List of minor Emmerdale Farm characters (1972–73)

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.

Marian Rosetti

Marian Rosetti (née Wilks) was first played by Gail Harrison from 1972 to 1976, then by Debbie Blythe for two stints in 1987 and 1988. She first appeared in the show in the first ever episode and was the daughter of wealthy retired factory owner Henry Wilks who later ran the Woolpack with long standing landlord Amos Brearly. Marian embarked on a brief affair with Jack Sugden in the first few months of the show.

Tom Merrick

Tom Merrick
Emmerdale character
Portrayed by	David Hill (1972) Edward Peel (1980–82) Jack Carr (1985–86, 1988)
Created by	Kevin Laffan
Introduced by	David Goddard (1972) Anne Gibbons (1980) Richard Handford (1985) Stuart Doughty (1988)
Duration	1972, 1980-82, 1985-86, 1988
First appearance	6 November 1972
Last appearance	11 February 1988
Classification	Former; recurring
Profile
Date of birth	April 1941
Family Wife Ruth Harker (1964–81) (divorced) Sisters Mary Sons Tommy Merrick Daughters Sandie Merrick Granddaughters 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 but he had a sister Mary and 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 to live near Tom's sister Mary.

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.

Jackie Merrick

Jackie Merrick
Emmerdale character
Portrayed by	Unknown Child (1972) Ian Sharrock (1980-89)
Created by	Kevin Laffan
Introduced by	Kevin Laffan (1972) Anne Gibbons (1980)
Duration	1972, 1980-89
First appearance	21 November 1972
Last appearance	16 August 1989
Classification	Former; regular
Book appearances	Old Flames Wedding Bells Family Feuds Young Passions Another Door Opens A Friend In Need Divided Loyalties Wives and Lovers
Profile
Date of birth	2 November 1964
Date of death	16 August 1989
Family Family Sugden family Wife Kathy Bates (1988–89) Father Jack Sugden Mother Pat Sugden Brothers Robert Sugden Half brothers Tommy Merrick Half sisters Sandie Merrick Victoria Sugden Grandfathers Jacob Sugden Robert Harker Grandmothers Annie Brearly Louise Harker Uncles Joe Sugden Aunts Peggy Skilbeck Janie Blakey Cousins Sam Skilbeck Sally Skilbeck Nieces Louise Merrick

John Jacob "Jackie" Merrick was played by Ian Sharrock from 1980 to 1989. The character was originally seen as a silent young boy (actor unknown) in the earliest episodes of Emmerdale Farm before becoming a fully-fledged regular character in September 1980. He was the son of Pat Merrick (originally Ruth), a former lover of Jack Sugden. Jack had left the village in 1964 and Pat subsequently married local bad boy Tom Merrick the same year and made him believe he was the father and even said Jackie had been born prematurely which was not the case. Jackie celebrated his 18th birthday in November 1982.

In 1985, Jackie almost died after being run over by Alan Turner while fixing his motorbike. During his slow recovery after waking from a coma, he finally acknowledged Jack, with whom he'd been feuding prior to the accident, as his father by referring to him as "Dad".

Jackie married Kathy Bates in 1988 but the marriage didn't last very long as Jackie was killed the following year, in an accident while he and Seth Armstrong were hunting for a £10 bet. Jackie tried to take a shotgun out of his car, but it got caught and went off by mistake, killing him in the process.

Sharon Crossthwaite

Sharon Crossthwaite
Emmerdale character
Portrayed by	Louise Jameson
Introduced by	Peter Holmans
Duration	1973
First appearance	22 January 1973
Last appearance	30 January 1973
Classification	Former; guest
Profile
Date of birth	c. 1956
Date of death	30 January 1973
Occupation	Hairdresser
Family Father Ronnie Crossthwaite Mother Beryl Crossthwaite

Sharon 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. 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.

Jim Latimer

Jim Latimer
Emmerdale character
Portrayed by	Myles Reitherman (1973) Dennis Blanch (1991)
Introduced by	Peter Holmans (1973) Morag Bain (1991)
Duration	1973, 1991
First appearance	22 January 1973
Last appearance	10 December 1991
Classification	Former; recurring
Profile
Date of death	10 December 1991
Family Mother Hilda Latimer

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 character
Portrayed by	Unknown child
Introduced by	Peter Holmans
Duration	1973-76
First appearance	10 April 1973
Last appearance	13 January 1976
Classification	Former; recurring
Profile
Date of birth	10 April 1973
Date of death	13 January 1976
Family Father Matt Skilbeck Mother Peggy Skilbeck Sisters Sally Skilbeck Half brothers Samuel Skilbeck Grandfathers Jacob Sugden Uncles Jack Sugden Joe Sugden Cousins Jackie Merrick Robert Sugden Victoria Sugden

Samuel "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 character
Portrayed by	Unknown child
Introduced by	Peter Holmans
Duration	1973-76
First appearance	10 April 1973
Last appearance	13 January 1976
Classification	Former; recurring
Profile
Date of birth	10 April 1973
Date of death	13 January 1976
Family Father Matt Skilbeck Mother Peggy Skilbeck Brothers Sam Skilbeck Half brothers Samuel Skilbeck Grandfathers Jacob Sugden Uncles Jack Sugden Joe Sugden Cousins Jackie Merrick Robert Sugden Victoria Sugden

Sally 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 character
Portrayed by	Angela Cheyne
Introduced by	Robert D. Cardona
Duration	1973-74, 1976
First appearance	1973
Last appearance	1976
Classification	Former; recurring
Profile
Date of birth	1949
Family Husband Joe Sugden (1974-76) Father Robert Sharp Mother Eve Sharp

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.