The McAllister Family

The following is based on a profile in the book "The Emmerdale Family Album" (by Michael Heatly and Published by Boxtree Paperback - 30 June, 1995 ):-

"The Newcomers

The year of 1993 saw not one but two new family arrivals - and in both cases they were to supply much-needed community services in the shape of the post office and Doctor's Sugery

Yet beneath their placid public faces, the Windsors and the McAIlistcrs were as turbulent as any family with growing children

In December 1993, leading the 'brat pack' of new Emmerda/e stars were Noah Huntley and Camilla Power; who arrived as brother and sister Luke and Jessica McAllister. The pair had already appeared together in the children's television serial Moonacre. . . .

THE McALLISTERS
It had been many years since the village had boasted ils own doctor, so the arrival of Bernard McAllister and his family' from their former hospital position in suburban Surrey was a cause of much pleasure. As luck would have it, the Doctor would play a role in the events surrounding the 1993 air crash and its aftermath, but the benefits of a surgery in the village - instead of having to travel to Hotton for medical attention - would clearly be felt for some while to come.

In all, Old Hall became home to four people: the doctor, his wife- Angharad. plus teenage children l.uke and Jessica. The position (of teacher at local Hotten Comprehensive School initially gave Angharad McAIlister tle opportunity of keeping a motherly eye on her offspring - but the aflemmth of the plane crash saw her lending a hand in nonacademic ways as the school was commandeered for humanitarian purposes. ..."

"...Jessica, though two years younger than her brother, is rather more strcctwise and can quite often prove more mature - though not in matters of the heart. Her parents had hoped a move to the Dales would put distance between her and finace, Danny, a long-haired youth some years older than her, who they regarded as undesirable. Like so many teenagers, however, Jcssica proved less than willing to conform to her parents' wishes, and their disapproval probably prolonged the relationship beyond its natural end . . . "

30 Years of Emmerdale -- Lance Parkin (Hardcover - Granada Media - 7 October, 2002)
£15.19 (£18.99 elsewhere) from http://www.amazon.co.uk/

From the year 1995 page 94

"McALLISTER
Bernard and Angharad left Emmerdale, fed up with the feud with the Dingles. Things came to a head when it became clear Angharad would have to teach Tina Dingle. Meanwhile, Kathy's interest in Bernard had practically become stalking.

Jessica didn't accept the decision to leave, and ran off with Biff. She lost her virginity to him, but soon returned to her family, and left the village with them.

Luke stayed behind, and with the rest of his family gone he had the family home to himself. Without family pressure, he was able to have a relationship with Tina Dingle, and the two conducted a secret affair.

Jessica visited in April, and was shocked by this development. She phoned the Dingles to tell them. It was too late - Tina was pregnant. Luke suddenly began to realise that his life had changed: this was underlined when he missed an A-level exam because Tina had stomach pains. Tina also sold a valuable grandfather clock belonging to his father to raise money.
Tina and Luke still planned to get married and set a date for July. Tina turned up in a tiny (leather!) wedding dress, and ditched him at the altar. She'd never intended to marry him, she'd never been pregnant - she was just out for revenge for the death of her brother. "

Jessica McAllister
(December 1993 - 16 February 1995, April -1 June 1995, the #2000 episode in August 1995)

Played by Camilla Power

Jessica was said to be 16 years old in both March 1994 and February 1995

Camilla joined around the time of her l 7th birthday but had already appeared on television in programmes such as Over the Rainbow, Bonjour la Classe, The Chronicles of Narnia and The Silver Chair, as well as the film A Summer Story.

After leaving Emmerdale, she looked set for a bright future on screen, starring as Dora in the 1996 Christmas television special The Treasure Seekers (based on E. Nesbit's novel) and, shortly afterwards, the twin roles of Lisa and Zo in the 'Ruth Rendell Mystery.'

The Following is a small profile by Paul Berridge on Jessica ©2001

The McAllister family arrived in the village in late 1993, Camilla Power taking the part of Jessica. She had already appeared on television in programmes such as The Chronicals of Narnia, Over the Rainbow and The Silver Chair.
When she arrived in Emmerdale, Jessica already had a boyfriend called Danny, but much to her parents dismay she dropped him in favour of her brother Luke's friend Biff Fowler.

The relationship wasn't to last and Biff started seeing Linda Glover. Jessica's time in Emmerdale wasn't a happy one and the last straw for her had been Tina Dingle convincing her brother Butch that Jessica harboured a secret desire for him, which ended with Biff Fighting Butch in the Woolpack and Betty Eagleton pouring an ice bucket over them.

Emmerdale Home Page