Rhona Goskirk in Emmerdale: Vet, former addict and domestic violence survivor
Zoe Henry has played village vet Rhona since 2001
Tonight’s episode of Emmerdale (Monday, March 10) saw Rhona Goskirk face the ghosts of her own past as Dylan became talk of the town amid speculation ran rife about his drug addiction. Rhona is no stranger to addiction herself – battling her own painkiller addiction in 2010.
The episode also saw mention to Rhona’s more recent strife, as Marlon brought up her custody battle with Gus over baby Ivy. All ancient history, but these disparate threads from Rhona’s life are never far from the surface.
But what happened with Rhona’s own addiction to painkillers? And how did her war with Gus come to an end?
Who is Rhona Goskirk in Emmerdale?
She’s a proud mum, wife and best friend of fellow vet Vanessa Woodfield. Rhona is the daughter of Mary Goskirk and the late Barry Goskirk.
She works as a Veterinary surgeon at Emmerdale Veterinary Surgery.
Rhona is married to Marlon Dingle and is the ex-wife of Gus Malcolms, Paddy Kirk and Pierce Harris.
She has two children – her son Leo Goskirk, and baby daughter Ivy Malcolms. Rhona is also stepmum to Marlon’s daughter, April Windsor.
The character has overcome huge battles in her life, including an addiction to painkillers and nursing her husband Marlon back to health after he suffered a stroke.
Rhona is a survivor of domestic abuse, which she suffered at the hands of her ex-husband, Pierce.
Her world was further rocked in late 2023 when she discovered her former husband Gus Malcolms and his wife Lucy had used her frozen embryos without consent to conceive a child.
When did Rhona Goskirk join Emmerdale?
Rhona was introduced by Emmerdale series producer Steve Frost and made her debut on September 17 2001. She was initially brought in as a recurring character for the first couple of years before being reintroduced full-time in March 2010.
Rhona first appeared as a locum vet, who was covering for Zoe Tate when she was on holiday. She began a romance with local chef Marlon Dingle, but the relationship fizzled out and Rhona left the village.
Returning in June 2002 to cover for Zoe again, Rhona rekindled things with Marlon. It wasn’t a case of second time lucky though, and Rhona left again only six months later.
The arrival of Leo
Rhona returned to the village in 2010. It turned out during her eight year absence, Rhona married a man called Gus Malcolms, but their union had ended in divorce.
She began a relationship with fellow vet Paddy Kirk, but found out she was expecting on/off boyfriend Marlon Dingle’s baby. During her pregnancy, Rhona’s unborn baby was diagnosed with Down’s Syndrome. In May 2011 Rhona gave birth to a baby boy, who she named Leo.
Four years later Rhona became broody for another baby. She and Paddy looked into adoption, but things fell apart when Rhona discovered Paddy had been playing away with Leo’s teacher, Tess Harris.
Unable to get over his betrayal, the couple called it quits.
Rhona’s abusive marriage to Pierce Harris
Tragedy struck when Tess was run over by Kirin Kotecha and subsequently died. Tess’s widower, Pierce Harris came to the village searching for answers about his wife’s death and discovered the truth about Tess’s affair with Paddy.
Pierce then turned his attentions to Rhona and the scorned duo embarked on an affair. He quickly moved in with Rhona, but his controlling nature soon became evident when he set about reorganising everything to his exacting tastes.
Pierce was also consumed with jealous paranoia over Rhona’s history with Paddy, which made memories from his own traumatic past resurface.
After Rhona agreed to become Pierce’s wife in February 2017 his possessive behaviour ramped up another gear and he coerced his fiancée into making a sex tape.
The couple married on April 24 2017, but what should have been a happy day ended in unimaginable horror when Pierce violently raped his new bride.
Rhona went to the police and they arrested Pierce. He stood trial in the July of that year and Rhona bravely attended court to give evidence against him. The jury found Pierce guilty and he was sentenced to five years in prison.
Sadly though, this wasn’t the end of Rhona’s nightmare…
The return of Pierce
In December 2019, Rhona discovered that Pierce was up for parole. The following month he made a dramatic return to the village and murdered Rhona’s then-boyfriend Graham Foster, who she was planning to move to France with.
Pierce framed Marlon Dingle for murder and started stalking Rhona from afar. Events came to a climax when Rhona came to Vanessa’s rescue after Pierce held her and young son Johnny hostage. Rhona live-streamed the situation to everyone in the Woolpack and Pierce was arrested.
He was sentenced to life imprisonment for his crimes and Rhona was finally free of him. He died of cancer in 2022.
Rhona Goskirk battled painkiller addiction in Emmerdale
In 2010, Rhona was prescribed medication to help with a back injury. This led to a crippling painkiller addiction which put her career – and life – at risk.
As a result of the dangerous habit, Rhona’s personality drastically changed. She risked her career by stealing pills from the surgery’s medicine cabinet in an attempt to get her fix.
Loyal pal Vanessa tried to help by getting Rhona to ration the supplies – but the situation only got messier when Vanessa confessed she’d fallen for Rhona.
After getting caught up with a dodgy dealer called Gary, Rhona’s wake-up call came as she collapsed and was rushed to hospital. The doctors informed Rhona her kidneys were on the verge of collapse.
Helping Ross with his painkiller addiction
The frightening news and threat of losing Leo prompted Rhona to go to rehab and get clean. Years later, she was able to support Ross Barton, who had become addicted to painkillers himself, and was spiralling out of control.
Recognising the signs, she encouraged Ross to get help and clean up.
Rhona’s other love interests
Rhona is married to chef Marlon, but her love life has certainly had its ups and downs.
After the trauma of her split with Paddy and ordeal at the hands of Peirce, Rhona fell for farmhand Peter Barton.
The couple got engaged in 2019, but the relationship faltered after Rhona was injured in a farming accident. She had to undergo a hysterectomy and was and told she’d never be able to have more children.
Rhona and Pete finally finished after she shared a kiss with Nate Robinson.
Marriage to Marlon
Rhona and Marlon reunited for the fourth time in 2021. They at first just enjoyed spending family time together, but that grew into something more and they decided to give things another go.
Both planned to propose to the other, but various mishaps meant it didn’t happen. Rhona eventually planned a surprise party for Marlon’s birthday and decided to pop the question there. Marlon got down on his knee at the same time and the couple got engaged.
However tragedy struck when Marlon went home to get the ring and had a stroke. He was found by daughter April and rushed to hospital.
It’s been a long road to recovery, but Marlon and Rhona have persevered. They finally married in August 2022 with Marlon surprising his bride by walking down the aisle.
Is Ivy really Rhona’s daughter?
Ivy was conceived using one of Rhona’s embryos that had been frozen when she was with Gus. He used them with his new wife Lucy without Rhona’s permission.
However, even though biologically Ivy is a part of Rhona, she doesn’t have any legal rights.
Baby Ivy arrived in the world safely, but sadly Lucy died due to complications from child birth. Acting on her maternal instincts, Rhona became attached to little Ivy and was desperate to be part of her daughter’s life.
When Gus announced his intention to move to France with Ivy, Rhona panicked and snatched Ivy – but found herself under arrest for kidnap and was forced to stand trial.
She was found not guilty and Gus was then made to stand trial for fraud. He was sentenced to eight years in prison, meaning Ivy went to live with Rhona and Marlon.
Marlon was close to divorcing Rhona after she turned on Gus in court during her victim impact statement and made sure he went down for a long time. Marlon felt it was too far and she was being selfish. He also got upset that she didn’t consult him and revealed it has been a pattern of their relationship.
They eventually agreed to work hard to save their marriage.
Rhona Goskirk’s past dragged up as April went missing in Emmerdale
On Christmas Day 2024, Rhona and Marlon’s worlds turned upside down when daughter April went missing. Rhona’s own past came back to haunt her when an article from the Hotten Corier implied she’d been to blame for April’s disappearance.
April since resurfaced, returning home to Marlon and Rhona earlier this year. However, she wasn’t alone – and her friend from the streets, Dylan, came looking for her a few weeks later. Dylan’s friendship with April has alarm bells ringing for Marlon and Rhona – particularly the latter, who realises how dangerous addiction can be.
Who plays Rhona Goskirk?
Rhona Goskirk in Emmerdale is played by British actress Zoe Henry. Zoe was born on 3 September 1973 and grew up in Essex. She attended Manchester Metropolitan University School of Theatre.
Zoe’s first TV role was a bit part in the pilot episode of Cold Feet. Prior to Emmerdale she also had parts in dramas such as Grafters, Dalziel and Pascoe, The Bill and A Touch of Frost. She also played in the lead in BBC drama Conviction.
Zoe has had two stints in rival soap, Coronation Street, playing the characters of Log Thwaite and Casey Carswell. And in 2009, Zoe starred in EastEnders as Detective Constable Deanne Cunningham.
Off-screen, Zoe is married to her childhood sweetheart and Emmerdale co-star Jeff Hordley, who plays Cain Dingle. The couple have been together for 30 years and have two teenage children.
Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm.
Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.30pm and 2.05pm.