Beckindale Bugle - Emmerdale Farm In The 1980s: Poll Result

Friday 27 November 2009

Poll Result - Kim Tate Rules, OK?!

Thanks to everybody who voted in our recent "'80s Introductions" poll - in which we set out to assess the popularity of new characters, recasts and permanent incomers in Emmerdale Farm/Emmerdale in the 1980s.

The results are as follows...

Helen Weir as Pat Merrick, Edward Peel as Tom Merrick, Carl Rigg as Richard Anstey, Jim Millea as Pete Whiteley, Glenda McKay as Rachel Hughes, Craig McKay as Mark Hughes and Drew Dawson as Jock MacDonald all receiving one vote each.

Two votes each for Jane Hutcheson as Sandie Merrick, Martin Dale as police sergeant Ian MacArthur, Peter Amory as Chris Tate, Sally Knyvette as Kate Hughes and Madeleine Howard as Sarah Connolly.

Receiving three votes each are Peter Schofield as Ernie Shuttleworth, Norman Bowler as Frank Tate and Teddy Turner as Bill Whiteley.

Four votes go to Fionnuala Ellwood as Lynn Whiteley.

On five votes - wonderful Walter, played by Al Dixon, Ian Sharrock as turbulent teen Jackie Merrick and Cy Chadwick as nice Nick Bates.

Seven votes go to Leah Bracknell as Zoe Tate.

Jean Rogers as the dependable and much-loved Dolly Skilbeck and Malandra Burrows as tragic Kathy Bates both score eight.

Stan Richards as Seth Armstrong, a permanent character from 1980 onwards, scores nine, as does Clive Hornby's Jack Sugden, a 1980 newcomer.

A bit of a surprise this, but I was glad to see Tony Pitts as Archie Brooks scoring so highly with ten votes, and joined by the brilliant Mrs Bates, who also scored 10 votes.

Almost neck-and-neck, we find Richard Thorp as Alan Turner on thirteen and Christopher Chittell as Eric Pollard on fourteen.

And the winner is...

KIM TATE

... on seventeen votes!

Why aren't I surprised?!

Thanks to everybody who voted - one-hundred-and-fifty votes in all - and took a little time to remember and rate those who arrived in Beckindale during the 1980s.

More polls next year.

2 comments:

Nidge said...: Without Kim's arrival in 1989, a lot of things simply would not have happened. I thought she always showed signs of a potential to be serious aggro. Claire King is a glorious beauty - with a wicked twinkle in her eye!; 28.11.09
Anonymous said...: Wow, Claire was and still is well fit!; 19.2.11

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INTRODUCTION

The inspiration for this blog came from a stack of old newspapers and magazines found in my loft. The publications were dated from 1978-1991 and the 1980s editions contained quite a few articles about the English television soap opera Emmerdale Farm.

So, I decided to share them with Emmerdale historians.

Here at The Beckindale Bugle you will find newspaper and magazine articles about cast members and characters, plus storylines and screen captures from 1980s Emmerdale Farm episodes.

What's contained here should give an insight into the way things were down Beckindale way in the 1980s.

The decade which began with the strapped-for-cash Merrick family trudging into the village, and ended with that charmingly upmarket family the Tates moving into Home Farm...

The decade when Seth Armstrong became a full-time regular character.

The decade when Al Dixon arrived at The Woolpack and had his glorious reign as silent Walter.

The decade when the wonderful Amos Brearly went pottier than ever, and Mr Wilks was a good friend to all.

The decade when the much-loved Sam Pearson, after a very active final few years, died, Jack Sugden returned with a different face, and Dolly Skilbeck also underwent a transformation.

The decade when Alan Turner and Mrs Bates made their first appearances, along with Alan's son, Terence, and Mrs B's children, Kathy and Nick.

The decade when we first met Archie Brooks, Kate Hughes and her children, Mark and Rachel, Jack's romantic interest, Sarah Connolly, and a schemer called Eric Pollard...

I hope that this blog will encourage interest in 1980s Emmerdale Farm, and assist in encouraging YTV to bring out further seasons as official DVD releases.