{{Short description|Fictional character from Emmerdale}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}} {{Use British English|date=June 2013}} {{Infobox soap character |series = Emmerdale |name = Jason Kirk |image1 = Jason Kirk.jpeg |introducer = Kieran Roberts |portrayer = [[James Carlton (actor)|James Carlton]] |first = 2 December 1999 |last = 20 December 2002 |years = 1999–2002 |occupation = Construction worker |father = Bill Kirk |mother = Vi Kirk |halfbrothers = [[Ross Kirk]] |uncles = Kenneth Kirk |cousins = [[Paddy Kirk]] (adoptive)<br>Colin Kirk }} '''Jason Kirk''' is a fictional character from the [[Television in the United Kingdom|British]] television soap opera ''[[Emmerdale]]'', played by [[James Carlton (actor)|James Carlton]]. He made his first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 2 December 1999.
==Development== Jason was the first openly [[homosexual]] man to appear in ''Emmerdale''.<ref name=wylie>{{cite web |last1=Wylie |first1=Ian |title=Telly talk: James feels the big chill |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/film-and-tv/telly-talk-james-feels-the-big-1138948 |website=[[Manchester Evening News]] |access-date=30 July 2021 |date=16 February 2007}}</ref> In one of his first stories, Jason kisses Gavin Ferris ([[Robert Beck (actor)|Robert Beck]]), the boyfriend of [[Bernice Blackstock]] ([[Samantha Giles]]).<ref name=carlton1>{{cite web |last1=Baladi |first1=Patrick |title=New boys on the box; they are three heartthrobs of the small screen, guranteed [sic] to set pulses racing in EastEnders, The Braithwaites and Heartbeat, but who is the sexiest of them all? |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/NEW+BOYS+ON+THE+BOX%3B+They+are+three+heartthrobs+of+the+small+screen%2C...-a099062382 |website=[[Daily Mirror]] via [[The Free Library]] |access-date=30 July 2021 |date=22 March 2003}}</ref> The scene looked intimate but off-screen camera trickery was used during filming. Carlton told Patrick Baladi from the ''[[Daily Mirror]]'' that their lips did not touch and "the camera only made it look as though we had."<ref name=carlton1/> Carlton did not want Jason to be defined by his sexuality. He told Baladi that "I was determined to play Jason as a man who just happened to be gay. And I never received a single hostile comment. People are more intelligent than that."<ref name=carlton1/>
In another storyline, [[Tricia Dingle|Tricia Stokes]] ([[Sheree Murphy]]) develops an attraction to Jason, who fails to disclose his sexuality. When Tricia discovers the truth, she is upset that he deceived her. Murphy told a reporter from ''[[Inside Soap]]'' that "she's completely gutted, she thinks it was totally out of order for him to lead her on."<ref>{{cite journal |title=Trauma for Tricia |journal=[[Inside Soap]] |date=11-24 December 1999 |issue=142 |pages=16 |publisher=Attic Futura UK}}</ref>
In a 2005 interview featured in ''[[The Argus (Brighton)|The Argus]]'', Carlton stated that "I'm still well liked by the gay community, there have been lots of other characters I've enjoyed playing but the response to Jason was amazing."<ref name=argus>{{cite web |title=Wait Until Dark, Theatre Royal, Brighton, 1 - 6 Aug |url=https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/6803227.wait-until-dark-theatre-royal-brighton-aug-1-6/ |website=[[The Argus (Brighton)|The Argus]] |access-date=30 July 2021 |date=29 July 2005}}</ref> In 2010, Carlton told Laura-Jayne Tyler of ''[[Inside Soap]]'' "I played the first gay man in ''Emmerdale'' – and there weren't many of them in the soaps back then. I didn't realise how important it was at the time, but it really hit home when I started getting letters from people saying thank you." Tyler stated that Jason became popular with viewers during his time in the soap due to his affair with Bernice's boyfriend, Gavin.<ref name="Tyler">{{cite magazine|last=Tyler|first=Laura-Jayne|date=21–27 August 2010|title=I played the first gay man in Emmerdale!|magazine=[[Inside Soap]]|location=London, England|issue=33|page=51}}</ref>
Jason was written out of the series in February 2002. His departure storyline featured Jason moving to Leeds to begin a new life. He was supposed to leave with [[Latisha Daggert]] ([[Danielle Henry]]), but leaves her behind upon discovering she loves [[Cain Dingle]] ([[Jeff Hordley]]).<ref>{{cite web |title=Rural soap box |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Rural+Soap+Box-a082503132 |website=[[Western Mail (Wales)|Western Mail]] via [[The Free Library]] |access-date=30 July 2021 |date=5 February 2002 |archive-date=30 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730171435/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Rural%20Soap%20Box-a082503132 |url-status=live }}</ref> Carlton reprised the role for one episode which was broadcast on 20 December 2002. The episode featured Jason arriving to convince Latisha to move to Lisbon with him.<ref name=bio>{{cite web |title=Jason Kirk - James Carlton |url=http://www.mtv3.fi/ohjelmat/sivusto2008.shtml/sarjat/emmerdale/henkilot_poistuneet?791644 |website=[[MTV3]] |access-date=30 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110914115002/http://www.mtv3.fi/ohjelmat/sivusto2008.shtml/sarjat/emmerdale/henkilot_poistuneet?791644 |archive-date=14 September 2011 |language=Finnish}}</ref> In 2005, Carlton confirmed that he did not want to reprise the role and no longer wanted to act in soap operas.<ref>{{cite web |title=Losing the heart for soaps |url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/7139564.losing-heart-soaps/ |website=[[The Northern Echo]] |access-date=30 July 2021 |date=18 July 2005}}</ref>
==Storylines== Jason first appears in 1999 on his cousin Paddy's doorstep after his parents throw him out after he had told them he was gay. Paddy tells Jason to keep his sexuality a secret as he suspects that his then-in-laws, the Dingles, will not take it well. Jason shares an impromptu kiss with Gavin, who is engaged to Bernice. Jason falls for one of his many one night stands, Joe. As there's no marriage option for them at the time (2000) and Joe's visa is about to expire they ask Tricia to marry Joe. Jason helps deliver Latisha's baby, and Latisha names the baby boy [[Kirk Daggert]] (Alexander Fothergil) as a thank you to Jason. Jason leaves for Leeds on 31 January 2002, but he comes back briefly that December to offer Latisha and her family jobs in Portugal where he has decided to emigrate to. Latisha, her mother Cynthia and Kirk move to Portugal with Jason.
==Reception== Ian Wylie from the ''[[Manchester Evening News]]'' branded the character "soap odd job man Jason".<ref name=wylie/> Sally Brockway from ''[[The Sunday People|The People]]'' called him a "randy barman".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Brockway |first1=Sally |title=Celeb people: I'm too busy partying to settle down; Hunky Heartbeat actor James Carlton is young, free and single - and he plans to stay that way for now. Sally Brockway reports... |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/CELEB+people%3A+I%27m+too+busy+partying+to+settle+down%3B+Hunky+Heartbeat...-a0109013778 |website=[[The Sunday People|The People]] via [[The Free Library]] |access-date=30 July 2021 |date=19 October 2003 |archive-date=30 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730162755/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/CELEB+people%3A+I%27m+too+busy+partying+to+settle+down%3B+Hunky+Heartbeat...-a0109013778 |url-status=live }}</ref> A reporter from ''The Argus'' branded him a "good guy".<ref name=argus/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20110914115002/http://www.mtv3.fi/ohjelmat/sivusto2008.shtml/sarjat/emmerdale/henkilot_poistuneet?791644 Character profile] at [[MTV3]]
{{Emmerdale characters}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kirk, Jason}} [[Category:Emmerdale characters]] [[Category:Fictional construction workers]] [[Category:Fictional gay men]] [[Category:Television characters introduced in 1999]] [[Category:British male characters in soap operas]] [[Category:Fictional LGBTQ characters in soap operas]]