Emmerdale's Nicola Wheeler teases Nicola's shock Naomi discovery

Emmerdale spoilers follow.

Nicola Wheeler has opened up about her character Nicola King's shocking discovery over newcomer Naomi Walters on Emmerdale.

In new scenes on the soap, Nicola is set to meet Naomi at the café after the latter starts a job there, though realises she recognises her voice and trainers, deducing that she was involved in the traumatic attack on her earlier this year.

"Initially Nicola says hello to Naomi at the cafe and thinks she's lovely," Wheeler explains. "She spots Naomi's trainers, but doesn't put two and two together initially. She's a little bit spooked by these trainers.

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"Naomi is chatting away about her life. Nicola is distracted because she senses something is wrong. It's more of a physical response, which is interesting as Nicola's anxiety is a physical response to the actual attack.

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"Then Nicola hears the words 'I'm sorry', which Naomi said at the attack scene, and this is the trigger. Although she doesn't remember Naomi saying 'I'm sorry', the voice is a trigger and she panics. She knows this feeling is the same one she had when she was attacked.

"Nicola accuses Naomi straight away and of course Naomi denies it. Then Nicola becomes uncertain as to what's true and what's not."

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Wheeler admits that her character has a "gut feeling" about Naomi's involvement, though Charles talks her out of it.

"He questions how sure Nicola is," she continued. "Nicola says it's not Naomi's face she recognises, it's her trainers and her voice. She's not certain but she goes to the police because she has to go with what she feels. She doesn't know Naomi was there, but she feels 100% that she was there."

The actress says Nicola is "absolutely" scared of Naomi, and "recoils" from her, noting: "Although she accuses her, she also realises she's at the cafe on her own with Naomi. She's petrified and it begins her agoraphobia again. She starts to get worse again, just when she was getting better again, she hits a wall."

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As for possible forgiveness, Wheeler admits that her character would "absolutely not" do so. "Even though Nicola believes Naomi didn't take part in the attack, she can't remember that," she says.

"Accusations are flying and Naomi's family are getting involved, because they're going to believe her. Charles is a vicar so he's got to support his daughter but support one of his congregation too. There's all this chaos that happens around this and Nicola realises it's going to be difficult with Naomi being Charles's daughter, but she still goes to the police."

Wheeler adds: "Naomi eventually confesses that she was there. She didn't take part in the attack, but she didn't stop it and hasn't come forward, so as far as Nicola is concerned, she's as guilty as the others."

Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7.30pm on ITV and streams on the ITV Hub.