Emmerdale stalwart axed after more than 20 years
As part of their cost-cutting drive, Emmerdale have axed a fan-favourite actor after more than 20 years on screen.
Emmerdale stalwart Nick Miles has been axed.
The 63-year-old actor has played Jimmy King since 2004 but was told earlier this year his time in Dales is coming to an end due to producers being under pressure to tighten their budgets.
A source told The Sun on Sunday newspaper: “Everyone is shocked and it shows that no one is safe from the budget cuts.
“Bosses are under pressure to cut costs and sadly that means popular cast members being told their time is up.”
It is believed Nick's alter ego Jimmy - who has outlived his brothers Max, Matthew and Carl - will be killed off in a storyline relating to the return of Patsy Kensit as his villainous ex-wife Sadie King.
The source added: “Once the decision was made that Nick would be leaving, the writers quickly realised his character wouldn’t abandon his wife and children so they had to kill him off.
“That’s what made them approach Patsy about returning.”
Patsy left the soap in 2006 after two years on screen in a storyline which saw Sadie's ex-lover Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) double cross her and keep the £2 million they had demanded for kidnapping Jimmy's dad Tom King.
Her return was revealed last month and the actress admitted she was "really excited" to be back in the village.
She said in a statement: "I am really excited to return to Emmerdale. I treasure the years I was here before. Sadie King is a character that I really loved playing.
"The cast and crew are absolutely brilliant and I am so grateful for the chance to return to the show - it’s absolutely amazing."
Producer Laura Shaw teased Sadie's return would be "explosive" and "guaranteed to shock".
She said: "We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Patsy Kensit back to the cast and crucially to see the iconic Sadie King storm back into the village.
"Sadie’s seductive demeanour, combined with her utterly ruthless nature, are set to deliver a spectacular and highly dramatic touch of class to the Yorkshire Dales."
