- List of minor Emmerdale Farm characters (1972–73)
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Emmerdale minor characters 1972-73 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 The following is a list of minor characters that first appeared in the British soap opera Emmerdale Farm in 1972 and 1973, by order of first appearance.
Contents
Tom Merrick
Tom Merrick Emmerdale Farm Portrayed by David Hill (1972)
Edward Peel (1980–82)
Jack Carr (1985–86, 1988)Duration 1972-1988 First appearance 6 November 1972 Last appearance 11 February 1988 Created by Kevin Laffan Profile Relationships Spouse(s) Ruth Harker (1964–81) Children Tommy Merrick
Sandie MerrickGrandchildren Louise Merrick Thomas "Tom" Merrick is the first husband of Ruth Harker (later known as Pat). He appeared in 1972, 1980-82 and 1985-86, followed by a brief reappearance in 1988 at Jackie Merrick's wedding.
He was born in April 1941 (by early 1982 he says he is 40 years old) and married Ruth Harker in April 1964 when she was expecting Jack Sugden's child born just under 7 months after the wedding in early November that year, although Tom believed he was the father and spent years bringing up Jackie Merrick. Pat even told Tom Jackie was born 2 months premature so Tom believed he was the father. Very little is known about his early background before his marriage to Pat and any siblings he may have but his mother was a friend of Annie Sugden.
Tom returns to the village in 1972 and picks a fight with Joe Sugden after seeing Joe and Ruth together in "The Woolpack". Tom is suspicious of how their son, Jackie, bears a strong resemblance to Jack Sugden, as well as sharing his name, and Jack is later revealed as Jackie's father. Tom blackmails Jack when he finds out that he had been sleeping at Inglebrook while Henry Wilks was laid up, and Jack later fires Tom. The Merricks then move to Leeds.
Ruth - now calling herself Pat - and her children return in 1980, having left Tom. He reappears later that year, a much nastier and more menacing man than in 1972, although Pat is now seeing Jack. Pat tells Tom that she wants a divorce and he hits her. Tom tries framing Jack for arson in 1981 but Jack has an alibi and is never charged. Seth Armstrong later forces Tom out of the village with threats of disclosure about the fire and Pat soon divorces him. Tom returns in 1982 and finds out the truth over Jackie's parentage. He has a fight with jack Sugden outside the Woolpack. At 40 Tom thinks its a bit too late to change his ways completely from his drinking and leaves for Aberdeen in February 1982. Tom returns a few years later when is persuaded to look after the farm while Jack and Pat keep a bedside vigil for Jackie, who is in a coma following an accident. By then we see a mellower side to the character. He returns in 1986 for Pat's funeral and made his final appearance in February 1988 at Jackie's wedding to Kathy Bates. His final appearance in the show was on the 11th February 1988. He has not been seen or heard from since.
Sharon Crossthwaite
Sharon Crossthwaite Emmerdale Farm Portrayed by Louise Jameson Duration 1973 First appearance 22 January 1973 Last appearance 30 January 1973 Profile Occupation Hairdresser Relationships Parents Ronnie Crossthwaite
Beryl CrossthwaiteSharon Crossthwaite was a cousin of Annie Sugden. She appeared in 1973. The daughter of Beryl Crossthwaite, Annie's second cousin, Sharon is raped and murdered, aged 17, by Jim Latimer.[1] Sharon disappears after attending a sheep dog show. She is followed by Latimer who tries to attack her but is stopped by a homeless man, Ian "Trash" McIntyre, a friend of Jack Sugden. Jack let Trash stay him but the police treat Trash as a suspect in Sharon's disappearance as he had some of her belongings. Trash later fell to his death out of a window at Mill Cottage and Sharon's body is discovered shortly afterwards. Latimer is later arrested and charged with Sharon's murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. Sharon was the programme's first murder victim. Sharon's story is chronicled in the books Emmerdale Farm: Prodigal's Progress and Emmerdale Farm: All That a Man Has.[2]
Jim Latimer
Jim Latimer Emmerdale Farm Portrayed by Myles Reitherman (1973)
Dennis Blanch (1991)Duration 1973, 1991 First appearance 22 January 1973 Last appearance 1991 Profile Relationships James "Jim" Latimer is the killer of teenager Sharon Crossthwaite. Latimer rapes Sharon before killing her. Latimer is arrested and later sentenced to life imprisonment. When he is released from prison in 1991 he tries to kidnap Sarah Connolly, who is in a relationship with Jack Sugden who was a prosecution witness at his trial in 1973. Sarah manages to escape after knocking Latimer out with a brick and he is later shot dead by the police.
Sam Skilbeck
Sam Skilbeck Emmerdale Farm Duration 1973–1976 First appearance 10 April 1973 Last appearance 13 January 1976 Profile Relationships Parents Matt Skilbeck
Peggy SkilbeckSibling(s) Sally Skilbeck
Samuel Skilbeck (half)Grandparents Jacob Sugden
Annie BrearlyAunts and uncles Jack Sugden
Joe SugdenFirst cousins Jackie Merrick
Robert Sugden
Victoria SugdenSamuel "Sam" Skilbeck is the son of Matt and Peggy Skilbeck. He appeared for three years from 1973 to 1976. Along with his twin sister, he is the first birth of Emmerdale Farm.
Born in 1973 along with twin sister Sally, Sam is named after his maternal great-grandfather Sam Pearson. His mother dies three months after his birth of a brain haemorrhage. Matt is unable to cope with the twins and so sends them to live with his aunt, Beattie Dowton. On 13 January 1976, Beattie and the twins are killed when a train strikes her car on a level crossing. In 1982, Matt has another son by his second wife Dolly Acaster and he is named Samuel Skilbeck after his dead half-brother. Sam Pearson, Peggy's grandfather, is delighted.
Sally Skilbeck
Sally Skilbeck Emmerdale Farm Duration 1973–1976 First appearance 10 April 1973 Last appearance 13 January 1976 Profile Relationships Parents Matt Skilbeck
Peggy SkilbeckSibling(s) Sam Skilbeck
Samuel Skilbeck (half)Grandparents Jacob Sugden
Annie BrearlyAunts and uncles Jack Sugden
Joe SugdenFirst cousins Jackie Merrick
Robert Sugden
Victoria SugdenSally Skilbeck is the daughter of Matt and Peggy Skilbeck. She appeared from 1973 to 1976. Along with her twin brother, she is the first birth of Emmerdale Farm.
Sally is born in 1973 along with twin brother Sam. Her mother dies three months after her birth of a brain haemorrhage. Matt is unable to cope with the twins and so sends them to live with his aunt, Beattie Dowton. On 13 January 1976, Beattie and the twins are killed when a train strikes her car on a level crossing.
Christine Sharp
Christine Sharp Emmerdale Farm Portrayed by Angela Cheyne Duration 1973–1974, 1976 Profile Relationships Parents Robert Sharp
Eve SharpSpouse(s) Joe Sugden (1974–76) Christine Sharp (previously Sugden) is the first wife of Joe Sugden. She appeared from 1973 to 1974 and in 1976.
Only months after marrying Joe Sugden, Christine left because she did not want to be a farmers wife. She returned two years later hoping for a new start with Joe but when he asked her for a divorce she left Beckindale for good. In 1995, she sent flowers to Joe's funeral.
References
Categories:- Emmerdale characters
- Lists of minor fictional characters
- Fictional characters introduced in 1972
- Fictional characters introduced in 1973
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