Emma Nightingale is an interior designer and the ex-girlfriend of Zoe Tate and Susie Wilde.
Biography[]
1995-1996: Relationship with Zoe Tate[]
Emma arrived in the village in January 1995 when she was hired by Alan Turner to help revamp The Woolpack. She soon developed a relationship with Zoe Tate and asked her to move in with her in Leeds, however, Zoe didn't want to leave her life in the village so instead asked Emma to move to the village with her which she agreed to. In April 1995, they started renting Smithy Cottage together although soon after they were shocked someone threw a stone through their window and graffitied "lesbeans" on their front door. They quickly discovered local teenagers Scott Windsor and Roy Glover were the culprits and forced them to help clean up their mess as punishment.
In August 1995, Emma was nominated for an interior design award for her work in The Woolpack. Emma was disappointed when Zoe failed to show up at the ceremony and started having a go at her before learning Zoe had been attacked by Ken Adlington who tried to rape her. Emma convinced Zoe to tell the police but they were appalled when Ken's wife stuck up for him and the police chose not to press charges. Emma and Zoe's friend Linda Glover decided to take matters into their own hands and put up posters around the village, warning women to be stay away from Ken although Zoe was not pleased when she found out. However, Ken was shunned from the village when he turned up and tried to take down the posters.
In February 1995, Emma asked Zoe to marry her and they decided to have a blessing for their relationship. However, things got complicated when Emma's ex-girlfriend Susie Wilde arrived in the village in March and began staying with them. Zoe was initially hostile towards Susie, getting jealous of her and Emma but later, unbeknownst to Emma, Susie and Zoe began felling for each other. In May, soon after her and Zoe's blessing, Emma saw Zoe being comforted by Susie, so she pushed for an answer and soon learned of their relationship. Emma gave Zoe an ultimatum - her or Susie and was devastated when Zoe eventually chose Susie over her. An enraged Emma knocked Susie over with her car door on her way out of the village.
2002-2004: Brief return[]
In May 2002, Zoe tried to contact Emma whilst she was in the midst of a schizophrenic episode. Emma called Home Farm and left a message with Zoe's sister-in-law Charity Tate to tell Zoe to never to call her again. Despite this, Emma and her new girlfriend Olivia visited Zoe in May 2004 whilst they were on holiday in the area. Emma was surprised to discover that the father of Zoe's daughter Jean was Scott Windsor and recognised Scott's mother Viv (although she pretended to forget who Viv was). Zoe tells Emma that she is thinking of having a relationship with a man. Emma turns up a couple of days later and invites Zoe to stay with her and Olivia down south. Awkward, Zoe suggests Scott comes too, leaving Emma shocked as she realises they are an item. Emma leaves the village for the last time.
Quotes[]
"You stupid cow, you could've killed me!" - First line, to Zoe Tate.
"I want us to make a public commitment to say we love each other. We think our love's special, don't we? Then we should have a blessing in church. Marry me, Zoe." - Emma asks Zoe to marry her.
"Sorry? And that's supposed to make everything alright is it? You will be sorry when she does this to you! And don't expect me to come back and pick up the pieces." - Last line before her 1996 departure, to Zoe Tate.
"Hi! We said we'd try and call in." - to Zoe, upon returning for a visit in 2004.
"Just leave it. Alright, she's obviously made up her mind." - Final line to her girlfriend Olivia, about Zoe's relationship with Scott Windsor.