Emmerdale Farm in 1987

1987 was Emmerdale Farm's 16th year. Storylines included the villagers protests against a proposed nuclear dump, Joe Sugden's ill-fated love affair with Ruth Pennington, the return of Marian Wilks with new husband Paolo, Eric Pollard's hate campaign against Sandie Merrick and the collapse of NY Estates. 100 episodes were broadcast this year.
==Production==
Michael Russell continued as producer for the show.
The year was mainly dominated by the nuclear dump story. Such bold political ground was new for Emmerdale Farm and some quarters of the press criticised the show as being politically biased for airing an anti-nuclear storyline in an election year. Elsewhere, some viewers worried the programme was changing to become more 'topical' and wrote in with their concerns to the production team. The show also began to slowly edge away from storylines revolving around Emmerdale Farm and the Sugdens as more focus was placed on the village of Beckindale and the likes of Home Farm and Hotten Cattle Market.
The only changes in cast this year were the arrival of Julia Chambers as Joe Sugden's new love interest, Ruth Pennington and the brief return of Marian Wilks (now 'Rosetti') with a new actress portraying her - Debbi Blythe.
==Episodes==
==Main Cast==
Ranking	Character 	Played by 	Duration 	Number of Episodes	Running total	Previous year's ranking
1 	Dolly Skilbeck 	Jean Rogers 	Full year 	98 	796 	4
2 	Jack Sugden 	Clive Hornby 	Full year 	97 	748 	4
3 	Matt Skilbeck 	Frederick Pyne 	Full year 	96 	1168 	4
3 	Alan Turner 	Richard Thorp 	Full year 	96 	479 	4
4 	Joe Sugden 	Frazer Hines 	Full year 	95 	936 	14
4 	Caroline Bates 	Diana Davies 	Full year 	95 	344 	10
7 	Jackie Merrick 	Ian Sharrock 	Full year 	92 	577 	1
8 	Amos Brearly 	Ronald Magill 	Full year 	91 	1159 	1
8 	Henry Wilks 	Arthur Pentelow 	Full year 	91 	1152 	4
8 	Seth Armstrong 	Stan Richards 	Full year 	91 	621 	4
9 	Kathy Bates 	Malandra Burrows 	Full year 	90 	188 	12
10 	Sandie Merrick 	Jane Hutcheson 	Full year 	89 	466 	11
15 	Annie Sugden 	Sheila Mercier 	Full year except August 	84 	1126 	1
16 	Archie Brooks 	Tony Pitts 	Full year 	83 	186 	24
16 	Phil Pearce 	Peter Alexander 	Full year 	78 	121 	18
16 	Nick Bates 	Cy Chadwick 	Full year 	70 	100 	21
17 	Samuel Skilbeck	Benjamin Whitehead 	Full year except September 	63 	281 	13
18 	Robert Sugden 	Richard Smith 	From March 	56 	85 	21
19 	Jock MacDonald 	Drew Dawson 	Full year except October 	54 	167 	19
20 	Ruth Pennington	Julia Chambers 	From June 	48 	48 	-
21 	Eric Pollard 	Christopher Chittell	January, March to April, June to July, October onwards 	49 	65 	22
22 	Donald Hinton 	Hugh Manning 	March to August and from November 	45 	534 	15
23 	Bill Middleton 	Johnny Caesar 	January, March to April, June to September and from November	40 	127 	21
24 	Marian Rosetti 	Debbi Blythe 	June and July only 	11 	51 	-
==Storylines==
===January===
*Dolly Skilbeck has to face up to her past regarding her illegitimate son Graham Lodsworth.
===February===
*Graham Lodsworth is sent back to the army.
*Jackie Merrick falls down a mine shaft. He is rescued and is not badly hurt.
===March===
*The whole of Beckindale has a new battle on its hands. The villagers face an uncertain future as the government plan to build a nuclear dump on Pencross Fell.
===April===
*Eric Pollard's misdemeanours are uncovered and he is sacked as auctioneer from Hotten Cattle Market. He blames Sandie Merrick for getting him sacked and starts a hat campaign against her.
*The villagers arrange meetings to discuss the nuclear dump proposals. They will not give up without a fight. A councillor, Mr. Bailey visits the village and says the nuclear dump will not affect the village. The villagers argue and put "No Nukes Here" signs all over Bailey's car.
*Eric holds Sandie hostage at Mill Cottage and threatens her with a poker. He gives her a sob story and she drives him home.
===May===
*
===June===
*
===July===
*
===August===
*
===September===
*Nasty cowman Mr Bracknell terrorises Ruth Pennington, saying she put him out of business. Joe defends her and Bracknell punches him in the face.
*After 6 months of endless campaigns and riots opposing the proposed nuclear dump, the government in London says that the plans for the dump are being abandoned, and they are pulling out of Beckindale. The whole village celebrates and they all spend the night drinking in The Woolpack. Amos is more worried about the fact that some customers bought their own beer instead of buying it on the pub premises but Henry says they can overlook it for a celebration. Jack and Henry visit the now quiet Pencross Fell.
===October===
*
===November===
*
===December===
*
==Who lives where==
to be added
==Awards and Nominations==
to be added
Category:1987
Category:Emmerdale year-by-year