Nikki Shadwick

Nicola "Nikki" Shadwick is a character in Channel 4 soap Brookside played by Suzanne Collins from 27 March 1998 until the programme's final episode on 4 November 2003.

Nikki's storylines have included being "date-raped" by Luke Musgrove at a party at Number 5, hosted by Leo Johnson and Tim O'Leary.

Not long after this ordeal, Nikki had to deal with the deaths of her father Greg and brother Jason after an explosion on Brookside Parade, and was also stalked by an obsessive friend at her University.

The eldest daughter, Nikki, was a university student and seemed happy living on Brookside Close and got along with most people.

[1] After passing out and being laid on a bed by revellers, Nikki awoke to find her clothing had been interfered with and she had been raped.

After a failed attempt to leave the country for his native Ireland, Luke finally handed himself in to the police.

In 1999 an explosion at Millennium Club, her father Greg, who was at the time having an affair with Susannah Farnham was killed.

Nikki took the tragedy well, however her mother Margi didn't and moved to Brussels, while her younger sister Emily also took it badly and started a hate-campaign against Susannah.

Jimmy's daughter Lindsay suspects Nikki has an ulterior motive, however for the time being her intentions remain platonic.

While in a secure psychiatric hospital, Jimmy decides he wants to divorce Jackie and she finally leaves.

Being as Jackie has left and his daughter Lindsay lives away the doctors are concerned about releasing him if there is no-one there to ensure he takes his medication.

[6] Jimmy's behaviour becomes increasingly erratic and it puts strain on their friendship, leaving Nikki wondering if she has made the right decision.

During the siege Nikki is almost raped again and Jimmy's poor mental health starts to show under stress.

Nikki is distraught at the death of her younger sister, particularly being as her brother and father had died only three years earlier.

Later on however when Jimmy found out there was a possibility he had lung cancer he broke off the engagement, not wanting to be a burden to Margi and make her a widow twice over.

Later when Jimmy found that he didn't have lung cancer, but another fatal disease, asbestosis he explained to Nikki and she forgave him.