The following is a list of characters that first appeared in the British soap opera Emmerdale Farm in 1972 and 1973, by order of first appearance. The first episode of Emmerdale Farm was broadcast on 16 October 1972. is the first character to be seen on screen, riding her horse past Peggy Skilbeck who speaks the serial's first lines of dialogue asking her husband, Matt Skilbeck who Marian is. Peggy's widowed mother, Annie Sugden, brother, Joe Sugden and grandfather Sam Pearson are the next to be seen, preparing for Jacob's Sugden's funeral. Jack Sugden is seen in The Woolpack along with landlord Amos Brearly, watching his father's funeral procession go by. Following the funeral, Marian's father, Henry Wilks visits Annie to discuss right of way over adjoining land to Emmerdale Farm. Janie Harker makes her first appearance on October 23. In November, Janie's sister, Ruth Merrick (later known as Pat), arrives along with her husband, Tom and their children Jackie and Sandie. Louise Jameson appears as Sharon Crossthwaite, as does Jim Latimer. The following month, Reverend Edward Ruskin makes his first appearance. In April, The serial's first birth occurs when Matt and Peggy's twins Sam and Sally are born. The serial's original doctor Clare Scott debuts in May and shopkeeper Lena Dawkins is introduced in December.