Wheeler) comes to Emmerdale to get to know Bernice. They get on well, until Bernice has an affair with Nicola's fiancé, Carlos Diaz (Gary Turner). When Bernice leaves a few months later, Rodney is devastated. Rodney has a brief fling with Steph Stokes (Lorraine Chase) and dates Diane's sister Val Lambert (Charlie Hardwick). When Diane learns she has colon cancer, Rodney declares his undying love to her. However, she refuses to rekindle their relationship and rejects him in favour of boyfriend Jack Sugden (Clive Hornby). When Diane and Jack marry, Rodney and Val have a vicious showdown outside the church during which she reveals that he is the father of her son, Paul Lambert (Mathew Bose). Unable to cope with Paul's sexuality, Rodney struggles to bond with his son and the pair spend months at loggerheads before finally reconciling. Diane eventually forgives Rodney and Val for having had an affair behind her back. Rodney is delighted when Nicola gets engaged to fishmonger Simon Meredith (Dale Meeks), until his mother, Lesley Meredith (Sherrie Hewson), develops a crush on him. They have sex, but Rodney has regrets as he is not attracted to Lesley. Kelly Windsor (Adele Silva) takes Lesley's place at an event Rodney is attending, which leaves her humiliated and heartbroken. A serious relationship develops between Kelly and Rodney. When Lesley assumes Nicola is having an affair with Paul's boyfriend Ivan Jones (Daniel Brocklebank), Rodney takes Nicola's side. But when it emerges that Nicola has been trying to seduce Ivan, Rodney feels guilty and his relationship with Paul suffers. He and Paul eventually reconcile and Rodney later takes over planning Paul's wedding to Jonny Foster (Richard Grieve). Rodney loses both his house and antiques business due to owing a large amount of money to the Inland Revenue. He undertakes a variety of jobs, including a solar panel salesman and window cleaner. He finds permanent employment at Home Farm, working for the King brothers, Matthew King (Matt Healy), Jimmy King (Nick Miles) and Carl King (Tom Lister). When Nicola returns to the village after eighteen months, Rodney moves in with her after Paul forces him to choose between them. Rodney soon mends his relationship with Paul and works with Val to plan the stag do and reception for their son's civil partnership. Rodney rents Mill Brook Cottage from the Kings, agreeing to live with his daughter as long as she pays