Emmerdale Should Emmerdale go back to being Emmerdale Farm?

[soapfan]

Emmerdale seems to have changed too much from its origins since 1989, the change from Emmerdale Farm to Emmerdale was because of The Tates. I never understood all the hype about Kim Tate, and people thinking she was the best thing since sliced bread. Joe Sugden was more important to the show than Kim Tate ever was, and the producers' decision in 1994 to kill Joe Sugden off was a BIG mistake.

Eric Pollard is the only character remaining from the old style Emmerdale Farm in 1986.

Anyway, Joe Sugden should be brought back from the dead and Kim Tate killed off, and actor Frazer Hines has given the odd interview or so stating that he'd love to return to the show.

The Dingles are the closest "family-type unit" in a similar way to The Sugdens originally were since Zak etc joined back in 1994. Emmerdale being retitled "Emmerdale Farm" with new opening titles to indicate that, and The Dingles being like The Sugdens with Zak, Marlon or Cain at the helm as some patriarch, with the show just having the basic farm and the Woolpack pub like it initially did, with original Joe Sugden returning. I suppose at a stretch, it could open the door to the possibility of Matt and Dolly as other potential returnees, although that's a huge ask for Frederick Pyne to return, as he's almost as old Ken Barlow.

I just can't seem to warm to the current "Emmerdale" anymore, it's become a parody, the opening titles during the last decade says it all with that dreadful black box.

 

[Emelee]

I wasn't much of a fan of Emmerdale in the 90s. I tried, but it wasn't my cup of tea. I prefer the current Emmerdale. But I agree regarding Kim Tate. I don't see what is so terrific about her.

 

[soapfan]

I wasn't much of a fan of Emmerdale in the 90s. I tried, but it wasn't my cup of tea. I prefer the current Emmerdale. But I agree regarding Kim Tate. I don't see what is so terrific about her.

I agree, it was reflective in the terms of the opening titles, I always remember the sheep doing that silly jump on its 2 front legs with its 2 back legs going up lol. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the faster, upbeat theme from 1993-1998, The Glovers (Ned, Jan, Linda), Rachel Hughes, Biff Fowler, and the Hillbilly Rock Hillbilly Roll.

 

[ArchieLucasCarringtonEwing1989]

I’ve gone completely off Emmerdale in the last two/three years, it’s not even as good as it was back in the noughties, let alone the eighties and nineties.

At least in the 2000s the Sugden’s were still a unit with Jack at the helm with Robert, Andy, Victoria and Daz, it was almost a parallel to Jack, Joe, Peggy and Matt,

Zoe was still there til early 2006, The Dingles were better in those days with largely the original clan plus Cain & Charity, Debbie wasn’t such a downer back then either.

The Kings were worthy replacements for the outgoing Tate family by the mid 2000s, and generally more interesting characters were around back then.

The 1972-94 era will always be the golden era for me though, the 1990s were still good but the gradual decline of the Sugden’s and the hasty killing off’s of prime characters such as Rachel Hughes (who in my opinion should have gone on into the 2000s and was far more interesting than Kathy by the late 90s)

Post 1994 Emmerdale should have been like this:

- Joe, Annie & Amis become recurring characters until 1997/98

- Archie & Mark wouldn’t have died in the plane crash, Archie would go into partnership with Alan in the Woolpack harking back to the days of Henry & Amos, Mark meanwhile would be the one to have the affair with Kim but he wouldn’t die he would eventually leave around 1996

- Kim wouldn’t have become the evil bitch she became in the late 90s however she would maintain a man edge to her, she was much better when she wasn’t an Alexis clone

- With Rachel not being killed off I would have her run the B&B, she would never have had the affair with Jack either, so her association with the Sugden’s carry’s on, she would be perpetually unlucky in love but would meet Matthew King in the mid 2000s

 

[soapfan]

I’ve gone completely off Emmerdale in the last two/three years, it’s not even as good as it was back in the noughties, let alone the eighties and nineties.

At least in the 2000s the Sugden’s were still a unit with Jack at the helm with Robert, Andy, Victoria and Daz, it was almost a parallel to Jack, Joe, Peggy and Matt,

Zoe was still there til early 2006, The Dingles were better in those days with largely the original clan plus Cain & Charity, Debbie wasn’t such a downer back then either.

The Kings were worthy replacements for the outgoing Tate family by the mid 2000s, and generally more interesting characters were around back then.

The 1972-94 era will always be the golden era for me though, the 1990s were still good but the gradual decline of the Sugden’s and the hasty killing off’s of prime characters such as Rachel Hughes (who in my opinion should have gone on into the 2000s and was far more interesting than Kathy by the late 90s)

Post 1994 Emmerdale should have been like this:

- Joe, Annie & Amis become recurring characters until 1997/98

- Archie & Mark wouldn’t have died in the plane crash, Archie would go into partnership with Alan in the Woolpack harking back to the days of Henry & Amos, Mark meanwhile would be the one to have the affair with Kim but he wouldn’t die he would eventually leave around 1996

- Kim wouldn’t have become the evil bitch she became in the late 90s however she would maintain a man edge to her, she was much better when she wasn’t an Alexis clone

- With Rachel not being killed off I would have her run the B&B, she would never have had the affair with Jack either, so her association with the Sugden’s carry’s on, she would be perpetually unlucky in love but would meet Matthew King in the mid 2000s

I agree with some of the points you've made, and the omitting of "Farm" and going against the show at it was whilst coincidentally with the Tates is what ruined the programme, along with the OTT plane crash. I'd happily forget both the years 1989 AND 1993 and would wonder about the characters introduced during 1990-1992, and things being done differently for the better instead.

The actress Glenda McKay experienced balls palsy during the late 1990s, which was a disabling facial muscle thing. Having said that, she did guest star in an episode of The Royal during the 2000s.

 

[ArchieLucasCarringtonEwing1989]

I agree with some of the points you've made, and the omitting of "Farm" and going against the show at it was whilst coincidentally with the Tates is what ruined the programme, along with the OTT plane crash. I'd happily forget both the years 1989 AND 1993 and would wonder about the characters introduced during 1990-1992, and things being done differently for the better instead.

The actress Glenda McKay experienced balls palsy during the late 1990s, which was a disabling facial muscle thing. Having said that, she did guest star in an episode of The Royal during the 2000s.

I agree maybe dropping the farm was hasty, but the Tate’s arrival was needed by 1989, the show was 17 years old at that time and in those 17 years a lot had changed.

It had to keep up with the times, Yorkshire in 1989 wasn’t the same Yorkshire as it was back in 1972, yuppies, the new rich and middle classes were beginning to migrate there for country homes and a better way of life, hence the arrival of the Tate, Windsor and McAllister families during the late 80s/early 90s.

Even by the time the Kings took over by 2004-2006, life had moved on from 1989, I can understand your point that some of the changes were too drastic.

The Plane crash storyline, well that will always be hotly debated for years to come, was it unnecessary or was it needed to shake up not just Emmerdale but the soap genre in general,
Brookside and EastEnders were relatively new soaps having started in 1982 & 1985 respectively, and were pushing the boat out further and further, leaving Corrie and Emmerdale which were beginning to look old fashioned and dated, far behind, Crossroads had already been axed in 1988, Emmerdale was on its way to the same fate and I would imagine that by the late 1990s Corrie would have eventually been axed, leaving only Brookside and EastEnders, the Plane Crash put all the soaps on a even level for a time during the 1990s and 2000s.
But it did also ruin the soap genre too, storylines have become increasingly plot driven rather than character driven.

It was a double edge sword sadly.

 

[soapfan]

I agree maybe dropping the farm was hasty, but the Tate’s arrival was needed by 1989, the show was 17 years old at that time and in those 17 years a lot had changed.

It had to keep up with the times, Yorkshire in 1989 wasn’t the same Yorkshire as it was back in 1972, yuppies, the new rich and middle classes were beginning to migrate there for country homes and a better way of life, hence the arrival of the Tate, Windsor and McAllister families during the late 80s/early 90s.

Even by the time the Kings took over by 2004-2006, life had moved on from 1989, I can understand your point that some of the changes were too drastic.

The Plane crash storyline, well that will always be hotly debated for years to come, was it unnecessary or was it needed to shake up not just Emmerdale but the soap genre in general,
Brookside and EastEnders were relatively new soaps having started in 1982 & 1985 respectively, and were pushing the boat out further and further, leaving Corrie and Emmerdale which were beginning to look old fashioned and dated, far behind, Crossroads had already been axed in 1988, Emmerdale was on its way to the same fate and I would imagine that by the late 1990s Corrie would have eventually been axed, leaving only Brookside and EastEnders, the Plane Crash put all the soaps on a even level for a time during the 1990s and 2000s.
But it did also ruin the soap genre too, storylines have become increasingly plot driven rather than character driven.

It was a double edge sword sadly.

Well without a past, there wouldn't be the present and future, so it can have a bearing. Things need to go back to basics with Emmerdale Farm with the Dingle family, and the Woolpack pub, in order to move forward. The Tates were at their best as a quartet#ONLY during 1989-1997. Frank and Chris shouldn't have been killed off, the actress Leah Bracknell who played Zoe died recently, and as for Kim, don't get me started on her.

Eric Pollard should be axed, he's been in the show too long as THE longest serving character.

 

[ArchieLucasCarringtonEwing1989]

Well without a past, there wouldn't be the present and future, so it can have a bearing. Things need to go back to basics with Emmerdale Farm with the Dingle family, and the Woolpack pub, in order to move forward. The Tates were at their best as a quartet#ONLY during 1989-1997. Frank and Chris shouldn't have been killed off, the actress Leah Bracknell who played Zoe died recently, and as for Kim, don't get me started on her.

Eric Pollard should be axed, he's been in the show too long as THE longest serving character.

I agree Emmerdale needs to go back to basics, the recent arrivals have made Emmerdale look like a chavvy suburb in Leeds and not the middle class/farming community it’s supposed to be.

I don’t agree that the Dingle’s should be the focus though, I would go with either having a completely new family or bring back Sam Skilbeck and Sandie Merrick and their respective families.

In the late 2000s they tried to make a new farming Dynasty out of the Barton’s which worked, the Barton’s are the last decent family to have arrived, but sadly with Moira’s marriage to Cain, it’s made them a small branch of the larger Dingle family, plus with the recent departures of Ross and Pete Barton it’s depleted them some what.

Sam Skilbeck could return with his family and Sandie could return with hers, she could even be a grandmother now, Victoria needs more family around her, and I think Sandie would make a good Sugden matriarch.

 

[soapfan]

I agree Emmerdale needs to go back to basics, the recent arrivals have made Emmerdale look like a chavvy suburb in Leeds and not the middle class/farming community it’s supposed to be.

I don’t agree that the Dingle’s should be the focus though, I would go with either having a completely new family or bring back Sam Skilbeck and Sandie Merrick and their respective families.

In the late 2000s they tried to make a new farming Dynasty out of the Barton’s which worked, the Barton’s are the last decent family to have arrived, but sadly with Moira’s marriage to Cain, it’s made them a small branch of the larger Dingle family, plus with the recent departures of Ross and Pete Barton it’s depleted them some what.

Sam Skilbeck could return with his family and Sandie could return with hers, she could even be a grandmother now, Victoria needs more family around her, and I think Sandie would make a good Sugden matriarch.

I agree with the points you've made, the Dingles were the only big "family unit" as such as a family example that is basically as close as possible to a basic family unit like the Sugdens. Either way, the soap needs to go back to basics as "Emmerdale Farm" with it being about the farm and the Woolpack pub with a family farming Dynasty.

 

[emm1978]

Many people call Emmerdale Farm & Emmerdale "not the same programme"... But, several story arcs were running through the serial at the time of the title change...

- Pete Whiteley's affair with Rachel Hughes
- Jack coming home from Italy having broken up with Marian Wilks
- Caroline Bates leaving and Alan Turner being left to pick up the pieces

All these started before, and carried on after they dropped 4 letters from the show's title... So there's absolutely no way it can be regarded as two separate programmes!

Plus, 1973, when the show was only a few months old, had storylines revolving around rape & murder, a suicidal tramp, an affair between Jack Sugden and Lady of the Manor, Laura Verney (making them the kind of Kim Tate & David Glover of their day).

All in all, Emmerdale continues so well, with new style characters and modern situations, that represent life in a Yorkshire village in the 2020s.

So, no... It should not go backwards... It should move forwards, like it always has done.

 

[ArchieLucasCarringtonEwing1989]

Many people call Emmerdale Farm & Emmerdale "not the same programme"... But, several story arcs were running through the serial at the time of the title change...

- Pete Whiteley's affair with Rachel Hughes
- Jack coming home from Italy having broken up with Marian Wilks
- Caroline Bates leaving and Alan Turner being left to pick up the pieces

All these started before, and carried on after they dropped 4 letters from the show's title... So there's absolutely no way it can be regarded as two separate programmes!

Plus, 1973, when the show was only a few months old, had storylines revolving around rape & murder, a suicidal tramp, an affair between Jack Sugden and Lady of the Manor, Laura Verney (making them the kind of Kim Tate & David Glover of their day).

All in all, Emmerdale continues so well, with new style characters and modern situations, that represent life in a Yorkshire village in the 2020s.

So, no... It should not go backwards... It should move forwards, like it always has done.

One could argue the change was gradual, from the time the word FARM was dropped to the time the plane was dropped onto Beckindale it was still largely a familiar show, 1995 was the real change, by then Annie & Amos had left the village barring the couple of cameos in 1995 & 1996, Joe was dead, the Dingles were firmly established, Kim had gone all out bitch mode,
1993 & 1994 were still indistinguishable from the farm era and that is why I like those years better than 1995.

Yes I get we need to move forward but Emmerdale no longer seems like a village in the country, it looks like a suburb of Leeds and the new crop of characters are completely chavvy and weak, it’s taken Emmerdale down the EastEnders route.

Sometimes in order to move for we need to go back to the past and Emmerdale has strayed too far from its roots, that’s why the Barton’s worked so well when they arrived in 2009, they were a lower middle class farming family akin to how the Sugden’s were back in 1972.

The fact is Emmerdale is no where near as good as it was from 1972-1994, or even in the 2000s.

 

[Emelee]

I agree with the points you've made, the Dingles were the only big "family unit" as such as a family example that is basically as close as possible to a basic family unit like the Sugdens. Either way, the soap needs to go back to basics as "Emmerdale Farm" with it being about the farm and the Woolpack pub with a family farming Dynasty.

IMO, that sounds boring. And not very this century, considering there are far fewer farms today than in 1970s. So much has been industrialized. 25 characters in the same village cannot possibly all be farmers in 2020.

 

[emm1978]

IMO, that sounds boring. And not very this century, considering there are far fewer farms today than in 1970s. So much has been industrialized. 25 characters in the same village cannot possibly all be farmers in 2020.

Exactly... I mean it's not as if "everyone" in Yorkshire works on a farm (that wasn't even the case when the programme first began, let alone now).

People seem to think that because Emmerdale is set in the Yorkshire Dales, it can't do the same kind of storylines as EastEnders & Coronation Street.

As for people who say that Emmerdale looks like it's set in London... How many villages in London do you know of that are built entirely out of Yorkshire stone?

 

[emm1978]

I remember people saying that when Clive Hornby died (Jack Sugden) the show should have ended because it was so different from when it first started.

What soap is the same though now as when it first started? I'm sure Clive wouldn't have wanted a show he spent 28 consecutive years of his life in to come to an end, and the fact that he was in the show up until a few months before he died in 2008 shows that he accepted the fact that the show moved on to reflect life in a Yorkshire village in the 21st Century.

Now, of course, the show is tackling the real world problems associated with the pandemic, and quite rightly too.

 

[emm1978]

When FARM was dropped from the title, I always like what broadcaster James Whale, an Emmerdale fan, said in 1990.

"I just find it so sad that some people have nothing better to do with their lives than worry about just one word".

 

[emm1978]

So, basically, the big question is... Should Emmerdale add 4 letters back into it's title after nearly 31 years?

 

[ArchieLucasCarringtonEwing1989]

My favourite photo of the clan, The Sugden, Merrick, Skilbeck, Hughes and Bates altogether in one photo taken at Kate & Joe’s wedding in 1989



I really hope that Sandie, The Skilbeck clan and Kathy come back for Annie’s funeral and I hope that the Sugden clan can be restored to its former glory, rather than being a branch off the Blackstock/Lambert family

 

[Emelee]

My favourite photo of the clan, The Sugden, Merrick, Skilbeck, Hughes and Bates altogether in one photo taken at Kate & Joe’s wedding in 1989

View attachment 21963

I really hope that Sandie, The Skilbeck clan and Kathy come back for Annie’s funeral and I hope that the Sugden clan can be restored to its former glory, rather than being a branch off the Blackstock/Lambert family

There's only Sarah and Victoria left now, right? And Vic's son of course.
I didn't like Andy at all, so I don't want him back. Robert should be pardoned and return. With his son Seb.

The Sugden future seems realistically to be Victoria, Sarah, Jack, Harry & Seb. Plus Robert in about 10+ years.

 

[ArchieLucasCarringtonEwing1989]

There's only Sarah and Victoria left now, right? And Vic's son of course.
I didn't like Andy at all, so I don't want him back. Robert should be pardoned and return. With his son Seb.

The Sugden future seems realistically to be Victoria, Sarah, Jack, Harry & Seb. Plus Robert in about 10+ years.

Yeah Andy can stay away but his brother Daz could come back and reunite with Victoria

Yes the only Sugden’s left now are Victoria, Harry, Sarah and Jack.

Seb is living with Rebecca in Liverpool

Im fairly certain Sandie herself has grandchildren now that could come into the show, I would love for Sam Skilbeck to come back with his family.

Emmerdale has gone down a very EastEnders rout, it doesn’t feel like a village anymore but more of a suburb in Leeds, the show needs to get back to its countryside routes as well as keeping up with the times

 

[Emelee]

Emmerdale has gone down a very EastEnders rout, it doesn’t feel like a village anymore but more of a suburb in Leeds, the show needs to get back to its countryside routes as well as keeping up with the times

I've followed Emmerdale on and off for approx 10 years. I don't know these old families. New viewers could probably not care less about Emmerdale of the 70s and 80s. Or even 90s.

To me, Emmerdale feels very much like a small village. I get the impression that there are like 20 homes there plus one pub/restaurant, one café, one very small shop and one very small hotel/B&B. Plus one church, one family-owned car service, one hair dresser, one wedding planner and one factory. Rest are farmers or drivers.

They don't even have a school. The kids take the bus to a small town called Hotten that doesn't appear very big but at least have a school and some shops.

I don't get a suburb feeling.