{"id":43168,"date":"2025-07-15T17:20:19","date_gmt":"2025-07-15T16:20:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tvguide.co.uk\/emmerdale-insider\/?p=43168"},"modified":"2025-07-15T17:20:19","modified_gmt":"2025-07-15T16:20:19","slug":"ashley-thomas-actor-john-middleton-back-new-soap-role","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tvguide.co.uk\/emmerdale-insider\/news\/ashley-thomas-actor-john-middleton-back-new-soap-role\/","title":{"rendered":" Ashley Thomas actor John Middleton back with new soap role"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ashley Thomas is best remembered as Emmerdale\u2019s caring, kindly vicar. He was Laurel\u2019s husband and dad to Gabby, Arthur and Dotty.<\/p>

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He\u2019s still talked about on-screen often, with Gabby recently mentioning her dad, and many characters sharing fond memories of Ashley.<\/p>\n

\"John
John Middleton played Ashley Thomas in Emmerdale (Credit: ITV\/Shutterstock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A well-loved character<\/h2>\n

Ashley was played by actor John Middleton<\/a>, who was in Emmerdale for an impressive 21 years.<\/p>\n

Though Ashley had his tough times<\/a>, including a storyline involving him abusing his elderly father, Sandy, and more than one marriage break-up, he was a well-loved character in the show.<\/p>\n

John won acclaim for his portrayal of Ashley\u2019s slow decline as a result of his vascular dementia and sad death.<\/p>

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