Jacob Gallagher is the adoptive son of Alicia Harding and the biological son of Leyla Harding and Justin Gallagher. Even though Justin is his biological father, Jacob considers his former step-father David Metcalfe to be his dad and refers to him as such. Jacob is considered to be the brother of David's two biological children, Amba and Theo Metcalfe.
Biography[]
2003-2010: Conception, birth and early life[]
Jacob was conceived after Leyla Harding had an affair with her brother-in-law Justin Gallagher. He was born on 28th February 2003 and was brought up by Leyla's sister and Justin's ex-wife, Alicia, after Leyla gave Jacob to Alicia, who was infertile.
2010-2013: Arrival in Emmerdale and true parentage[]
Alicia and Justin split up in 2010, and Alicia and Jacob moved to the village. Due to Alicia's job, Jacob spent much of his time with Leyla and her boyfriend David Metcalfe. Leyla nearly told Jacob she was his biological mother, and the strain of silence led her to leave town after about a year. With Justin now starting a new family, and David and Alicia slowly falling in love, Jacob began to see David as a father. In later years he would begin calling David "Dad."
Jacob did not know about his true parentage until late 2013. He became very upset when he found out that Alicia wasn't his biological mother, and ran away to his best friend Noah's house, where he stayed for a night. When Leyla returned to the village, Jacob was angry and confused, but he eventually accepted her as part of his life, while still seeing Alicia as his mother.
In November 2014, Noah started to bully Jacob, because he felt like his mother Charity Dingle had abandoned him. He made Jacob use spray-paint on and trash Bernice Blackstock's beauty salon and got him to steal money from the church but he was caught in the act by Kerry Wyatt and vicar Harriet Finch who took Jacob to his mother. Alicia found spray-paint in Jacob's bag, making Kerry assume that Jacob had vandalised the salon, so she started to shout at him. Jacob confessed to Alicia and David the following morning about Noah bullying him. Alicia and David told Charity who punished Noah and finally got to the bottom of his behaviour. Noah and Jacob would later make up and continue being friends.
2015 was a year of violent upheaval for Jacob, as he struggled to cope with Alicia's sexual assault by Lachlan White. In a fit of rage, Jacob vandalised Home Farm. When Alicia realised she could no longer live in the village, she and Jacob moved to Portugal. Mother and son were heartbroken when David chose to stay in the village, and Jacob chose not to contact him for some time.
2016-2018: Return[]
In 2016, Jacob returned to the village, unhappy with his new life in Portugal. Alicia contacted David and Leyla frantic as Jacob had left without telling her; they convinced Alicia to let him stay in the village.
David learned he had testicular cancer, and, unable to face telling Jacob, instead sent him back to Portugal for a holiday. Jacob soon returned early, surprising David. David continued to lie to Jacob but soon had to tell him the truth. Jacob was hurt by the lies and stole Eric's credit card for a plane ticket back to Portugal, but Tracy Shankley convinced him to stay in the village to help David.
2018 - 2019: Grooming and aftermath[]
In 2018, David started dating one of Jacobs teachers, Maya Stepney. Jacob had a crush on Maya and began trying to show off around her, which she noticed. After Jacob had a fight with Noah Dingle because he insulted Maya, she started grooming Jacob despite the fact he was only 15. They started to see each other in secret while Maya was still with David and Jacob was annoyed that Maya refused to tell anyone about their relationship but she insisted they kept it a secret. He then had sex with Gabby Thomas at a party to make Maya jealous and he was pleased that it worked. Maya insisted that Jacob also started dating Liv, to cover up his relationship with her. When Jacob turned 16, Maya had finally sex with him.
Jacob dumped Liv but when she went to talk with him she walked in on him and Maya having sex, she soon started blackmailing them for £5000, though this was later increased to £10000. During a group night out, Maya attended with among others, David, Leyla and Tracy, Priya, Jacob went to pick Maya up and Priya saw Jacob kissing her outside the club. She informed Leyla and Tracy of what she'd seen and they confronted her, causing Maya to finally admit to having sex with Jacob but still claiming it was consensual. For a while Maya was believed to have died after a fight with Leyla in the woods that night but it was revealed that she and Jacob had been staying together at a hotel.
Maya was eventually arrested and the grooming came to an end. She was put on trial and sentenced to a year in prison on 20th June 2019, due to inappropriate text messages exchanged between her and Jacob, however, the full extent of her grooming could not be proved. Jacob was left heartbroken as Maya was taken away and she didn't look back at him. Jacob then got a job working at Café Main Street and moved in with his granddad, Eric, as he still resented Leyla and David for what he felt they'd done to Maya. Jacob wanted to do an apprenticeship in hospitality at the B&B so he could have a trade and support Maya when she was released, but Eric refused to help him. Jacob still couldn't see that Maya had done anything wrong and thought what they had was a genuine relationship with both parties loving each other.
In November 2019, Jacob sleeps with classmate Leanna Cavanagh and cruelly leaves her afterwards not sparing a thought for her feelings. Leanna’s father, Liam, confronted Jacob but he just insulted them both, resulting in Liam punching Jacob. He reports Liam for this but David talks him into dropping the charges. Then he starts to realise what Maya has done to him; made him the sort of person who uses someone for sex without any regard for their feelings. He finally breaks down and admits that Maya abused him. He later patches up his relationship with Leanna and they agree to go back to being friends. On Christmas Day, a baby boy is left on David and Jacob's doorstep with a note confirming him to be Maya's son. They send for a DNA test, all worried that he could be Jacob's but to their relief, the test confirms he is David's. Jacob is thrilled over having a baby brother and David names him Theo.
2020 - 2021: Leanna’s death[]
In 2021, Jacob started dating Leanna despite their previous issues. Inspired by Liam, he revealed that he wanted to study to become a doctor, which pleased his parents. He then went to Portugal to see Alicia for a few weeks which put a strain on his relationship as he started to ignore Leanna’s calls. On 17th June, he returned and he tried to make it up to Leanna but she wanted nothing to do with him. Jacob decided to show her how much he cared by proposing but she turned him down, much to his shock. He saw how close she was with her fitness instructor, Billy Fletcher, and assumed they were having an affair, which Leanna did not deny to make him jealous. Jacob then booked a training session with Billy and made sly comments about Leanna as he tried to make Billy confess but he was just confused. Soon, Jacob had enough as he angrily accused Billy of sleeping with his girlfriend and tried to punch him, but Billy just let him fall to the ground. After this, Leanna explained that she and Billy were just friends and that Jacob was acting stupid. He apologised for his behaviour and they agreed to be more honest with each other.
In July, Jacob gave Leanna the engagement ring to remember him by as she told him she was going travelling on her birthday. However, she then went missing and Jacob took part in the search organised by David’s girlfriend Meena Jutla. He was devastated to learn that she had been found dead below the bridge a few hours later. Jacob tried to help her father with his grief but Liam was inconsolable and demanded that Jacob leave him alone. Jacob then organised a tribute with some of Leanna’s other friends and was angry when a distraught Liam smashed it up. He also banned Jacob from the funeral which caused an argument when Jacob turned up outside the church, determined to say goodbye. After this, Jacob apologised as he realised how much pain Liam was in and they became closer.
In October 2021, David almost died during the disastrous survival weekend and Jacob was worried for him. Then he told Jacob that he was leaving Meena for Victoria Sugden and Jacob was annoyed as his life was disrupted by another of David’s romantic exploits. However, he soon found he liked Victoria better than Meena and the three got along together. In November, Jacob sleeps with his friend, Chloe Harris which causes problems with Noah, who was dating Chloe. They had an argument in the cafe that ended with Noah punching Jacob and storming off. Afterwards, Jacob told Chloe that what happened was a one time thing and that it meant nothing, which upset her. Leyla talks to him about his treatment of Chloe and he realises that he was too harsh with her but says he isn’t ready for a relationship after Leanna.
2022 to 2023: Leyla’s addiction, David’s debts, stabbing[]
In January 2022, Jacob is shocked to learn that Meena killed Leanna and that she was responsible for several other murders. He is furious when he finds out that she had kept Leanna’s engagement ring as a trophy. Over the following weeks, Meena is arrested and charged with the crimes, later found guilty giving Jacob and Liam some closure for Leanna’s death.
In May, Jacob attends a party thrown by Noah at Jacob’s Fold. There, Noah slips Chloe’s missing diary into Jacob’s bag so Chloe can see it. She then accuses Jacob of stealing it, which he denies, but he is harassed by Chloe’s family for the next few days as they believe he is guilty. It is soon revealed that Noah was behind it and Chloe apologised.
In July, Jacob learned that David was hugely in debt and promised to help him, so he started taking more shifts in the shop. On 4th August, Jacob found out about Leyla’s cocaine addiction when she was admitted to hospital following an overdose. He waited while his mother recovered and then berated her for being irresponsible but she refused to admit that she had a problem. He was furious with her and didn’t want to speak to her, but Liam convinces her to get help and Jacob supports her.
In November, Jacob and Victoria tried to stop David from committing fraud to get out of a speeding ticket that would cost him his license and Vic ends up reporting him to the police, resulting in the end of their relationship. A few weeks later, David plans to sell the shop which saddens Jacob as he doesn’t want to lose his home. Fortunately, Eric offers to buy it from David, meaning that they can stay.
On 4th January 2023, Jacob finds a text from a drug dealer on Leyla’s phone and goes to confront him with a knife. He meets the dealer, Callum, under the viaduct and demands he leave his mother alone but Callum is dismissive of Jacob. Then he pulls out a knife to threaten Callum and they start fighting, leading to Jacob getting stabbed, so a panicked Callum leaves him there. Jacob lies there all night until he is found by Leyla and David the next day. He is rushed to hospital and has to have surgery to repair the damage but fortunately he survives. When he wakes up, David tries to keep Leyla away but she barges in anyway. Jacob blames Leyla for what happened, saying that if she hadn’t been texting her dealer then he wouldn’t be in the hospital. He then cuts Leyla out of his life, telling her that he doesn’t need her. He is even more annoyed when she tells him she cannot report Callum as he brought the knife, so he would get into trouble. Later in the month, Jacob tries to find David after he kidnaps his daughter, Amba, to stop Priya from taking her to London. He refuses Leyla’s help as he and Eric desperately try to track David down. Then David returns with Amba after Leyla found him and Jacob begins to let his mother back in.
In March, Jacob is annoyed to find out that Leyla is in a relationship with Caleb Miligan, as he thinks Caleb is bad news. A few days later, Callum returns to the village with a gun and kidnaps Jacob, Leyla and Suzy Merton. He locks them all in a shed and threatens them to withdraw the charges against him. They manage to call the police and Leyla talks him into turning himself in, impressing Jacob as she tries to make up for her mistakes.
2023 to 2024: Relationship with Victoria, David’s exit[]
In June, Jacob supports his friend Gabby, by refusing her ex-fiancé, Nicky Miligan, service in the shop, aggravating him. In August, Jacob is shaken when he tries to save Lloyd Sawyer’s life after he was attacked by Dan Spencer. He performs CPR and keeps Lloyd stable until an ambulance arrives. Later, he tells David that it reaffirmed his desire to become a doctor and help people.
Over the next few weeks, Jacob begins growing closer to Victoria as she helps take care of Theo. David tells Jacob that he thinks that he should try again with Victoria but Jacob advises him against it. On 18th September, Jacob attends an event at the Hide and accidentally eats food with nuts in after Victoria mistakenly told him it was okay to eat. He collapsed and Vic saved him by getting an EpiPen but Leyla blamed Victoria for the incident. The next day, Jacob went to Victoria’s house and told her that he wanted to be more than friends but she turned him down, saying he was too young and that it would hurt David. This caused Jacob to resent David as he continued his efforts to rekindle things with Vic. In October, Jacob supported Victoria as Leyla tried to get her fired. They ended up kissing outside the Hide but she pushed him away and told him it couldn’t happen again. On 24th October, Jacob visited Victoria and begged her to give him a chance. She soon gave in and they kissed, later spending the night together. Jacob hid this from David as he knew it would hurt him and continued to see Vic in secret.
In November, Jacob was shocked to learn this his grandfather, Eric had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. He confronted Eric about it, hurt that he hadn’t told him, but Eric got angry and told Jacob to get out. Later, he apologised to Jacob and explained that he was still coping with the news. Jacob forgave him, but said that he had to tell his partner, Brenda, so she could support him and Eric agreed. After this, Jacob and Brenda helped him with his diagnosis but didn’t tell David on Eric’s orders.
On 27th November, Jacob is uncomfortable when David reveals his intentions to invite Vic to his birthday party so they can get back together. Jacob talks to Vic at Farrers Barn and she comforts him, leading to them kissing. The next day, Jacob is shocked when David tells him he knows about his relationship with Victoria. Jacob tries to explain but David is too angry and shouts at him for lying to him when Eric interrupts and reveals he has Parkinson’s to David. After this, Jacob and Victoria decide to try to make peace with David, so they go to talk to him together. However, he is still furious and starts insulting them both as Vic tries to calm everyone down. When David calls her a “perfect little slut” Jacob loses it and punches him, leading to him throwing them both out. Later, Jacob goes to apologise to David in the shop, but he is cold and says that he is moving to London and that Jacob shouldn’t call him “dad” anymore. Jacob and Victoria continue to hide their relationship as they don’t tell Leyla and Eric the real reason David left.
In January 2024, Jacob becomes worried that David will tell people about his secret relationship with Victoria. So he asks Leyla and Eric to meet him in the pub and tells them the truth about why David left. Leyla is shocked and angrily accuses Victoria of using Jacob, but he defends her, so Leyla storms off. Eric is also angry as Jacob drove his son away in his time of need, which makes Jacob feel even more guilty. Leyla then tries to get him to dump Vic, saying that he can’t be a step-dad to her son, Harry and that he needs to focus on his studies but Jacob says he wants to be with her.
In April, David phones Leyla and tells her that he is staying in London after refusing to speak to Jacob. On 3rd April, Jacob is offered a medical placement in Germany but he doesn’t want to leave Victoria, which causes another argument with Leyla and so Jacob moves in with Vic. However, she also advises Jacob to take the placement as she doesn’t want him giving up any opportunities, so he promises to think about it. Jacob then suggests that he defer a year, causing an argument with Vic. The next day, she tells him it is over and Jacob blames his mother for forcing Vic to break up with him. He still turns down the placement, causing Leyla to argue with Victoria. After Vic slaps Leyla, Jacob has to talk his mother out of having her charged with assault.
2025: Relationship with Sarah, Leyla’s death[]
In January 2025, Jacob started work at Hotten General Hospital and was excited to begin his work but he soon succumbed to the pressures of being a doctor. He mistakenly informed his neighbour, Marlon Dingle that his missing daughter, April, had died after a teenage girl was brought in with stab wounds, which got him a row from his superior. He also saw his friend, Sarah Sugden Jr brought in with alcohol poisoning and shouted at her for wasting hospital resources, though he later apologised. A couple of days later, he slept with Sarah but the morning after Leyla reminded him that she had a life-limiting condition. This caused Jacob to tell her that they couldn’t be together and Sarah’s grandmother, Charity Dingle berated him for his behaviour. He then apologised to Sarah and she forgave him, allowing them to continue dating.
On 14th February 2025, Jacob went for a drink with his friend Rich Thompson, Sarah and Noah. Leyla interrupted them to tell Jacob off for using cocaine, having found some in his bag, but Rich confessed it was his. Jacob was furious with her and insulted her over her previous drug use then stormed off. However, while on a shift at the hospital later, Jacob found out that Leyla had been brought in after being in a car crash. He soon found out that she had died in the accident and was devastated. After this, he blamed Noah for what happened as he had caused Charity to swerve the limo and he was angry with Sarah for defending him.
In March 2025, he struggled as the day of Leyla’s funeral approached. He was told to go home from the hospital after he panicked when treating a car crash victim. He then started drinking with Rich and threw a party which Sarah tried to stop, causing Jacob to angrily throw her out. The following day, Jacob forced himself to be strong as he attended the funeral and he was pleased when Sarah showed up to support him despite his earlier behaviour. However, he then decided he couldn’t be with Sarah as he didn’t want to lose anyone else and he dumped her.
Jacob soon came to regret this as he saw Sarah getting close to newcomer, Kammy Hadiq. He went to the garage and begged Sarah to take him back, promising that her condition no longer bothered him, but Sarah rejected him. A couple of days later, Jacob saw Kammy taking Cain Dingle’s car and called the police, however he then heard that Sarah had been arrested while driving it, not Kammy. He was relieved when she was released but unhappy to see her back with Kammy, especially when Kammy confronted him over his treatment of Sarah. Later, he accidentally revealed to Sarah’s grandad, Cain, that he had reported the theft, causing Cain to grab him and call him a snitch. After Cain left, Sarah’s grandmother, Charity suggested that they work together to get rid of Kammy and Jacob agreed. He tried to get back in Sarah’s good books by taking her donuts the next day, but was horrified to find her in bed with Kammy and became more determined to break them up.
A couple of weeks later, Jacob became convinced that Kammy was cheating on Sarah and tried to prove it, but he soon learned that he was wrong and Kammy continued to taunt him. During one of their confrontations, Jacob impulsively challenged Kammy to a race and he agreed, but said it had to be on dirt bikes. Jacob was pleased when Charity and her cousin, Sam, trained him for the race and became confident he could win. On 24th April, the race was on and at first Jacob was able to keep up with Kammy, until he fell off his bike going over devil’s leap and Kammy sped off to the finish line. A sullen Jacob then left the track and Sarah soon found him. He tearfully confided in her about how Leyla’s death affected him and how he didn’t want to be alone. Sarah comforted him and he was shocked when she told him that when he dumped her, she had believed she was pregnant, causing Jacob to feel incredibly guilty. They hug and Sarah kisses him, leading Jacob to believe that she wants to get back together, but the next day she tells him she was just being a mate. Jacob then ends his feud with Kammy after he dumps Sarah.
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Residences[]
| Address | Duration |
|---|---|
| Farrers Barn | 16th September 2010 to 3rd August 2011 |
| Dale View | 3rd August 2011 to 14th September 2011 |
| Farrers Barn | 14th September 2011 to 10th October 2011 |
| Dale View | 10th October 2011 to 27th December 2011 |
| Farrers Barn | 27th December 2011 to 17th January 2013 |
| Wishing Well Barn | 17th January 2013 to 8th August 2013 |
| Brook Cottage | 8th August 2013 to 22nd October 2013 |
| Farrers Barn | 22nd October 2013 to 3rd June 2015 |
| Portugal | 3rd June 2015 to 5th August 2015 |
| Farrers Barn | 5th August 2015 to 10th September 2015 |
| Portugal | 10th September 2015 to 19th January 2016 |
| Farrers Barn | 19th January 2016 to 6th June 2019 |
| Wishing Well Barn | 6th June 2019 to 5th September 2019 |
| Farrers Barn | 5th September 2019 to 25th November 2020 |
| Portugal | 25th November 2020 to 17th June 2021 |
| Farrers Barn | 17th June 2021 to 3rd April 2024 |
| Keepers Cottage | 3rd April 2024 to 18th April 2024 |
| Farrers Barn | 18th April 2024 to present |
Additional information[]
- Jacob is allergic to nuts.
- Jacob's birthday is said to be 28th February but has also said to have been 31st March.