Declan Macey

Declan Macey
Emmerdale character
Portrayed by	Jason Merrells
Duration	2010–
First appearance	15 April 2010
Introduced by	Gavin Blyth
Classification	Present; regular
Profile
Occupation	Businessman (until 2013)
Home	Brook Cottage
Family Father Dermot Macey Half sisters Megan Macey[1] Wife Ella Hart (1991–2010) Katie Sugden (2012–2013) Stepdaughters Mia Macey Nephews Robbie Lawson

Declan Macey is a fictional character in the British soap opera Emmerdale, introduced on 15 April 2010. He is portrayed by Jason Merrells. The Emmerdale website has described the character by saying "Declan is a shrewd businessman who knows exactly what he wants and how to get it. He's prepared to be unpopular if it's good for business and the people in the village recognise his confidence. He does have a softer side but is not the most attentive husband in the world."

Creation

In January 2010, it was announced that former Waterloo Road star Jason Merrells would be joining the cast of Emmerdale as Natasha Wylde's new love interest. When Amanda Donohoe (who played Natasha) quit the role, Declan become the new owner of Home Farm. In mid-2010, it was announced that a new dynasty would hit Home Farm. The clan included Declan's estranged ex-wife Ella, their daughter Mia, and his father, Dermot. However, they departed in 2011 after the characters were axed by series producer, Stuart Blackburn. It was announced in October, 2011, that Gaynor Faye had joined the cast as Megan Macey, Declan's half sister.^[1]

Storylines

Declan was introduced to Emmerdale in April 2010 as friend of Jai Sharma (Chris Bisson) and Nikhil Sharma (Rik Makarem).^[2] Declan is first seen being chatted up by Mrs. Charity Tate (Emma Atkins) and falls into her trap, stealing his car keys and driving off in his car. Declan later appears in the pub with Jai and Nikhil and spots Charity without her wig on. He blackmails her by saying if she goes on a date with him, he will not call the police. She did so, and they ended up kissing in the corridor of the Woolpack. Declan already knew that Charity and Cain were together, and kissed Charity to make Cain jealous after she revealed he was her partner in crime. After giving the Sharma brothers some advice about Home Farm, Declan bought a share in Home Farm from Natasha Wylde (Amanda Donohoe), unaware it is her son Nathan Wylde (Lyndon Ogbourne)'s share of the estate. When Nathan returns, he takes an instant dislike to Declan and informs him that he wants his share back. Declan refuses, and Nathan realises that he won't be able to push Declan around. Declan and Natasha became very close and a relationship developed between them. They decided to keep their relationship private from the rest of the village. Declan purchased a property in the village he intended to move into, and receives a phone number from Adam Barton (Adam Thomas) for a builder who could renovate the property. The builder turns out to be Jackson Walsh (Marc Silcock), which causes tension between garage worker Aaron Livesy (Danny Miller), Jackson's boyfriend and Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley), who already had a run-in with Declan over the car theft.

In July 2010, Declan took Natasha to a health spa as a treat, but Natasha received a phone call from Nathan informing her that the body of her husband Mark Wylde (Maxwell Caulfield), whom she had murdered, had been discovered. Natasha's daughter Maisie Wylde (Alice Coulthard) tells Declan she thinks Nathan killed their father so he demands answers from Natasha, believing she is covering for Nathan. He offers to help, believing that Nathan is blackmailing her, but Natasha tells Declan that Nathan did not kill Mark. Declan then ends the relationship. Declan later sacks Nathan from his job as estate manager and gives former employee Nicola King (Nicola Wheeler) her old job back. Declan refused Nathan and Natasha's deal to sell his 51% of Home Farm. Declan offers to help Faye Lamb (Kim Thomson) contest Mark's will in order to take over the estate. He also promises to support Faye financially when her son Ryan Lamb (James Sutton) is accused of Mark's murder. Declan then gets a call from his ex-wife in Singapore telling him that his daughter has been injured in a road accident and he flies out to be with her.

Declan returns on the day Ryan is found guilty of Mark's murder. He comforts Faye on the courtroom steps and offers to help fund an appeal against Ryan's conviction. Declan is shocked when Natasha later confesses to Mark's murder. He apologizes to Nathan for believing he was Mark's killer and makes him an offer. Because Natasha could not benefit from Mark's will after confessing to his murder, the money would be split between Faye, Ryan, Nathan, Will and Maisie. If Nathan could convince Natasha to sell Home Farm and her 49% of the business to Declan, he would give Nathan the money, allowing him to move away from the village with Maisie and Will and make a fresh start. Nathan, however, refuses to sell Home Farm to Declan, despite being unable to get any better offers. Ella Macey (Corrinne Wicks) arrives at Home Farm, making Nathan an offer after he accepts. Ella then makes herself at home, much to Declan's fancies, but little does Nathan know that Ella is actually Declan's wife and that they have schemed Nathan into selling them Home Farm. Later in November, Ella returns home with their daughter Mia Macey (Sapphire Elia) to find Declan with Alicia Gallagher (Natalie Anderson). Also, Declan gave Dale Head to Hazel Rhodes (Pauline Quirke) so that she could turn it into a home suitable for her son Jackson, who is paralyzed after a train crash. On 21 December 2010, Declan's unwanted father Dermot Macey (Frank Kelly) arrives for Christmas at Ella's invitation, but before he arrived at Home Farm, Declan noticed him in the bus shelter and paid him to not stay. When Declan arrived home, Dermot was sitting with Ella and Mia. Declan later witnessed Mia kissing Adam, which didn't make Adam's girlfriend Scarlett Nicholls (Kelsey-Beth Crossley) very happy and Declan told Ella to take Mia home.

Katie Sugden (Sammy Winward), who works for Declan, was given time off after being held captive by Nick Henshall (Michael McKell). His PA Nicola was also given time off when her husband Jimmy King (Nick Miles) went missing, so he employed Mia as his Acting-PA. In February 2011, Sam Dingle (James Hooton) told Declan that one of the walls had fallen down and that he needs someone to help him do it, so Mia suggested that her on/off lover Adam could help Sam, which didn't please John because Adam was missing so much time on the farm. Declan's wife Ella later began a passionate affair with Adam. After months of hiding and sneaking around, Declan finally finds out in June 2011 and throws Ella out of his house. Declan then gets together with Katie Sugden, and with the pair dating, Ella warns Katie off Declan. She fails to split them, and Ella decides to leave the village. Before she does, she tells Declan that he is not Mia's father, and that Jai Sharma is. This leaves Declan furious, and he confronts Jai and the two have a showdown. Declan tells Jai to stay away from Mia, but this doesn't happen, so Declan asks his father, Dermot, to take Mia back to Ireland.

In November 2011, Katie tells Declan to get in touch Mia. At first he doesn't because he is frightened, but after an argument with Katie, he sees sense and calls her. He arranges for Mia to stay at Home Farm the following day. However, on the day of Mia's arrival, Declan is informed by the police that Mia had died in a car accident. He breaks down and starts ignoring Katie and shouting at his PA, Nicola. Katie gets annoyed with Declan's distance because of Mia parentage, so she tells him that they should both call it a day and go their separate ways, but Declan doesn't want that and wants to keep hold of her, so he stuns her by proposing to her and she accepts. Also in December 2011, Genesis Walker (Sian Reese-Williams) asks Declan to talk to her boyfriend and his friend, Nikhil because he is upset about the fact that Jai might be sent to prison for trying to kill Cain when Declan talks to Nikhil about how things are going with the family, Nikhil responds, but it doesn't change the mood he is in, leaving Gennie to tell Declan that he didn't try hard enough.

In January 2012, Declan and Katie are enjoying a drink in the Woolpack until they see Jai propped up at the bar drunk with Chas Spencer (Lucy Pargeter) refusing to serve him because he is the main suspect in the who tried to kill Cain saga, this prompts Carl King (Tom Lister) to tell Chas to get Jai a drink and he is buying, but Chas still refuses to serve him because Carl starts saying it was a good thing that Cain was nearly killed, Declan then goes over to the bar and tries to comfort and calm Jai down, but this doesn't work and Jai has a go a Declan, then Declan says if there is anything that he can do just ask, leaving Jai to walk out of the pub and return home drunk. Later on Jai asks Declan to be his best man and he agrees.

While travelling in his car with Katie, Declan discovers that John and Moira Barton have had a serious car crash in Andy Sugden (Kelvin Fletcher)'s car and the car is hanging unsteadily over a cliff. Katie calls for an ambulance as Declan successfully manages to get Moira out to safety but the car slips from the cliff and the car with John intact slams to the ground. John is later taken to hospital where he dies later that same evening. Declan later pays Moira and Barton's a visit to pay his respects after John's death and asks Moira politely if he could use their field for a charity concert. Adam overhears the conversation and tells him to leave. Declan's half-sister, Megan Macey (Gaynor Faye) later arrives in the village to become partners with Declan in his business to which, at first, he declines to but later agrees to go into partnership with her.

In November 2012, after an argument with his wife, Katie, she falls down an abandoned mineshaft. He is distraught and fears she's dead, but when she is found, Katie is rushed to hospital. She then develops an infection, which leaves her with lower chances of being able to have children. During her recovery, the couple struggle to come to terms with this, and Katie leaves in February 2013. However, she returns to win her husband back, right after Declan has a one night stand with Charity (Emma Atkins). Katie is unaware of this, and the couple reconcile. However, his fling is discovered by Cameron Murray (Dominic Power), and soon his girlfriend Chas Spencer knows too. Declan is determined that Katie doesn't find out. However, Chas does tell Katie by accident in the summer, and Katie hatches a plan to get back at Declan by publicly humiliating him.

She then has a one night stand with Adam Barton (Adam Thomas), and makes sure Declan catches them. Neither fully recover from this, and the couple are estranged.

In August 2013, Declan begins working on excavating land for his planned festival but bones are discovered on the land. Declan thinks nothing of it and pays a worker to continue digging. However the police later arrive on Declan's doorstep to question him, revealing that the bones are in fact human remains - they are the remains of Alex Moss (Kurtis Stacey) who was murdered by Cameron Murray (Dominic Power) the year before - but Declan insists that he was unaware that the bones were human remains. When it is revealed that a worker made a call to the police stating that Declan paid him to keep his mouth shut and continue working Declan is arrested for perverting the course of justice on 22 August 2013. While being questioned the police ask him about the whereabouts of his estranged wife Katie. When Declan is unable to tell them the police instantly presume that the remains are that of Katie and accuse Declan of murdering Katie and burying her on the land. Declan is subsequently arrested on suspicion of murder. On Christmas Day 2013, Charity takes Declan home where Declan accuses Charity of being a user. Declan then douses the living room of Home Farm with gasoline. Charity tries to stop him, but Declan throws the match on the floor, setting fire to the living room. He wishes to end his life and locks Charity out of the house but later changes his mind and gets out of the house and flees the scene with her and goes to her house to pretend that he wasn't responsible for the fire.

Reception

Since his arrival, Declan has been popular with villagers because of his personality and charm. Reviews have said that Declan is a character that "knows exactly what he wants and how he is going to get it" according to the Emmerdaily.^[3] In 2010 at review said that Declan is a "fun" character but an "extremely powerful" one as well who expects the best of all his workers and also expects everything to go his way. "Declan is a shrewd businessman who knows exactly what he wants and how to get it. He's prepared to be unpopular if it's good for business and the people in the village recognise his confidence. He does have a softer side but is not the most attentive husband in the world." This is how the Emmerdale website has described Declan.^[4]

See also

• List of Emmerdale characters

References