List of Emmerdale characters introduced in 2003
The following is a list of characters that first appeared in the British soap opera Emmerdale in 2003, by order of first appearance.
Jean Tate
Jean Tate is the daughter of Zoe Tate and Scott Windsor. She appeared from 2003 to 2005.Jean is conceived during a one-night stand between Zoe and Scott whilst Zoe, a lesbian, was suffering from schizophrenia. Jean is named after Zoe's mother. Her father is unknown until Scott comes forward after confessing to his mother Viv Hope and her husband Bob Hope while Jean is in hospital following an accident when she fell off a table. Eventually, Zoe allows Scott access to Jean but then plans to leave for New Zealand. Scott takes Zoe, Jean and her cousin Joseph hostage at gunpoint. Viv eventually talks Scott round and Zoe, Joseph and Jean leave the village.
Freda Danby
Freda Danby is an acquaintance and former dance partner of Jarvis Skelton. In February 2003, Jarvis entered a dancing competition with Edna Birch. He was surprised to see Freda there after hearing her laugh with the barman. The pair of them caught up on old times and Jarvis then told her he wanted more than just to be dance partners. He was dismayed to find out Freda was already in a relationship with her current dance partner, Roger.Two years later, Freda returns to Emmerdale in late 2005 when Jarvis holds a tea dance, which took place at the village hall in Emmerdale. He was shocked when Freda arrived and stormed out, believing he was set up. After dancing together, Freda offered Jarvis the chance to live in Spain with her. He accepts her offer and they leave the village in December 2005.
Dawn Woods
Jean Hope
Jean Hope is the first wife of Bob Hope and the mother of Dawn Woods and Jamie Hope as well as the grandmother of T.J. Woods. They were married twice in the 1980's, however Bob abandoned her and his children, leaving her to bring them up alone in Spain. She originally appears between 2003 and 2004 played by Julie Higginson on a recurring basis, however returns in 2006 being played by Susan Penhaligon as a regular cast member. Jean first appears in February 2003, when she and her daughter Jean meet Terry Woods in Spain where he is on holiday, staying in the hotel which Jean runs. Dawn and Terry then fall in love and return to the UK, being followed by Jean. They subsequently get married, much to the disapproval of Bob and Jean, but are later delighted by the arrival of their baby boy, Terry Junior, but the marriage didn't last. Jean was then worried about Dawn bringing up T.J. alone after Terry suffered a stroke after T.J.'s birth and with little money.In 2006, Jean returned to Emmerdale as a regular character when she decided to attend Bob's second wedding ceremony to his fourth wife Viv Hope in the place of her son Jamie. However, she had a plan to try and win Bob back and kidnapped him on the morning of his wedding, but managed to escape and successfully married Viv, leaving Jean to get drunk in shame and wake up with Terry. Dawn was subsequently imprisoned after being reported for benefit fraud by Scott Windsor leaving Jean and Terry to share responsibilities for T.J., bringing them closer together and subsequently falling in love. To keep the relationship secret, she began dating Tom King, who she made believe that they had a future together until Jean and Terry were arrested and locked in a cell for a night for cavorting in a layby. The incident meant that Dawn ordered her to end the relationship and she decided to move to Cornwall and take T.J. with her, breaking Terry's heart. Not long afterwards, Dawn was killed when the King's showhome blew up and collapsed, crushing Dawn and causing her to die after being rushed to hospital. Jean received £300,000 for compensation from the Kings for Dawn's death and left the village for Morocco. Terry followed her to the airport, but she left without him.
In January 2011, Jean received a phone call from Bob to tell her that Terry and Viv had tragically been killed instantly by a fire started by Nick Henshall and that she was to take T.J. on after their funerals, as he wasn't able to look after him as well as his twins, Cathy and Heath. T.J. then went to live with Jean in Morocco.
Ronnie Marsden
Ronnie Marsden, played by Ray Ashcroft, made his first appearance on 10 March 2003. Ashcroft previously appeared in the show in 1994 and 1995 as two separate policeman. His character was introduced as the head of the new Marsden family. Shortly after his arrival, Ronnie began an affair with Louise Appleton. Ashcroft was surprised by the plot development and found it "pretty flattering" to be paired up with a younger actress. Ashcroft felt he had some similarities with Ronnie, explaining "In many ways I am Ronnie. He always has that twinkle in his eye and, like most red-blooded males, I'm a sucker for a pretty face, like him. He's a bit of a teenager pushing 50, and so am I. I've also had my moments. And I've been unfaithful."[|Frances Marsden]
Frances Marsden is the matriarch of the Marsden family who move into the house that was previously occupied by the Reynolds family. She first appeared on March 10 alongside her husband Ronnie Marsden and their three children Paul, [|Alistair] and [|Elaine], as well as her daughter-in-law Siobhan Marsden. Whilst in Emmerdale she had a very rocky relationship with her husband, which began after she announced that she had a cancer scare. She got a job at Eric Pollard 's factory, where she befriended Lisa Dingle. After a couple of months in the village, she organised a girls night out with Diane Sugden, whom she had also recently befriended. This was when it was revealed that Ronnie had been having an affair with Louise Appleton after he lied to her saying that he was at a pub called The Malt Shovel. This lie fell through when Marlon Dingle revealed that he was propping up the bar at The Woolpack. Frances then confronted Ronnie about his lying and he confessed to his affair with Louise, but ended it and worked hard to rebuild his marriage with Frances, which he managed to do before leaving the village.Siobhan Marsden
Paul Marsden
[|Alistair Marsden]
Alistair "Ali" Marsden is the younger son of Ronnie Marsden and Frances Marsden as well as the brother of Paul Marsden and twin brother of [|Elaine Marsden], who arrives in Emmerdale on March 10, along with his family, including his sister-in-law Siobhan Marsden. Whilst in Emmerdale, he took a liking to Katie Addyman, which annoyed her boyfriend Andy Sugden. He also lied about having a heart defect to try and gain sympathy from Ollie Reynolds and Donna Windsor, meaning that he was dying. He also faked his heart defect kicking in to gain attention. Furthermore, he spread some spiteful rumours about [|Stephen Butler] being gay, causing him to leave the village. Ali moves to Hull with his mother when Frances decides to reconcile with Ronnie.Elaine Marsden
Elaine Marsden is the daughter of Ronnie Marsden and Frances Marsden and the younger sister of Paul Marsden and twin of Alistair Marsden, who moved into Emmerdale with her family on March 10. Whilst in the village, she developed feelings for Robert Sugden, but he was in a relationship with Donna Windsor. After leaving school, she got a job at Eric Pollard 's factory after losing her previous job. Whilst Donna went away, she and Robert grew closer and eventually began dating after he ended his relationship. The couple briefly split after he made an insensitive comment, but she forgave him and they resumed their relationship until Robert crashed his car into a tree, causing Elaine to be unconscious. As a result, Robert moved an unconscious Elaine into the driving seat, making her believe that she caused the accident as when she regained consciousness, she couldn't remember anything, but when a bruise from Robert's seat belt was discovered, he confessed and Elaine ended things for good. Furthermore, after telling her father, Ronnie attacked Robert. In December, Ronnie tried seducing Siobhan Marsden, resulting in her smashing a bottle over his head. When Frances found out, she smashed up Holgate Farm with an axe before throwing Ronnie out. She regrets her decision and follows him to Hull but Elaine refuses to go. When Paul and Siobhan refuse to let Elaine stay with them, she goes to live with a friend in Rotherham.Rachel Whatmore
Rachel Whatmore is the solicitor for the Tate family. She appeared from 2003 to 2005.Rachel is first seen when representing Chris Tate in his personal matters, as she helps him to dispose of most of his money and make sure his wife Charity Tate has nothing. Unknown to Rachel, Chris is dying and plans to commit suicide and frame Charity for his murder. Zoe has to run the Tate empire after her brother's death, and she becomes close to Rachel, especially after she learns Rachel, like her, is a lesbian. In early 2004, Zoe attempts to have a romantic relationship with Scott Windsor, the father of her child, but her feelings for Rachel lead to an affair. Scott's mother Viv Hope sees them and tells Scott, leading to a confrontation and Rachel ends the relationship. A year later, Zoe asks Rachel if they can try again, but Rachel is now in a new relationship.
In June 2005, Zoe faces charges for the attempted murder of Scott, but Rachel is on holiday, and her colleague Neil Depaul instead takes Zoe's case.
Denzil Calburn
Police Constable Denzil Calburn, played by Danny Lawrence, is a police officer. He appeared intermittently for two years from 2003 to 2005. Lawrence told The Manchester Evening News: "Originally I went in for a one-line reading. The character didn't even have a name when I read for the part. But I must have done something right because I won the role and they have asked me back on a number of occasions since." Of his cast mates, Lawrence said: "The cast of Emmerdale are great fun to work with and there is no hierarchy, not even with the older established stars on the show."Patsy Kensit is a lovely lady as well and the younger members of the cast are great fun too. I was also lucky enough to meet Stan Richards - Seth Armstrong - just before he died. He was a national institution and a great bloke."Denzil first appears when he arrests Cain Dingle for physically assaulting his cousin Charity Tate. He later arrives when Jack Sugden reports his land rover stolen but the matter is resolved when Jack's adoptive son, Andy Sugden, knowing his half-brother Daz Eden has taken it, falsely tells Denzil that he had borrowed the car and Jack reluctantly corroborates Andy's story. However, the following day Daz is arrested when Rodney Blackstock reports his car stolen. When Jack and Andy arrive at the station, Denzil tells them Daz is on a final warning as he has form for joyriding. He then reveals to Jack and Andy that Daz has been on a young offenders programme and will be appearing in court following this offence. A few months later, he questions the Dingle family over the theft of some whisky and investigates Jack Sugden's shooting and then is involved in the investigation of Paul Marsden's death. Denzil and his colleague tend to Zoe Tate when she has a schizophrenic episode.
In 2005, Denzil has a brief relationship with Chas Dingle after he offers to change a flat tyre for her when she breaks down on the side of the road. However, she later falls in love with Carl King. Denzil breaks up with Chas when she repeatedly lies for her lawbreaking father Shadrach Dingle, who steals Denzil's patrol car, humiliating him. Denzil returns to give evidence at Zoe's trial for the attempted murder of Scott Windsor in September.