Jack Sugden

Jack Sugden
Clive Hornby as Jack Sugden (2007)
Emmerdale character
Portrayed by	Andrew Burt (1972–1976) Clive Hornby (1980–2008)
Duration	1972–1973, 1976, 1980–2008
First appearance	16 October 1972
Last appearance	21 February 2008
Created by	Kevin Laffan
Introduced by	David Goddard (1972) Michael Glynn (1976) Anne Gibbons (1980)
Book appearances	See List
Classification	Former; regular
Profile
Occupation	Farmer (1972–2008) Barman (2004–2008) Pub landlord (2004–2008)
Andrew Burt as Jack Sugden (1972)
Family Sugden Father Jacob Sugden Mother Annie Sugden Brothers Joe Sugden Sisters Peggy Skilbeck Wife Pat Merrick (1982–1986) Sarah Connolly (1994–2000) (2004–2009) Sons Jackie Merrick Robert Sugden Daughters Victoria Sugden Adoptive sons Andy Sugden Stepdaughters Sandie Merrick (1982–1986) (2004–2009) Grandsons Jack Sugden (adoptive) Granddaughters Sarah Sugden (adoptive) Grandfathers Joseph Sugden Sam Pearson Grandmothers Margaret Sugden Grace Pearson Nephews Sam Skilbeck Nieces Sally Skilbeck

John Jacob "Jack" Sugden is a long running fictional character in the British television soap opera Emmerdale. The character was originally played by Andrew Burt from 1972 to 1973 with a brief return in 1976, when he left for Italy to write a book. On his return in 1980 he was played by Clive Hornby. Hornby stayed in the role until 2008 when he was forced to take a break from Emmerdale due to illness. His last on-screen appearance was on 21 February 2008, and his absence was explained by the character visiting his mother, Annie Sugden in Spain. Hornby died of the illness without returning to the series.

Jacob and Annie Sugden’s son Jack is one of the original characters in Emmerdale. The Sugden family were the owners of Emmerdale Farm from the programme's early days. Jack and his younger siblings, Peggy Skilbeck and Joe all worked on the farm.

From the early days, Jack seems to be a very rebellious and self-righteous character, who cares little for others' views. He also has numerous flings with different women and failed marriages, due to his infidelity. Jack is also an intelligent and articulate man but shown to be secretive from his family too. As time passed and Jack became a father, he has matured much more. He has firmly secured his roots in farming, which he originally tried so hard to escape from. Jack is still a man of principles and of pride, which can sometimes be his biggest weakness

Jack Sugden was born on 28 November 1947 at Emmerdale Farm in Beckindale. He left the village in the spring of 1964 after a row with father Jacob over intensive farming, wanting to see more of the world than Beckindale, and went to London. He had unknowingly got his childhood sweetheart Ruth Harker (also known as Pat) pregnant. She married local thug Tom Merrick that year and tricked him into thinking the baby was his, by telling him the baby was premature. Sometime in the mid to late 1960s Jack met and married Lynn Wallace. Shortly afterwards he wrote and published his best seller The Field Of Tares.

As the Sugden and Skilbeck families gather for the funeral of Jacob Sugden, Jacob's eldest son Jack returns to Emmerdale Farm for the first time in eight years. Jacob has left Jack the farm in his will and this has caused bad feeling amongst the Sugden children - Peggy and Joe. As the family attend the funeral, Jack wanders around the farm. There he meets Marian Wilks, the daughter of Henry Wilks who has just bought the adjoining land to Emmerdale - Inglebrook. After the funeral is over, Jack makes his return known to the family. He is given a frosty reception by his sister Peggy. Jack, Joe and Peggy's mother, Annie, tells Jack that he's welcome to stay but he must help around the farm. When Jack finds out Marian's father was a partner in a company that was responsible for killing fish, he accuses him of doing it deliberately and she storms off. Jack visits The Woolpack and sees Marian talking to her friend, Alec, and joins them but they leave. Matt makes Annie aware that Peggy thinks she's being too soft on Jack. Jack seems to have no intention of helping around the farm. Henry finds out that Jack is the legal owner of the farm and decides to tackle him about the right of way problem. A tractor breaks down on the farm. Jack tells Peggy that she can have the farm if it will make her happy and stop the family nagging at him. Annie tells him it's his duty to stay and make the farm work. Marian questions Joe about his brother, she seems very interested in Jack. Jack seems interested in the old Millhouse, he learns it cannot be demolished as it has a preservation order on it. He asks Annie if a letter has arrived for him, she says no. Jack and Henry have a confrontation about access to land. Jack tells Joe that Peggy's pregnant. Annie asks Jack to make some decisions about the farm. Jack receives two letters in the post - one is from Henry's solicitor arranging a meeting to discuss the right of way, the other from London. Jack tells Peggy that he intends to restore the old millhouse and divide up the farm. Jack goes for a walk and chats to a few village elders whose conversation gives him food for thought. Joe and Marian go for a drink in The Woolpack where they run into Jack. Joe mentions that Annie wants a word with him about replacing the hens. Jack says if it was left to him they would not be replaced as he doesn't believe in imprisoning animals. Annie has waited up for Jack to arrive home for a private talk with him. She tells him that she persuaded Jacob to leave the farm to him. She says that his father was a drunk who ran the farm from The Woolpack. She pushes him for an answer on whether he will stick around to run the place, but he can't give her one. A stranger turns up at the farm and whisks Jack away. He turns out to be Wallace, a friend of Jack's from London who tries to persuade Jack to arrange a meeting with a mystery woman, Lynn. They arrange a meeting at The Feathers Country Hotel in Connelton. Marian calls around to the farm to have a word with Jack but he's not in, she wants to have a word with Jack about the right of way before he meets with her father. Marian runs out of petrol and is rescued by Jack. The family discuss Jack being whisked away, clearly not wanting to be seen. As it starts to rain Marian and Jack seek shelter in Jameson's barn and become closer. Marian arrives home after her encounter with Jack. Henry is suspicious, but says nothing. Amos tells Joe that he saw Marian and Jack holding hands, this upsets Joe. Jack visits Marian at Inglebrook. Annie goes to The Woolpack in search of Joe, she tells Amos not to spread gossip about Jack and Marian. Marian quizzes Jack about his past and he tells her that he left Emmerdale Farm eight years ago after rowing with his father about keeping battery hens as Jack was against it, preferring animals to have their freedom. Joe causes a scene at Inglebrook as he is jealous of Marian's interest in Jack.