# Jason Kirk

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Fictional character from Emmerdale

Soap opera character

Jason Kirk Emmerdale character Portrayed by James Carlton Duration 1999–2002 First appearance 2 December 1999 Last appearance 20 December 2002 Introduced by Kieran Roberts In-universe information Occupation Construction worker Father Bill Kirk Mother Vi Kirk Half-brothers Ross Kirk Uncles Kenneth Kirk First cousins Paddy Kirk (adoptive) Colin Kirk

**Jason Kirk** is a fictional character from the [British](/source/Television_in_the_United_Kingdom) television soap opera *[Emmerdale](/source/Emmerdale)*, played by [James Carlton](/source/James_Carlton_(actor)). He made his first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 2 December 1999.

## Development

Jason was the first openly [homosexual](/source/Homosexual) man to appear in *Emmerdale*.[1] In one of his first stories, Jason kisses Gavin Ferris ([Robert Beck](/source/Robert_Beck_(actor))), the boyfriend of [Bernice Blackstock](/source/Bernice_Blackstock) ([Samantha Giles](/source/Samantha_Giles)).[2] The scene looked intimate but off-screen camera trickery was used during filming. Carlton told Patrick Baladi from the *[Daily Mirror](/source/Daily_Mirror)* that their lips did not touch and "the camera only made it look as though we had."[2] 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."[2]

In another storyline, [Tricia Stokes](/source/Tricia_Dingle) ([Sheree Murphy](/source/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](/source/Inside_Soap)* that "she's completely gutted, she thinks it was totally out of order for him to lead her on."[3]

In a 2005 interview featured in *[The Argus](/source/The_Argus_(Brighton))*, 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."[4] In 2010, Carlton told Laura-Jayne Tyler of *[Inside Soap](/source/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.[5]

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](/source/Latisha_Daggert) ([Danielle Henry](/source/Danielle_Henry)), but leaves her behind upon discovering she loves [Cain Dingle](/source/Cain_Dingle) ([Jeff Hordley](/source/Jeff_Hordley)).[6] 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.[7] In 2005, Carlton confirmed that he did not want to reprise the role and no longer wanted to act in soap operas.[8]

## 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](/source/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](/source/Manchester_Evening_News)* branded the character "soap odd job man Jason".[1] Sally Brockway from *[The People](/source/The_Sunday_People)* called him a "randy barman".[9] A reporter from *The Argus* branded him a "good guy".[4]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-wylie_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-wylie_1-1) Wylie, Ian (16 February 2007). ["Telly talk: James feels the big chill"](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/film-and-tv/telly-talk-james-feels-the-big-1138948). *[Manchester Evening News](/source/Manchester_Evening_News)*. Retrieved 30 July 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-carlton1_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-carlton1_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-carlton1_2-2) Baladi, Patrick (22 March 2003). ["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?"](https://www.thefreelibrary.com/NEW+BOYS+ON+THE+BOX%3B+They+are+three+heartthrobs+of+the+small+screen%2C...-a099062382). *[Daily Mirror](/source/Daily_Mirror) via [The Free Library](/source/The_Free_Library)*. Retrieved 30 July 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** "Trauma for Tricia". *[Inside Soap](/source/Inside_Soap)* (142). Attic Futura UK: 16. 11–24 December 1999.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-argus_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-argus_4-1) ["Wait Until Dark, Theatre Royal, Brighton, 1 - 6 Aug"](https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/6803227.wait-until-dark-theatre-royal-brighton-aug-1-6/). *[The Argus](/source/The_Argus_(Brighton))*. 29 July 2005. Retrieved 30 July 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Tyler_5-0)** Tyler, Laura-Jayne (21–27 August 2010). "I played the first gay man in Emmerdale!". *[Inside Soap](/source/Inside_Soap)*. No. 33. London, England. p. 51.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Rural soap box"](https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Rural+Soap+Box-a082503132). *[Western Mail](/source/Western_Mail_(Wales)) via [The Free Library](/source/The_Free_Library)*. 5 February 2002. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210730171435/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Rural%20Soap%20Box-a082503132) from the original on 30 July 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-bio_7-0)** ["Jason Kirk - James Carlton"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110914115002/http://www.mtv3.fi/ohjelmat/sivusto2008.shtml/sarjat/emmerdale/henkilot_poistuneet?791644). *[MTV3](/source/MTV3)* (in Finnish). Archived from [the original](http://www.mtv3.fi/ohjelmat/sivusto2008.shtml/sarjat/emmerdale/henkilot_poistuneet?791644) on 14 September 2011. Retrieved 30 July 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Losing the heart for soaps"](https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/7139564.losing-heart-soaps/). *[The Northern Echo](/source/The_Northern_Echo)*. 18 July 2005. Retrieved 30 July 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Brockway, Sally (19 October 2003). ["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..."](https://www.thefreelibrary.com/CELEB+people%3A+I%27m+too+busy+partying+to+settle+down%3B+Hunky+Heartbeat...-a0109013778) *[The People](/source/The_Sunday_People) via [The Free Library](/source/The_Free_Library)*. [Archived](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) from the original on 30 July 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2021.

## External links

- [Character profile](https://web.archive.org/web/20110914115002/http://www.mtv3.fi/ohjelmat/sivusto2008.shtml/sarjat/emmerdale/henkilot_poistuneet?791644) at [MTV3](/source/MTV3)

v t e Emmerdale characters Present characters Robert Sugden Eric Pollard Kim Tate Victoria Sugden Sam Dingle Mandy Dingle Marlon Dingle Paddy Kirk Belle Dingle Charity Dingle Cain Dingle Bob Hope Rodney Blackstock Nicola King Rhona Goskirk Gabby Thomas Laurel Thomas Chas Dingle Aaron Dingle Jimmy King Sarah Sugden Moira Dingle Jai Sharma Ross Barton Bear Wolf Mary Goskirk Former characters Louise Appleton Seth Armstrong Chloe Atkinson Adam Barton Holly Barton John Barton Edna Birch Bernice Blackstock Amos Brearly Lily Butterfield Leanna Cavanagh Graham Clark Danny Daggert Toni Daggert Marcus Dean Anna De Souza Donald De Souza Miles De Souza Alice Dingle Debbie Dingle Del Dingle Eli Dingle Lisa Dingle Shadrach Dingle Tina Dingle Zak Dingle Betty Eagleton Daz Eden Nell Fairfax Liv Flaherty Adam Forsythe Ella Forster Jonny Foster Biff Fowler Linda Fowler Alicia Gallagher Dave Glover Kathy Glover Roy Glover Marshall Hamston Leyla Harding Chloe Harris Ella Hart Jamie Hope Viv Hope Billy Hopwood Rachel Hughes Perdita Hyde-Sinclair Eve Jenson Ivan Jones Meena Jutla Carl King Lexi King Matthew King Rosemary King Sadie King Tom King Emily Kirk Jason Kirk Ross Kirk Pearl Ladderbanks Lizzie Lakely Faye Lamb Ryan Lamb Paul Lambert Declan Macey Steve Marchant Paul Marsden Siobhan Marsden Suzy Merton David Metcalfe Scarlett Nicholls Lord Alex Oakwell Sam Pearson Val Pollard Hari Prasad Len Reynolds Sean Reynolds Nikhil Sharma Priya Sharma Grayson Sinclair Dolly Skilbeck Matt Skilbeck Jo Stiles Steph Stokes Andy Sugden Annie Sugden Diane Sugden Jack Sugden Joe Sugden Katie Sugden Pat Sugden Sarah Sugden Chris Tate Frank Tate Zoe Tate Ashley Thomas Jasmine Thomas Sandy Thomas Tara Thornfield Alan Turner Terence Turner Brenda Walker Gennie Walker Jackson Walsh Naomi Walters Chrissie White Henry Wilks Shelley Williams Donna Windsor Kelly Windsor Scott Windsor Vic Windsor Dawn Woods Terry Woods Amy Wyatt Maisie Wylde Mark Wylde Natasha Wylde Nathan Wylde By year 1972–1973 1974–1975 1977 1978–1979 1982–1983 1988 1989 1990 1991 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Jason Kirk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Kirk) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Kirk?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.