Emmerdale’s Nicola Wheeler Issues Stark Warning to Parents After Carl’s Shocking Storyline
A Storyline With Serious Consequences
On Emmerdale, Nicola’s character Nicola King has been left horrified by her adoptive son Carl (Charlie Munro Joyce) after he became embroiled in a police investigation. The youngster forwarded an inappropriate image of Clemmie Reed (Mabel Addison) — a serious offence that quickly spiralled into a major crisis for the King family.
Speaking on ITV’s This Morning, Nicola admitted that even she was shocked to learn the legal implications of Carl’s actions.
“When I was talking to the producer about this storyline, I had no idea that a child sending those kinds of images was actually committing a crime,” she confessed. “Because Carl got sent the picture — he didn’t ask for it — but the moment he then forwards it on, he’s sharing indecent photos of a child.”
Her comments highlight a worrying truth: many parents, like Nicola, may not realise that forwarding or even possessing such images can have devastating legal and emotional consequences for children.
How The Storyline Changed Her Parenting Perspective
Nicola went on to share that the storyline made her reconsider her 10-year-old son’s online habits at home.
“My little boy is 10 — the same age as Carl. He hasn’t got a phone, but how many children do at that age?” she asked hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard.
“I’m not a saint mother. He does have an iPad, and obviously, he can scroll. I’ve only just reset the settings for YouTube, for instance. I don’t want him seeing adult content.”
She then pointed out how quickly children can be exposed to inappropriate material online. “There’s a fact, isn’t there? If you doom scroll for half an hour, you’re going to see adult content.”
“We Have a Responsibility as Parents”
Wheeler used her platform to urge parents to take an active role in monitoring their children’s online activity.
“We have a responsibility as parents to just check in with our kids — or maybe just not give them phones in the first place,” she advised.
Her message comes as part of Emmerdale’s ongoing effort to highlight modern dangers facing children and teens, from grooming and exploitation to digital safety — an issue that has become increasingly central in the show’s recent storylines involving Clemmie and April Windsor.
Two Decades in the Dales
Later in the interview, Nicola reflected on her 20-year journey on Emmerdale, after joining the cast in 2001. She fondly recalled her first day on set opposite Kate McGregor, who played Emily Kirk, as viewers were treated to a clip from her debut episode.
“It feels like a lifetime ago,” Nicola laughed, “but the passion and storytelling on Emmerdale still make me proud every single day.”
A Message That Hits Home
Through Nicola’s candid reflections, Emmerdale continues to use its platform to address real social issues — and her personal honesty serves as a reminder that conversations about children’s online safety are more important than ever.
As Wheeler put it, “We can’t control everything our kids see, but we can try to be the ones they talk to when something feels wrong.”