Emmerdale Nicola King star's life off-screen from private marriage to 'secret' surgery

Emmerdale's Nicola King, played by actress Nicola Wheeler, has been at the heart of some of the soap's most dramatic storylines. However, her off-screen life is a stark contrast to her on-screen persona.

The character of Nicola King is known for her outspoken and brash personality, which has often sparked controversy among viewers.

Away from the spotlight, Wheeler leads a quiet life in Yorkshire, where she enjoys her role as a dedicated mother and wife. She prefers to keep her personal life private, particularly her relationship with her husband, Matt.

The couple have yet to make a public appearance together at any awards ceremonies or showbiz events, and details about their relationship, such as how they met or when they got married, remain unknown. However, it is known that they welcomed a son in 2015, after which Wheeler took a six-month maternity leave.

Nicola, hailing from Lancashire, happily shared news of her pregnancy with her followers on social media at the time, tweeting: "Thanks for all your congratulations still got a couple of weeks until arrives. Unless he/she gets impatient.", reports the Mirror.

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Nicola Wheeler first appeared in Coronation Street before she joined Emmerdale in 2001 (Image: Getty Images )

Come April that same year, Emmerdale's official Twitter account confirmed Nicola's new arrival with a heartwarming post: "BIG congratulations to @nicola_Wheeler and her baby boy, who arrived on Friday 13! ". At the age of 49, she has lavished praise on partner Matt's parenting prowess in a candid chat with OK!

Magazine, recalling the days when their son was a tiny tot. She gushed: "I am really lucky that me and my partner are sharing the childcare. But we have said that the hardest work is looking after the kid all day. [...] Coming to work is like a holiday I can actually come to work and do things like look at the internet, do some shopping, get some yoga in, or just sit and do b***** all."

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Despite Nicola's preference for keeping family life out of the social media spotlight, she has occasionally treated fans to sneak peeks inside her charming Yorkshire abode, replete with homely flourishes. Her festive Twitter shares have revealed a stunning white-tiled kitchen with sophisticated marble surfaces, all adorned with endearing festive decor and an array of Christmas delights.

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The actress is a keen beekeeper and makes her own honey (Image: @nicola_wheeler/Twitter)

Nicola has enchanted fans with a sneak peek into her cosy home, complete with a traditional cast iron fireplace nestled in a red-brick alcove, reminiscent of the quintessential cottages seen in the show. Her astonishingly spacious backyard is the crown jewel, affording her ample space to indulge in beekeeping, one of her cherished leisure pursuits.

Dedicated to apiculture, Nicola has shared on Twitter, "Just put my honey bees to bed for winter. I mean they'll all keep buzzing and doing their thing until nature tells them to stay indoors, but I won't interfere until spring. Really calm hive - not one sting this year and lots of honey. Thanks, girls."

In an unexpected twist, Nicola faced a surgical procedure that demanded a hiatus from the Emmerdale set for several months in 2022. Confessing to This Morning's Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield, she disclosed that she had a hip replacement.

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Nicola lives in Yorkshire in a cosy home with her other half Matt (Image: @nicola_wheeler/Twitter)

Prior to her operation, Emmerdale's producers warned her of the challenging narrative that awaited her comeback.

Chuckling about the ordeal, Nicola recounted, "They said 'What we are going to do is we are going to bring you back and beat you up, is that okay? '," adding, "I said 'Fine, but I can't throw myself on the floor', so the stunt double did anything truly physical just because obviously I was still healing."

At the time, her character was embroiled in a distressing gang attack plotline. In a candid chat with The Sun, the actress confessed her fears about shooting a car scene following her surgery. "Bear in mind, I had only just had my hip replaced! I was fully healed, don't worry, they didn't drag me in early," she explained.

She also shared her concerns: "I probably was miles away [from Matthew Wolfenden], but I kept thinking, 'What if my foot slips, what if I do actually hit the back of his car? '" Fortunately, the scene was completed without incident and everyone remained unscathed.

Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX, with an hour-long episode on Thursdays

Emmerdale Nicola King star's life off-screen from private marriage to 'secret' surgery

Emmerdale Nicola King star's life off-screen from private marriage to 'secret' surgery

Emmerdale Nicola King star's life off-screen from private marriage to 'secret' surgery

Emmerdale Nicola King star's life off-screen from private marriage to 'secret' surgery

Emmerdale Nicola King star's life off-screen from private marriage to 'secret' surgery