Rhona Goskirk
| Rhona Goskirk | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | |||||||||
| Emmerdale character | |||||||||
| Portrayed by | Zoe Henry | ||||||||
| Duration | 2001–02, 2010– | ||||||||
| First appearance | 17 September 2001 | ||||||||
| Introduced by |
Steve Frost (2001, 2002) Gavin Blyth (2010) | ||||||||
| Spin-off appearances | Paddy and Marlon's Big Night In (2011) | ||||||||
| Classification | Present; regular | ||||||||
| Profile | |||||||||
| Occupation | Veterinary Surgeon | ||||||||
| Home | Smithy Cottage | ||||||||
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Rhona Goskirk is a fictional character from the British soap opera Emmerdale, played by Zoe Henry. She made her first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 17 September 2001. The character was introduced by series producer Steve Frost and appeared initially in 2001 and 2002. She returned to Emmerdale as a full-time character in March 2010, reintroduced by series producer Gavin Blyth. She has been through storylines including giving birth to Leo Goskirk, who has Down's Syndrome, marrying Paddy Kirk (Dominic Brunt), becoming addicted to painkillers, Paddy's affair with Tess Harris (Nicola Stephenson) and become involved in the soap's biggest stint known as "No Return Week" in October 2016.
Casting
Henry joined the cast of Emmerdale as Rhona in 2001 for an initial seven episodes.[1] The actress returned in 2002 for another brief stint, departing in December.[1] On 13 February 2010, Kris Green of Digital Spy reported Henry had reprised her role and Rhona would be returning to Emmerdale later in the year.[2]
Storylines
2001–02
Rhona first appeared in the village in September 2001 as a locum, helping Paddy (Dominic Brunt) and covering for Zoe (Leah Bracknell), whilst she was on holiday. She and Marlon (Mark Charnock) began dating as his ex-girlfriend, Tricia (Sheree Murphy), had left him and the village. However, Tricia returned and Rhona left not long after. Rhona returned in June 2002 to cover for Zoe as she was incapable of work, due to mental illness. She and Marlon soon resumed their relationship and realized they had several shared interests, including Laurel and Hardy films and design. When Tricia found out, she was very upset but Rhona left again in December.
2010–
Rhona returned in 2010, covering for Paddy after his foster son Aaron (Danny Miller) beat him up. Rhona was there for a few weeks and clashed with receptionist, Pearl (Meg Johnson), as Pearl wanted to protect Paddy. It was later revealed that in her absence, Rhona married and divorced. Rhona completed her contract and left but returned when Paddy needed time off to look after Aaron, following his suicide attempt. As no one knew how long Aaron's recovery might take, Rhona moved in briefly with Andy Sugden (Kelvin Fletcher) and Ryan Lamb (James Sutton) but soon moved in with Marlon, Bob Hope (Tony Audenshaw) and Lizzie Lakely (Kitty McGeever) but left when she realised she was in love with Paddy. She confided in Laurel Thomas (Charlotte Bellamy) that her relationship with Paddy had become difficult and was seriously considering leaving so Laurel told Paddy to sort things out with her before she left.
Rhona discovered she was expecting Marlon's baby. When she learns that the baby has Down's syndrome, she considers a termination but decides not to after talking to Hazel Rhodes (Pauline Quirke). On 1 February, she has a scan and discovers that the sonographer is an old school friend, Stephanie Ray, and she tells Paddy and Marlon that Rhona was very rebellious when she was at school. Rhona tries to set Marlon and Stephanie up but he wasn't keen. Marlon decided that they should try pregnancy yoga and Rhona agrees but decides to go to the next class alone, because Marlon is very irritating. She has another scan in March and is told everything is fine but worries so much that they visit a Downs Syndrome support group. In April, she and Paddy tell Aaron about the baby's condition and are touched by his reaction. She gets Braxton Hicks Contractions twice before going into labour in the Woolpack and gives birth to a boy who is named Leo.
Rhona starts to make plans to propose to Paddy. However, Paddy gets drunk and Rhona cannot go through with it. Paddy later tells Rhona that he feels getting married is unnecessary but proposes when he feels guilty and she accepts. Paddy is offered a job in New Zealand and he and Rhona agree to go. Marlon initially decides to go too but changes his mind. Rhona tells Marlon that she still taking Leo to New Zealand. Rhona and Paddy marry and during the reception, Marlon tells them that he has taken legal action to stop them taking Leo out of the country. After a lot of debate between Rhona and Laurel about taking Leo to New Zealand, Rhona takes off but Paddy is forced to stay in the village after assaulting a police officer. Rhona and Leo return after Marlon tells Paddy to tell Rhona to come back voluntarily as they have another court date or be forced to return by the authorities. Paddy's licence to practice as a vet is suspended as a result of his fight with the police officer so Rhona's old friend, Vanessa Woodfield (Michelle Hardwick), arrives to help out but immediately annoys Paddy. However, Vanessa agrees to buy a share in the surgery and when Paddy is able to return to his duties, he, Rhona and Vanessa all have their names above the door.
Rhona's life takes a turn for the worse when she becomes addicted to the painkillers she is taking for a back injury. Like many addicts, her personality changes and she becomes aggressive to Paddy and Vanessa. Things worsen when Leo refuses to eat his dinner and she gets angry before running off to be sick. Upon her return, Vanessa sees Rhona raid the surgery's drugs cabinet, warning her of the penalties if she ever got caught, Rhona apologises and goes upstairs where she crawls into a ball in a corner while Leo is crying in his cot. Vanessa sees this and is shocked by Rhona's state. She tells her that Leo is fine before giving her a pill to make her feel better. This helps considerably and Paddy tells her how well she looked compared to the morning. Rhona's dependence on drugs worsens dramatically. Vanessa tries to help Rhona wean herself off the painkillers and confesses that she has fallen in love with Rhona. Rhona initially spurns her affection before giving in as Vanessa has become her dealer but starts buying drugs from a dealer named Gary. Paddy and others are suspicious of Rhona's odd behaviour. Paddy checks her phone and sees that she has been contacting Gary and lying about where she goes. When he confronts her and grabs her phone, Rhona screams and hits Paddy repeatedly before he demands that she leave. However, Rhona's addiction makes her put herself and others in danger as when visiting different pharmacies to get painkillers, she and Laurel visit a bad area and they are carjacked by Ross Barton. Rhona is also unaware of the damage that the drugs are doing to her body and only realises when she is rushed to hospital after collapsing. The doctor tells her that her kidneys are on the point of collapse so Marlon, feeling Rhona and Paddy are unable to look after Leo at this time, removes him. This and attending rehab help Rhona get and stay clean.
After Vanessa brings her son, Johnny, home from hospital, Rhona realises that she wants another baby. As she has not got pregnant again, she decides that she wants to adopt and discusses it with Paddy. He agrees and the references selected by Paddy and Rhona include Aaron, Pearl and Leo's teacher, Tess Harris. Tess befriends Rhona and tells her that she is in love with a married man. Rhona encourages Tess to go for it, saying life is too short but after Tess dies, Rhona learns that Tess's married man is Paddy. Initially Rhona insists on carrying on as normal but eventually Rhona realises that she and Paddy cannot stay together, let alone adopt a child, as things have got so bad between her and Paddy that they didn't realise that Leo was hurting April. In March 2016, Rhona told Pierce (Tess's widower) that Paddy was Tess's lover so Pierce punched Paddy. Later, Rhona discover Aaron and Chas knew that Paddy was involved with someone else. Rhona declares her and Paddy's marriage over. Not long afterwards, Rhona gets involved with Pierce. Initially her friends and family thought it was a bad idea but come round when they see that Pierce and Rhona are happy together.
In October 2016, after Rhona and Pierce argue, she goes camping with Paddy, Marlon and Leo. However Pierce arrives and they have another argument. After Pierce gets in his car and drives away, Paddy and Rhona chase after him before they are involved in a car pile up, involving several over villagers which is caused by Emma Barton (Gillian Kearney) pushing her husband James from a bridge. Rhona and Paddy are badly injured and after being taken in an ambulance Pierce says if Rhona dies then Paddy will suffer.
References
- 1 2 Waterfall, Sarah (4 November 2004). "Culture: Birth of a class act". The Birmingham Post. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
- ↑ Green, Kris (13 February 2010). "Zoe Henry returns to 'Emmerdale'". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 9 August 2012.