Ashley Thomas

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Ashley Thomas
Emmerdale character

Played by	John Middleton
Duration	1996-
Date of Birth	14th November 1961
Date of Death
Marital Status	Married
Occupation	Reverend
Family	Laurel, Gabby, Sandy, Jasmine

Ashley Thomas a fictional character in ITV's soap opera Emmerdale. He is played by John Middleton.

[edit] About Ashley

The character Ashley Thomas is vicar of Emmerdale. On his arrival in Emmerdale, he presided over the wedding of Linda Glover and Biff Fowler, only to conduct Linda’s brother Dave’s funeral just weeks later.

After that, he began to develop feelings for the landlady of the Woolpack pub, Bernice Blackstock. Because she was engaged to another man, Gavin, Ashley tried to put his own feelings aside, but came to suspect that his rival's intentions were not honorable. Oblivious to his feelings for her, Bernice continued to confide in Ashley and sought comfort from him when she finally discovered Gavin in bed with a man (Jason Kirk), the cousin of local vet Paddy. But when, a few months later, Ashley finally plucked up the courage to tell Bernice how he felt, she rejected him.

Nevertheless, Bernice’s feelings for Ashley were growing. Eventually the couple married in a Christmas Day ceremony in 2000. Bernice fell pregnant just over a year later and it seemed their vision of a happy family was about to become complete. However, Bernice miscarried and drifted away from her husband emotionally. She began having an affair with Woolpack chef, Carlos Diaz who was the fiancé of her half-sister Nicola Blackstock and fell pregnant again – without knowing who was the baby’s father. News of her affair was revealed at Nicola and Carlos’ wedding.

Determined to keep his family together, Ashley - who was proven to be baby Gabrielle’s father, forgave his wife but things were never the same between them. Unable to cope with motherhood or marriage, Bernice left Emmerdale and her family behind.

In 2003 his luck seemed to change when he began a passionate romance with another Woolpack landlady, Louise Appleton. But while they enjoyed each other’s company Louise and Ashley were not in love and, after both nearly dying in a road accident, they parted amicably.

Although Ashley had resolved to stay single, romance was brewing again. He had long been the object of cleaner Laurel Potts’ desires. When she announced she was moving abroad, Ashley chased her to the airport and declared his undying love. The relationship became serious almost immediately and, as Laurel prepared to spend some time in Tanzania doing volunteer work, Ashley proposed marriage. However, Ashley's bishop refused to give his blessing to the plans and Ashley resigned from his post.

Unable to live without his job, Ashley went back and told Laurel they would have to put off their wedding plans. The relationship was tested to breaking point as they struggled to convince the bishop, George Postlethwaite of the genuine nature of their love.

Meanwhile, Ashley’s curate, Ethan Blake, began to become closer to Laurel. When he finally confessed his feelings, Laurel turned him down but Ethan made it seem as if something had been going on between them. The truth came out, in front of the bishop who finally gave Laurel and Ashley permission to marry. George even conducted service himself.

On their wedding night, Ashley was horrified to find his father, Sandy, in their bed. Viewers discovered that the two characters had been on bad terms since Sandy committed euthanasia on Ashley's mother who was suffering from cancer. With Laurel’s help, father and son were reconciled.

After a fight between Daz Eden and Debbie Dingle in the vicarage, a fire was started and Ashley and Laurel's home was ruined.

As of December 2006, Ashley has found out that he will become a father again after Laurel told him of her pregnancy.