Amos Brearly Of The Woolpack Inn - The 1980s - Update

Mr Brearly, 1985.

One of the most popular characters on this blog is Mr Amos Brearly, licensee and proprietor of The Woolpack Inn, Beckindale.

Ronald Magill was a brilliant actor, and watching the old episodes of the show it's wonderful to see how the Amos character evolved. We recently watched an episode of Emmerdale Farm from 1978 and Amos was featured. But a far quieter, less blustering and bizarre character than the Amos of the 1980s

As we've stated many times before, 1980 was an absolutely pivotal year for the dour and nosey publican, as Seth Armstrong (Stan Richards) became a regular at The Woolpack and Al Dixon began his reign as the weird silent Walter.

Seth wound Amos up to the hilt, and Amos chuntered nine-to-the-dozen to Walter. Any vestiges of commonsense the character had previously possessed seemed to disappear in 1980 and the Golden Era of Amos barminess began.

In our Amos Brearly - The 1980s post, we'll take a brief canter through as many as possible of the Amos story-lines of the 1980s.

1980:

Amos starts the decade with a fitness fad - healthy food and exercise. But he soon tires of the food and does himself a mischief with his chest expander.

Strange noises make Amos wonder if a deceased auntie is paying him a visit - but it turns out to be bats in the loft!

Seth Armstrong switches from The Malt Shovel to The Woolpack in the summer and his constant baiting of Amos leads to years of fun. Amos gets an allotment, but is disappointed when Nellie Ratcliffe (Gabrielle Blunt) wins first prize for her marrow in the annual village show. The annual Butterworth Ball cricket match against Robblesfield breaks its time honoured tradition and becomes a bowls match for one year only, at the request of the wily Eccky Tait. Beckindale loses.

Amos spots a strange light in the sky over Bogle Bog and becomes fascinated by bogles and UFOs. His Auntie Emily (Ann Way) visits The Woolpack for the very first time late in the year. Auntie Emily's visit coincides with one from Henry's cousin, Alice (Hazel Bainbridge). Auntie Emily is horrified by Amos' fascination with the supernatural and leaves in a great hurry!

At Christmas, Amos invites local bell ringers to The Woolpack, and, of course, joins in.

1981:

Aunt Emily sends Amos a hat as a present. But he's mocked so unmercifully by Seth Armstrong, that he has to stop wearing it!

When a Space Invaders machine is delivered to The Woolpack in error, Amos is most disapproving. That kind of new fangled trash was best left to Ernie Shuttleworth and The Malt Shovel. But Amos secretly becomes addicted to the machine whilst he waits for the supplier to collect it, and Mr Wilks discovers him in the early hours of the morning desperately trying to keep the Invaders at bay.

Amos is devastated to be told that his job as Beckindale correspondent on The Hotten Courier is being cut. He responds by starting a rival news sheet - The Beckindale Bugle. In the end, the new Beckindale correspondent on the Courier falls down on the job (drunk!) and Amos is reinstated.

Amos is annoyed to find that The Malt Shovel has had a burglar alarm installed. Keeping up with the Shuttleworths, he orders a device for The Woolpack. But a combination of penny pinching and Amos' DIY attempts at installation, lead to chaos.

Amos attempts to turn his hand to plumbing, and causes a flood, ruining the living room ceiling at The Woolpack.

Monks Brewery organises a "Best Kept Cellar" competition. Two visits are required by the judge, the awesome Lettice Noble (Patsy Smyth). Amos is disqualified when he applies a coat of whitewash to the cellar between the visits (strictly against the rules) and Mrs Noble discovers that the paint is still wet!

1982:

Amos cooks a rabbit pie, using a rabbit supplied by Seth Armstrong, and both he and Mr Wilks end up with food poisoning.

Seth ends up dead drunk when he stands in for Amos and Henry behind the bar whilst the pair attend the wedding of Pat Merrick (Helen Weir) and Jack Sugden (Clive Hornby).

Amos broadens his horizons with a holiday in Spain. Mr Wilks discovers that Amos, through penny pinching, ended up with unacceptable accommodation and flew back to England after only a couple of days, where he spent the remainder of his holiday in Scarborough. Amos begs him not to tell Seth and the other regulars!

Amos is affronted by a Hotten Courier article referring to "Billy Bunter" (fat) pub landlords. The article suggests that the Hotten area (including Beckindale) has many examples. Amos takes up walking to get fit. He ends up twisting his ankle on Blackridge Scarr and having to be rescued by the local fell rescue team.

1983:

Amos is encouraged by Alan Turner (Richard Thorp) to take up golf, and Mr Wilks provides a free lesson. But Amos is put off after encountering the fiercesome Major (Michael Sheard), a crony of Alan's.

Amos wins a three wheeler bike in a competition, and is highly delighted.

Amos tries to attract the Hotten Courier's pub and restaurant reviewer to The Woolpack. His support for Alan Turner in a dispute with the workers at NY Estates causes most of the Woolpack's regulars to desert him. Amos is forced to climb down.

Annabelle, a goat belonging to Pat Sugden (Helen Weir) eats Amos' hat when Amos attends Sam Skilbeck's Christening party at Emmerdale.

Amos reports the sorry state of Seth Armstrong's garden to the Reverend Donald Hinton (Hugh Manning). Our Mr Brearly sees it as a major obstacle to Beckindale winning the Best Kept Village competition. Donald consults Alan Turner, who threatens Seth with dismissal if he doesn't tidy up the garden of his home - which is an NY Estates tied cottage.

Seth complies, and is highly commended by the judges, but he ensures that Amos is shown up well and truly by dumping a load of horse manure outside The Woolpack on the morning of the "judgement day"!

Amos takes up meditation and delivers half-baked sermons on philosophy to Mr Wilks and the regulars.

Amos' Aunt Emily and brother Ezra (Martin Matthews) turn up when Amos' Uncle Arthur dies. Aunt Emily is determined to stop her brother, Sidney, getting his hands on Uncle Arthur's valuables. But things don't go according to plan, and the will reading reveals that Uncle Arthur has left a load of worthless tat to Emily, Sidney, Amos and Ezra.

Ezra at The Woolpack, with Walter and Wilks.

Amos organises the annual Christmas Show at the village hall and books a local New Wave rock band to attract youngsters. Amos is so horrified at the din the band makes, he tries to turn the sound down - and fuses the lights, plunging the hall into darkness. Amos is convinced that he is a laughing stock in the village for fouling up the show and takes some time to get over it all.

1984:

Peter Schofield debuts as Ernie Shuttleworth of The Malt Shovel, a role previously (and very briefly) played by John Comer.

Amos goes to a health farm for three days rest and relaxation... but it turns out disastrously when he discovers they don't serve potatoes for dinner or sell pipe tobacco.

Annie Sugden (Sheila Mercier) accompanies Amos to the local Licensed Victuallers' Association ball. Amos ends up leaving in a strop and a taxi, believing that Annie has left the ball with Ernie Shuttleworth. But she hasn't and is annoyed that Amos has left her there. Amos ends up with some apologising to do.

Amos is puzzled when his regulars start leaving The Woolpack en-masse every night, each time returning after an hour. He follows them, and discovers they are attending Ernie Shuttleworth's "Happy Hour" at The Malt Shovel. There is bad feeling between Ernie and Amos, heightened when Ernie tampers with the clock at The Woolpack, ensuring that Amos and Mr Wilks are caught by Police Sergeant MacArthur (Martin Dale) serving drinks after hours.

Amos grows neurotic after Nellie Ratcliffe suffers a gas leak. He's convinced that there is a leak at The Woolpack. There isn't, but the cooker blows up anyway when Amos tampers with it to make it "safe". A grand meal he has prepared for friends is splattered all over the room. Amos and Mr Wilks decide that it's time to redecorate.

Amos and Mr Wilks install a microwave oven - these were regarded as "new fangled" gadgets back then. Amos asks Annie Sugden for advice - but she's never even seen a microwave oven before! Chaos ensues as Amos tries to puzzle it out.

Seth Armstrong and Amos are in competition to win the village show with their marrows. Seth's exhibit wins on weight - and as he hoists it triumphantly, a load of nails fall out! Seth is disqualified and Amos wins.

Keep an eye on this article - it will grow!

E-Mails... Now And Then, '80s Favourites And Bill Middleton...

Beckindale favourite - Al Dixon as Walter (1980-1985).

Brian writes:

In the 1980s, Emmerdale largely seemed to be about weird old people over 40. Nowadays, it's largely about young prats, who think they're so special, and thugs and villains. When I was a kid, there used to be a saying about sex mad men - "He keeps his brains in his underpants". Nowadays a lot of the Emmerdale women keep their brains in their knickers, too. Modern Emmerdale's all about people falling into bed and then regretting it. BORING. And not a hint of AIDS.

Weird old people, over 40?! Flippin' 'eck - I'm over forty, and I don't consider myself old, Brian! You cheeky young whippersnapper (grin). And the show gained a large young cast and did have its moments of scandal in the 1980s. I can't judge modern day Emmerdale - I never watch the modern soaps.

Cerys says:

I'm glad you've finally started on 1984!

Who was your favourite character in the 1980s?

Ooh, Cerys, that's difficult...

Al Dixon's Walter... I loved that character... but then again I loved the barmier-than-ever Amos, too... and Annie Sugden, staunchly tending the Aga... and Clive Hornby's Jack was brilliant... so was Alan Turner, and the wonderful Mrs Bates... and as for Seth, Matt and Dolly, Eric Pollard, Mr Wilks and the Merricks...

Basically, for me, '80s Emmerdale was a show FULL of favourites!

Chris asks:

When did Bill Middleton (Johnny Caesar) first appear?

Early 1984, Chris

1984: Amos And The Health Farm...

At the start of 1984, Amos Brearly knew that everybody in Beckindale was laughing at him.

The Christmas Show of 1983 had ended with the lights in the village hall all going out, caused by Amos trying to cut out the din caused by local New Wave band The Girotechnics (clever name - a lot of youngsters were depending on DHSS giros back then!). As Amos had tried to cut down the decibels, the lights had fused.

And the village hall had been plunged into darkness.

The people of Beckindale had thoroughly enjoyed the show, and nobody really minded the unexpected ending - but Amos, as organiser and compere of the show, was convinced everybody was sniggering up their sleeves at him.

He was snappy, irritable, and extra-obsessive, checking that he'd locked the door each closing time several times, snapping at customers, snapping at Mr Wilks, and when the Rev Donald Hinton (Hugh Manning), having heard that Amos was troubled, tried to convince him that the Christmas show had been a big success, enjoyed by all, Amos flared up at him - paranoia rampant.

Of course, Amos' least favourite customer, Seth Armstrong (Stan Richards) was laughing at him and took great pleasure in winding him up further.

Amos seemed tired and run down. He continued to bark at Mr Wilks and the customers and things were becoming unbearable.

Mr Wilks was at his wit's end, when Amos suddenly returned from a short (and mysterious) jaunt away from the pub, beaming all over his face. He called Seth Armstrong his "friend" and bought him a drink. He socialised with the customers - he even played darts with Matt and Dolly Skilbeck. He was charm itself when Mr Wilks took time out to pop up to Emmerdale for an hour.

Mr Wilks was uneasy.

And then Mr Wilks discovered the tablets in a drawer in the back room.

Amos' mysterious appointment had been with his GP. And, obviously, Amos was now on tranquillisers!

Mr Wilks was deeply concerned, and wasted no time in showing Amos an alternative which was advertised in that week's Hotten Courier: a local health farm called Lodge House was often used by publicans. It would do Amos the world of good as he was so run down. Amos simply beamed at Mr Wilks - that was nonsense - he hadn't felt better in years!

Finally, Mr Wilks was forced to confront Amos about the tranquillisers. He told Amos he had discovered his little secret. Amos, not without reservations, emptied the tranquillisers out into the bin.

And immediately a dreadful change occurred. Amos began to get agitated. The back room was a tip! Had he locked the front door?

Mr Wilks watched, aghast, as Amos went from bonhomie personified to the ranting beast of Beckindale in the twinkling of an eye!

Mr Wilks was perplexed. "Them pills have worn off quickly!"

"I've not checked the cellar," squawked Amos. "Things round 'ere would go to pot if it weren't for me!" And he barged out, fueled on angst.

Finally, Amos, tired and listless, reconsidered the health farm idea...

... and decided to give it a go.

Mr Wilks was delighted when Amos booked three days at Lodge House, and Amos thoroughly enjoyed winding up Seth Armstrong by refusing to tell him where he was going.

The health farm was impressive, situated in a large old house, set in lovely countryside. Mr Wilks drove Amos there, and left him being shown up to his room, looking forward to some rest and revitalisation.

Amos was pleased at the prospect of a massage, but taken aback by the fact that the person giving the massage was actually a masseuse - a woman! A foreign woman at that!

"Would you please go in to the cubicle and remove your clothes for me?" she requested.

The brazen hussy!

"I beg your pardon, Miss!" cried Amos.

"You have to have no clothes for a massage," explained the lovely masseuse.

"I'm afraid I can't remove my clothes just like that!" protested Amos. "Not in front of a lady as I've not even met!"

"There's no need to be embarrassed, I see men without their clothes all day!" said the masseuse, coolly. "I'm sorry. There is a towel in the cubicle to put round your middle."

Amos was part mollified, but still a little uncertain: "Fair enough. I'll go and change then. Is it, er, a big towel?"

The masseuse looked at him disdainfully: "It should be big enough, I think."

The cheeky little madam!

Still, never mind. Amos enjoyed his massage so much, he fell asleep.

Next on the agenda was dinner: sauteed chicken liver, nut rissole, shredded carrots and celery salad.

"Ere, 'ang on, where's me taties?" yelped Amos as the waiter made to move off.

"Sorry, Sir, no potatoes," said the waiter.

"But what about my carbohydrates?" cried Amos.

"We don't serve it, Sir" said the waiter.

No taties!

Amos was aghast.

And was instantly gripped by tatie lust.

Amos was absolutely horrified at the tiny dinners and lack of potatoes. His stomach rumbled constantly. He craved taties. Then, he began to run out of tobacco. On enquiring, Amos discovered that the health farm did not sell tobacco, did not like smoking on the premises, and that the nearest shop was four miles away.

Amos was comforted by the presence of a sympathetic fellow inmate, who listened to all his grumbles and whimpers.

The listener was most surprising. He took Amos to his room and revealed two briefcases. And when he opened them, Amos' eyes almost popped out of his head.

Inside each case was an Aladdin's cave of tobacco, cigarettes, peanuts, chocolate, crisps... all those wonderful things denied to Amos by Lodge House (perhaps "Colditz" would have been a better name?).

"It were pipe tobacco you were after, weren't it?" asked Amos' new friend. "And perhaps I can interest you in something else?

"You must certainly can!" said Amos.

"Only thing is, it's the old laws of supply and demand," said Amos' pal. "And 'ere the demand's big and the supply is low. We'll 'ave to negotiate a price!"

The sight of the tin of the tobacco the man was holding was driving Amos mad!

"Never mind the price," he snatched the tin. "Give me three packets of crisps, prawn cocktail if you've got 'em - I've got to have some potatoes!"

The man indicated the crisps and tobacco and named his prices: "One-fifty, and a fiver!"

Amos, never exactly lavish with his cash, was absolutely aghast: "EH?!!"

Amos was not really enjoying the Lodge House experience, it has to be said.

But worse was to come.

Sweating it out in a Turkish bath, Amos was a captive audience for a very chatty man, also undergoing the health treatment.

The man wittered away about a wonderful meal he had recently enjoyed.

"Starters - I had paté, right? Followed by fillet of lemon sole, grilled to a golden colour. Main course, I 'ad t-bone steak - biggest you've ever seen in your life, it were!"

This was agony for Amos, starved for want of nourishment as he was.

"Then on me way 'ome I stopped at a country pub and washed it all down with a few pints of ale."

"Very nice," said Amos, through gritted teeth.

"Yes, seemed such a nice little pub," said the man. "Woolpack Inn, Beckindale. You wouldn't expect it to be full of drunks, though."

Amos was startled. The man did not know who he was, but he had visited The Woolpack - what was he saying?

"DRUNKS?!!" cried Amos.

"Aye," said the man, cheerfully. "There were this man there, drunk as a lord, weren't he - and these other two had to carry him out, he could hardly walk!"

"In't Woolpack?!" came a strangled cry from Amos.

"That's not the half of it," said the man. "This other man left the pub and practically ran somebody over in't car park! I wouldn't've minded - but it was only seven o'clock!"

"What the 'eck's he playin' at? I knew he wouldn't be able to manage!" cried Amos, speaking, of course, about Mr Wilks.

"Pardon?" the happy purveyor of Woolpack gossip was puzzled.

"I shall have to leave!" said Amos.

But he was trapped in the Turkish bath.

"How do I get out of this thing? Help - HELP!"

Amos took a taxi back to Beckindale, and arrived to find Jackie Merrick (Ian Sharrock) brawling with the leader of the Hotten Werewolves biker gang in The Woolpack car park.

No blood had been shed, and Amos broke up the fight immediately.

It transpired that Jackie had sold one of The Werewolves a motor bike which had almost immediately conked out. The Werewolves wanted their money back.

Amos sorted the matter (Jackie was forced to pay up) and then went into the pub in a state of high "dungeon" as he called it.

But his ire was somewhat soothed by a big plateful of pie, peas and mashed taties for dinner.

Mr Wilks upbraided Amos for listening to "strange men in Turkish baths", and told him just what had been going on. Alan Turner had been the man "drunk as a lord", and Jack Sugden and Jackie Merrick had seen him off the premises. Jack had driven him home.

Harry Mowlam (Godfrey James), from the quarry at Connelton, had been in the bar, and Jackie had not been able to resist making some loud comments, designed to annoy him.

When Jackie left on his motorbike, Harry had driven his land rover straight across Jackie's path, causing the lad to fall from the bike.

Mr Wilks, convinced that Harry had done it on purpose, had informed Sergeant MacArthur (Martin Dale).

As for Jackie brawling with a Hotten Werewolf, well, how could Mr Wilks have known what was going on outside the pub?

Amos insisted that a good publican should know what was going on on his premises at all times, Mr Wilks agreed (anything for a quiet life!) and Amos, made sweeter by mashed spud, gradually calmed down.

"I don't feel need for them tranquillisers any more - that's summat achieved. I can throw 'em away now!" said Amos.

"You've already thrown them away!" said Mr Wilks.

Amos was well and truly caught out.

"I've a confession, Mr Wilks!"

And he held up a bottle of the tablets.

Mr Wilks was disgusted. "I should say you have!"

"Well, doctor gave me two bottles, and I kept one back - just in case things started getting on top of me again..."

Mr Wilks snatched the bottle from Amos. "Aye well, at least we can get rid of these now any road!"

He examined the label and stopped short.

"Are these the same as t'others?"

"I suppose so, why not?" said Amos, tucking into his mashed taties again.

"They're not tranquillisers!" said Mr Wilks.

"What do you mean?"

"They're vitamin pills!"

"Eh?" Amos took the bottle back and examined the label. "Well they must be very strong vitamin pills, that's all I can say!"

The happiness-making properties of the pills had been purely in Amos' own mind - a true placebo effect.

The two men looked at each other across the table.

And then began to laugh.

The Woolpack was restored to its old, peculiar normality.

And there were mashed taties to be eaten.

Judy Westrop - The Burning Issue...

Judy Westrop (Jane Cussons) has a cigarette in 1980.

Harry has written:

I was interested in your post about Emmerdale Farm in early 1980, and the screen grab you featured of Judy Westrop smoking a cigarette. I thought that people on TV were not supposed to be seen smoking until after 7 P.M. in those days? Crossroads, the ATV soap, was certainly subject to this ban and cigarette advertising on ITV had ceased in 1965 (although cigar advertising was still allowed). As Emmerdale Farm was still screened in a few ITV regions before 7 P.M. in 1980, can you explain this?

No, Harry, I'm afraid not!

The character of Judy, was certainly a smoker, although I can't recall any others in Emmerdale Farm at that time.

Perhaps, as the show was scheduled by Yorkshire TV to go out at 7pm, it somehow slipped through the net? I do recall Mrs Tardebigge, the Crossroads cleaner smoking later in the '80s - before 7pm, but I don't know anything regarding the law, broadcasting, and representations of cigarette smoking on the box back then.

If anybody DOES know the facts, I'd be happy to hear from them.

E-Mail Question: Why NY Estates?

NY People... Troubled Judy Westrop (Jane Cussons) stayed briefly with her father Maurice (Edward Dentith) at Home Farm - both left Beckindale in 1980; in March 1982, Alan Turner (Richard Thorp) arrived as estate manager and immediately upset farm manager Joe Sugden (Frazer Hines); in 1984 managing director Christopher Meadows (Conrad Phillips) had stern words for Alan, who had got the Beckindale operation into a state of chaos; Christopher had dispatched Alan's predecessor, Richard Anstey (Carl Rigg) in 1981 after Richard had had an affair with Virginia Lattimore (Wanda Moore), wife of NY regional manager Derek; Mrs Bates (Diana Davies) arrived in 1984 and saved Alan's bacon; a thorn in Alan's side was game keeper Seth Armstrong (Stan Richards), who had found himself without an assistant in 1982 after Jackie Merrick got the sack.

Beanpole asks:

What does the "NY" in "NY Estates" stand for?

North Yorkshire. However, the company had holdings and interests outside of North Yorkshire, and indeed outside of England - including North Wales and France.

1980: Penny For The Seth...

Annie Sugden (Sheila Mercier) and Dolly Skilbeck (Jean Rogers) were enjoying a quick cuppa one morning in November 1980, when there was a sharp rapping at the window.

"It's Seth Armstrong, I think," grinned Dolly.

Sam Pearson (Toke Townley) entered with the Guy he had made for the Beckindale Allotment Association's firework display. The mask he had bought in Hotten for the Guy had given him ideas, and with a couple of things added it was the spitting image of Seth Armstrong!

-

"Well now, what do you think of this?!" beamed Sam.

-

"It's not we think of it, it's what Seth Armstrong will think of it!" said Annie.

-

"Oh, he won't mind, Annie, Seth can take a joke!" her father replied.

-

As it happened, the joke was lost on Seth (Stan Richards).

-

Asked by Mr Wilks if he thought the Guy resembled somebody, Seth said yes he did.

-

But he couldn't for the life of him think who.

A wonderful signed photograph of Sam Pearson (Toke Townley) and the Seth Guy Fawkes from 1980 - it's signed by Stan Richards (NOWT LIKE ME - IT'S PRETTIER!) and was on display in the Ashwood Tea Room, Esholt, for some years. The photograph was taken at Lindley Farm, the original Emmerdale Farm exterior location.

Of course, 1980 was a big year for Stan Richards and Seth Armstrong as the character became a full-time permanent regular in the summer.

Happy days!

Comments And Questions Update...

James writes with an unusual enquiry:

The Harewood Woolpack has 2 glass panels above the door. I seem to recall the Esholt pub had one big panel?

Yes, it did, James - see pic above.

Was Alan Turner A Groundbreaking Emmerdale Farm Character?

Groundbreaking Alan Turner.

Chris has been reading a soaps thread where controversy apparently reigns over whether or not Alan Turner was a "groundbreaking" Emmerdale Farm character. He asks:

What do you say?

Well, Chris, I've recently watched Turner's debut and I think he was groundbreaking. Trevor Thatcher, NY's first Beckindale manager, was not actually a "bad guy" - the "should Nellie Ratcliffe leave her cottage?" story-line was pure human interest - whose need was the greatest, hers or a current NY employee? Thatcher's successor, Maurice Westrop, was an old fashioned sweety (even at the time!), Richard Anstey, who took over in 1980, was every inch a businessman - but in no way "bad".

Alan Turner, however, was originally selfish, inefficient, glib-tongued and cold hearted. Watching him deal with Joe Sugden and the workers at NY Estates as redundancies were imposed in 1983, and the way he blackmailed John Tuplin, the shop steward, into going along with it, forcing John to betray his workmates... it was all pretty chilling.

Alan was the show's first long-running character who knowingly did wrong to others for his own ends. And although he mellowed, and although there was a great big lovable oaf trapped inside him, there was always that instinct for self preservation.

I can find nobody to compare to Alan Turner as a permanent Emmerdale Farm character before his debut.

I'm basing my thoughts about this on recent viewings of the episodes concerned.

I believe that the different facets revealed in Alan's character as he evolved also made him groundbreaking. No stereotype nasty businessman our Mr Turner, but a complex human being.

JR Ewing of the American soap Dallas was a brilliant, pantomime character. Alan Turner seemed real. When he hit rock bottom in late 1983, making a disastrous pass at his young secretary, and then being defeated by the computer newly installed at Home Farm, he had done nothing to endear himself to the Beckindale locals or us viewers. But there was something in Richard Thorp's performance, more than a hint of the hurt and the pathetic in Alan's character, that made me realise I actually cared about what happened to Mr Turner.

And I wanted him to be all right.

As for groundbreaking characters in soaps and TV drama in general... well... Emmerdale Farm began a long way in.

And true overall groundbreakers would probably be characters like rascally villager Walter Gabriel in radio soap The Archers, not Seth Armstrong in Emmerdale Farm, and so on.

There's "groundbreaking" within the confines of the show, and the broader picture.

But I think Richard Thorp was, and is, excellent.

And, as far as Emmerdale goes, groundbreaking to the max.

Some Thoughts On Watching 1980s Emmerdale...

1980 - the new Jack; 1986 - watch out, watch out - Eric's about! 1989 - the Tate family, new owners of Home Farm.

I've recently watched hundreds of episodes of '80s Emmerdale Farm, and I've hundreds more to watch. Here are a few impressions I've gained. Sorry if they seem a bit jumbled in places.

1980: Producer Anne W Gibbons made Seth Armstrong a full-time character in the summer. She introduced Al Dixon as Walter in September - and he was very different from the previous character of that name. Amos became more animated and altogether quirkier than the character of 1972-1979 (although Amos was always brilliant!), and the heightened 1980 "oddballness" was maintained throughout the decade.

Ms Gibbons's decision to introduce full-time teenage characters was also a huge change. The Merrick kids were not actually totally natural '80s teenagers in my humble opinion (and I was a late '70s/early-to-mid '80s teen myself), but went some way towards it, and the atmosphere in the show was greatly altered by their presence. Sending Joe Sugden to NY Estates in late 1980 brought the organisation into a relationship with the Sugden family.

1980 also saw Clive Hornby step into the role of Jack Sugden - who became a very different character to the previous incarnation. It was very much the same with Dolly Skilbeck, as Jean Rogers stepped into the role.

1983/1984: Richard Handford took over as producer around June and the series changed quite radically. The scenes became shorter. The show became grittier. Harry Mowlam was a terror. New technology was featured as NY Estates went computerised. The emergence of microwave ovens into our homes was also featured in 1984 as Amos got one for The Woolpack. The new breakfast TV service hit Beckindale as Alan Turner watched Mad Lizzie on TV-am. More teens arrived - oddball Archie and Mike. Mrs Bates and Alan Turner brought fresh stability and a new comic scenario.

1986: Michael Russell took the Producer's chair. The death of Pat Sugden heralded a series of episodes which dealt with grieving in a challenging and remarkable way. A bad guy arrived - Eric Pollard.

1987: Heavy politics here - and environmental issues. Joe Sugden was not totally set against the idea of a nuclear dump near Beckindale; Jack Sugden WAS. "This is 1987!" said Joe. "So that means we want radiation, does it?!" replied Jack. The scenes in which the villagers were roused by the sound of the church bell tolling to attend the protest at the site is, in my opinion, deeply moving.

1988/1989: In January 1988, the show was finally networked and shown across the country at the same time and on the same day! 1988 also saw screenings continue over the festive season for the first time. Stuart Doughty, "the man from Brookside", became Producer. 1989 was a tempestuous year which saw Annie Sugden on tranquillisers, Pete Whiteley committing adultery with teenager Rachel Hughes, and Jackie Merrick accidentally shooting himself dead.

And, finally, 1989 saw the arrival of the Tate family at Home Farm.

The turbulent aspects of the show were balanced by various stability points throughout the 1980s - Annie Sugden; Grandad Sam Pearson (for almost half the decade until Toke Townley's death in 1984); Matt and Dolly (until late in the decade when their marriage collapsed); Alan Turner and Mrs Bates; Amos, Mr Wilks, Seth and Walter; and the Reverend Donald Hinton.

It all added up to a heady, contrasting and fascinating brew.

I'll write more when I've watched more.

Uttered In The '80s - Part 8

Amos Brearly in 1988: "If you sit too long in that Mediterranean sun it can play havoc with your skin. It's all them ultra-violent rays."

Amos was, of course, Beckindale's very own master of the malapropism!

Bugle News...

This charming man... Eric Pollard (Chris Chittell) pays his first visit to The Woolpack. Alan Turner (Richard Thorp) entertains him.

Work is underway for our 1984 Month in August, I'm currently slaving over a huge pile of screen caps and write-ups. Hopefully it'll be worth the work!

It's come to my attention that a prominent member of the 1980s Emmerdale Farm cast has recently visited this blog. Terrific! It's not either of the two guys pictured, by the way!

Many thanks to Mary of Emmerdale Guys And Gals for her help in providing material on the 1982 Decade Down On The Farm TV special for our 10th anniversary article. Cheers, Mary, much appreciated!

Meanwhile, "Alan's Carpet Slippers" has written to say:

Who would have thought, back in the ambling Emmerdale of the 1980's, that Alan Turner's screen son would turn out to have molested his sister, that said sister was a killer, and that Alan's wife would be shot and killed in a hold-up Home Farm? And, on top of that, Alan himself would be shot through the window of The Woolpack? The days of Mrs Bates seem far distant!

Rest assured, "Carpet Slippers", they are never very far away here at The Bugle!