Village vicar Ashley may be devoted to his faith, but he’s no saint when it comes to women with two marriages in five years. But does his best to stay true to his Christian principles, even if it’s a struggle, and is a true friend to parishioners in need.
1996 Takes over as Emmerdale’s vicar. Confronts the Dingles over a carol singing scam at Christmas.
1998 Is smitten with temporary bar manager Bernice, but she’s unimpressed that he’s a vicar.
1999 Continues to hold a candle for Bernice when she returns to the village with her fiancé, Gavin. Bernice splits from Gavin and Ashley’s hopes are raised.
2000 Tells Bernice that he’s in love with her. The couple get together and Ashley proposes and they wed on Christmas Day.
2001 Bernice becomes pregnant but miscarries the baby, putting strain on the marriage. Bernice starts an affair with local chef Carlos and falls pregnant, but is unsure of the paternity of the baby.
2002 Bernice has baby Gabby, who turns out to be Ashley’s daughter. They nearly reunite but Bernice leaves the village to start a new life.
2003 Starts a relationship with another barmaid, flirty Australian Louise. Doesn’t realise that cleaner Laurel Potts has secretly fallen for him.
2004 Splits up with Louise. Laurel admits her love for him, but he rebuffs her. Laurel nearly leaves for a new life abroad, but Ashley realises he’s in love with her too and makes a last minute dash to stop her.
2005 Briefly leaves the church when the Bishop disapproves of his relationship with Laurel. Squares things with the Bishop and weds Laurel. Appalled when his estranged dad Sandy turns up in the village.
2006 Goes through a rocky patch with Laurel. Finally makes peace with his dad.
John was born John Cooper on 7 September 1953 in Newcastle and is the eldest of six children. His mother and father were both involved with amateur dramatics, meeting at a theatre school in Bradford. The family moved to Warrington when John was 14 and then on to Fenham, where John’s late father, Richard Cooper, was a drama lecturer at the all-women college, while his mother taught English.
John developed an early taste for literature, which spurred him on to become an actor. He has had a successful TV career and has been seen in dramas such as Prime Suspect III, Hetty Wainthropp Investigates, Coronation Street, and two Catherine Cookson adaptations, The Round Tower and The Gambling Man.
John first appeared in Emmerdale in 1993 as a policeman called John Jarvis. He won the role of village vicar Ashley in 1996, but only appeared sporadically in the soap until he was made a permanent member of the cast in 1999.
John currently lives in Whitley Bay in Yorkshire with his wife, Christine, a teacher, who he met when they were both in their teens. The couple have two sons, George and Jack.
