Jo Sugden
DOB: Not known
Marital status: Married to Andy
Address: Butler’s Farm
Occupation: Farmer's wife and stepmother
First arrived
In 2005. Sex bomb Jo Stiles descended on the Dales after Paddy Kirk went looking for a temporary receptionist for the vet surgery. Her arrival didn’t go unnoticed by the local men.
Character reference
Confident, bright and sassy, Jo knows what she wants from life and how she’s going to get it. An only child, Jo was used to hogging the limelight and being the centre of attention. However, Jo changed after getting together with Andy, and became a brilliant mother (to his daughter) and supportive, hardworking wife.
Love life
In the early days Jo agreed to go on a date with Danny Daggert but soon realised he was far too tame for a bad girl like her. She lived with Dawn Woods and her boyfriend Scott Windsor, but caused trouble when Scott tried to seduce her. Jo turned him down, but the damage was done and when Dawn’s mother Jean arrived in the village, she told the vet’s receptionist to move on.
Jo was delighted to be invited to stay at Butler's Farm with Andy Sugden and his wife Katie. However, the fragile peace was about to be shattered. Having sexy Jo around started to get on Katie's nerves, especially when Andy seemed more than happy with the view. She made moves to try and get her to leave, but Jo was determined to stay by whatever means.
When she saw Katie being kissed by Andy's teenage brother Daz, Jo saw an opportunity to blackmail her rival and Katie lived on tenterhooks, trying to work out what her next move would be. However, behind the clueless blonde's back, Jo was planting seeds of doubt in Andy's mind – and the farmer found himself unable to resist her.
By hinting that Katie couldn't be trusted, Jo managed to wreck Andy's already fragile faith in his wife. Believing Katie was sleeping with Jamie Hope behind his back the troubled lad fell into Jo's clutches and began a steamy affair with her. When the truth came out and he realised Katie had been faithful, Andy was horrified by actions and called time on his and Jo's affair.
Jo was heartbroken and humiliated but she wasn't done yet. Realising she had to change her tactics, Jo began to make herself totally indispensable to the family. It didn't hurt that she was a natural with Andy's baby daughter Sarah, who'd come to live with them – a job Katie struggled with. When push came to shove, Andy picked Jo and Katie moved out.
Andy and Jo were engaged to be married but their wedding plans were scuppered when Andy was sentenced to jail for the manslaughter of his foster mother, Sarah, back in 2000. Because of Andy's insecurity, the pair wed in prison. It was hardly a dream come true for Jo but she did it to please Andy.
Jo worked harder than ever to keep the farm going and take care of Sarah while Andy was in jail. She even had to deal with Andy's nasty former prison mate Charlie, who blackmailed Jo into letting him store guns in the Butler's barns. With Debbie's help, Jo eventually got rid of Charlie, but when Andy got back he was furious with Jo for not telling him anything about it.
Andy's resentment of Debbie (his daughter's biological mother) was reignited and Jo found herself in the middle of their altercations. When Andy found out that Jo had let Debbie see Sarah behind his back, he lost control of his temper and lashed out at Jo. Despite promises never to do it again, he hurt her several more times. But Jo refused to tell anyone because she loved Andy so much and knew people would tell her to leave him.
One of the last times Andy tried to attack Jo, she blurted out that she was pregnant so he would stop. It had the desired effect and Andy started treating her with kid gloves, believing she was carrying his child. But when he found out that she'd lied and was planning to leave him, he chased her into the barn. As Jo tried to get away, she pushed Andy and he fell on a spike which went through his left shoulder. Jo tried to free him but he lashed out in pain and she left him, telling him he should just die.
Andy was found by Daz and taken to hospital, where he told Diane that Jo was mad and had been hurting him. Diane, Daz and Victoria believed him until Debbie, who was the only one who knew the truth about the beatings, told them about the fake pregnancy and Jo's intention to leave Andy. Suddenly it all made sense and Diane knew Jo was the victim, not Andy.
Jo is now running Butler's Farm virtually single-handed and taking care of little Sarah with Debbie's help. But how much longer can she carry on living there when she has no intention of reuniting with Andy?
Memorable moments
- Jo and Katie had a cat fight in the manure up at Butler’s, much to the delight of all the show’s male viewers.
- Jo and Andy's wedding day.
- The first time Andy lashed out and hit Jo.
What next for Jo?
With Andy's violence out in the open, can Jo continue living at Butler's Farm or will she be forced to leave and start life again elsewhere?
About the actress
Roxanne Pallett completed a degree in media and cultural studies at university before landing her first acting role as Jo Stiles. Before joining the show, Roxanne was the founding member of girl band Urban Angel.
