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Carrie Nicholls
Emmerdale character
Portrayed by	Linda Lusardi
Duration	2007–2008
First appearance	20 February 2007
Last appearance	5 February 2008
Introduced by	Kathleen Beedles
Classification	Former; regular
Profile
Occupation	Nurse
Home	Canada
Family Husband Nick Baine (2008–) Daughters Lexi King Scarlett Nicholls

Caroline "Carrie" Nicholls-Baine (also Nicholls) is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera, Emmerdale. Her first episode was broadcast on 20 February 2007. She was introduced as the former nurse of Tom King's wife Mary. It was subsequently revealed that she was the mother of his illegitimate daughter. She was portrayed by the former Page 3 model Linda Lusardi.^[1]

It was announced on 28 September 2007 on ITV's This Morning that Lusardi had quit the role, and would leave in early 2008.

Creation[edit]

The character is initially introduced in a motherly role. Linda Lusardi believes that she is a mother looking out for her daughter, "I don't think she's greedy or money-grabbing, but he has left Scarlett something and felt she deserved it but the boys obviously don't and they don't want her near Home Farm interfering, especially Matthew. I'm behaving as a mother really, as me, I'm not standing for it".

It has been suggested though that the character will be gradually transformed into that of the village bitch - a role the soap is famous for among viewers. "That's where we are at the moment but how it progresses, I don't know. I mean they've sort of put me down as the Emmerdale bitch, she hasn't done anything bitchy yet, but maybe in the future there'll be something that brings that side out of her". This more controversial part is one which Lusardi has made it clear she would be willing to play.

Storylines[edit]

2007–2008[edit]

Carrie is introduced as the nurse who looked after Mary King when she was dying from cancer and the mother of Tom King's (Ken Farrington) secret teenage daughter, Scarlett (Kelsey-Beth Crossley). It was revealed that Tom wrote to Scarlett on an annual basis, but Carrie returned the letters, disappointed that Tom wasn't not prepared to be a full-time father. She did, however, allow Tom to pay for Scarlett to attend a private school. After Tom's death, Carrie went to the funeral and the will reading where the Kings learned about their secret sister. He left Scarlett a quarter share of Home Farm and 10 percent share of King and Sons. The King brothers all reacted differently, although they were united in their disgust at their father for cheating on their mother whilst she was dying.

Matthew King (Matt Healy) tried to get rid of Carrie and Scarlett by cutting all financial ties so Carrie would sell them Scarlett's shares. Carl King (Tom Lister) also wanted to get rid of Carrie - it was later revealed that they had had a brief fling when Carl was a teenager. He seemed angry that she took his virginity and later rejected him, telling him it meant "nothing". Carrie said she hadn't meant to hurt him but that it was ancient history. Carl was hurt and stormed off. Jimmy, being the most kind-hearted of the three, offered Carrie an olive branch so he could get to know his sister. Scarlett refused to sell her shares and insisted that she and Carrie move to the village, buying Mill Brook Cottage.

When the King brothers faced prison sentences, Jimmy King (Nick Miles) suggested Carrie be named a director of King & Sons so that she could run the business in their absence. Matthew was against it but Carl agreed and Carrie accepted, becoming part of King and Sons. The Kings were cleared but Carrie kept an eye on the business. She helped the Kings "persuade" Rosemary King (Linda Thorson) to leave Home Farm by telling her that Carl had confessed to murdering Tom and Rosemary confessed that she had bribed Hari to give a false statement to the police. The latter was disastrous when Rosemary fell over a balcony, trying to call the police. Matthew forced her to sell and Carrie was welcomed into the family for helping get rid of Rosemary.

Carrie and Kelly Windsor (Adele Silva) were instant enemies. Carrie took a dislike to Kelly because of Kelly's relationships with Jimmy and Scarlett. Carrie didn't approve of either but was ignored. She was worried about Kelly leading Scarlett astray, especially after she found a leaflet from an abortion clinic in Scarlett's coat pocket. She strongly disapproved when she learned that Kelly had had an abortion because if she had the baby, her career would be over.

It was later revealed that Carrie is Lexi Nicholls' (Sally Oliver) mother, not her sister. Carrie gave birth to Lexi when she was 14. She confided in Jimmy, who told Kelly. Carrie knew that Kelly had had an abortion but Kelly warned Carrie that if she told Jimmy about the abortion, Kelly would tell Scarlett that Lexi was actually her half-sister, not her aunt.

After declaring her love to Jimmy, which she soon realised was unreciprocated, Carrie ended their affair and received a job offer from an ex-boyfriend, Nick Baine (Sam Kane). The job was in Canada and she decided to take it and also rekindled her relationship with Nick. She left Jimmy and Lexi in charge of Scarlett and emigrated in February 2008.

Carrie has been mentioned and gets in touch occasionally since she left. Scarlett spent the summer with her as Jimmy wanted to keep her away from Daz Eden (Luke Tittensor), who he felt wasn't good enough. In late July, Lexi told Jimmy that Carrie and Nick were getting married in Thailand. In December 2008, Lexi tried to contact her after she, Scarlett, Jimmy and Carl were evicted from Home Farm. Scarlett initially wanted to join Carrie in Canada permanently but later changed her mind. Lexi married Carl on 31 March 2009, and was disappointed Carrie couldn't attend, although she sent her a garter.

See also[edit]

• King family (Emmerdale)

References[edit]