Emmerdale Farm in 1974

thumb|right|200px|Title caption until April
 
1974 was Emmerdale Farm's 3rd year. Production was overseen by Robert D. Cardona.
99 episodes were broadcast this year. Major storylines included the mysterious arrival and six months later, the equally mysterious disappearance of Dryden Hogben, Joe Sugden's doomed marriage to Milk Marketing Board worker Christine Sharp, Alison Gibbons finding herself being the subject of Henry Wilks and Matt Skilbeck's affections, Ethel Ainsworth's unwelcome advances on Amos Brearly and the further developments of The Woolpack Hotel following the partnership formation between Henry Wilks and Amos Brearly.
==Production==
 
At the beginning of the year, a small storyline involving Ruth Merrick going through a rough patch in her marriage with Tom Merrick saw Lynn Dalby return to the role for a few episodes. This was the first appearance of the character since November 1972 and the next time she would appear in 1980, Ruth went by a different name and was portrayed by a different actress.
Eric Allan and Diane Grayson left their roles as Frank Blakey and Janie Blakey respectively early in the year after their characters decided to move to Essex where Frank found himself a teaching job. Janie would return over 12 years later, then played by a different actress. 
Carolyn Moody left the programme after nearly eighteen months of playing Alison Gibbons in September. That month also saw the final appearance of Patrick Holt as George Verney. Gail Harrison returned as Marian Wilks in December, last being seen almost two years previously and Diana Davies appeared in four episodes as housewife Letty Brewer. She would later return to the series ten years later as long-running character Caroline Bates.
Behind the scenes, the opening titles were updated for the first time in the programme's history as of Episode 151 (8th April 1974).
==Episodes==
==Main Cast==
Ranking	Character 	Played by 	Duration 	Number of Episodes	Running total	Previous year's ranking
1 	Henry Wilks 	Arthur Pentelow 	Full year 	98 	204 	3
2 	Amos Brearly 	Ronald Magill 	Full year 	97 	197 	6
3 	Annie Sugden 	Sheila Mercier 	Full year 	95 	210 	2
3 	Matt Skilbeck 	Frederick Pyne 	Full year 	95 	200 	4
5 	Joe Sugden 	Frazer Hines 	Full year 	93 	210 	1
6 	Sam Pearson 	Toke Townley 	Full year 	86 	188 	5
7 	Christine Sharp/Sugden	Angela Cheyne 	Until November 	62 	68 	16
8 	Alison Gibbons 	Carolyn Moody 	Until September 	57 	112 	8
9 	Dryden Hogben 	Roy Boyd 	February to July 	48 	48 	-
10 	Edward Ruskin 	George Little 	January, April to October 	38 	90 	11
11 	Norah Norris 	Barbara Ashcroft	From August 	35 	35 	-
12 	Liz Ruskin 	Daphne Green 	January, April to November	31 	71 	12
13 	Kathy Davis 	Polly Hemingway 	October to December 	13 	13 	-
14 	James Bonfils 	Tom Browne 	November to December 	12 	12 	-
15 	Janie Blakey 	Diane Grayson 	Until January 	7 	68 	9
15 	Frank Blakey 	Eric Allan 	Until January 	7 	65 	9
17 	Ruth Merrick 	Lynn Dalby 	January only 	6 	12 	-
18 	George Verney 	Patrick Holt 	January and September 	3 	32 	13
19 	Marian Wilks 	Gail Harrison 	From December 	1 	27 	16
==Storylines==
to be added
==Who lives where==
* The Woolpack - Amos Brearly and Henry Wilks.
* Crossthwaite's Cottage - Franklin and Diana Prescott (February to July).
* Doctor's Surgery - Clare Scott.
* The Mill - Unoccupied.
* Beckindale Shop - Alison Gibbons (until September). Norah Norris (September onwards).
* Beckindale Vicarage - Edward and Liz Ruskin.
* Beckindale Forge - Dryden Hogben (March to July).
* Smithy Cottage - Frank and Janie Blakey (until January).
*Hawthorn Cottage - Joe Sugden (September onwards). Christine Sugden (September to October).
* Emmerdale Farm - Annie Sugden, Matt Skilbeck and Sam Pearson. Joe Sugden (until September). Christine Sharp (February to September). James Bonfils (November onwards).
*Holly Farm - Jim, Freda and Davey Gimbel. Kathy Gimbel (October to December).
* Miffield Hall - George Verney (until September). 
==Who works where==
*The Woolpack - Amos Brearly and Henry Wilks.
*Village Store - Alison Gibbons (until September). Norah Norris (September onwards). Liz Ruskin (November onwards).
*Beckindale Forge - Frank Blakey (until January).
*Emmerdale Farm - Joe Sugden and Matt Skilbeck. Christine Sharp (February to September).
==Awards and Nominations==
to be added
Category:1974
Category:Emmerdale year-by-year