Latest news with #AndrewBurt
Daily Mirror
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Emmerdale's original cast now from very different career to love with co-star
Emmerdale has been a staple on our TV's for 50 years with the quaint village being home to its fair share of drama The Yorkshire-based soap Emmerdale has been a mainstay on our televisions for 50 years, with the idyllic village playing host to its fair share of drama and a revolving door of characters. But before the Dingle family brought their unique brand of chaos to our screens, a completely different cast of villagers laid the groundwork for the show's current success. These original Emmerdale actors have gone down in TV history, with many continuing in their roles for several years. Some even went on to feature in other classic shows, from Doctor Who to Only Fools and Horses. Let's take a trip down memory lane and see what became of the original cast from way back in 1972. Jack Sugden - Andrew Burt Andrew Burt played Jack Sugden in the original series of the show and was on screen as Jack for four years until 1976. The character was recast when he returned four years later, with Clive Hornby taking on Jack for the next 28 years. For Burt, he would go on to appear on some more classic TV shows, including credits in Poirot, Doctor Who, Warship, The Legend of King Arthur, Campion, Oscar Charlie, I'm Alan Partridge and Doctors. In his later years, Burt retrained as a counsellor, becoming an accredited member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and would go on to open his practice before his death from lung cancer in 2018, aged 73. Annie Sugden - Sheila Mercier Playing the matriarch of the original notorious Sugden family, Mercier played the role for more than 20 years until 1997 and made the odd guest appearance for the following ten years until 2009. Emmerdale was the last acting gig for Sheila as she decided to retire with fellow actor Peter Mercier. The Hull-born actress died in 2019 at the grand age of 100. Joe Sugden - Frazer Hines Playing Annie's second son Joe, the Leeds lad began his acting career in a very different scene alongside the legendary Charlie Chaplin in A King in New York. He would continue playing Joe until 1994 before appearing in Out of Sight, Two Days in the Smoke and a part in Doctor Who. In his private life, Frazer battled bowel cancer for more than 10 years, having first been diagnosed in 1999. In 2010, he disclosed to the public his battle. The tumours were removed in a gruelling surgery. Now, in the 80s, Frazer understandably doesn't act as much but can still be seen in an appearance in Doctors in 2024. Marian Wilks - Gail Harrison Marian was the first character to ever be seen on the show as she was seen riding a horse in the very first opening of the show, and was most known for her romance with Jack Sugden. Leaving the show six years later, Gail would go on to appear in the sitcom Hi-de-hi as well as making appearances in Only Fools and Horses in 1989. Sam Pearson - Toke Townley Sam Pearson, known as Grandad but actually Annie's father, was played by Toke Townley. He sadly passed away from a heart attack during a filming break in 1984 at the age of 71. He also appeared in British spy series The Avengers, and a whole range of films in the 1050s including Lady Godiva Rides Again and Treasure Hunt. Henry Wilks - Arthur Pentelow Playing the retired factory owner who took up the helm of the village's iconic Woolpack pub for nearly 20 years. Arthur Pentelow was "an immediate choice" when it came to casting Wilks. Pentelow wasn't raised in Yorkshire but was in fact from across the Pennines in Lancashire. Before acting he served in World War II doing radar work for the Royal Navy before coming home after the war where he would start acting. He was married and had two sons, one of which Nick Pentelow became the saxophonist for the band Wizard famous for the song I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day. The actor died in 1991 after tragically suffering a heart attack while driving to Leeds to film an episode for the soap.
Daily Record
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Emmerdale original cast now from co-star's tragic death and Hollywood role
The original cast of Emmerdale have been beamed into living rooms for more than 50 years but what happened to the cast members that first stepped foot in the village of Beckindale For half a century, the Yorkshire-based soap has been a mainstay on our televisions, with its idyllic village setting playing host to an array of dramatic events and a revolving door of characters. However, before the Dingle family's antics became a central part of the narrative, a different set of villagers laid the groundwork for what the show is today. The original Emmerdale line-up holds a special place in TV history, with many of the actors continuing their roles for extended periods. Some even went on to feature in other classic shows like Doctor Who and Only Fools and Horses. Let's take a trip down memory lane and see what became of the original cast from 1972. Jack Sugden - Andrew Burt Andrew Burt was the first to portray Jack Sugden in the series, a role he held for four years until 1976. When the character made his return four years later, Clive Hornby assumed the mantle of Jack for the subsequent 28 years, reports Leeds Live. Burt's career saw him grace several other classic TV shows, with appearances in Poirot, Doctor Who, Warship, The Legend of King Arthur, Campion, Oscar Charlie, I'm Alan Partridge and Doctors. In his later life, Burt transitioned into counselling, becoming an accredited member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. He opened his own practice before succumbing to lung cancer in 2018 at the age of 73. Annie Sugden - Sheila Mercier Sheila Mercier, who portrayed the matriarch of the infamous Sugden family, held her role for over two decades until 1997, making occasional guest appearances for the next 10 years until 2009. Emmerdale was Sheila's final acting role before she retired alongside fellow actor Peter Mercier. The actress, originally from Hull, passed away in 2019 at the impressive age of 100. Frazer Hines played Joe Sugden Frazer Hines played Joe Sugden, Annie's second son. This Leeds-born actor started his career in a vastly different setting, sharing the screen with the legendary Charlie Chaplin in 'A King in New York'. He continued to portray Joe until 1994, later appearing in 'Out of Sight', 'Two Days in the Smoke' and securing a role in 'Doctor Who'. Frazer has been battling bowel cancer since his diagnosis in 1999. In 2010, he publicly shared his struggle after undergoing an intense surgery to remove the tumours. Now in his 80s, Frazer understandably doesn't act as much but made an appearance in 'Doctors' in 2024. Gail Harrison played Marian Wilks: The first character ever seen on the show, famously riding a horse in the opening scene. She is best remembered for her romantic storyline with Jack Sugden. After leaving the show six years later, Gail went on to feature in the sitcom 'Hi-de-hi' and made appearances in 'Only Fools and Horses' in 1989. Toke Townley played Sam Pearson Sam Pearson, affectionately referred to as Grandad despite being Annie's father, was portrayed by Toke Townley. Tragically, he suffered a fatal heart attack during a filming hiatus in 1984 at the age of 71. Townley also had roles in the British spy series The Avengers and featured in several films in the 1950s, including Lady Godiva Rides Again and Treasure Hunt. Arthur Pentelow played Henry Wilks A retired factory owner who became the landlord of the village's renowned Woolpack pub for nearly two decades. Pentelow was deemed "an immediate choice" for the role of Wilks. Although his character was based in Yorkshire, Pentelow hailed from Lancashire, across the Pennines. Prior to his acting career, he served in World War II, working on radar technology for the Royal Navy. After the war, he returned home and embarked on his acting journey. Pentelow was married with two sons, one of whom, Nick Pentelow, became the saxophonist for the band Wizard, known for their hit song 'I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day'. Sadly, in 1991, Pentelow passed away after suffering a heart attack while driving to Leeds to film an episode of the soap.
