Steph Stokes in Emmerdale: Alan Turner’s villainous daughter and her imprisonment for murder

Stephanie ‘Steph’ Stokes in Emmerdale was the scheming daughter of Alan Turner and mother of Tricia Dingle. She came to the village in 2002 and spent the next four years wreaking havoc. Still to this day Steph is regarded as one of the soap’s best ever villains.

The character was portrayed by actress and former model, Lorraine Chase.

A former jailbird, Steph was selfish to the core and didn’t care who she hurt along the way. Breaking the law was second nature to her, as was stealing other people’s fellas.

Steph’s reign of terror finally came to an end when she was jailed for the murder of her abusive brother, Terence. But in a shock twist, she didn’t actually commit the crime.

So why did Steph take the rap? And where is she now? Everything you need to know is here.

Steph Stokes and her arrival in Emmerdale

Ex-con Steph was introduced to Emmerdale viewers on September 3, 2002. She turned up at daughter Tricia’s engagement party and instantly turned heads with her glamorous appearance.

However, Tricia wasn’t happy to see her mum. The pair had fallen out years previously after Steph had seduced one of Tricia’s boyfriends. But it wasn’t long before history repeated itself when Steph kissed Tricia’s fiancé, Marlon Dingle the night before his wedding! This shameless behaviour was a sign of things to come.

Kind-hearted Tricia agreed to give her mum a chance to redeem herself and Steph decided to stay. She began working for Rodney Blackstock at the Antiques Barn and showed talent for spotting valuable items.

After attempting to flee to France with Rodney’s prized porcelain, Steph struck up a romantic relationship with her boss. They became engaged, but Steph eventually jilted Rodders after realising he wasn’t as well off as she thought.

Steph’s complex relationship with dad Alan in Emmerdale

Steph had a complicated and often strained relationship with her father. She had never forgiven him for abandoning her when she was a young girl.

Alan disapproved of many of things Steph did, but tried his best to support her choices. When Steph’s best friend Shelley Williams arrived in the village, Alan paid for them to open a beauty salon.

But in January 2004, tragedy struck when Tricia was killed in a storm. Steph and Alan were initially united in their grief. But as Steph plunged into depression, Alan grew closer to Shelley.

The discovery that her father was sleeping with her best friend sickened Steph. Unable to control her jealousy, she started a vicious rumour that Shelley was a gold-digger. It did the trick and Shelley dumped Alan shortly afterwards.

Relations between father and daughter then went from bad to worse.

During a heated row, Alan declared he wished Steph had died, not Tricia. She responded by pushing him down the stairs, which caused him to lose his memory. Steph then started drugging Alan to keep him under her control. Shelley returned to Emmerdale in search of Alan, and Steph kidnapped her friend, locking her in the B&B cellar.

Events came to a dramatic head when Steph attempted to kill her and Alan by driving them over the edge of a quarry. She stopped herself at the last minute and was arrested. Steph was questioned by the police over the whereabouts of Shelley – who by this point had disappeared.

The horrified Emmerdale locals were convinced Steph had murdered Shelley and branded her ‘psycho Steph’.

The saga of Steph and Shelley

Whilst in prison, Steph was in the grips of a mental health crisis and started experiencing flashbacks of her killing Shelley.

Shelley soon turned up again – alive and well – but refused to forgive Steph’s past sins.

The ladies were reunited on board a ferry in March 2005, which turned out to be Shelley’s last journey. Steph pleaded with Shelley to return home to Alan and tried to grab her friend’s arm. But their heated confrontation resulted in tragedy when Shelley took a tumble overboard.

Steph feared she’d be suspected of murder and chucked Shelley’s suitcase into the water, before returning to the village as if nothing had happened.

Steph’s terror at the hands of brother Terence

Steph thought she’d finally found her happy ever after when she met handsome doctor Adam Forsythe. Romance blossomed, and Steph fell in love for the first time in her life. It also gave her the courage to share with Adam the dark secrets of her past.

Steph bravely revealed she’d been sexually abused as a child by her brother Terence Turner. She also came clean to Adam about Shelley’s watery end. But instead of running a mile, Adam pledged his support to Steph.

Shortly afterwards, Steph’s past came back to haunt her when Terence arrived in the village. A violent alcoholic, he started to make her life a misery all over again.

But events took a shocking turn when Adam arrived back at the B&B to find Terence terrorising Steph. A fight broke out, and Adam bludgeoned Terence to death with a fire extinguisher, before burying his body in the woods.

Adam then whisked traumatised Steph to Barbados, where they married. The newlyweds came back to the Dales and Adam began drugging his wife to ensure she didn’t out his killer secret.

Steph’s arrest and imprisonment for murder

After realising Adam’s true nature, Steph decided to take back control in her life. But then Terence’s body was found and she was arrested for murder.

Steph protested her innocence throughout her trial, but when Shelley’s suitcase was found floating in the sea she knew it was game over. Steph pleaded guilty to killing Terence to ease her conscience over what she did to Shelley and Alan.

It was a final, and shocking, act of selflessness, but Alan was proud of his daughter for being ‘honest’.

Steph was sentenced to life imprisonment and told she’d likely spend the rest of her days behind bars.

The character made a final memorable appearance in October 2013 when she returned for Alan’s funeral. Steph arrived dressed in her best and handcuffed to a prison officer. She then returned to jail – not before hurling a few insults at the locals.

And as far as anyone knows, Steph remains under lock and key. No doubt causing mayhem amongst her fellow inmates.

Who played Steph Stokes in Emmerdale?

Steph Stokes in Emmerdale was played by actress Lorraine Chase.

Born on July 16, 1951 in South East London, Lorraine started her career as a model. She shot to fame appearing the 1970s adverts for Italian liquor Campari.

Lorraine then made the switch from modelling to acting, starring in television shows such as Worzel Gummidge, The Other ‘Arf and Lame Ducks. Her CV also includes episodes of Casualty, The Bill, My Family and Doctors.

She won her role in Emmerdale after then-executive producer Steve Frost noticed the resemblance between Lorraine and Sheree Murphy (who played Steph’s daughter, Tricia).

In 2011, Lorraine was a contestant on the 11th series of I’m A Celebrity, finishing in ninth place. Lorraine’s time in the jungle was fraught with tension after fellow campmate Pat Sharp threatened to burn her teddy bear.

Lorraine’s now a reality TV pro, having appeared on Celebrity Carry on Barging and Celebs on the Farm.

Where is Lorraine Chase now?

Lorraine Chase is still in the acting game.

She was last seen on screen in 2019 when she appeared in an episode of BBC medical drama, Holby City.

She’s also a patron of the theatre charity The Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America.

Read more: Steph makes a confession to Adam in Classic Emmerdale

Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm.

Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm.