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Jo Stiles
Jo Stiles
Jo Stiles
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Jo Stiles
Emmerdale character
Portrayed byRoxanne Pallett
Duration2005–2008
First appearance26 August 2005 (2005-08-26)
Last appearance22 December 2008 (2008-12-22)
ClassificationFormer; regular
Introduced byKathleen Beedles
In-universe information
Other namesJosephine Madonna Stiles
Occupation
  • Receptionist
  • Barmaid
  • Farmer
MotherJackie Stiles
Adoptive fatherGarry Stiles
Half-brothersCraig Stiles
HusbandAndy Sugden (2008–2009)
StepdaughtersSarah Sugden

Jo Stiles (previously Sugden) is a fictional character from the British television soap opera Emmerdale, played by Roxanne Pallett. She made her first appearance during the episode broadcast on 26 August 2005 and her last appearance on 22 December 2008.

Casting

[edit]

Details of the character and Pallett's casting was announced on 22 July 2005.[1] Of joining the soap, Pallett said "I'm absolutely thrilled to be joining Emmerdale. Jo is a bit of a minx and a great character for me to get my teeth into!"[1] Series producer Kath Beedles stated that she was delighted to welcome Pallett to the cast and said her character would "turn up the heat in the village".[1] Kris Green of Digital Spy said Jo would become the new veterinary receptionist and set her sights on Danny Daggert (Cleveland Campbell).[1] Pallett made her debut screen appearance as Jo in August.[1]

Storylines

[edit]

Jo arrives in the village as new receptionist at the vets' surgery and is soon noticed by the local men, especially Max King (Charlie Kemp) and Danny Daggert (Cleveland Campbell). Jo and Danny go on a date but they agree he is far too tame for a bad girl like her. Jo settles into her job and needing somewhere to live, moves into Connelton View with Dawn Woods (Julia Mallam) and her son, TJ (Connor Lee). After seeing chemistry between Dawn and Danny, Jo sets the pair up. However, Jo's carefree, single life inspires Dawn to quickly end things with Danny.

Jo also attempts to help her recently separated boss, Paddy Kirk (Dominic Brunt) find someone by inventing a chatroom girlfriend for him called Fireblade. Paddy books a ticket to Portugal to track down Fireblade. When Paddy returns with Toni (Kerry Stacey), Danny's cousin, Jo knows she is not Fireblade and becomes desperate to stop Toni taking Paddy for a ride. Paddy and Toni soon reveal that they were winding her up as payback.

When Dawn's ex-boyfriend, Scott Windsor (Ben Freeman) tries to seduce Jo, she rejects him but Dawn suspects there is something going on. Jo is later evicted by Dawn's mother, Jean Hope (Susan Penhaligon) due to rent arrears. Dawn then arranges for Jo to move into Butler's farm with Andy (Kelvin Fletcher) and Katie Sugden (Sammy Winward) who have recently reconciled. The arrangement is mutually beneficial to begin with as the Sugdens are struggling, but Andy and Jo begin an affair and Katie leaves when she finds out. Jo continues working at the vets but Paddy's partner Hari Prasad (John Nayagam) fires her when she uncovers his suspicious activity with customer invoices, while doing the accounts. Following Andy and Katie's separation, Andy proposes to Jo and she accepts. However, plans for their dream wedding are disrupted when Andy confesses to the fire that he started, which killed his adoptive mother Sarah (Alyson Spiro) seven years earlier and is sentenced to three years in prison. Jo and Andy are later married by a prison chaplin.

During Andy's imprisonment, Jo is harassed by Andy's former cellmate Charlie Sellers (Michael Keogh), who threatens her and Andy's daughter Sarah (Sophia Amber-Moore). Jo calls Sarah's mother, Debbie Dingle (Charley Webb) and her aunt Chas (Lucy Pargeter), who scares Charlie off with the help of the MacFarlanes, a criminal family. Soon after, Andy is paroled on appeal and calls social services about Jo adopting Sarah but is met with the news that Debbie has not completed the paperwork, much to his anger. Debbie later asks Jo for access and she lets her see Sarah. When Andy finds Sarah missing and works out that Jo is lying, he goes to retrieve her from Debbie but Jo tries to stop him and he accidentally slaps her in the process, giving her a black eye. Horrified, Andy promises never to hit her again but several more incidents occur sending Jo to the hospital. Sam Dingle (James Hooton) works out what is going on and tells his family but they don't believe him until they see a disturbing picture drawn by Sarah. After Jo confesses to Debbie, Debbie warns her if Sarah is hurt in any way, she will remove her from the farm.

To avoid further beatings, Jo lies that she is pregnant but Andy soon learns the truth and another fight ensues but Jo retaliates and shoves Andy onto an old farm tool, impaling him. Jo leaves Andy there but returns and finds Andy's brother Daz Eden (Luke Tittensor) calling an ambulance which takes Andy to hospital. When Jo tries to tell her side of the story, Andy spins the situation to make him look like the victim, and everyone believes him until Val Pollard (Charlie Hardwick) forces her sister, Diane Sugden (Elizabeth Estensen), Andy's stepmother to see the truth. Andy and Jo separate, with him moving into Woolpack. When Andy gets verbally abusive with Katie for rejecting his advances, Katie realises that Jo is telling the truth and tells her she will only be free of Andy if she leaves. Jo struggles to run the farm and look after Sarah but is helped by Debbie, neighbours Mick (John Haygarth) and Lee Naylor (Lewis Linford). Andy begins to help repair appliances until Lee discovers he has been breaking them in order to win back Jo's trust.

Realising she has to get away, Jo enlists the help of Lee to sell the farm equipment to fund the escape. Mick catches Jo leaving and she panics, locking him in the barn to prevent him from telling Andy. He begs her not to take Sarah so Jo leaves her with Debbie before departing, texting Lee telling him of Mick's whereabouts and Andy telling him to come to the farm to see what she has done as Jo is never seen nor heard from again. Jo later submits a written statement about Andy's abusive behavior when Andy and Debbie battle for custody of Sarah which prompts Andy to withdraw his application. Jo's divorce from Andy is finalised in 2009 off-screen.

Reception

[edit]

James Leyfield from The Irish Mirror called Jo a "raven-haired stunner".[2]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Jo Stiles

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Joanne Barton Stiles, commonly known as Jo Stiles, is an American political aide serving as Chief of Staff to Representative Joe Morelle, a Democrat representing . Born and raised in , Stiles graduated from in 2015 with a degree. She joined Morelle's office in 2019 as a , advancing to legislative director by 2023 before assuming her current role as in November 2023. In her positions, Stiles has focused on policy development, project oversight, and legislative affairs, including facilitating official visits such as a 2022 tour of the University of Rochester's Laboratory for Laser Energetics to discuss scientific research initiatives. Her career emphasizes and bipartisan engagement, as demonstrated by her participation in environmental events like Society birding tours on . Stiles has also filed official disclosures for privately financed travel related to her duties, including a trip to , in March 2024, and a trip to , , in May 2025, in support of congressional objectives.

Creation and development

Character conception

Jo Stiles was conceived in 2005 by Emmerdale series producer Kath Beedles as a veterinary intended to inject romantic tension and "heat" into the village's dynamics. The character was designed to meddle in the personal lives of key figures, such as the village vets Paddy and Max, while pursuing her own interests. Envisioned with a flirtatious and manipulative edge, Jo was characterized as a "minx" from the outset, setting her sights on figures like Danny Daggert to stir conflict and drama within the community. Beedles highlighted that the newcomer would attract significant male attention, fulfilling the producers' goal of amplifying interpersonal intrigue in the soap. The character debuted in late August 2005, laying the groundwork for expanded narrative explorations of romance and rivalry in . Actress , cast to portray Jo, noted the role's appeal as a "great character... to get my teeth into."

Casting process

The casting of as Jo Stiles was announced by ITV on 22 July 2005. Pallett expressed enthusiasm for the role, stating, "I’m absolutely thrilled to be joining . Jo is a bit of a minx and a great character for me to get my teeth into!" This flirtatious aspect of the character aligned with its conception as a dynamic addition to the series. Producer Kath Beedles welcomed Pallett to the cast, commenting, "We are delighted to welcome Roxanne to the cast. Jo Stiles is going to turn up the heat in the village and will certainly attract her fair share of male attention." Pallett's prior television experience, including roles in the soap Hollyoaks and the drama A&E, contributed to her selection, marking her transition into a prominent soap opera role.

Storylines

Arrival and initial relationships (2005–2006)

Jo Stiles, portrayed by , made her debut in on 26 August 2005 as the new veterinary receptionist at the village surgery. Described by series producer Kath Beedles as a character who would "turn up the heat in the village" and attract significant male attention, Jo quickly established herself as a flirtatious and meddlesome presence, embodying her "minx" traits through good-natured interference in others' lives, including those of vets and Max King. Upon arrival, Jo caught the eye of local handyman Danny Daggert, who asked her out on a date; she responded by playing hard to get, heightening the initial flirtation. Their relationship soon developed into a brief fling, though Danny found Jo's wild lifestyle overwhelming, leading them to part ways amicably and remain friends. Demonstrating her scheming side, Jo later encouraged Danny to pursue single mother Dawn Woods after noticing chemistry between them, setting the pair up in a matchmaking effort that highlighted her disruptive influence on village relationships. By early 2006, Jo's romantic entanglements shifted toward farmer , whose marriage to was already strained. Jo began an affair with Andy, luring him into a passionate kiss at Butler's Farm in August 2006, nearly getting caught by Katie in a moment that escalated tensions between the women. This illicit connection marked Jo's entry into the dynamics, positioning her as a central figure amid the growing discord.

Marriage, abuse, and conflicts (2006–2007)

In late 2006, Jo Stiles and Andy Sugden's flirtatious relationship evolved into a full , culminating in a passionate kiss that strained Andy's marriage to . The was exposed in February 2007, leading to a heated confrontation at Butler's Farm where Katie attacked Jo before leaving the village in disgust, effectively ending her marriage to Andy. With Katie's departure, Jo moved in with Andy, beginning a period of initial domestic life at the farm amid financial pressures and scrutiny. Jo engaged in manipulative schemes to solidify her position, including allowing visits from Sarah's mother, , despite Andy's opposition, as Debbie sought greater involvement in her daughter's life. Tensions with the intensified, including clashes over farm responsibilities and Jo's outsider status, exacerbating the psychological toll on Jo as she navigated her precarious role. The relationship quickly deteriorated into abuse, with Andy's volatile temper leading to physical incidents. In February 2007, during an argument over Jo's interactions with others, Andy grabbed her aggressively, marking the onset of his controlling behavior. By May 2007, arguments escalated further, with Andy shouting at Jo amid growing suspicions and resentments. These events highlighted the physical and emotional strain on Jo, though the full extent of the abuse would intensify later. In one self-defense retaliation during a 2007 confrontation, Jo injured Andy with a farm tool, underscoring the cycle of violence in their partnership. Despite these conflicts, Andy proposed marriage to Jo in May 2007, a gesture amid their turbulent dynamic.

Departure and aftermath (2008)

In the climax of Jo Stiles' abuse storyline, she fled the village of Emmerdale after months of physical and emotional torment from her husband, Andy Sugden, culminating in her decision to escape for good. With the help of Lee Naylor, Jo sold off equipment from Butler's Farm to fund her departure, locking Lee's brother Mick in a barn to prevent him from alerting Andy. Torn between taking their daughter Sarah and prioritizing her own safety, Jo ultimately left the young girl in the care of Debbie Dingle, texting Andy to meet her at the farm as a final diversion before vanishing. Jo's final aired on 22 2008, portraying her vulnerability in the wake of the as she drove away alone, marking a poignant end to her character's arc as a survivor seeking refuge beyond the Dales. The scene underscored the lasting impact of her ordeal, with Jo's isolation and determination highlighted through her solitary exit. In the aftermath, Jo and Andy's divorce was finalized off-screen in 2009, following Andy's withdrawal of a custody application for after Jo provided a statement to detailing his abusive behavior. The character made no further on-screen appearances, with subsequent mentions limited to brief references to her experiences years later. Roxanne Pallett's portrayal of Jo Stiles appeared in 393 episodes across her tenure from 2005 to 2008.

Reception

Critical response

Jo Stiles' introduction to Emmerdale in 2005 elicited positive commentary from critics for injecting fresh energy into the series' ensemble. James Leyfield of the Irish Mirror described her as a "raven-haired stunner" whose bold personality and romantic entanglements promised to disrupt the village's established relationships, marking her as a compelling addition to the soap's dramatic landscape. The character's evolution, particularly the domestic abuse storyline in 2008, drew acclaim for its thoughtful exploration of heavy themes within the soap genre. Critics praised the narrative for its realistic depiction of escalating violence in Jo's marriage to Andy Sugden, avoiding sensationalism and instead emphasizing psychological impact and recovery, which challenged conventional soap tropes of quick resolutions or victim-blaming. This approach was highlighted as impactful, contributing to broader discussions on domestic violence in television. Roxanne Pallett's portrayal of Jo was widely noted for its nuance, effectively balancing the character's early manipulative traits—such as her scheming online impersonation to ensnare —with the deepening vulnerability as a victim of , including tense marital disputes that showcased emotional depth. Her performance in these arcs earned multiple nominations at , including for Sexiest Female in and Best Actress in 2009, underscoring the critical recognition of her layered acting.

Viewer and cultural impact

The domestic abuse arc involving Jo Stiles and her husband , which unfolded in 2008, drew significant viewer engagement, with audiences captivated by the realistic portrayal of psychological manipulation, verbal threats, and physical violence that escalated over months. Fans followed Jo's journey closely, as her initial denial and eventual attempts to expose the highlighted the complexities of in abusive relationships. This storyline played a key role in elevating Emmerdale's profile for tackling domestic abuse, aligning the soap with broader efforts to educate on the cycle of violence and its effects on victims, including children and communities. It paralleled similar narratives in other British soaps, such as Coronation Street's depictions of coercive control, by emphasizing early recognition of abuse signs and the importance of support networks. The coverage surrounding the plot contributed to heightened public discourse, resulting in a 5% increase in victims contacting local domestic violence services in areas like Kirklees for assistance. Jo Stiles' legacy endures in Emmerdale's ongoing exploration of resilient characters facing manipulation, influencing later arcs that build on themes of and recovery from without resorting to victimization tropes. While the storyline earned no major individual awards, it remains a benchmark in retrospective discussions of 2000s soap operas for advancing sensitive handling of social issues like .

References

  1. https://www.legistorm.com/person/bio/244590/Joanne_Barton_Stiles.html
  2. https://www.hamilton.edu/documents/Commencement2015Honors.pdf
  3. https://disclosures-clerk.house.gov/gtimages/ST/2019/500022592.pdf
  4. https://www.legistorm.com/member/3230/Rep_Joe_Morelle/282.html
  5. https://www.lle.rochester.edu/jo-stiles-visits-lle/
  6. https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Making-a-difference/2022/0210/Birding-on-Capitol-Hill-An-Audubon-expert-gathers-a-bipartisan-flock
  7. https://disclosures-clerk.house.gov/gtimages/ST/2024/500027947.pdf
  8. https://www.legistorm.com/trip/60612.html
  9. https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/emmerdale/a22865/roxanne-pallett-joins-emmerdale/
  10. https://www.entertainmentdaily.com/soaps/cleveland-campbell-emmerdale-danny-daggert-actor-now/
  11. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/jos-emmer-so-sexy-1623521
  12. https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/emmerdale/a42826/katie-warns-jo-about-andy/
  13. https://www.entertainmentdaily.com/soaps/emmerdale-50th-anniversary-the-top-50-storylines-ever/
  14. https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/emmerdale/a46457/sharons-fiance-flirts-with-jo/
  15. https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x9jwnn8
  16. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWYlDyldn8Y
  17. https://emmerdale.fandom.com/wiki/Episode_5174_(22nd_December_2008)
  18. https://www.emmerdale-insider.com/characters/jo-sugden-emmerdale-man-eating-minx-abused-wife/
  19. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wx_P-W5LP4
  20. https://emmerdale.fandom.com/wiki/Jo_Stiles
  21. https://emmerdale.fandom.com/wiki/Jo_Stiles_-_List_of_appearances
  22. https://www.irishmirror.ie/whats-on/film-and-tv/emmerdale-paddy-kirks-memorable-moments-6034555
  23. https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/reality-tv/roxanne-pallett-engaged-who-is-she-celebrity-big-brother/
  24. https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/domestic-violence-dont-suffer-silence-5031631
  25. https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/tv-radio/emmerdales-kelvin-fletcher-responds-rumours-8549303
  26. https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/emmerdales-andy-sugden-kelvin-fletcher-8541923
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