Emma Murphy

Tina Murphy

Natalie Evans

Lauren Murphy

Macken Murphy

Emma Murphy-Evans (nee Murphy) is the long lost daughter of Claire Murphy. She made her first appearance in August 2018. Her character is currently one of the lead characters in N&F, especially since starting a relationship with Jade Evans and buying The Tumpetty.

## Storylines

### 2018-

Emma first appears in The Tumpetty, looking for her mother. She finds Claire and announces that she's her daughter. It turns out that Claire had given her away as a baby. Emma later makes friends with her niece Faye and supports here when she's going to university. She also helps the Slater sisters trying to solve the recent crimes of 2018. In 2019, her and Nick are taking part in the Fun Run 2019, when the pair sit down for a rest. Emma asks about Elle, Nick's daughter, and Nick tells her about Nita's behaviour. This upsets Emma and she tells them that whenever they want to talk, she's there. The pair then kiss. For a couple of weeks after, the pair act awkward around each other. In May 2019, things come to head with Nick and Nita, which results in Nick and the children leaving and staying at Kales' house. Nick phoned Emma and tells her about the situation. Emma secretly takes the deeds for the Tumpetty and signs it over to her and Nick. Emma announces that she wants to be with Nick, much to the disgust of Claire and Megan. Emma then shows them the deeds, and promptly evicted the two women from the Tumpetty. She also tells everyone that the Tumpetty is closed for a private party. This upsets Julie McAlddon, who Emma calls "an old bat". Julie walks out upset. The pair invite Katherine Wood and Hayli Squinteye round and offers them jobs, to which they accept. Nick and the children then move into the Tumpetty. Emma later apologizes to Julie, to which she forgives her. In December 2019, Nick hears about an idea about proposing with voice recorded faberge eggs, and buys one, unaware that Emma sees the idea. Nick proposes to Emma, however Emma produces another and gives the same message back! They both accept. In January 2020, when Swibber breaks into the tumpetty, Emma hears creaking downstairs in the night. She wakes Nick up,and the two investigate. They come face to face with Swibber, who tells them he will kill both of them and the children. As he is pushing past, Emma loses it and pushes him down the stairs, killing him. Emma is distraught, and terrified of going to prison, but Nick comes up with a plan about burying him in the manhole in the cellar. The two carry out this plan. They then bury him permanently in the back garden. In January 2020, Emma is supportive when Nick changes their name to Jade. They then try on their wedding dresses. The pair marry on Valentine's day 2020. Emma is shocked when Natalie gatecrashes the wedding, however it goes through with no problem. In August 2020, Emma throws Cheryl and Tom Gale out of the Tumpetty after upsetting Jade. In November 2020, Emma suddenly leaves, as her mother Lisa isn't well. In December 2020, Emma phones Jade, and tells them she might not be home for Christmas. On Christmas Day, Emma video-calls Jade. In January 2021, Katherine tells Jade that someone is in the back waiting for her. Jade goes into the back, and finds it is Emma, who has returned with late Christmas presents for everyone. Jade is pleased to see her, and the pair embrace. She later finds out about Leigh spending Christmas with Jade. Jade tells her the truth, including the kiss, and tells her it meant nothing. Emma punches Leigh and tells her to stay away. Emma then hears from Megan that she saw Jade talking to Jassi Wesmiy. Jade tells her that Jassi was an old friend. Not sure what to believe, Emma decides to stay at No.6 for a while. Back in The Tumpetty, Jade falls into a deep depression and overdoses. Emma finds out the following day, and goes to the hospital with Delilah, Rebecca and Nicky. They are told that Jade is going to be ok, and Emma wants to go and see her, and is told my Rebecca "if you love my sister, you will go and apologise". Emma apologises to Jade, and Jade tells Emma that she only kissed Leigh because she was depressed, which she had been since Jamie died. Emma decides to get help for Jade. She then tells Jade that she's pregnant. The pair then go on holiday for two weeks. In May 2021, Emma tells everyone that she's pregnant. In July 2021, Jade and Emma win 5 Poshnob Place at an auction. They move in the following week. In July 2021, Emma goes into labour while walking on Nineford Beach, and gives birth in a beach hut. She gives birth to twins, a boy called Ocean Star, and a girl called Ginny Rose. In July 2022, Emma is badly injured in a train crash, caused by Daniel Howells. She is rescued by Jade and Megan. In September 2022, Jade and Emma split after Jade is attacked by Lulu Spider. However, they get back together after Jade tells Emma the truth. In March 2023, Emma finds Lulu in The Tumpetty, and beats her up, and nearly strangles her with a wooden stool leg, however is stopped by Jade. Lulu then hits Emma over the head, knocking her unconscious. She wakes up the week after. In July 2023, after a night out resulting in the death of Kim Williams, Jade & Emma confront sleazy bar owner Harvey Pullman, the man responsible for Kim's death, and end up setting fire to his bar.

## Background info

Emma's casting was first announced in May 2018, when NJE was impressed with Katie Jarvis' acting in EastEnders. They said "She just seemed so much like an N&F character, and she definitely looked like a Murphy!" In July, the character's name was announced as Emma Murphy. The character was an instant hit with viewers, who took to her cheeky personality. In October, it was announced that Emma would be one of the major characters to look out for in 2019. In April 2019, viewers were shocked when Emma kissed Nick, with viewers guessing that the two would start a relationship. This was confirmed a month later. A journalist commented "This is the best match for Nick yet; Alex was too mature and didn't fit at all, Natalie was too dull and there was no chemistry there either, and Nita, whereas there was the first time round, always seemed too down to earth for them. Emma is exactly like Nick, and the two are amazing together on-screen. I think Nick's found the one at last!!!".

It has been implied that Emma is pansexual, though not mentioned on-screen, due to her relationship with a genderfluid person.

In August 2020, Jarvis was arrested for racially abusing a black woman. NJE confirmed that she had been suspended from filming for two months, until October 2020. This means that Jarvis will be offscreen from November 2020 to January 2021, and that several upcoming storylines will have to be rewritten or rescheduled. NJE commented "i am very disappointed in Katie for this behaviour, however i am not axing her due to her popularity with viewers, and i can assure her, along with viewers, that she will be returning." She returned on 21/01/2021. However, Jarvis' contract ran out in April 2022. NJE said that they would wait and see the results of her trial before renewing her contract. In April 2022, Jarvis avoided prison, and was given an indefinite contract, securing her role in N&F.