, Liam goes to confront Jacob in front of his family. However Jacob insults Leanna in front of her, which results in Liam punching him and he is later arrested for his actions.
However Jacob sees the errors of his behaviour and drops the charges.
[|William] Makepeace
William Makepeace, played by Dudley Sutton, made his first screen appearance on 27 February 2014. The character and Sutton's casting was announced on 30 January 2014. The actor commented "This will be my second appearance in Emmerdale as I appeared in 1997 as a tramp! It's great to be back in Yorkshire and I have fond memories of filming the Beiderbecke Trilogy in the same building as Emmerdale is now filmed." William is Seb Makepeace's grandfather and is cared for by Seb's former girlfriend Ruby Haswell. William has "an old-fashioned attitude" and he makes life difficult for Ruby.Seb Makepeace
Seb Makepeace, played by James Redmond, made his first screen appearance on 27 February 2014. The character and casting was announced on 30 January 2014. Of his casting, Redmond stated "Having taken a 5-year break from acting to concentrate on stand-up comedy, I am really looking forward to getting back on the horse. It will be great to join the cast of Emmerdale and Seb will be my first time playing a northerner!" Seb is established character Ruby Haswell's ex-boyfriend. They meet again when Ruby becomes a carer to Seb's grandfather William.April Windsor
April Windsor, played by Amelia Flanagan, made her first screen appearance on 19 March 2014. The character was announced in the same month and plays a part in Donna Windsor's return storyline. April is Donna and Marlon Dingle's daughter. Rushworth explained that when Donna left the village four years ago, she was pregnant with April at the time. Now April is four, Donna realises that it is time she got to know her father and meet her family. Rushworth continued, "Having said that, Donna is just thinking about little April. She hasn't really considered the impact this will have on Marlon's life." Marlon meets April when he saves her from being run over by a quad bike. In August 2017, Flanagan was longlisted for Best Young Actor at the Inside Soap Awards. She made the viewer-voted shortlist, but lost out to Alfie Clarke, who portrays Arthur Thomas. Flanagan's younger twin siblings, Isabella and William, appear in Coronation Street as cousins Hope Stape and Joseph Brown.Donna and April arrived in March 2014, telling Marlon, Donna's former stepfather Bob Hope and his partner Brenda Walker. Marlon reacted badly, initially telling Donna that he didn't want anything to do with them and they should return to Essex. Marlon's ex-girlfriend Rhona Goskirk decided she wanted her and Marlon's son Leo Goskirk to know that he had a half-sister and met Donna. Marlon came around to the idea of Leo getting to know April but insisted he didn't want either Donna or April in the village and that they must never know that they are siblings.
In 2014, Donna died after jumping from a building with Gary North after he threatened to abuse April. She told her partner Ross Barton to tell April that she loved her very much. Later that day, a devastated Marlon broke the news to April about Donna. However, April didn't realise that Donna was dead and went to visit Ross at the garage because she knew he knew Donna well. Ross lashes out at April and she went looking for Donna but later was found the next day. Marlon was then awarded full custody of April and she now lives with him and regularly sees Leo.
In March 2016, April went to see Ross's mother Emma Barton because she had bruises on her left arm and asked if she could make it better. Bob's daughter Carly Hope confided in Marlon that she had a son Billy who died from cot death when he was two months old. April tells Marlon and Carly that Leo hit her, causing the bruises.
Towards the end of 2016, April notices that Marlon and Carly like each other, and she questions if they are already dating or not. Eventually, Marlon and Carly do start dating.
In March 2017, while making a cake for Marlon's birthday, April chokes on a sweet in front of Carly. Terrified, she froze but Marlon managed to bring the sweet up and April starts crying in shock. Marlon is furious at Carly for not trying to save April when she could see that she was choking. The next day Marlon keeps April off school and she runs away to the pirate ship because she thinks Carly doesn't like her as she didn't try to help. Carly explains to April that she was in shock and didn't know what to do. April forgives Carly and said she wants her as a new mother figure to her.
At the end of June 2017, Carly heroically ran into a burning house and dragged an unconscious Ronnie Hale out, with the help of Rakesh Kotecha. Marlon and Carly spent the night together on what would've been Billy's birthday. After sleeping together, things became awkward between Marlon and Carly, even more so when April told Carly she wants her to adopt her. Whilst out looking for his missing cousin Belle Dingle, Marlon fell and injured his groin, so Carly carried him home. Whilst nursing his injury with a frozen lasagna, Marlon told Carly they should be friends and she should resume looking after April. Carly admitted that she wanted more as she was in love with Marlon. After a second night together, Bob learned of Marlon and Carly's relationship, and disapproved, although soon came round with a bit of encouragement from Brenda.
In July 2021, after the death of Leanna Cavanagh, April is inspired to create a social media account dedicated to helping those who have lost someone. Whilst April initially receives praise, she is later trolled when a malicious account about Donna is made and April's phone number is circulated online. When she tells Marlon, he makes her delete social media, however she later secretly reinstalls them. In September 2021, April feels betrayed when Bob's daughter Cathy Hope, who she had been confiding in, reveals that she caused all the hate. April then tells Rhona who goes on a rampage to Bob, Brenda and Cathy, resulting in Rhona being arrested for assaulting Brenda, which upsets April even more.
April and Cathy eventually settle their differences. In March 2022, Marlon has a stroke shortly after getting engaged to Rhona. It is April who finds Marlon and she calls an ambulance. She fears that Marlon will die, but he is cleared to return home and marries Rhona in August, just as April turns thirteen. April develops feelings for her friend Arthur, but is supportive when he comes out as gay, and punches Marshall Hamston for bullying Arthur. In January 2024, her uncle Heath Hope dies in a joyriding accident and April grieves his loss.
Amba Metcalfe
Amba Metcalfe, played by Ava Jayasinghe is the daughter of David Metcalfe and Priya Sharma. She is born seven weeks premature. She is delivered by her stepmother Alicia Metcalfe and Alicia's sister, Leyla Harding.She departed the series when Priya left the village for a job in London.