OH MY DALES
Emmerdale fans left gobsmacked after learning soap icon Claire King’s real name
The actress celebrates a dramatic 38 years since she first graced the Dales
EMMERDALE fans are shocked as the icon's real name is nothing like what they expected.
Claire King, known for portraying iconic Kim Tate in Emmerdale since 1989, surprised fans when they learned her real name.
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After leaving the show in 1999, she returned two decades later, with her character becoming central to major storylines like faking her own death.
The 62-year-old actress has also appeared in rival soaps Hollyoaks and Coronation Street during her time away from the Dales.
But off-screen, fans were shocked by her birth name after it was revealed on social media.
Taking to Facebook fan page, one fan revealed that her birth name is Jayne Claire Seed.
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Fans were stunned as one said: "I was today year's old when I found out Clare King's real name is Jayne Seed."
Another added: "No way, my mind is actually blown."
A third penned: "She doesn't look like a Jayne."
Meanwhile, Claire's character's ex husband Will Taylor is determined to get half of Kim’s fortune - despite their pre-nuptial agreement.
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Kim has declared war to fight for her assets.
She also appeared to sleep with her financial advisor Peter much to the annoyance of Will.
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But, Will got his own back on Kim by getting drunk, and sleeping with fellow villager Kerry Wyatt.
Viewers of the ITV soap are now speculating a potential shock pregnancy storyline for Kim.
Sharing their thoughts online, one said: “I think Will has definitely burnt his bridges with Kym now. How disrespectful!”
A second said: “It wouldn’t surprise me if Kim ends up pregnant and there’s a who’s the daddy storyline.”
Kim Tate's biggest Emmerdale storylines
First appearing in 1989, Kim Tate (Claire King) is an iconic Emmerdale character. Here's a look at some of her biggest storylines over the years.
MARRIAGE TO FRANK TATE
Kim has been married three times in the soap, but her first, volatile pairing was with Frank Tate (Norman Bowler)
They were an on-screen partnership for almost a decade - including divorcing and remarrying.
However, Frank ultimately suffered a fatal heart attack, brought on by Kim's return to the village after being presumed dead.
During the marriage, Kim had affairs with Neil Kincaid (Brian Deacon) and Dave Glover (Ian Kelsey).
FAKING HER OWN DEATH
Kim disappeared from the village in February 1997. A few days later, Frank identified a woman found dead at the wheel of her car as Kim.
However, everyone was in for a shock after Kim revealed she was still alive - and the full extent of her plan.
While she'd fled to the Caribbean, Kim had paid a lookalike prostitute to drive her car around the village to fool people into thinking she was still there. It was, in fact, her body that Frank previously identified.
JAMES' KIDNAPPING
Kim's business partnership with Lord Alex Oakwell (Rupam Maxwell), resulted in the death of Linda Fowler (Tonicha Jeronimo), in a car crash.
As an act of revenge, Linda's mother Jan (Roberta Kerr) kidnapped Kim's son James.
DEPARTURE
After a decade of causing chaos, Kim left Emmerdale in 1999 as she fled in a helicopter with her son James and £190,000 of Chris Tate's money.
LATER MARRIAGES
Upon Kim's return in 2018, she was first revealed to be married to Graham Foster (Andrew Scarborough).
However, he was later killed off in a whodunnit storyline.
She later pursued a relationship with her employee Will Taylor (Dean Andrews), marrying him in 2022.
A third commented: “Yes to this! It is soap land after all.”
A fourth wrote: “My money’s on Peter being the dad.”
Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
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