Emmerdale is a British soap opera that first aired on 16 October 1972.[1] The following characters made or will make their debut in 2025. Caroline Harker made her debut as Caitlin Todd, a doctor that Jacob Gallagher (Joe-Warren Plant) works with, on 2 January, which also featured the one-off appearance of Henry. Rich (Joshua John), Jacob's friend and fellow medical student, also began appearing on 2 January. Additionally, several other characters appear throughout the year.
Caitlin Todd
Caitlin Todd, portrayed by Caroline Harker made her first appearance on 2 January 2025.[2] She is a doctor that medical student Jacob Gallagher (Joe-Warren Plant) works with during his first shift of his placement in A&E.[3]
Caitlin mentors Jacob during his first shift and reminds him that whilst it can be exciting, these are real people. When Jacob tells Marlon Dingle (Mark Charnock) and Rhona Goskirk (Zoë Henry) that he believes that their daughter, April Windsor (Amelia Flanagan), is in hospital, she tells him off for not following the correct procedures. When it is revealed that the girl was not April and Marlon and Rhona were told that their daughter had died, she shouts at Jacob. At the end of the shift, Jacob tells her that he cannot handle it, so she consoles Jacob and encourages him to not quit. She tells him to not feel bad about not being with Henry when he died as he knew that Jacob cared about him.
Following the character's debut, viewers on Twitter wondered where they recognised Harker from.[3][4]
Henry
Henry, played by James Graeme, made his one-off appearance on 2 January 2025, during a special episode focused on medical student Jacob Gallagher's (Joe-Warren Plant) first shift in A&E.[5] Henry is an elderly patient who appears throughout Jacob's first shift whilst waiting for an appointment; the pair bond and he offers comfort to Jacob, who is stressed.[6] Henry also chats to Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) and he reminds him of deceased father, Zak Dingle (Steve Halliwell).[6] It is revealed that Henry has an illness and he dies at the end of the episode, leaving Jacob heartbroken.[6] Doctor Caitlin Todd (Caroline Harker) explains to Jacob that whilst Henry had been talking about his daughter, she had actually died many years ago and it was his way of coping; she also comforts Jacob and tells him that Henry died knowing that he cared about him.[7] Following Henry's debut, Joe Crutchley from Leeds Live reported how viewers had speculated on social media that Henry could be related to Zak due to their resemblance.[7] Crutchley also called Henry's death a "heartbreaking turn of events".[7]
Rich
Rich, played by Joshua John, made his first appearance on 2 January.[7] He is a medical student and a friend of Jacob Gallagher (Joe-Warren Plant).[7] Following his first appearance, John's agent, Revolution Talent, reported that John would continue to play John, with his CV revealing that it is a recurring role.[8][9] Rich is described as being "plucky and confident".[9]
