Why did Jimmy leave Emmerdale and how did he die? Nick Miles exit explained

Jimmy King died last month after 22 years in the show (Picture: ITV) Emotions run high in Emmerdale as the villagers pay tribute to Jimmy King (Nick Miles) following his tragic death. It’s been an utterly devastating month for the residents of the eponymous village – not to mention the viewers at home! – as long-serving character Jimmy met an emotional demise. Nicola (Nicola Wheeler) has been so overwhelmed with grief – not just because of the fact that Jimmy died but also due to his ex wife Sadie (Patsy Kensit) showing up and claiming Jimmy had been seeing her for three years prior to his death. Coming to terms with the prospect that her beloved Jimmy was living a double life proved traumatic for Nicola but it turned out that Sadie was lying about everything in a bid to get her hands on the haulage owner’s money. Sadie’s cruel scheme is exposed in upcoming scenes as longtime show stalwart Jimmy is laid to rest. If you haven’t tuned in in a while and are struggling to recall how Jimmy died or perhaps you’re eager to know why star Nick Miles left after 22 years. If so, we’ve got all the answers. How did Jimmy die in Emmerdale? Jimmy died in late August when he was forced to swerve while driving in order to avoid an oncoming vehicle. It was later revealed that the person driving the second car was none other than Vinny Dingle (Bradley Johnson), who was taking a video call from Gabby Thomas (Rosie Bentham), who had phoned him up to lament on her love life. Jimmy crashed into a marquee (Picture: ITV) Jimmy, who was on his way to meet wife Nicola for a picnic, lost control of the car and crashed into the wedding marquee where Dawn Taylor (Olivia Bromley) had been due to wed Joe Tate (Ned Porteous). Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. Pregnant Dawn attempted to help Jimmy, who was trapped in his vehicle and struggling to recall what happened. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Nicola arrived shortly after and sat by her husband’s side in his final moments, as he shared just how much he loved her, picturing a life where they managed to renew their vows and spend the rest of their lives together – before he tragically passed away. No, you’re crying. While he had been in secret contact with Sadie prior to his death, he was not cheating on Nicola. He was instead simply trying to help with her money issues. But Nicola was the true love of his life. Why did Jimmy leave Emmerdale? Star Nick Miles’ exit explained Nick Miles’ exit from Emmerdale as Jimmy – a mainstay of the ITV soap since 2004 – was a decision made by show producers. The star spoke to Metro for his only exit interview and revealed how his exit came to be: ‘I had about three months’ notice that Jimmy would be leaving,’ he told us. ‘But for about three months before, I was having weird nightmares about Jimmy’s death. Jimmy, who debuted in 2004, was a fan-favourite (Picture: ITV) ‘I’ve had typical actor dreams about not knowing my lines or being in the wrong scenes before, but I’ve not had nightmares about death! The one that kept recurring was being stabbed in the chest by Nicola. It was very strange.’ Nick, 63, explained that it came as a shock when he was told the news. ‘I went quiet. It was a shock but that said, let’s not forget it’s the most dangerous soap on telly!’ ‘They said “Nick, we expected you to be upset as it is a shock”,’ recalled the actor. ‘I was thinking of those nightmares though! I was like “ok, that’s fine, I get it”. I was very philosophical.’ Deals of the Day Most of us aren't getting enough fibre – this easy supplement could change that My honest review of the new UKLash Lash Lift Gel Kurt Geiger's new Notting Hill collection is a love letter to London's chaotic weather Dyson fans are swapping to this Hoover vacuum-mop that washes floors as it cleans I tried L'Oréal Paris's new PDRN serum and my skin looked glossier after one use Emmerdale airs weeknights at 8pm on ITV1 or stream from 7am on ITVX and YouTube. If you’ve got a soap or TV story, video or pictures get in touch by emailing us soaps@metro.co.uk – we’d love to hear from you. Join the community by leaving a comment below and stay updated on all things soaps on our homepage. Arrow MORE: All the Emmerdale cast returns, exits and new arrivals in 2026 Arrow MORE: Emmerdale’s Nicola and Sadie’s final showdown as Jimmy’s funeral descends into chaos Arrow MORE: Emmerdale star warns Nicola ‘is going to kill’ Sadie as the truth explodes The Soaps Newsletter – Weekly Sign up for exclusive spoilers and interviews, handpicked by our Soaps Editor.