{"id":2650,"date":"2024-07-30T11:37:55","date_gmt":"2024-07-30T10:37:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/emmerdale-insider.com\/?page_id=2650"},"modified":"2025-06-12T17:29:18","modified_gmt":"2025-06-12T16:29:18","slug":"first-episode","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.tvguide.co.uk\/emmerdale-insider\/all-about-emmerdale\/first-episode\/","title":{"rendered":"First episode"},"content":{"rendered":"

The first episode of Emmerdale hit our screens at 1.30pm on Monday October 16, 1972. Created by British screenwriter Kevin Laffan, the British soap opera was originally known as Emmerdale Farm.<\/p>

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Produced by Yorkshire Television, it was launched as a new lunchtime farming serial for ITV. It was based on the lives of locals living in a fictional village in the Yorkshire Dales.<\/p>\n

The exterior shots for Emmerdale Farm were filmed in Arncliffe in Littondale, and the interior scenes at the ITV Studios in Leeds.<\/p>\n

Emmerdale Farm\u2019s pilot featured appearances from nine regular characters and also one guest character.<\/p>

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It was watched by an audience of 2.2 million.<\/p>\n

The episode was conceived and written by Kevin Laffan and Script Editor David Crane. It was produced by Producer David Goddard and Executive Producer Peter Holmans, and directed by Tristan de Vere Cole.<\/p>\n

The synopsis of the episode as published in TV Times at the time read: \u201cIn the beginning is the end . . . Old Jacob Sugden, owner of Emmerdale Farm in Yorkshire has died leaving his wife Annie, his old father Sam, her daughter Peggy and younger son Joe. Jack, the elder son, left home eight years ago and little has been heard of him since.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Marian
The opening shot showed Marian Wilks on horseback (Credit: ITV\/Shutterstock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Here\u2019s what happened in the first ever episode of Emmerdale<\/h2>\n

The first character to be seen on screen after the opening credits is Marian Wilks. She is riding her horse past members of the Sugden and Skilbeck families, who have gathered for the funeral of Jacob Sugden.<\/p>

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The decision to focus on a funeral in the first episode was creator Kevin Laffan\u2019s. He felt the dramatic event would draw viewers in.
\nEmmerdale\u2019s first line of dialogue is then spoken by Peggy Skilbeck. She clocks Marian on horseback and asks her husband, Matt Skilbeck, who she is.<\/p>\n

Next to be seen are Jacob\u2019s widow and Peggy\u2019s mother, Annie Sugden. Also in the scene are Peggy\u2019s brother, Joe Sugden and Jacob\u2019s elderly father, Sam Pearson.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Jacob\u2019s eldest son Jack Sugden makes his return to the village for the first time in eight years. He is seen in The Woolpack with the pub landlord Amos Brearly as he quietly watches his father\u2019s funeral procession go by.<\/p>\n

\"Emmerdale:
Jack Sugden made his return following an eight year absence (Credit: ITV\/Shutterstock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Fight for Emmerdale Farm<\/h2>\n

It is soon revealed that Jacob has left Emmerdale Farm to Jack. This decision causes outrage and distress to his estranged siblings Peggy and Joe.<\/p>

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By his own admission, Jack is viewed as the \u2018prodigal son\u2019. Neither Joe nor Peggy want him running Emmerdale Farm.<\/p>\n

As the family attend Jacob\u2019s funeral service held in St Mary\u2019s Church, Jack returns to the farm for a look around. While there he encounters Marian, the same lady who was riding in the beginning of the episode.<\/p>\n

Marian is revealed to be the daughter of local businessman Henry Wilks. He has just purchased the adjoining land to Emmerdale Farm \u2013 Inglebrook.<\/p>

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Jack approaches his family following Jacob\u2019s send-off to make them aware of him being back in the village.<\/p>\n

He receives a frosty reception from Peggy, but Joe and their mother Annie are more welcoming. Annie is undoubtedly keen for Jack to stick about. She tells him he\u2019s welcome to stay as long as he helps around the family farm.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s an altercation between Joe and Marian when he discovers her dad Henry was involved in a company that was responsible for killing fish. She takes offence to Joe\u2019s accusations and storms off.<\/p>

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Later, Henry pays Annie a visit at the farm to discuss his right of way over the adjoining land to Emmerdale Farm.<\/p>\n

With the main entrance to Inglebrook situated on a dangerous corner, Henry proposes to use the bottom of a lower meadow which goes over Emmerdale Farm land, which is currently blocked by farming machinery.<\/p>\n

Annie furiously objects to his proposal and sends Henry away, but he warns the law is on his side.<\/p>

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Rivalries<\/h2>\n

This exchange marked the beginning of a long-standing rivalry between Henry and the Sugden family.<\/p>\n

The episode closes with Jack subsequently returning to The Woolpack. Here he finds Marian talking to her long-term friend Alec Saunders.<\/p>

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Jack decides to join them, but causes offence to Alec when he quizzes him on his \u2018pedigree\u2019.<\/p>\n

Alec and Marian leave their drinks and leave the pub, with Alec then declaring he\u2019s \u201cparticular about who he drinks with.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Annie
Jack was certainly the apple of Annie\u2019s eye (Credit: ITV\/Shutterstock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>
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The cast in the first episode of Emmerdale<\/h2>\n

Annie Sugden is played by Sheila Mercier.<\/p>\n

Jack Sugden is played by Andrew Burt.<\/p>

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Peggy Skilbeck is played by Jo Kendall.<\/p>\n

Joe Sugden is played by Frazer Hines.<\/p>\n

Matt Skilbeck is played by Frederick Pyne.<\/p>

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Sam Pearson is played by Toke Townley.<\/p>\n

Marian Wilks is played by Gail Harrison.<\/p>\n

Henry Wilks is played by Arthur Pentelow.<\/p>

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Amos Brearly is played by Ronald Magill.<\/p>\n

Alec Saunders is played by Alan Tucker.<\/p>\n