Jonny Foster | |||||||||||
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Emmerdale character | |||||||||||
Portrayed by | Richard Grieve | ||||||||||
Duration | 2007–2009 | ||||||||||
First appearance | 22 February 2007 | ||||||||||
Last appearance | 27 January 2009 | ||||||||||
Classification | Former; regular | ||||||||||
Created by | Kathleen Beedles | ||||||||||
Introduced by | Kathleen Beedles (2007) Anita Turner (2009) | ||||||||||
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Jonathan "Jonny" Foster is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Emmerdale , played by Richard Grieve. He appeared from 2007 to 2008 and in 2009. Openly gay, in 2008 Jonny enters into a civil partnership with Paul Lambert (Mathew Bose), the first of any primetime soap opera.
It was announced on 29 March 2008 that Jonny was being written out of the programme, [1] and it was reported that Grieve had been axed by series producer Anita Turner, in addition to the axing of characters Grayson Sinclair (Christopher Villiers) and Perdita Hyde-Sinclair (Georgia Slowe). [2] Before this there was already reports of low morale, [1] and the axing apparently caused friction on set. [2] At the time Grieve said that while he had "thoroughly enjoyed the role" he thought "the time is right to move on." [1]
In December 2008, it was announced that Jonny would be returning to Emmerdale to play a part in the departure of Paul. [3] The actor said that he "couldn't resist this opportunity" to return to the programme. [3]
Jonny first appears in February 2007 when he strikes up a friendly working relationship with Grayson Sinclair. Grayson's wife, Perdita Hyde-Sinclair, is worried that they are having an affair and invites Johnny to a dinner party with her friend, Paul Lambert. They get on and soon start dating. After six months together, Jonny moves into Victoria Cottage with Paul, Paul's father, Rodney Blackstock (Patrick Mower), and Emily Kirk (Kate McGregor). He confides in Paul that, as a teenager, he suffered from an eating disorder as a result of loneliness and unhappiness. During his time in Emmerdale, Jonny sets up an aerobics dance class and fitness club.
When Rosemary King (Linda Thorson) causes problems in Grayson and Perdy's marriage, leading to Perdy being sectioned, Paul spends more time with Grayson. He acts as go-between as Perdy refuses to see Grayson and this leads to Paul developing feelings for Grayson and Jonny asks Paul to marry him. Paul accepts but has a one-night stand with Grayson. When Grayson tells Paul it meant nothing to him, Paul feels guilty and tells Jonny but persuades Jonny that it was a one-off and on 3 March 2008, they get married at Hotten Registry Office. Later that day, they have a 2nd ceremony at Home Farm as neither can tell their parents they have already married.
In July, Katie Sugden (Sammy Winward) gives birth to Grayson and Perdy's son – she agreed to be their surrogate when they were still together. Katie and Grayson agreed to raise the child together and allow Perdy access but Katie changes her mind when she finds out about Grayson and Paul's one-night stand. Katie did not tell Perdy of her plans to give her the baby, so after delivering the baby in the back of Matthew King's (Matt Healy) car, she phones Grayson with the news but is convinced by Katie and Matthew to leave with the baby. Jonny, however, refuses to believe that Paul did not warn Grayson but is coming round until he sees Paul and Grayson hug. Although, Paul said nothing had happened and he had not reciprocated the hug, Jonny told Paul that he could no longer trust him and leaves at the end of the month. He later texts asking for a divorce.
In January 2009, Jonny requests they close their joint bank account. Paul's friends, Lily Butterfield (Anne Charleston) and Leyla Harding (Roxy Shahidi), seeing how upset he is decides to try to reconcile him and Jonny. This causes Jonny's mother, Patricia, to visit. After initial confusion, Paul convinces Patricia that he still loves Jonny, who has moved to Australia. He plans to travel to Australia to try to rebuild his relationship with Jonny, but his mother Val Pollard (Charlie Hardwick) lies and tells him that Rodney has a heart condition, hoping to stop him leaving while Lily gets in touch with Jonny and arranges a meeting between him and Paul. While they both love each other, Paul tells Jonny he cannot leave Emmerdale because of his father's condition. However, on the day Jonny is due to fly out, Paul finds out his mother was lying and leaves for Australia
On 3 March 2008, Paul and Jonny made British television history by becoming the first couple on a primetime soap opera to enter a civil partnership since the Civil Partnership Act 2004 came into force on 5 December 2005. Although radio soap The Archers and daytime soap Doctors had previously featured civil partnerships, Emmerdale was the first primetime soap opera to do so. [4] Matthew Bose, who plays Paul, said he was "proud" Emmerdale was the first, and commented that soaps "have a great responsibility to show things as they change and be cutting edge". [4]
Matthew King is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Emmerdale, played by Matt Healy. He made his first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 4 March 2004. Matthew arrived as part of the King family, a family of successful businessmen. During his time on the show, Matthew had relationships with several women and was engaged to Anna De Souza when he died. Matthew's last appearance was on 16 December 2008.
Zachariah Bartholomew "Zak" Dingle is a fictional character from the British soap opera Emmerdale, played by Steve Halliwell. He first appeared on 20 October 1994. Halliwell initially joined the show as part of the Dingle family and was only initially supposed to appear for a few episodes, but has become a key part of the soap since his introduction. He has been nominated for several awards for his portrayal of Zak. Some of Zak's storylines have included his wife Nellie divorcing him in 1997, marrying Lisa Clegg in 1998, having a daughter, Belle in 1998, the death of his son, Butch in 2000, Lisa being raped in 2011, assaulting his son Cain and leaving him temporarily paralysed in 2011, suffering a mental breakdown in 2012, trying to control his rebellious daughter and dealing with the death of Lisa. Halliwell died on 15 December 2023, with Zak having made his final appearance on 27 June 2023. On 2 July 2024, it was announced that Zak would be killed off in the programme with a funeral as a tribute to Halliwell. His death was revealed on 15 October 2024.
Emily Kirk is a fictional character from the British television soap opera Emmerdale, played by Kate McGregor. She made her first appearance in the episode broadcast on 5 May 1999. Initially portrayed as nervous and naive, Emily lived a sheltered life with her father and lacks social skills, until she takes a job at the local post office. Writers established a relationship between Emily and Butch Dingle. McGregor thought the characters brought out the best in each other.
Katie Sugden is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Emmerdale, played by Sammy Winward. She made her first screen appearance on 18 July 2001 and Winward's casting was announced a week prior. The character was introduced as a love interest for Andy Sugden and their relationship was a focus point for most of the character's tenure. Winward took maternity leave in 2005, returning the following year. Katie's later stories include relationships with Adam Barton and Declan Macey, the latter whom she marries. Writers placed Katie in danger in 2012 when she is involved in a mineshaft accident. Winward announced her decision to leave the series in November 2014 and Katie was killed-off, making her final appearance on 9 February 2015.
Rodney Blackstock is a fictional character from the British television soap opera Emmerdale, played by Patrick Mower. He made his first appearance during the episode broadcast on 24 October 2000. He was introduced as the estranged father of Bernice Blackstock, with his backstory involving him leaving her at five years old. Rodney has been described as an "ageing lothario" who enjoys wine, money and the company of women. In 2012, he was ranked within What's on TV's top 100 British soap characters of all time.
Paul Lambert is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Emmerdale, played by Mathew Bose. Paul appeared between 2004 and 2009. He arrives as the son of existing characters Val Lambert and Rodney Blackstock, and in 2008, Paul, who is openly gay, enters into a civil partnership with Jonny Foster, the first of any primetime soap opera. The character departed in 2009, but made brief returns in 2010, March 2015 and September 2015.
Carl Thomas King is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Emmerdale, played by Tom Lister. The character and casting were announced in January 2004 when it was announced that producers were bringing "four new single 'hunks'" into the show, one of them being Carl. Lister made his first appearance on the show on 6 February 2004. Throughout the course of his story arc, Carl establishes a relationship with Chas Dingle – which contributes to his storylines that include the pair having an ill-fated wedding after Chas exposes Carl's affair with her best friend Eve Jenson. During his time on the show, Carl has accidentally caused the death of local postman Paul Marsden ; killed his own father Tom in the events surrounding the Who Killed Tom King? storyline, which he ultimately confessed to his brothers Jimmy and Matthew on the show's 500th village anniversary episode – after the trio were acquitted for their father's murder; formed a romance with DCI Grace Barraclough, the policewoman investigating his father's murder, that culminated with her being killed in a hit and run – just as she prepared to take Carl into custody after he admitted to killing his father; sparked a business conflict with Matthew that concluded with the latter's death, after Carl ruined Matthew's ill-fated wedding to his business partner Anna De Souza by exposing his involvement behind the death of her father Donald ; developed a feud with Chas' niece Debbie upon clashing with her parents, Cain and Charity, respectively; embarked on a failed marriage with Lexi Nicholls ; and became archenemies with Debbie's ex-boyfriend Cameron Murray after discovering his affair with Chas and subsequently blackmailing the pair in repaying him the £30,000 that Chas previously swindled from his bank account.
Hari Prasad is a fictional character from British ITV soap opera Emmerdale, played by John Nayagam. He made his first on-screen appearance on 5 December 2005.
Perdita Hyde-Sinclair is a fictional character from the British soap opera Emmerdale, played by Georgia Slowe. Slowe joined the main cast alongside Christopher Villiers as Perdy's husband Grayson Sinclair. She made her first appearance in the lead up to the wedding between Sadie King and Grayson's brother Alasdair Sinclair, which was broadcast on 1 March 2006. Perdy received immediate comparisons to Sadie, and an Inside Soap columnist pointed out that just like her, Perdy also "loves money, men and getting her way." Slowe bemoaned her and Villiers' slow introduction to the show, saying they had nothing to do for the first six months as producers let viewers get used to their characters.
Grayson Sinclair is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Emmerdale, played by Christopher Villiers.
Bernice Blackstock is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Emmerdale, played by Samantha Giles. She made her first on screen appearance on 25 November 1998. In September 2012, it was announced Giles had reprised her role and Bernice returned on 20 November 2012 after over eight years away from the programme. In September 2019, Giles announced her departure from the series, with her final scenes airing in November 2019. In April 2021, it was announced that Giles would be returning to the soap, with her return scenes airing on 27 May 2021. However, it was announced on 17 July 2023 that Giles would be leaving the show once again later in the year with her final scenes airing on 14 November 2023.
Nicola King is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Emmerdale. She has been played by Nicola Wheeler since she joined the soap in 2001. Wheeler left the role in January 2006, with her on-screen departure airing in March. In July 2007, it was announced that Wheeler had chosen to return to the soap eighteen months later and Nicola made her return on 12 September 2007. Wheeler took maternity leave throughout 2015, which was woven into the soap as Nicola departing temporarily on 26 March 2015, to work in Dubai for six months. She made a brief appearance on the soap on 7 May 2015, via webcam, and then made her full-time return on 11 November 2015, when she returned from Dubai due to an incident that happened there.
Mathew Bose is a British actor. He is best known for his role as Paul Lambert in the soap opera Emmerdale from 2004 to 2010 and again in 2015.
Richard Grieve is an Australian actor, who has worked extensively in film, television, theatre and musical theatre, but is perhaps best known for his roles in the British soap Emmerdale, and two Australian television series, Neighbours and Home and Away.
David Metcalfe is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Emmerdale, played by Matthew Wolfenden. It was reported in August 2023 that he was set to leave the soap after 17 years, due to a lack of "gritty" storylines. David's final scenes were broadcast on 30 November 2023.
Rosemary King is a fictional character from the British television soap opera Emmerdale, played by Linda Thorson. She made her first appearance during the episode broadcast on 23 March 2006. She departed on 13 September 2007; the character was later killed off-screen on Christmas Day 2007.
Ivan Jones is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Emmerdale, played by Daniel Brocklebank. He appeared in the series from 5 May 2005 until 2 August 2006. Ivan was originally introduced to participate in a storyline about the character of Jarvis Skelton and only meant to feature in three episodes. The serial's producers were impressed with Brocklebank and made Ivan a regular character. The character is a Geordie, which required the actor to adopt the accent. Ivan is characterised as a "good-humoured" and "charming" dustman, while Brocklebank described him as having "quite a few" love interests and stated that he has "slept his way around the village".
Alicia Metcalfe is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Emmerdale, played by Natalie Anderson. She made her first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 11 August 2010. Alicia was introduced as the sister of established character Leyla Harding. On 24 May 2015, it was announced that Anderson had quit the show and Alicia made her final on-screen appearance on 10 September 2015.
Leyla Harding is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Emmerdale, played by Roxy Shahidi. She made her first on-screen appearance on 11 August 2008 and was introduced by series producer, Anita Turner. The character departed on 5 August 2011. Shahidi returned to Emmerdale for two episodes on 25 December 2013. She returned full-time in January 2014. On 5 January 2018, Shahadi took maternity leave from the show whilst pregnant with her first child. She returned on 3 October 2018. It was announced in October 2024 that Shahidi had quit the soap and Leyla would be killed off between the end of the year and the new year's.