Emmerdale is a British soap opera first broadcast on 16 October 1972. The following is a list of characters that first appeared during 2013, by order of first appearance. Ross Barton (Michael Parr) made his debut in July. Joanie Wright (Denise Black) made her first appearance in August. October saw the introduction of Lindy (Nimmy March), the mother of established character Ruby Haswell (Alicya Eyo), and former Coronation Street actor Bill Ward as James Barton. Harriet Finch (Katherine Dow Blyton) and Gil Keane (David Easter) debuted in November, while Pete, played by Hollyoaks star Anthony Quinlan, and Finn Barton (Joe Gill) arrived in December. Additionally, multiple other characters appear throughout the year.
Beattie Dixon
Beattie Dixon, portrayed by Eileen O'Brien is the grandmother of Alex Moss (Kurtis Stacey), who first appears on 3 January 2013 unbeknownst that he was murdered by Cameron Murray (Dominic Power) on Christmas Day 2012. This was O'Brien's second role after playing Belle Dingle (Eden Taylor-Draper)'s teacher Bridget Burgess between 2006 and 2007.
Beattie comes to the village looking for Edna Birch (Shirley Stelfox), after she learns Alex has been accused of stealing from her, before apparently fleeing the village. She vows to find her grandson and clear his name, as she could not believe he would be capable of such a thing. However, is unable to clear his name and is also unable to find him. She returns on 26 August when Alex's body has been found and organises a memorial service for him.
Neil Gutterson
Neil Gutterson was a foreman working on construction of Declan Macey's (Jason Merrells) glamping site in the woods. He was played by Cameron Stewart, who had previously appeared in Emmerdale as businessman Larry Jacobs. Neil goes to Declan to inform him that they have found what appears to be human remains. Neil and Declan ultimately agree to turn a blind eye to the discovery in order to keep the building project on schedule, appalling Declan's wife, Katie (Sammy Winward). Declan's sister, Megan Macey (Gaynor Faye) says she has heard that the Dingles once buried an old poacher in the woods.
Subsequently, Katie made an anonymous call to the police regarding the body and it was later investigated and revealed to be the body of Alex Moss (Kurtis Stacey), who had been murdered by Cameron Murray (Dominic Power) on Christmas Day 2012.
Ross Barton
Ross Barton, played by Michael Parr, made his first screen appearance on 9 July 2013. The character and Parr's casting was officially announced on 24 October 2013. Of joining the show, Parr stated "I am thrilled to be playing a regular character in Emmerdale. It was always the plan that Laurel's carjacker would be revealed as Moira's nephew – Ross Barton. It has been fun keeping his identity and my role a secret. Although I did nearly burst from wanting to tell people. Ross is a great character and there is lots to come for him in future episodes." Parr was nominated for "Sexiest Male" and "Best Newcomer" at The British Soap Awards 2014.
Joanie Wright
Joanie Dingle (also Wright and Dingle-Wright) played by Denise Black, made her first screen appearance on 12 August 2013. The character and Black's casting was announced on 20 June 2013. The actress began filming in the same week as her casting announcement. Of joining the show, Black commented "'Joanie's a character I've never played before. My first grandma. Dear lord, that came round quick. She is going to get some very tasty stories, so I'm really looking forward to it. I already know quite a few of the cast and I met Lesley Dunlop (Brenda Walker) on my first day, who said 'you'll love it here, it's a lovely job'. The casting came through on my birthday so there we go, what a present. I can't believe my luck." Series producer Kate Oates added that Joanie's story would see her play against some of the show's best-loved characters and called Black "a fabulous asset to the show.". On 7 November 2013, it was announced that Black had filmed her final scenes and departed on 14 November 2013 at the end of her current storyline. On 6 May 2015, it was announced that Black had reprised her role and would return on 17 June 2015. Of her return, Black said "I am very excited to be coming back to Emmerdale. It's a lovely show to work on and I'm well set for Joanie's revival. I bet she has learned a thing or two since we last saw her. Is she still a single grandma? Has she changed? How is Kyle? I can't wait to find out." On 30 January 2017, Joanie was killed off in a previously unannounced departure. Laura-Jayne Tyler from Inside Soap called the character a "homewrecker".
Joanie is the adoptive grandmother of Kyle Wyatt (Huey Quinn), the son of Amy Wyatt (Chelsea Halfpenny) and Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley). When Kyle reappears, viewers learn that he is now living with his "caring and loving grannie Joanie". Black called her character "feisty" and said that enjoys playing poker and drinking pints. Black also revealed that she had let her hair grow out grey for the part, causing people to give up their seats for her on the Tube. Ahead of her return in June 2015, Black explained that Joanie's life had taken a turn for the worse since she was last in the village. Struggling with her new situation, Joanie will seek out Kyle's father, Cain, and ask for financial support.
Joanie is the mother of Karen Winchester, who dies of carbon monoxide poisoning along with her husband, Tom. She attends their funeral and wake with her grandson, Kyle Wyatt. Joanie meets Amy and her friend, Victoria Sugden (Isabel Hodgins). Needing to see her son, Amy goes to Kyle's playgroup with Andy Sugden's (Kelvin Fletcher) son, Jack and she panics when Joanie thinks that she remembers her face. Thinking that Amy is studying childcare at college, Joanie asks her to look after Kyle, and they start to become friends. Concerned about how frequently Amy is looking after Kyle, Eric Pollard (Chris Chittell) visits Joanie and accidentally lets slip that Amy is Kyle's birth mother. Joanie is livid and threatens to call the police, but Eric calms her down, and she throws him out. The following day, Eric and Amy visit Joanie again but Eric tells Amy to stay in the car. He and Joanie talk about Amy and Kyle as they watch him play with a ball. While their backs are turned, the ball rolls onto the front garden and Kyle chases it. Amy grabs him and returns him to Joanie, who promptly accuses her of kidnapping Kyle. Joanie decides to give Amy a second chance and let her see Kyle. However, when Val Pollard (Charlie Hardwick) and Amy take Joanie and Kyle for a picnic, Kyle slips and falls into a river. Amy rescues him and they are rushed to hospital, where an upset and angry Joanie bans Amy from having any further contact with Kyle. Thinking she can get Kyle back as she and Andy could give him a better lifestyle, Amy contacts Social Services and Joanie hears this from Amy's mother, Kerry (Laura Norton). Joanie confronts Amy and an explosive argument ensues, leading to Joanie slapping Amy when she insults Karen. Amy slaps her back and Joanie angrily declares that Amy will not see Kyle again.
Amy visits Joanie a week later and Joanie sends her love to Diane Sugden (Elizabeth Estensen) following Cameron Murray's (Dominic Power) hostage siege at The Woolpack, as she saw it on the news. Joanie reveals that she has spoken to Social Services and that Amy will not get custody because she is Kyle's legal guardian. She also tells Amy to leave her and Kyle alone. Social Services confirm this to Amy but this simply makes her desperate for contact with her son as she now regrets having him adopted. Amy plans to snatch Kyle and go on the run. Kerry tells her that it is a bad idea but Amy refuses to listen. Knowing how it feels to not have contact with your child, Kerry helps Amy take Kyle from playgroup and drove her to the ferry. She even grabbed a pushchair that had been left in the carpark but Eric, Val and Cain caught up with them. Cain found Amy and told her what life on the run would be like and persuaded her to return Kyle to his grandmother but Amy stays on the ferry, knowing that she would not be allowed any contact and could even face a criminal prosecution.
Joanie returns in June 2015 after calling Cain for help. It transpires that Joanie is living on a very rough council estate, after her long deceased husband never paid the taxes before he died, leading to her losing her house and Social Services trying to take Kyle away from her, however they were unsuccessful. He gives Joanie a deposit for a flat, but on the condition that he never sees her again. The next day, she and Kyle arrive in the village, despite Cain's warnings not to return. She moves in with Cain's father and stepmother, Zak (Steve Halliwell) and Lisa (Jane Cox), after being harshly turned away by a volatile Val and Eric. Cain threatens Joanie to leave the village, which she does abruptly out of fear. Lisa, Zak and their daughter Belle (Eden Taylor-Draper) later go to Joanie's council estate and take her back to Emmerdale, with no excuses. In August 2015, Joanie is injured in a helicopter crash during Debbie Dingle (Charley Webb) and Pete Barton's (Anthony Quinlan) wedding reception. She is pulled from the rubble by Chas Dingle (Lucy Pargeter) and Aaron Livesy (Danny Miller), and is hysterical when she realises that Kyle is still trapped in the wreckage. She is relieved when Cain saves Kyle moments before the helicopter explodes.
Zak later develops feelings for Joanie despite being married to Lisa. He eventually kisses her, and is delighted when she responds. They begin an affair, however on Christmas Eve 2015, Belle catches the pair kissing. Belle reveals Zak and Joanie's affair at the dinner table on Christmas Day, and Zak and Joanie are subsequently kicked out of the house and Zak is exiled from the family. When Lisa suffers an angina attack due to the stress of losing Zak, Belle tries to persuade him to visit her, but Joanie informs Zak that she heard that Lisa got drunk. When Zak reveals this to Belle, she flies into a rage and angrily slaps Joanie and attacks her, but Cain pulls her away and Joanie is left stunned by Belle's violent streak, and Zak warns her that it is a sign of Belle's mental illness returning. When out poaching with Zak in the wood, Joanie accidentally shoots Zak's son Sam Dingle (James Hooton), who was running to get help after Megan Macey (Gaynor Faye) went into labour. Joanie is later devastated when her daughter, Karen's, ring is stolen, and when it is revealed to be Belle who stole it and she insults her and Karen, Joanie slaps Belle in front of Zak, Lisa and the other factory workers.