Episode 4197 (6th November 2005)

==Plot==
After Ashley announces their banns in church, Laurel shocks him by declaring that she wants to marry him that day. After a bit of persuasion Ashley agrees and says that he wants the bishop to do the service so Laurel goes off to find him. The bishop is dubious about the sudden wedding but on hearing Laurel say that Seth’s death has taught her to live for the moment, he agrees. Nicola allows Laurel to drive the bishop to Emmerdale in the two-seater, leaving her desperately trying to get a taxi. Nicola eventually flags down a mini-bus and finds herself surrounded by residents from a local old folks' home, telling them that if they give her a lift they can come to the wedding. Back at the village, Laurel is touched when Betty digs out the dress she wore when she married Wally, saying that she’d love Laurel to wear it. Laurel says that she would have loved Seth to have given her away and Betty offers instead. As the service is about to begin there is surprise when Nicola turns up with a gaggle of pensioners. Meanwhile, one of the elderly men, Sandy, notes Ashley's name on the church and asks Victoria where he lives. As Ashley and Laurel are declared husband and wife, Sandy lets himself into the vicarage, helps himself to a glass of wine and looks at a picture of Gabby, before retiring to the bedroom for a nap. Later, Ashley and Laurel sneak out of the reception and head home to consummate their marriage. As Ashley begins to divest himself, Laurel heads upstairs and sits on the bed, getting jumped out of her skin when Sandy rises from the sheets. Ashley rushes upstairs when he hears Laurel's screams and heads into the bedroom to find Sandy in their bed. Familiar with the elderly man before him, Ashley expresses his lack of surprise at finding him in another's bed and, with disdain, surprises Laurel by telling her that Sandy is his father.
==Cast==
===Regular cast===
*Sandy Thomas - Freddie Jones
*Laurel Potts - Charlotte Bellamy
*Ashley Thomas - John Middleton
*Nicola Blackstock - Nicola Wheeler
*Emily Kirk - Kate McGregor
*Len Reynolds - Peter Martin
*Gabrielle Thomas - Annelise Manojlovic (uncredited)
*Lisa Dingle - Jane Cox
*Ivan Jones - Daniel Brocklebank
*Betty Eagleton - Paula Tilbrook
*Belle Dingle - Eden Taylor-Draper
*Louise Appleton - Emily Symons
*Paul Lambert - Mathew Bose
*Rodney Blackstock - Patrick Mower
*Zak Dingle - Steve Halliwell
*Victoria Sugden - Hannah Midgley
*Simon Meredith - Dale Meeks
===Guest cast===
*Nancy Lee - Gillian Waugh
*Old Woman - Judith Davies
*Bishop Postlethwaite - Peter Cartwright
==Locations==
*Hotten Road
*Mill Brook Cottage - Front garden, living room, kitchen and Ashley's room
*Main Street
*Mulberry Cottage - Living room
*St. Mary's Church - Nave/altar, vestry and exterior
*Keepers Cottage - Living room and lobby
*Bishop Postlethwaite's house - Office and driveway
*The Woolpack - Public bar
==Notes==
*First appearance of Sandy Thomas.
*Viewing Figures: UK broadcast - 8,210,000 viewers (16th place).
Category:2005 episodes
Category:Emmerdale episodes