List of Emmerdale Farm characters (1988)

Last updated

The following is a list of characters that first appeared in the British soap opera Emmerdale in 1988, by order of first appearance. Sarah Sugden (originally played by Madeleine Howard) first appeared in April, with Dennis Rigg (Richard Franklin) debuting in July. Kate Sugden (Sally Knyvette), and is soon followed by her children, Rachel (Glenda McKay) and Mark Hughes (Craig McKay). Additionally, multiple other characters appeared throughout the year.

Contents

Sarah Sugden

Denis Rigg

Denis Rigg, played by Richard Franklin, appeared between 1988 and 1989. He cheats Alan Turner (Richard Thorp) into selling his share of Home Farm to him at a low price. Alan's business partner, Joe Sugden (Frazer Hines), is angry at this and promptly sells his share too. Denis goes on to terrorise the villagers by threatening to evict them all from their homes if they refuse to comply with his demands, since he owns the majority of the houses and farms in the area. Denis looks to Emmerdale Farm to expand his business, and this leads to a confrontation between him and Joe. In the barn, a bull gets aggravated by Denis' threatening and aggressive behaviour, and crushes him against a wall, killing him. [1]

Kate Sugden

Kate Sugden
Emmerdale character
Portrayed by Sally Knyvette
Duration1988–1991
First appearance25 August 1988 (1988-08-25)
Last appearance20 August 1991 (1991-08-20)
Classification Former; regular
Introduced byStuart Doughty
In-universe information
Occupation
  • Waitress
  • Supermarket worker
  • Farmer
Father Eddie Hammond
Husband David Hughes (1968–1986)
Joe Sugden (1989–1991)
Sons Mark Hughes
Daughters Rachel Hughes
Grandsons Joe Tate

Kate Sugden (also Hughes), played by Sally Knyvette, made her first appearance on 25 August 1988. The character was introduced by new series producer Stuart Doughty, who wanted the serial to feel more up to date. [2] Divorcée Kate and her teenage children were considered "outsiders" and not used to country life, which challenged the Sugden's way of life. [2]

Kate arrives in the village with her two children Rachel Hughes (Glenda McKay) and Mark Hughes (Craig McKay) following her divorce from David Hughes (Martyn Whitby). She clashes with Joe Sugden (Frazer Hines) after he shoots her dog; they eventually fell in love. She marries Joe later that year despite opposition from Rachel and Mark. Kate quits her job as a waitress and buys Matt Skilbeck's (Frederick Pyne) share of Emmerdale Farm. After arguing with Rachel's lover Pete Whiteley (Jim Millea), Kate has several drinks at The Woolpack and accidentally runs down and kills Pete with her car. Kate receives a two-year prison sentence for manslaughter. When she is released from prison 12 months later, she tries to reconcile her marriage with Joe, but they are unable to make it work, so Kate ends their marriage. Realising there is nothing left in Beckindale for her, Kate leaves the village for her home city of Sheffield. Rachel and Mark stay with Joe in Emmerdale. Kate does not attend Mark's funeral, after he dies in a plane crash. A few years later, Kate dies off-screen of a brain haemorrhage.

Rachel Hughes

Rachel Hughes, played by Glenda McKay, arrives in Beckindale in 1988 with her mother Kate (Sally Knyvette) and brother Mark (Craig McKay). Rachel discovers she is pregnant, and gives birth to son Joe, on the same day her former stepfather died, naming her son in his honour. In 1998, Rachel begins dating schoolteacher Graham Clark (Kevin Pallister) and he begins to exert control over her, by getting her to dye her hair and dress like his late wife Rebecca. Graham takes Rachel on a picnic, where she tries to end their relationship. When Graham tries to force himself on her, Rachel tries to flee but he corners her on a clifftop. Rachel then informs Graham that she knows he killed his wife; Graham panics and pushes Rachel off the cliff to her death. In 2017, Rachel and Chris' son Joseph Tate (now Ned Porteous) returns to the village under the false name Tom Waterhouse to get revenge on Charity Dingle (Emma Atkins). Joseph talks about Rachel's death and how he doesn't remember her.

Mark Hughes

Mark Hughes
Emmerdale character
Portrayed byCraig McKay
Duration1988–1994
First appearance7 September 1988 (1988-09-07)
Last appearance4 January 1994 (1994-01-04)
Classification Former; regular
Introduced byStuart Doughty
In-universe information
Father David Hughes
Mother Kate Sugden
Stepfather Joe Sugden (1989–1991)
Sisters Rachel Hughes
Grandfathers Eddie Hammond
Nephews Joseph Tate

Mark Hughes, played by Craig McKay, first appears on 7 September 1988. He is introduced as the 15-year-old son of Kate (Sally Knyvette), alongside sister Rachel (Glenda McKay). He becomes a troublesome teenager, which coincided with his mother's relationship and subsequent marriage to Joe Sugden (Frazer Hines). Mark runs away from home after Kate announces her intention to move in with Joe. He intends to go to Germany to be with his father, but only makes it as far as Hull. His father David (Martyn Whitby) alerts Kate, who brings Mark home.

When he goes to the pub with his sister and her older friends, he wants to prove he is mature by drinking alcohol, but is cautioned for underage drinking. Mark then begins shoplifting. He steals items he does not need, and is eventually caught by Rachel and Sarah Connolly (Madeleine Howard). He is subsequently arrested and given a warning at the police station, meanwhile, his mother collapses and suffers a miscarriage; Mark blames himself for this. After leaving school, Mark initially intends to join the army and follow in his father's footsteps. However, he decides to stay at school and study A-Levels in Art, Technical Drawing and English. However, he refuses to turn up to his final exams and as a result, loses his place at Glasgow University. Mark then gets himself into debt by letting his friends use telephone chatlines, and he has to get a job at the Woolpack to pay them off. Mark dies in the 1993 plane crash that affects the village. Mark is crushed by a falling wall, and Jack Sugden (Clive Hornby) identifies his body after recognising his watch amongst recovered items.

Other characters

CharacterDate(s)ActorCircumstances
Judy MacDonald6–12 January 1988,
12 April–3 May 1990
(9 episodes)
Natalie Worsnopp
Uncredited
The daughter of Jock (Drew Dawson) and Liz MacDonald (Lizzie Mickery). When Jock and Liz separate, Judy goes to live with her mother.
Sonia Bates6-8 February
(2 episodes)
Erica Lynley Malcolm Bates' (Tom Adams) second wife. She gives birth to their son William in October 1987. She and William attend Malcolm's daughter, Kathy's (Malandra Burrows) wedding to Jackie Merrick (Ian Sharrock).
William BatesUncreditedThe son of Sonia (Erica Lynley) and Malcolm Bates (Tom Adams).
Stephen Fuller13 April–23 JuneGregory FloyA lumberjack who shows interest in cutting down some trees in the plantation at Home Farm. Stephen begins an affair with Dolly Skilbeck (Jean Rogers) due to her frustration with her husband Matt's (Frederick Pyne) lack of ambition. Stephen and Dolly's affair is short-lived and they part amicably and he leaves for Scotland. In November, News reaches Beckindale that Stephen has been killed by a falling tree, which leaves Dolly devastated. Dolly then arranges his funeral.
Rosemary Gray17–18 August 1988,
15–27 March 1990

(6 episodes)
Christina GreatrexA friend of Alan Turner (Richard Thorp). Alan invites Rosemary to dinner in order to make Caroline Bates jealous. Alan later invites Rosemary to the Hunt Ball at Home Farm, where he leads her to believe that he lives. However, it is not long before Alan's deception is revealed to Rosemary.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Sugden</span> Fictional character from Emmerdale

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vic Windsor</span> Fictional character from Emmerdale

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Annie Sugden</span> Fictional character from Emmerdale

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amos Brearly</span> Fictional character from Emmerdale

Amos Brearly is a fictional character from the British television soap opera Emmerdale, played by Ronald Magill. He made his first appearance during the serial's debut episode on 16 October 1972. Amos ran The Woolpack pub and was the village gossip. A double act was later formed between Amos and Henry Wilks, which lasted for 19 years. Amos became known for his bushy sideburns and catchphrase "Nay, Mr Wilks". Magill left the show in January 1991, but reprised the role for several brief appearances until July 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sarah Sugden</span> Fictional character from Emmerdale

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Sugden</span> Fictional character from Emmerdale

Joseph "Joe" Sugden is a fictional character from the British television soap opera Emmerdale, played by Frazer Hines. He first appeared on-screen during the soap's first episode broadcast 16 October 1972 and remained in the programme until 1983. After a brief return in the following year, Hines reprised his role on a permanent basis in 1986, a landmark year for the show under Richard Handford. He made his last appearance in August 1994, and subsequently died off-screen the following year. In 2019, Hines confirmed that he would like to return to the soap despite his off-screen death.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henry Wilks</span> Fictional character from Emmerdale

Henry Wilks is a fictional character from the British television soap opera Emmerdale, played by Arthur Pentelow. He ran the Woolpack public house alongside Amos Brearly for nearly 20 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rachel Hughes</span> Fictional character from Emmerdale

Rachel Hughes is a fictional character from the British television soap opera Emmerdale, portrayed by Glenda McKay. She made her first appearance during the episode broadcast on 7 September 1988 and departed following the character's death on 12 May 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dolly Skilbeck</span> Fictional character from Emmerdale

Dolly Skilbeck is a fictional character from the British television soap opera Emmerdale. Dolly made her first on-screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 22 February 1977. The character was initially played by Katharine Barker, before Jean Rogers took over the role in 1980. She remained in the role until her departure from Emmerdale in 1991. Dolly is characterised as kind, generous and a homemaker. She is a "townie" from Darlington who arrives in Beckindale to work at the local pub, The Woolpack. Writers quickly developed a romance with Matt Skilbeck. He was a widower and had previously has two children that had died.

Glenda McKay is a British actress.

The Emmerdale Plane Crash, also known as the Beckindale Air Disaster, was a storyline for the British soap opera Emmerdale, broadcast on ITV. The episode aired on 30 December 1993, and gave Emmerdale its highest-ever viewing figures of 18 million.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kathy Glover</span> Fictional character from Emmerdale

Katherine "Kathy" Brookman is a fictional character from the British television soap opera Emmerdale, played by Malandra Burrows. She made her first appearance during the episode broadcast on 26 November 1985. In 2001, new series producer Steve Frost decided to write the character out. Burrows briefly reprised the role in 2005, as Kathy returns for the funeral of Seth Armstrong. She was one of the show's central characters throughout that time.

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.

References

  1. "100 amazing facts about Emmerdale". Inside Soap . No. 130. 26 June – 9 July 1999. pp. 40–43. Baddie Dennis Rigg came to a nasty end when he was crushed by the Sugdens' prize bull in 1989.
  2. 1 2 Parkin 2002, p.73.