Some 1980s Beckindale Arrivals...

The Emmerdale Farm Who's Who Of The 1980s - Part 2: Always There - Cast And Characters Who Spanned The Entire Decade...

If you switched on Emmerdale Farm in the 1980s, who would you be assured of seeing throughout the entire decade? First and foremost would have to be Sheila Mercier (Annie Sugden), seeing out a decade of tremendous change in Beckindale. She remained a central character, although her scenes were somewhat reduced after the death of Toke Townley (Sam Pearson) in 1984. Annie was still very much the head of the Sugden family and could always be relied upon to provide support and advice. In 1989, her strength appeared to be crumbling, and she became briefly addicted to tranquillisers. But, Annie being Annie, she was soon back to her old self. And we were very glad.

Ronald Magill - the wonderful Amos Brearly of The Woolpack Inn - was another splendid Emmerdale Farm actor who spanned the entire 1980s. This was a tremendous decade for Amos, as Seth Armstrong (Stan Richards) became a regular at The Woolpack in 1980, and the very odd silent Walter (Al Dixon) also joined the regulars that year. Amos chuntered at Walter and was wound up to the hilt by Seth. Amos' 1980s were days of fads, strange relatives, allotment rivalries, strippers, leaking cisterns and general mayhem at The Woolpack. Simply terrific.

Arthur Pentelow - "Mr Wilks" to Amos, "Henry" to others, was the calming voice of reason at The Woolpack and a great friend and business partner to the family up at Emmerdale Farm. He also became a parish councillor during the 1980s. Henry survived all Amos' absurdities, and his daughter Marian's marriage problems, and was the man Tom Merrick advised Jackie to turn to if ever he ran into problems. Henry was never a saint but he was a warm and caring character who hid his warm heart under a gruff exterior. We loved Mr Wilks. We loved Amos. We loved The '80s Woolpack!

Stan Richards - Seth Armstrong - began his career in Emmerdale Farm as a temporary character in 1978, made several appearances afterwards, and became a full-timer in 1980.

In the summer of 1980, Seth switched loyalties from The Malt Shovel to The Woolpack and was soon appearing in the Emmerdale Farm story lines as much as the longer-established characters. Seth's glory days became even more glorious when Alan Turner arrived at Home Farm in 1982.

Almost making it on to this list were Frederick Pyne - Matt Skilbeck - who left the cast in November 1989 (Matt last appeared on-screen in December), Hugh Manning - the Rev Donald Hinton, who left the cast in the summer of 1989 and Clive Hornby (Jack Sugden) - who made his debut in February 1980. Frazer Hines (Joe Sugden) was present at the start and at the end of the 1980s, but took three years out (1983-1986) in-between!

The Emmerdale Farm Who's Who Of The 1980s - Part 1: Changing Times In Beckindale - Changing Cast And Characters

1980 - Jack Sugden (Clive Hornby) - an original character recast




1980 - Dolly Skilbeck (Jean Rogers) - recast





1980 - Seth Armstrong (Stan Richards). Seth first appeared in 1978, but the character did not become a full-time permanent Beckindaler until the summer of 1980.



1980
- Sergeant Ian MacArthur (Martin Dale)




1980 - Pat, Jackie and Sandie Merrick (Helen Weir, Ian Sharrock, Jane Hutcheson) - early characters, recast, and slightly rewritten





1980 - Walter (Al Dixon) - the second Woolpack Walter



Also in 1980... peripheral characters the Longthorn family appeared for the first time. Seth Armstrong became a full-time character - and regular at The Woolpack. By the end of 1980, Seth's appearances were matching those of the long term characters. It was also "hello" to NY Estates workers John Tuplin (Malcolm Raeburn) and Daniel Hawkins (Alan Starkey).


1982 - Alan Turner (Richard Thorp)





1983 - Archie Brooks (Tony Pitts)






1984 - Mrs Bates (Diana Davies)








1985 - Kathy and Nick Bates (Malandra Burrows and Cy Chadwick)




1986 - Eric Pollard (Chris Chittell)




Also in 1986, Phil Pearce (Peter Alexander) - who left his wife for Sandie Merrick - first appeared.

1988 - Sarah Connolly (Madeleine Howard)






1988 - Kate Hughes, with children Rachel and Mark (Sally Knyvette, Glenda McKay, Craig McKay)

1989 - Frank, Kim, Chris and Zoe Tate (Norman Bowler, Claire King, Peter Amory, Leah Bracknell)

Also in 1989: the Whiteley family, Pete (Jim Millea), his grandfather Bill (Teddy Turner) and wife Lynn (Fionnuala Ellwood) were first seen on-screen.

This is a work in progress - and will build into a complete 1980s "Who's Who Of Beckindale". If you want to know who arrived, who left, who died and who lived in Beckindale throughout the 1980s, keep checking the "1980s Beckindale Who's Who" label below!