Emmerdale

	JAMIE HOPE ALEX CARTER	Initially acting in the Sunday evening drama Where the Heart is in 1999, Carter joined the cast of Hollyoaks as the youngest member of the Hunter family, Lee, in 2001. After four years in the show the character left on a round the world tour and the actor quickly resurfaced in Emmerdale as Jamie Hope in 2006.
	MARLON DINGLE MARK CHARNOCK	Emmerdale's famous chef! Marlon Dingle a role he has played since 1996! He previously appeared in Cadfael as brother Oswin.
	KATIE SUGDEN SAMMY WINWARD	Samantha Winward (21) She is best known for playing Katie Sugden on Emmerdale. She also appeared in the ITV celebrity talent show Soapstar Superstar. Sam was voted number 73 in FHM's 2006 100 Sexiest Women in the World poll.
	ANDY SUGDEN KELVIN FLETCHER	For the last 11 years Kelvin has been on our screens playing Andy Sugden on Emmerdale. Although his big break came in Emmerdale, it followed a string of television roles, in programmes such as In Suspicious Circumstances, Cracker, Heartbeat and Chiller. He also had a bit part in Coronation Street. Since appearing in Emmerdale he has twice won Best Dramatic Performance at the UK's annual Soap Awards.
	CARL KING TOM LISTER	Tom is most famous for his role as one of the King brothers - Carl King in Emmerdale, a role he has played since 2004. He has appeared on Celebrity Stars in their eyes as Jamie Cullum.
	CHAS DINGLE LUCY PARGETER	First arrived 16 October, 2002, when Chas turned up in a blaze of glory as a stripper gram dressed as a nun at cousin Marlon's stag night. Lucy Pargeter has appeared on TV in shows including Crossroads, Soldier, Soldier and Dalziel and Pascoe. In the late nineties, Lucy was one third of all-girl band Paper Dolls and toured with top boy band Boyzone. She has appeared in the film Anita and Me. In 2006 she came third in ITV's singing competition Soapstar Superstar.
	ELI DINGLE JOHN GILGUN	First arrived 13 July, 2006, when he surprised older brother Marlon by turning up unannounced. It was clear that Eli had got Marlon in a lot of trouble in the past and he wasn't too happy to see his brother return. Joseph Gilgun trained at the Laine Johnson Theatre School and Oldham Theatre Workshop. He starred in Coronation Street as Jamie Armstrong from 1994-1997 and has appeared on TV in Sorted, Shameless and Big Dippers. He also stars in the feature film This Is England.
	RODNEY BLACKSTOCK PATRICK MOWER	First arrived 24 October, 2000, when he turned up unannounced in the Woolpack to surprise ex-wife Diane and daughter Bernice. Patrick Mower is one of Britain's most accomplished actors with an acting career that spans more than four decades. He has acted on the West End stage, appeared in 22 films and has an impressive TV portfolio of work. This includes appearances in Callan, Special Branch, Target, Jason King, Space 1999, UFO and The Sweeney. Patrick was also a regular in Dictionary Corner on the Channel 4 series, Countdown.
	BOB HOPE TONY AUDENSHAW	First arrived Bob Hope swept into Emmerdale like a breath of fresh air. The harmlessly dodgy hosiery salesman was trying to flog tights to the local ladies but ended up starting a relationship with post mistress Viv Windsor. Tony Audenshaw has appeared on TV in Heartbeat, Peak Practice, Inspector Morse and Where the Heart Is. He is also a singer in the band White Van Man.
	ERIC POLLARD CHRIS CHITTELL	First arrived Eric, or Pollard as he's become known, arrived in the village on 30th September 1986. He was only due to appear for a few episodes but proved popular and is now one of the show's longest serving characters Chris is best known for his role in Emmerdale, a part that he's played for over 20 years. Chris also appeared in the movie Zulu Dawn in 1979 and the 1970s science fiction drama The Tomorrow People.
	Nicola de Souza Nicola Wheeler	First arrived 10 January, 2001, when she turned up in the Woolpack looking for half-sister Bernice. She left the village in shame in 2006 and returned again in 2007. Memorable scenes - Letting loose with the verbal tirade on every single person in the Woolpack before leaving Emmerdale in shame. - On the clifftop with Donald, where he nearly rolled off the edge after telling her he knew she had tried to kill him.
	Sam Dingle James Hooten	First arrived 14/02/95. Sam was in trouble soon after he arrived in the village. Held back by learning difficulties and a lack of confidence, he was led astray. In 1995 he demanded ransom money from the Sugdens during Robert’s disappearance. Sam was eventually released from prison and given community service.
	Zak Dingle Steve Haliwell	First arrived 20 October 1994. Zak was first seen challenging Ned Glover to a bare knuckle fight, which he lost. Character reference Zak is the patriarch of the Dingles and while his official source of income has always been scrap dealing and pig farming, he spends most of the time doing very little. At times Zak is a violent man and prone to jealousy, but he will do anything for a quiet life and a pint in the Woolpack.
	Lisa Dingle Jane Cox	First arrived Lisa met Zak at a singles night in a wine bar in 1996 and was instantly smitten. Memorable moments When she gave birth to Belle in the barn, mimicking Christ’s birth in the stable. About the actress Jane Cox has also appeared in episodes of The Bill and Coronation Street.
	Shadrach Dingle Andy Devine	First arrived 30/03/2000. Shadrach made his first appearance on the day of Butch’s funeral, together with Charity and Cain. Got stuck into drinking the whisky Eric Pollard had brought and was so drunk he fell over when he tried to help carry the coffin. Character reference Shadrach is the brother of Zak and a good-for-nothing drunk. While Cain Dingle was clearly the most unpopular of his infamous clan, there's no doubt that Shadrach comes a close second. Lazy, rude, boorish and often drunk, Shadrach is one of the most useless people to grace the earth.
	Paddy Kirk Dominic Brunt	First arrived 20 February, 1997, when Zoe Tate took on Paddy Kirk at the vets’ surgery. He became a partner in the business and rented the cottage with Mandy Dingle. Character reference Quiet, unassuming Paddy with a heart of gold is the resident lovelorn vet. He has been married twice and is currently single.
	Val Pollard Charlie Hardwick	First arrived 1 February, 2004, when she turned up in the Dales with a black eye. She told Diane she’d been hit by her boyfriend when really she’d scammed the poor bloke into paying for her nose job. Memorable scene At Jack and Diane’s wedding when she turned up with a hunky toy-boy but it was revealed that she’d paid him to pretend to be her man. On her wedding day to Eric, when she was kidnapped by the Dingles.
	Jimmy King Nick Miles	First arrived 19 Febuary 2004. Moved to the village with Tom and Carl before his younger brother Matthew joined them. Character reference Born into money, he joined his father’s expanding business empire. But he’s regarded as too much of an opportunist and a bit dim when it comes to both life and business.
	David Metcalfe Matthew Wolfenden	First arrived David appeared in 2006 under a cloud of mystery. Although the blonde beau was given a warm welcome by Louise Appleton and Delilah Dingle, David refused to reveal anything more than that he was looking for his father. Character reference It emerged that Eric Pollard was David’s father, although Pollard ordered a DNA test to make sure. When it came back positive, Eric welcomed his son into his life but David was hiding a secret. He knew Pollard left his mother high and dry and £20,000 lighter and admitted to girlfriend Del that he was back in the village to make sure he retrieved the full amount from his thieving father. It seems that David and Eric are a classic case of like father, like son.
	Douglas Potts Duncan Preston	First arrived April 2007 when Douglas and his wife Hilary came for a meal with their daughter Laurel. All went well but after they left, they were involved in a car crash. Character reference Kind-hearted dad to Laurel and doting granddad to her children. Long-suffering husband of Hilary Potts.
	Ashley Thomas John Middleton	First arrived 5 December 1996. From the moment Ashley set foot in Emmerdale he was thrown into the thick of things. He married Biff and Linda Fowler on Christmas Eve, only to hold the funeral for Linda’s brother Dave shortly afterwards. Character reference A man of principle, Ashley is always involved in village business and is a friend and confidant to most of his parishioners, even those who aren’t members of the church.
	Genesis Walker Sian Reece-Williams	First arrived Gennie crashed into the village (literally) on the 1st April 2008. The ditzy hairdresser was on her way to a meeting with her estranged biological father, Shadrach Dingle. Unfortunately, her moped was hit by a car - driven my Paddy Kirk - and she ended up in hospital although she wasn't seriously injured. Character reference It was clear from day one that Gennie was a soft, kind-hearted girl, who refused to blame Paddy for knocking her off her bike. Paddy took an instant liking to Gennie and we all hoped she would feel the same about him. However, she preferred Ross Kirk, who's car Paddy had been driving. Gennie wasn't Ross's type - end of story.
	Laurel Thomas Charlotte Bellamy	First arrived 3 September 2002. Laurel Potts made a suitably eccentric entrance in Emmerdale – dressed as a bumble bee. The kooky romantic turned up to perform at Marlon and Tricia's engagement party but collapsed midway through and had to be rushed to hospital. However, the disastrous start was the beginning of a whole new adventure for Laurel, who was taken in by kindly pensioners Betty Eagleton and Seth Armstrong. Character reference Laurel is full of the joys of spring and is always fun to be around. Alongside her energy and enthusiasm is a naivety and optimism so the word ‘depressed’ never figures in her vocabulary.
	Diane Sugden Elizabeth Estensen	First arrived Diane appeared in 1999, following an invite from her daughter, Bernice Blackstock. Diane was particularly pleased when she arrived in Emmerdale to discover that the local men found her attractive. Character reference When Bernice discovered her fiancé Gavin was having an affair with another man, Diane bought the Woolpack to give her daughter a secure future. But it was Diane who ended up running the place, which suited her personality as she was a social animal.

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