Emmerdale Tom King suspects now – co-star row, world record win and tragic loss

It’s been nearly two decades now since King family patriarch Tom was murdered in the ITV Dales.

The Emmerdale star was played by Ken Farrington, who also found fame in rival soap Coronation Street as Billy Walker from 1961 until 1984.

Tom King’s death storyline was one of the biggest whodunnit-style plots in Emmerdale history, with plenty of suspects in the firing line for Tom’s murder – including his three sons Jimmy, Carl and Matthew.

The killer was eventually revealed as Carl, but he was never prosecuted and the trial to send the three of them down for conspiracy to murder fell down with insufficient evidence.

To mark the anniversary of Tom’s death, we take a look at where his murder suspects are now – from co-star swipes to a complete transformation.

Matt Healy (Matthew King)

Since leaving Emmerdale, Matthew King star Matt Healy has kept a rather low profile, mainly keeping to pantomime appearances along with a stint in Casualty and Holby City.

But he admitted in 2011 that it was his own idea to be killed off the soap in 2008, explaining to Inside Soap: “It was actually my idea [to kill off Matthew]. I wanted to move on, and didn’t want to have the constant thought in the back of my mind that I could return. Also, I really thought they’d done everything they could with him.”

But soon after leaving, it emerged Matt was ready to quit acting after being “sick and tired” of going between jobs.

He said that before scoring the role as Matthew King, he was ready to leave the industry for good, telling Chester Chronicle: “I think a lot of actors get to the point where they are sick and tired of going between various jobs while waiting to get a steady role.

“I was working as a courier in London and I had decided to go back up to Manchester to think about my next move when I got the call. Feeling as low as I did makes you appreciate offers like that so much more.”

And though Matt’s life might have been full of drama in Soapland, it turned out he was rather unlucky in love when it came to his private life.

In a 2005 interview with The Mirror, he explained: “I think I’m very scared of commitment. I’ve had long-term relationships but I’ve never actually got down on one knee and said, ‘Will you marry me?’

“I’ve never even been close to thinking about asking someone to marry me. Ever.

“I’ve seen so many marriages break up, I think you have to be absolutely certain before you do anything. I didn’t want to take a risk then end up being divorced two years later, so I’ve chosen to wait in the hope that I’ll bump into someone.”

Tony Audenshaw (Bob Hope)

Though Tony still plays lovable legend Bob Hope in the ITV Dales, it hasn’t been without its difficulties – especially when his on-screen wife branded him “creepy” in real life.

Deena Payne, who played Viv Hope for 18 years, admitted Tony was “creepy” during his audition process.

Speaking to Soap on the Box podcast, the legendary soap star recalled: “The truth being there were six people auditioning for Bob and the producer came up to me and said, ‘look did you have any feelings about any of them?’

“And I said, ‘Look just not number six because he was really creepy’. And that was Tony.

“Anyway bless him, not that anyone told him and he got the job. And in retrospect, he was so right.”

And away from soap life, Tony also leads a secret singing career – or maybe not so secret, considering Bob’s tendency to croon away in the Woolpack.

He’s the lead singer of band White Van Man, who collaborated with international opera singer Sean Ruane to release the track Viva Englandia for the 2010 World Cup.

Bizarrely, he also holds the Guinness World Record for the fastest marathon time set by a runner dressed as a baby.

Tony has also had his fair share of tragedy, as his wife Ruth sadly died of pancreatic cancer.

The pair met at an aerobics class in 1993, and they married just three years later, going on to have two children together.

In her honour, Tony raised £4,100 for Pancreatic Cancer UK on a 2022 edition of Celebrity Catchphrase.

Linda Thorson (Rosemary King)

Since leaving Emmerdale in 2007, Avengers star Linda Thorson has undergone a complete image overhaul.

The King matriarch Rosemary was best known for her coppery blonde hair and strict attitude towards the others in the village – including letting Chas Dingle know she wasn’t good enough for her then-lover Carl.

But now Linda looks totally different to her soap days, transforming into a total silver vixen by embracing her natural grey hair.

The star tends to opt for bright colours, and during promo for a classic Avengers reunion last year rocked a geometric patterned red-and-black top, along with an orange and yellow dotted scarf.

Linda initially found fame in the British TV adventure series The Avengers as Tara King from 1968 until 1969.

She has also appeared in everything from Doctors to Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Linda has been married four times, including one marriage to American news anchor Bill Boggs, with whom she shares a son.

She later tied the knot with production designed Gavin Mitchell in 2005, but the pair sadly divorced in 2011.

Tom Lister (Carl King)

Known for playing quasi-villain Carl King, Tom Lister left Emmerdale in 2012 after an eight year run.

His eventual demise came at the hands of Cameron Murray after Carl attempted to rape – and possibly murder – Chas.

Since leaving the show, Tom has appeared in various pantomime productions and musicals, including Calamity Jane and 42nd Street.

The star now looks totally different from his Emmerdale persona, growing a sprinkling of salt-and-pepper facial hair as he shares snippets of his life on social media.

He couldn’t resist posing shirtless in a stripped-down wetsuit after heading for a bracing dip in the chilly British ocean last year.

He is married to primary school teacher Jennifer Humpage, and the pair share two children.

Alex Carter (Jamie Hope)

Bob has plenty of kids scattered around the country, but his son Jamie was on the radar for Tom King’s murder.

Played by Alex Carter from 2006 until 2010, Jamie eventually left for pastures new – though his on-screen dad Tony has called for his reinstatement on the soap.

But actor Alex has been plenty busy, taking on the recurring role of Lee Hunter in rival Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks and appearing in everything from Coronation Street to Downton Abbey.

Chatting to Inside Soap about which character he’d love to see back in the Dales, Tony splurged: “Alex Carter, who played Jamie Hope. I absolutely love Alex. He’s a brilliant mate – and I reckon the potential of that character is something that was never really looked at properly.

“I think he’s just such a fabulous actor and so funny. Alex has that natural comic ability that is often hard to find.

“It’s not always about fancy dress – sometimes you just need actors who can get a laugh out of nothing, and Alex can do that.”

Billy Hartman (Terry Woods)

Tony Audenshaw isn’t the only Emmerdale star to have a singing career – Billy Hartman, who played Terry Woods, is also known to tickle the ivories.

The star was part of country rock trio The Woolpackers along with his co-stars Steve Halliwell and Alun Lewis, who achieved a hit single with Hillbilly Rock, Hillbilly Roll – which peaked at No5 in the UK Singles Chart.

His latest role came as part of BBC drama Keeping Faith in 2019, in which Billy played a crooked jeweller.

Billy’s love life was hit with drama in 1998 when he split with his glamorous wife Karen Hartley – allegedly over “her demands to start a family”, according to The People.

Billy and Karen confirmed their split at the time with a brief statement.

The former model was thought to have “already planned a nursery” for her future child.

An insider told the publication: “Karen is devastated because she really thought that this new house would be a fresh start for her and Billy.

“They had discussed the redecoration together but Karen has had to put that on hold because she can’t afford to do it on her own.

“She’d even planned the colour scheme in the nursery for the baby she was so desperate to have. She has been in tears all week while moving in her belongings.

“Karen was so excited about their future together. It’s so sad that it has ended this way.”

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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk