35 YEARS OF EMMERDALE
Do you think anyone thought Emmerdale would last as long as it has done?
No, I dont think anyone did in fact, before the plane crash episodes when Phil Redmond was drafted in, they were actually thinking of taking it off air, so that was a key turning point.
How did you the cast feel when you all first heard that the plane crash storyline was coming up?
We were actually warned it was coming and it was a case of everyone diving for the script and looking at the back page to see who would survive. It was one of those moments when everyone thought ah, this could be me this time We knew they were going to get rid of some characters it was a pretty bad time really.
The show was sexed up in the early 90s - how do you think older viewers felt at that time?
I think it was one of those things where you would either go with it or stop watching. Inevitably there were some complaints but thats going to happen because you have to move with the times. Even since I joined in 89/90 its moved on incredibly since then. Theres a lot of competition out there from the other soaps.
What are your personal favourite storylines?
I love a good love triangle I think the Frank, David and Kim one was a nice one for me to do. The plane crash was the one that turned the whole thing round even though it wasnt the nicest thing to film. That was the key change to the whole series. I think they did a very good job on it. It wasnt taken light heartedly.
Who are your favourite characters?
Well obviously Im biased towards the Tates, but also I think the Dingles have made such a mark in the show. That was another Phil Redmond thing and he called them after the area in Liverpool. When they arrived they made such a big impact you couldnt imagine Emmerdale now without a Dingle in it.
What was it like to play a character like Kim Tate?
Well initially she was quite a nice person and then when the character of Lynne Whiteley left I had to take over the mantle of the hard cow of the Dales. In those days there were no real bitches in soaps apart from the American ones in Dynasty and Dallas so I started playing the lines harder and harder and the writers started writing them harder and harder. We created a monster! I loved it!
How did people react to you in the street?
In the early days a little old lady hit me over the head with an umbrella for being horrible to Frank. But then it changed as people got used to the character. Its like when Simon Cowell or Anne Robinson first came out people thought they were so rude but now they love to hate them. It was the same with Kim Tate they loved disliking her.
Do you think Kim will ever return?
Well, when I watch it now I do keep saying its my house! Who are these people living in my house? (laughs) I was asked to go back for one episode when Stan sadly died (who played Seth) and I thought, well if you have Kim returning you want a bigger splash than that. The doors closed but its not bolted though I think time has moved on.
And what are you up to these days?
Im just getting fit again for a trek to South Africa in November where Ill be working on a three-day project for children with Aids. Ive got an episode of The Royal and Im doing good old fashioned panto Im doing Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs at Barnsley playing guess what? The wicked queen!
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The Best Of Emmerdale and Emmerdale Farm Volume One, plus a special 35th anniversary edition, are available now on Network DVD
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