ITV/Shutterstock/Comp Emmerdale Insider Share By Carena Crawford Jun 26 2025 By Carena Crawford Jun 26 2025 Ashley Thomas in Emmerdale: From beloved vicar to tragic decline – a look back at Gabby’s dad’s story Ashley had a long history in the village Ashley Thomas Gabby Thomas Laurel Thomas Share By Carena Crawford Jun 26 2025 By Carena Crawford Jun 26 2025 Ashley Thomas in Emmerdale was the much-loved vicar of the village, dad to Gabby, Arthur and Dotty, and husband to Laurel. But he also had a dark side that is not so fondly remembered. Ashley’s diagnosis with early-onset vascular dementia in 2015 was a pivotal moment for the character. He knew he did not have long left and died in 2017 after 21 years on the soap. The memories of her dad and his dementia battle have clearly stayed with Gabby as she reveals to Paddy in Emmerdale on Thursday June 26. Let’s take a look at the life and times of Ashley Thomas. Gabby’s dad was eventually revealed as Ashley in Emmerdale after Bernice gave birth (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock) Ashley Thomas marries Bernice Blackstock and becomes Gabby’s dad in Emmerdale The vicar arrived in Emmerdale in December 1996. He officiated the wedding of Biff Fowler and Linda Glover at Christmas and spent the next year carrying out the funerals and weddings of many villagers. It was in 1999 that Ashley was thrust into a love story. He fell for Woolpack barmaid, Bernice Blackstock, but she was engaged to Gavin Ferris. However he was the first of Bernice’s love interests to turn out to be gay, and she ended up with Ashley after all. Devout churchgoer Edna Birch and the bishop both opposed the love match, but Ashley and Bernice carried on and they got married on Christmas Day. article continues below Read all the latest spoilers Bernice fell pregnant, but sadly miscarried and lashed out at Ashley in her grief. Unable to support her, Ashley took a job working away – nice. Feeling abandoned, Bernice started an affair with Carlos Diaz – who was engaged to her sister, Nicola! Bernice found she was pregnant again, but didn’t know who the father was. She eventually gave birth to Gabrielle on Christmas Day and a DNA test found Ashley to be Gabby’s dad. Although Ashley was a natural father, Bernice struggled and developed post-natal depression. As their marriage crumbled, Bernice decided to leave the village – and Ashley and Gabby – behind for a new life on a cruise ship. Ashley’s true love turned out to be Laurel Potts (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock) Love for Louise and marriage to Laurel Ashley soon developed feelings for Louise Appleton, but things soon fizzled out and they parted ways amicably. His next love was the big one: Laurel Potts. Ashley found out Laurel was in love with him, but he initially rejected her. However, he soon realised he did feel the same when she decided to leave the village. Fortunately he confessed in time and they started a relationship. He proposed, but she left for Tanzania anyway (to cover actress Charlotte Bellamy’s real-life maternity leave), however on her return they got engaged and were eventually married. There was devastation for Laurel when her baby died (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock) Baby swap in Emmerdale Laurel fell pregnant with Arthur and he was born in 2007. But a mix-up at the hospital meant they brought home the wrong baby, Daniel. Tragedy struck when Daniel died from cot death. However it was soon revealed Daniel was the biological son of Melanie and Greg Doland and their child, Arthur, was still alive. A custody hearing saw Arthur returned to Laurel and Ashley, but Laurel struggled to bond with him. Sandy ended up being terrified of Ashley after he repeatedly abused him (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock) Ashley abuses dad Sandy Ashley’s dad, Sandy Thomas, arrived in Emmerdale and it was clear there was issues between father and son. It turned out that when Ashley’s mother, Dorothy, was terminally ill Sandy had helped her to die. God-loving Ashley couldn’t get on board with this and cut his father off. Things were strained as Sandy moved in with the Thomas’ and gradually they got worse. Ashley began physically abusing his dad in 2012. Laurel caught him and demanded a divorce. By this time she was with Marlon Dingle and they went on to marry. Ashley was so ashamed he quit his job and became homeless. He was helped by Marlon and then started work as a barman at the Woolpack. Ashley eventually got his job back at the church and started a relationship with rival vicar Harriet Finch. Ashley often lost his temper when he got confused (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock) Ashley’s dementia diagnosis in Emmerdale In 2015 Ashley was run over by Victoria Sugden and suffered multiple seizures. He was diagnosed with epilepsy, but then started losing his memory and was diagnosed with early-onset vascular dementia. He told Laurel and his loved ones about his condition and he and Laurel decided to remarry. They even had another child together – Dotty – born in 2016. Ashley’s dementia caused him to be involved in the Hotten Bypass crash in 2016 when he was driving, thinking he’d forgotten his daughter’s christening. He hit James Barton with his car when he didn’t keep his eye on the road, but in fact James had been pushed by crazed wife Emma Barton. Things continued to get worse for Ashley. He forgot who his wife was and by 2017 he had to be moved to a care home where he completely forgot who his family were. The vicar spent the remainder of his days in a care home before returning to the village to die (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock) Ashley Thomas dies in Emmerdale By March of 2017, Ashley was diagnosed with pneumonia. Laurel and the family were told he only had days to live. Ashley was brought home to spend the final moments of his life with his family and friends. Regaining consciousness in early April to recognise Laurel one last time, he died peacefully in his sleep when Laurel went to get him another pillow. His favourite song, Teenage Kicks, by the Undertones was playing at the time. Gabby, Arthur, Bernice and Sandy then joined Laurel by Ashley’s side, devastated by their loss. After the funeral Laurel fell asleep on the sofa. She woke up to find Ashley talking to her on the television. They recalled their moments together and said a final goodbye. And there was not a dry eye in the house. Who played Ashley Thomas in Emmerdale? Ashley Thomas was played in Emmerdale by John Middleton. He played the role for 21 years, from 1996 until 2017. Born on September 7, 1953, John is now 71 years old. He is married to Christine and they have two children together. Coronation Street roles John joined Emmerdale in 1996 and prior to that he also appeared in Coronation Street. Here he played John Hargreaves - the man who knocked down and killed Lisa Duckworth. Two years after this 1993 appearance, he played a hospital consultant in Corrie when Deirdre's husband Samir Rachid was attacked and killed by a gang of thugs. John Middleton lands the role of Ashley Thomas in Emmerdale He went on to play PC John Jarvis in Emmerdale before landing the role of Ashley in 1996. When he then left in 2017 John went under the radar for a while. John didn't appear on TV again until 2021, and it was in fact his last television role to date. He played Feargal Lumsden in Doctors. In this he once again was playing an elderly man with dementia who was put into a specialist care home by his daughter. John has mostly starred on stage since his exit from the Dales, however. He appeared in play Strangers on a Train after his initial exit. Then in 2024 he was in a touring production of My Fair Lady playing Colonel Pickering. Fans were shocked at his appearance for the role as he had to seem more rugged and unshaven, unlike clean-cut Ashley. Could Ashley Thomas ever return to Emmerdale? Ashley is of course unlikely to ever return as himself - unless he reappears as a ghost. But John did joke to The Sun that he could make a comeback in another form. Avid fans of the soap will know Ashley has a twin brother called Luke, who lives abroad and has never been seen on screen. John explained: "There's no hint of Ashley coming back as a ghost but Ashley does have a twin brother called Luke, so that could happen." Read more: Who’s leaving Emmerdale? All the cast exits, arrivals and returns Share this:Click to share on X (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) Good to Know Share By Carena Crawford Jun 26 2025 By Carena Crawford Jun 26 2025
