Emmerdale fans have sent a desperate plea to soap bosses asking them to resurrect characters that are no longer on screen.
The begging comes as the ITV soap has revealed plans for a new member of the Sugden family to join the Emmerdale cast.
The Skilbeck family appeared on Emmerdale in the 1970s, and fans have asked soap bosses to consider bringing them back[/caption] In the 1980s the Merrick family were also on Emmerdale and were a fan favourite[/caption]John Sugden is the son of Jack Sugden, making him Victoria, Andy and Robert’s half brother – and Sarah’s uncle
Played by Oliver Farnworth, who has appeared in Coronation Street, he’s set to make his appearance this month.
However the new addition has seen fans wishing the ITV soap would bring back the Skilbeck and Merrick families, who haven’t been on the soap for several decades.
One soap fan wrote in an online forum: “Interesting news that Emmerdale is introducing another branch to the Sugden family via Jack.
“However, I always wonder why the show never re-establishes members of the Skilbeck or Merrick families who were both central to Emmerdale in the 70s and 80s?
Seems like an easy win — simple connections to the show’s past with lots of opportunity for new characters?”
Another responded: “Matt and Dollys Skilbecks son would be about 35-38 now? With a family? He could easily come back….”
Yet another joked: “They could try getting Dolly Skilbecks illegitimate son Graham Lodsworth played by Ross Kemp to return. Yeah, good luck with that.”
“Tommy Merrick dates back to the early Emmerdale Farm days, so would be in his mid 50s now ; another one who could come back; again, with family sons/ daughters , grown up,” said another.
Others have offered theories and speculated that the new Sugden on the scene might end up with a romantic link to another of Emmerdale’s longstanding families, the Dingles.
They wrote in the forum: “The simple answer is, they aren’t Dingles. If brought in they would be brought into have a link with the Dingles.
The new Sugden will be with one in less than 3 months.”
Another reasoned: “I think the issue with the Merricks, and even more the Skillbecks, is that they aren’t blood relations of anybody still in the show.
“Now that needn’t matter if there is a bond, most obviously from being so closely associated with a family for a lengthy period via marriage that a character becomes part of it.
“Mark and Rachel Hughes became Sugdens due to Joe’s short marriage to Kate.
“Vinny is now effectively a Dingle because Mandy brought him up.
“Matt and Dolly were Sugdens because of Matt remaining part of the family after Peggy and the twins death due to shared experience and affection.”
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Oliver Farnworth, who joins as John Sugden this month, is no stranger to ITV screens.
Oliver played Andy Carver in Corrie from 2014 to 2017, as well as roles in Mr Selfridge (2013), The Girl on the Train (2018) and Beautiful Thing (2013).
Ahead of his first appearance in the village, viewers have been sharing theories on what could be in store for John.
As of now, the newcomer’s exact relation to the Sugdens isn’t known.
Although fans have been putting forward their best guesses in the build-up to the character’s debut.
At present, Victoria Sugden (Isabel Hodgins) and her son Harry (Adam Pryor) are the only Sugdens in the show – however, John is reportedly poised to introduce significant changes for Victoria.
Actress Malandra Burrows played Kathy Merrick in the ITV soap[/caption] Emmerdale has cast Oliver Farnworth as a mysterious new character, John Sugden, who joins this month[/caption] Fans have been speculating about how John is linked to the Sugden family[/caption]