The character was introduced by series producer Steve Frost and appeared initially in 2001 and 2002. She returned to Emmerdale as a full-time character in March 2010, reintroduced by series producer Gavin Blyth. She has been through a diverse range of storylines, including a romantic bond with comedic chef Marlon Dingle (Mark Charnock); giving birth to their son Leo Goskirk, who has Down Syndrome; marrying Paddy Kirk (Dominic Brunt); becoming addicted to painkillers, discovering Paddy's affair with her friend Tess Harris (Nicola Stephenson) after Tess' death; pursuing a manipulative relationship with Tess's widower Pierce Harris (Jonathan Wrather), her near-death in the soap's biggest stunt known as "No Return Week", marital rape at the hands of Pierce; becoming infertile after a farming accident; and bringing Pierce to justice for killing her boyfriend Graham Foster (Andrew Scarborough) amid feuding with Graham's estranged boss and ex-wife Kim Tate (Claire King).