Emmerdale is all about the Dingles for many viewers, whilst perhaps others might think the Tates are their top Dales family – but for a long time, the show was all about the Sugdens.
Now there’s only a couple of Sugdens left – Victoria and Sarah (who’s really more Dingle) and the family have retreated into the shadows a bit.
But not for long!
There is a new Sugden on his way to Emmerdale. John Sugden is the son of Jack Sugden, making him Victoria, Andy and Robert’s half brother – and Sarah’s uncle.
Oliver is coming to the Dales as John Sugden (Credit: ITV)
Emmerdale: New Sugden in town!
No one is more excited about the new arrival than Isabel Hodgins, who plays lonely Victoria, and Oliver Farnworth who plays newcomer John!
We sat down with them to get all the gossip about John and how he’s going to fit into the village.
“I’ve been here a few weeks now, and it’s just been a dream,” says Oliver. “It’s right in at the deep end with his character – he’s got a pretty amazing backstory. Obviously, he’s half-brother to Victoria, which we find out quite quickly, but there’s a whole lot of depth to him.”
So how do the siblings come face to face? Well, it’s all down to Eric Pollard! He’s off to the funeral of an old friend from the village – Barbara – and Vic gives him a lift.
“Victoria takes Pollard to the funeral of Barbara. She sits down on a bench to wait for him, next to a stranger, and they make small talk,” Isabel explains.
“Then Pollard comes over and introduces himself, and John says, ‘I’m John Sugden.’ And Vic’s like, ‘I beg your pardon?’.”
It turns out Barbara had a brief liaison with Vic’s dad Jack back in the 1980s. He’s grown up knowing who his dad was – though Jack didn’t know about him – but has never wanted to meet the Sugden side of his family.
Vic, though, is delighted to have a new brother.
Vic’s delighted with the news (Credit: ITV)
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