I've had an interesting e-mail from Francois who asks if it's true that Emmerdale Farm became "sexed up" and "grittier" in the mid-1980s and adopted its modern day style way back then?In a nutshell, to a degree and no.
Emmerdale Farm did become raunchier in the mid-1980s. Jack Sugden's adulturous relationship with Karen Moore was something of a departure for the show and, in August 1985, Emmerdale Farm's creator, Kevin Laffan, stopped writing for the show after a series of disagreements about its content.
The show also became a little grittier as the decade wore on.
But looked upon from the viewpoint of the modern day saga, episodes from the '80s look positively quaint!
Here's a rundown of some controversial Emmerdale Farm events from the 1980s:
1983 - Sandie Merrick becomes pregnant at eighteen. She is unmarried.
1984 - Jack Sugden has an affair with Hotten Market auctioneer Karen Moore.
1985 - Jackie Merrick is run over by Alan Turner in his car. Roadside scenes featuring the character liberally sprinkled with "blood" are sometimes cited as being a shocking moment in the show's history.
1986 - Harry Mowlam is murdered.
1986 - Sandie Merrick begins a relationship with married Phil Pearce, who leaves his wife and family to set up home with her.
1987 - Eric Pollard, a new found enemy of Sandie's, breaks into her home and brandishes a poker at her. He ends up confiding in her and breaking down. Sympathetic Sandie drives him home.
1987 - the villagers unite to prevent a nuclear waste dump being built near Beckindale.
1988 - Dolly Skilbeck has an affair.
1989 - teenager Rachel Hughes has an affair with married Pete Whiteley.
In the 1980s, Emmmerdale Farm/Emmerdale certainly became pacier, raunchier, sexier, but did it adopt the style of modern day Emmerdale? "Nay, nay, nay, Mr Wilks!"
