As Dawn’s son TJ is taken away in Classic Emmerdale, why now is the perfect time for a return
He was last seen boarding a plane
In Classic Emmerdale scenes earlier this year, Dawn Woods died and her son TJ Woods was left in the care of his dad, Terry – who was dating TJ’s grandma Jean!
Toddler TJ was in the middle of Terry and Bob fighting for justice for Dawn after the Kings’ River housing development explodede and caused her death.
But Jean betrayed them all, took the compensation money the Kings offered and fled the country – with little TJ. But what happened next? Where is TJ now – and could he ever return to Emmerdale?
TJ’s birth in Emmerdale
Terry Junior is the son of Dawn and Terry Woods. He was born in October 2003. Dawn had contracted German measles while pregnant, so there was concern that TJ could be deaf, but they soon received news that this wasn’t the case.
While wetting TJ’s head, Terry suffered a stroke and collapsed. Once he was allowed home from hospital, Dawn struggled to look after both him and the baby.
Dawn soon began an affair with her stepbrother Scott Windsor, but once Terry discovered this he chucked Dawn out. A nasty custody battle over TJ then ensued.
Dawn wanted to take TJ to see her mum Jean in Spain and she warned Terry he would never see his son again. Terry called the police on Dawn to stop her leaving with their son. However, eventually, Dawn was awarded sole custody.
What happened to TJ in Emmerdale?
TJ was two and a half when his mum Dawn was killed in the explosion. Dawn’s mum Jean accepted compensation from the King family against Bob and Terry’s wishes and fled with TJ to Morocco.
Terry tracked them down and brought TJ back to the Dales, but the youngster struggled without his mum. He later contracted E-Coli, but luckily there was no lasting damage.
When TJ was seven, he became an orphan after Terry was killed in a fire. Dawn’s dad Bob Hope decided the best thing for TJ would be for him to join Jean in Morocco.
Viv had also died in the fire, leaving Bob to raise Cathy and Heath alone. Raising TJ too would have been too much for him.
Bob and Brenda took TJ to the airport. In 2012, Brenda went to visit TJ, and came back revealing she thought he was gay. However, not much has been heard of him since.
TJ’s future in Emmerdale
Tony Audenshaw, who plays Bob, recently revealed he does not know what the future holds for Bob on the show. So we reckon a return for TJ would be just the ticket!
Bob has been left bereft these last few years with various troubles and tragedies: “I mean, it’s been brilliant having these really big stories over the last few years,” Tony told Metro.co.uk.
“He lost his business partner with Bernice, and then Wendy had an affair with a doctor, and then Bob died in the street. Bob had a cardiac arrest. He was brought back to life by the doctor. His son [Heath] died. He’s gone through all the grieving process.” And just recently daughter Cathy and ex-wife Brenda left the village to go on a round-the-world cruise.
It all leaves Bob at a bit of a loose end – which is the best time to introduce some more of his family.
“There’s not been room for many laughs, because it’s a bit inappropriate. He’s got no partner at the moment, so maybe something might happen there. But I really don’t know what they’ve got planned for me. I’d love to do a bit more comedy,” Tony mused.
Why now is the perfect time for TJ to return to Emmerdale
Well what could bring a better storyline for Bob than a visit from grandson TJ? It could be just the medicine Bob needs.
TJ will be 21 now – Emmerdale has a chance to build a new character, in much the same way as they did with Joe Tate (who previously left as a child and returned as an adult). If he is gay, as Brenda had suspected, he’d be roughly the right age as a love interest for Arthur Thomas, who also could do with a new storyline.
It’s win, win, really!
Fans have previously speculated that Bradley Riches, who is joining Emmerdale next month, could be playing TJ. They all agreed building up Bob’s family would be a great idea – and we do too!
Read more: Who’s leaving Emmerdale? All the cast exits, arrivals and returns
Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm, with an early release on ITVX at 7am.
Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm.
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