| Billy Hopwood | |||||||||||||||
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| Emmerdale character | |||||||||||||||
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| Portrayed by | David Crellin | ||||||||||||||
| Duration | 1997–1998, 2003, 2006–2007 | ||||||||||||||
| First appearance | 3 July 1997 | ||||||||||||||
| Last appearance | 19 October 2007 | ||||||||||||||
| Classification | Former; regular | ||||||||||||||
| Introduced by | Mervyn Watson (1997) Steve Frost (2003) Kathleen Beedles (2006) | ||||||||||||||
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William "Billy" Hopwood is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Emmerdale , played by David Crellin.
Crellin first appeared in Emmerdale in 1997, when Billy was one of a host of new characters producers introduced into the series that year. [1] He departed after one year and returned briefly in 2003. In November 2006, it was announced that Crellin had agreed to reprise the role of Billy. [2] Crellin told Digital Spy that the serial's producers contacted him six months prior asking him to return. Crellin had always found the role "enjoyable" so thought it was a great idea to return. Although he accepted straight away, his only reservation was that Billy would behave in the same way he previously did. Crellin also said that he would stay in Emmerdale until they became bored of the character or he was no longer useful in storylines. [3]
Crellin told Digital Spy that Billy originally wanted to make money and live a "champagne lifestyle like everybody else has." He said that Billy perceives everyone else as having cars, houses and normal jobs. He thinks that they have not worked hard for these acquisitions. [3] Billy "wants what they've got and does whatever he can to get it." Crellin said that Billy turns to robbery because he is not "very intelligent". In the character's back story, he took drugs, took part in business raids, sought involvement in an "inner-city gang", and carried firearms. Crellin said that if Billy had a different background then "he would have been a very different man". Billy is a "product of his environment" and just wants to live a life where he has his own house and possessions. Billy's desire for more and his lack of achievement force him to make "some ridiculous and monumental mistakes." [3]
In December 1998, Billy commits a robbery at the local post office and which results in a struggle with postmaster Vic Windsor (Alun Lewis). Vic is killed during the struggle. [4] Crellin said that Billy did not go out of his way to murder Vic. He "turned up unexpectedly and in the struggle he banged his head, he didn't actually deliberately murder him." [3]
When Billy is released from prison, Crellin said that Billy just wants contact with his sons Andy Sugden (Kelvin Fletcher) and Daz Eden (Luke Tittensor). [3] Crellin explained that Billy "gets a very mixed response due to his past behaviour, Andy struggles, he's bound to struggle, and I think he's going to struggle for a long, long time." Billy wants to "lay down some kind of roots" in the village because he has spent his life being a drifter or incarcerated. Billy is not a good father because he is from a dysfunctional family himself. It is "difficult" for Billy to be a parent because he was never given an example as a child. [3]
However, the "first hurdle" he has to overcome is Vic's widow, Viv Hope (Deena Payne). Vic's daughter Kelly Windsor (Adele Silva) does not want Billy living in the village either. Crellin opined that the situation between Billy and Kelly is "a very difficult one." Billy did not mean to kill Vic and "he has no issue with Kelly", but the situation makes Billy realise why Kelly does not want him there. He attributed Billy's actions as the reason why Kelly herself is "quite a damaged person". [3] Tittensor told a reporter from What's on TV that Daz is wary of his father's return although they there is a "strong bond between them". While Daz is "pleased and wants to see him", he attempts to keep away from Billy because Andy and Jack Sugden (Clive Hornby) do not approve. While Daz what Jack appreciates has done for him, Billy is his actual father and meets with him. [5] Tittensor added that Jack is "scared" that he might lose Daz to Billy, but he cannot stop him. Daz wants Billy around and "the more people go against Billy, the more likely Daz is to side with his dad" because he does not believe that Billy is as bad as everyone says he is. Billy seems "very genuine" and does not have a hidden agenda. [5]
Billy has an affair with Jack's wife Diane (Elizabeth Estensen), which is later exposed. The revelation affects his relationship with Daz. Billy is featured in the serial's 35th anniversary storyline. After Victoria exposed his affairs and causes him to lose "love of his life", he gets revenge by telling her that Jack killed her mother Sarah Sugden (Alyson Spiro). Victoria then starts a fire at her family home. [6] Billy enters the burning house and save the Sugdens out of guilt.
Having been released from prison, Billy arrives in the village to see his son Andy, who is fostered by the Sugden family. Andy chooses to live with his real father. Billy is a criminal and spends most of his time trying to deceive his fellow residents. This culminates with him attempting an armed robbery on the village Post Office on Christmas Day 1998. Postmaster Vic is fatally injured in the robbery. Billy is arrested and later sent to prison for murder. Andy is then adopted by the Sugden family. In 2003, Andy is surprised to find a boy in his house named Daz, claiming to be his half-brother. Daz tells Andy they share a father, and Andy initially refuses to have anything to do with Daz. Andy later decides to visit Billy in prison, where he confirms that Daz is really his half-brother and that he was the one who sent Daz in search of Andy.
Billy isn't mentioned again until late 2006, when Viv and her husband Bob Hope (Tony Audenshaw) receive a letter informing them that Billy is up for parole. Kelly happens to intercept the letter and is disgusted to discover that her father's murderer is going to be released. The Sugden family are also shocked to learn Billy was paroled and is devastated to learn that Billy is opposing Jack and Diane's application to adopt Daz. Billy claims that he does not want to lose another son. Jack is sceptical about this, believing it is just a plot to get bail. When questions Daz about his father, it is clear that he is not against him. Billy is released from prison and returns to Emmerdale, and immediately goes to find his sons. Andy makes it very clear he wants nothing to do with Billy, though Daz seems unsure and later visits Billy alone, in an attempt to get to know him better.
Billy decides to take a night shift job as a rubbish collector. Kelly pays Eli Dingle (Joseph Gilgun) to tamper with the brakes on Billy's vehicle to cause an accident. He later sees Victoria being harassed by an older male and rescues her. Billy offers Victoria a lift home, unaware that the truck he is driving is faulty. While driving back, the brakes fail to work causing Billy to crash into a lake. He escapes from the vehicle but realises that Victoria is trapped. He dives under water to several times to provide her with oxygen until paramedics rescue her. Jack reluctantly thanks Billy for risking his own life to save Victoria. He informs him that it still does not change the situation.
Billy and Diane realise they have feelings for each other and decide they should not act on their feelings. Diane sets Billy up on a date with her sister Val Lambert (Charlie Hardwick) and the pair share a kiss. Diane then becomes jealous of their relationship. Billy argues with Diane over her interfering in his relationship. Diane becomes angry and pushes Billy into a wall. They try to sort out their differences; Billy then declares his love for Diane and they kiss. Billy then tries to force Diane to choose between him and Jack. Diane cannot cope with the confusion and goes away for a while. Billy steals Debbie's car to try and catch Diane before she leaves, but the police arrest him before he gets to her. Val visits Billy in custody and realises that he has been seeing Diane. Victoria discovers the truth about their affair and informs Jack. Victoria then insults Billy to the point that he reveals the truth about her mother's death. Diane tells Billy that she does not love him and simply enjoyed the element of danger that their relationship created. Victoria sets a fire in her house to get revenge on her family. Billy rescues Andy and Jack, but an explosion traps Billy. Everyone presumes that Billy is dead until he is pulled from the fire. Billy recovers in hospital with Daz keeping a vigil by his bedside. Whilst Daz is asleep, Billy discharges himself and leaves the hospital.
Graham Keal of the Daily Record opined that Billy and Diane's affair was "disastrous" and branded Billy as a "bad boy". [7] Jane Simon of the Daily Mirror said that "no one would shed a tear for Billy" if he had died in the lorry accident. [8] The accident involving Billy and Victoria was nominated for "Spectacular Scene of the Year" at the 2007 British Soap Awards. [9] Simon said that Billy is the "worst father in the world". While he is not good at parenting, Simon quipped that he was becoming the "world's most hard-working bin-man – along with racing to fulfil every one of Jimmy's outrageous demands, he now seems to be providing a seven-day, round-theclock collection service for the villagers of Emmerdale." [10]
John Jacob "Jack" Sugden is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Emmerdale. The character was originally played by Andrew Burt from 1972 to 1973 with a brief return in 1976, when the actor left for Italy to write a book. On his return in 1980 he was played by Clive Hornby. Hornby remained in the role until 2008 when he was forced to take a break from Emmerdale due to illness. His last on-screen appearance was on 21 February 2008, and his absence was explained by the character visiting his mother, Annie Sugden in Spain. Although Hornby was intended to return, he died from his illness in July 2008 without returning to the programme. Jack was written out following Hornby's death, dying off-screen of a heart attack in February 2009.
Andy Sugden is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera, Emmerdale, played by Kelvin Fletcher. He made his first on-screen appearance on 4 July 1996. Andy is the son of Billy Hopwood and Trisha Hopwood and the adoptive son of Jack Sugden and Sarah Sugden.
Robert Sugden is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Emmerdale. The character originally appeared on the show regularly between 22 April 1986 and 3 October 2005. During that time he was first played as a baby by Richard Smith between 1986 and 1989 before the role was taken over by Christopher Smith from 1989 until 2001. In 2001, Karl Davies took over the role in order for the character to become involved in more adult storylines, as he grew older. Davies briefly reprised his role as Robert for one episode, airing on 10 February 2009, when he returned for the funeral of his father and Emmerdale's longest running character, Jack Sugden. The character returned on 23 October 2014, with actor Ryan Hawley taking over the role.
Diane Sugden is a fictional character from the British soap opera Emmerdale, played by Elizabeth Estensen. Since her first appearance in 1999, she has been involved in several high-profile storylines, including her marriage to Jack Sugden and his subsequent death, a battle with colon cancer, the revelation that her ex-husband Rodney Blackstock fathered her sister Val Lambert's son, being held hostage in a siege at the Woolpack, sleeping with Val's husband Eric Pollard, being involved in a helicopter crash which kills Val, being stabbed by Chas Dingle, and a feud with Chrissie White. In September 2021, it was announced that Estensen had made the decision to take a break from acting and her initial final appearance as Diane aired on 29 October 2021. However, the following year, Estensen returned to the role of Diane for a guest stint from 12 to 20 October 2022 to celebrate Emmerdale's 50th anniversary.
Terry Woods is a fictional character from the British television soap opera Emmerdale, played by Billy Hartman. He was one of the longest-serving characters in the show up until he was killed off alongside Viv Hope in early 2011, after 16 years.
Jo Stiles is a fictional character from the British soap opera Emmerdale, played by Roxanne Pallett. She made her first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 26 August 2005 and her last on 22 December 2008.
Victor "Vic" Windsor is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Emmerdale, played by Alun Lewis for a period of five years, from 1993 until 1998. Vic was the second husband of shopkeeper, Viv Windsor, and also father of Kelly Windsor and Donna Windsor. He was killed off in an armed robbery by Billy Hopwood on Christmas Day 1998.
Victoria Sugden is a fictional character from the British soap opera Emmerdale, played since 12 October 2006 by Isabel Hodgins. As a young child, Victoria was played by Jessica Heywood until 1997, followed by Hannah Midgley from 1997 to 2006. Victoria is currently the longest serving female character on the soap. Her storylines have included surviving an explosion which she caused, being put in psychiatric care, being bullied at school, romancing with Daz Eden, marrying Adam Barton, accidentally running over Ashley Thomas, coping when Adam goes on the run, falling in love with Adam's brother Matty and being the victim of rape during her night out in April 2019, leading to her pregnancy as a result and giving birth to a son named Harry.
Annie Sugden is a fictional character from the British television soap opera Emmerdale. She was played by Sheila Mercier as a regular character between 1972 and 1994, with occasional guest appearances in the show after her original departure. Mercier cut back on location filming during the late 1980s and eventually left the serial in 1994 due to the gruelling schedule. Annie was one of Emmerdale's original characters, appearing in its first episode on 16 October 1972 and became the longest serving female character in the series' history. She was the soap's "first matriarch", the maternal force behind the Sugden family, who were collectively one of Emmerdale's main focal points.
Sarah Connolly is a fictional character from the British television soap opera Emmerdale. She was first played by Madeleine Howard from 1988 until 1994 then by Alyson Spiro from 1994 until 2000.
Darren "Daz" Eden is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Emmerdale, played by Luke Tittensor. He made his first appearance in the show on 9 October 2003. Six years into his tenure on the soap, it was announced that Tittensor had been released from Emmerdale due to a conviction of grievous bodily harm. Following a meeting with the show's bosses, the decision was taken to terminate Tittensor's contract due to the serious nature of the charge and to allow him to focus on the court case.
Scarlett Mary Nicholls is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Emmerdale. She is played by Kelsey-Beth Crossley and made her first appearance on 2 March 2007. It was announced on 8 May 2011 that Crossley was leaving the show. She made her final appearance on 28 July 2011. On 21 October 2012, it was announced Crossley would make a brief return to Emmerdale.
Sarah Sugden is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Emmerdale, played by Katie Hill since January 2017. She is the daughter of Andy Sugden and Debbie Dingle and has appeared since June 2005. Her storylines in the series have included her diagnosis of Fanconi anaemia, her subsequent health struggles following her diagnosis and being involved with drug dealer Danny Harrington.
Donna Windsor is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Emmerdale. She was originally played by Sophie Jeffery until 1997. Actress Verity Rushworth took over the role in 1998. She made her first appearance in the show on 31 August 1993. Donna departed on 30 January 2009. At the time of her departure, Donna was the third longest running character on Emmerdale. It was announced on 8 January 2014 that Rushworth had decided to reprise her role as Donna for five months. She returned on 19 March 2014 and it was revealed that Donna was terminally ill with lung cancer. Donna committed suicide on 14 August 2014, after throwing herself and Gary North from a multi-storey car park to her death, but made her final appearance the following day, on 15 August 2014.
The Sugdens are a fictional family in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale. Introduced during the show's conception in 1972, they were the main family for storylines between the 1970s and 1980s and remained as such for many years. The families original unit consisted of widowed farmer Annie Sugden, alongside her children Peggy Skilbeck, Jack Sugden and Joe Sugden. Subsequently these characters went on to produce more generations of Sugdens.