Terry Woods (Emmerdale)

Terry Woods is a fictional character from the British television soap opera '' Emmerdale'', played by Billy Hartman. He was one of the longest-serving characters in the show when he was killed off alongside Viv Hope ( Deena Payne) in early 2011, after 16 years.

Development

Hartman said he found his audition for the role daunting. Terry was meant to be a former rugby player and there were five "really huge blokes" also waiting to audition, which made Hartman think he had come for the wrong job. Hayward 1991, p.141. He won the role and was paired with Michelle Holmes who was cast as Terry's wife Britt Woods. It was known that Holmes was only staying for six months and Hartman assumed that he would be leaving too, which is why he accepted the part. He admitted that he never wanted to appear in a soap, but came to realise that it often led to major roles in other shows. Hartman made his first appearance as Terry on 2 February 1995. Parkin 2002, pp.167–169.

Terry and Britt's relationship soon runs into problems, which are exacerbated when they are offered the chance to run a pub in York. Britt decides to take the job as she hopes that it will actually improve their marriage, but Terry is not so sure. Hartman told Victoria Ross of ''Inside Soap'': "He is truly in love with Britt but their marriage just isn't working out. Britt thought that by moving on they could make a fresh start, but Terry stood up to her for once. He realised that their problems wouldn't just vanish because of a change of location." Terry decides to make a final plea to Britt and visits her in York in an attempt to bring her home with him, but she refuses to return to Emmerdale. Back in the village, Terry begins drinking heavily and Alan Turner ( Richard Thorp) tries to help him out. Hartman reckoned the development would lead to the pair forming a good friendship. He told Ross that his character was starting to feel at home in the village, and the trouble with Britt meant that he and Alan had started getting along better.

Storylines

When Terry Woods and his wife, Britt arrive in Emmerdale, no one is impressed by their brash attitude. As managers of the Woolpack, the couple have a pivotal position in the community but are unable to stay out of trouble with landlord Alan Turner ( Richard Thorp) who disapproves of their lifestyle. Although Terry dotes on Britt, it is clear their marriage is in trouble and things
become further strained when Britt reveals to Terry that her father, Ronnie Slater (Ian Thompson) sexually abused her as a child. When they are offered their own bar in York, Britt goes alone. The marriage limps on but Terry discovers that Britt is having an affair with brewery boss Gerald Taylor (Blair Plant), who Terry punches on Boxing Day after he winds him up. The couple later divorce.

Now single, Terry takes up ballroom dancing with Viv Windsor ( Deena Payne) wife of his best friend, Vic ( Alun Lewis). After a while, they begin an affair and when Vic finds out, Viv and their daughter, Donna (Sophie Jeffrey), move into the Woolpack with Terry. Terry and Viv's relationship does not last and she and Donna go back to live with Vic and his daughter Kelly. Terry's job at the Woolpack comes to a violent end in 1998 when he sleeps with his boss, Alan's, granddaughter, Tricia Stokes, only to discover she is also sleeping with Scott Windsor (Ben Freeman). When he exposes Tricia's lack of morals in front of the entire village at Kelly Windsor's ( Adele Silva) 18th birthday party in the village hall, Alan punches Terry and fires him.

On Christmas Day 1998, Terry goes to visit Vic at the post office and discovers his body after he has been killed by Billy Hopwood (David Crellin) during a robbery. In 1999, Terry starts working for Chris Tate (Peter Amory). Terry is there for Chris when he needs someone to talk to and Chris knows he can trust Terry with anything, leading to a strong friendship between the two men. Terry is saddened when Chris commits suicide in September 2003.

Terry later develops feelings for Woolpack barmaid Louise Appleton (Emily Symons) but she is dating businessman Ray Mullan (Seamus Gubbins). When Louise realises she is being stalked, she thinks Terry is responsible but eventually learns that Ray is her stalker. When the truth comes out on Christmas Day 2002, Louise and Ray fight and she accidentally kills him. She calls Terry for help and they cover up Ray's death. Thinking their relationship had developed, Terry tries to kiss Louise but she rejects him. Needing a break, he goes on holiday to Spain and whilst there, falls in love with a young woman called Dawn (Julia Mallam), and she comes back to Emmerdale with him. Only then does Terry discover that she is his friend Bob Hope's ( Tony Audenshaw) daughter. They are soon engaged, horrifying Dawn's parents. Despite their objections, Terry and Dawn marry and in 2003, Dawn discovers that she is pregnant.

Shortly after Terry and Dawn's son, Terry "TJ" Woods (Connor Lee) is born, Terry has a serious stroke and nearly dies. He clings to life and Dawn helps nurse him back to health. However, Dawn struggles with caring for Terry and T.J, putting their marriage under strain and Terry was heartbroken when Dawn left him for Scott, now her stepbrother. After a brief custody battle, Terry and Dawn's relationship improves and their lives become more stable.

In the meantime, Louise discovers that she has feelings for Terry after all and they get together and decide to buy the B&B from Alan. However, Louise is attracted to Matthew King ( Matt Healy) and is unable to resist when he starts flirting with her. Soon they begin an affair behind Terry's back. It goes on for weeks and Terry finds out when Louise ends their relationship just as they are about to complete the sale of the B&B. After Louise is moves in with Matthew, he loses interest in her and realising her mistake, Louise begs Terry for a second chance but he is not interested.

He throws himself into work and takes a job as Tom King’s (Kenneth Farrington) chauffeur. When Bob marries Viv again, Terry spends the night with Jean Hope ( Susan Penhaligon), Bob's ex-wife and Dawn's mother, and they agree it was a one-off but eventually start seeing each other again. When Dawn is imprisoned for benefit fraud, Jean is devastated and Terry struggles to look after TJ and the trauma brings them back together. They begin a relationship but determined to keep it a secret, Jean flirts with Tom King, but the relationship is exposed when Terry and Jean are caught having sex in public and are arrested. Tom, feeling foolish, sacks them both so they decide to buy the B&B from Alan. Terry could not afford to buy it when he and Louise split up so Jean agrees to go into business with him, deciding to sell her hotel in Spain. Unfortunately it emerges that she could not afford to go into business with Terry but Louise jumps at the chance, selling her share of The Woolpack to Val Lambert (Charlie Hardwick