List of longest running characters

The following is a list of the top 100 longest serving Emmerdale characters who have been featured in the show as of 11th January 2025. It only includes appearances within the main programme and not the Spin-offs.
The list is sorted by default in the order of time between first and last appearances of a character in years and months. Some guest characters, who only made short-term appearances which would otherwise allow them to be included in this list such as Walter, PC Mike Swirling and Sandra Flaherty are excluded.
Some characters who have had more than one actor, such as Jack Sugden, Tom Merrick and Priya Kotecha are indicated by a • in the Actor column. The actor listed in each case is whoever played the character most recently. 
When the show started as Emmerdale Farm in 1972, there was originally a cast of just fifteen characters, compared to the casts of today which is somewhere as high as sixty or seventy characters at a time. As of 2024, over 300 characters in total have appeared in the show as regulars. 
Please note: A '#' in the Most recent appearance column indicated that a character is still in the show.
==Top 100==
# 	Name 	Actor 	First appearance 	Most recent appearance	Time between first and last appearance
1 	Eric Pollard 	Christopher Chittell 	30th September 1986	# 	38 years, 3 months
2 	Annie Sugden 	Sheila Mercier 	16th October 1972 	10th February 2009 	36 years, 4 months
3 	Jack Sugden 	Clive Hornby • 	16th October 1972 	21st February 2008 	35 years, 4 months
4 	Kim Tate 	Claire King 	12th December 1989 	# 	35 years
5 	Robert Sugden 	Ryan Hawley • 	22nd April 1986 	1st November 2019 	33 years, 7 months
6 	Alan Turner 	Richard Thorp 	23rd March 1982 	4th June 2013 	31 years, 3 months
7 	Victoria Sugden 	Isabel Hodgins • 	31st March 1994 	# 	30 years, 9 months
8 	Tina Dingle 	Samantha Power • 	29th December 1994 	13th November 2024 	29 years, 11 months
9 	Sam Dingle 	James Hooton 	14th February 1995 	# 	29 years, 10 months
10	Joe Tate 	Ned Porteous • 	13th June 1995 	# 	29 years, 6 months
11	Mandy Dingle 	Lisa Riley 	20th July 1995 	# 	29 years, 5 months
12	Zak Dingle 	Steve Halliwell 	20th October 1994 	27th June 2023 	28 years, 8 months
13	Marlon Dingle 	Mark Charnock 	17th October 1996 	# 	28 years, 2 months
14	Paddy Dingle 	Dominic Brunt 	20th February 1997 	# 	27 years, 10 months
15	Lisa Dingle 	Jane Cox 	13th August 1996 	15th February 2024 	27 years, 6 months
16	Seth Armstrong 	Stan Richards 	16th May 1978 	24th December 2004 	26 years, 7 months
17	Belle Dingle 	Eden Taylor-Draper • 	25th December 1998 	# 	26 years
18	Jamie Tate 	Alexander Lincoln • 	24th September 1996	4th November 2021 	25 years, 2 months
19	Bernice Blackstock	Samantha Giles 	25th November 1998 	14th November 2023 	25 years
20	Cain Dingle 	Jeff Hordley • 	30th March 2000 	# 	24 years, 9 months
20	Charity Dingle 	Emma Atkins • 	30th March 2000 	# 	24 years, 9 months
22	Bob Hope 	Tony Audenshaw 	19th September 2000	# 	24 years, 3 months
23	Rodney Blackstock 	Patrick Mower 	24th October 2000 	# 	24 years, 2 months
24	Nicola King 	Nicola Wheeler 	10th January 2001 	# 	24 years
25	Rhona Goskirk 	Zoe Henry 	17th September 2001	# 	23 years, 3 months
26	Gabby Thomas 	Rosie Bentham • 	25th December 2001 	# 	23 years
27	Diane Sugden 	Elizabeth Estensen 	23rd November 1999 	20th October 2022 	22 years, 11 months
28	Amos Brearly 	Ronald Magill 	16th October 1972 	6th July 1995 	22 years, 9 months
29	Laurel Thomas 	Charlotte Bellamy • 	3rd September 2002 	# 	22 years, 4 months
30	Chas Dingle 	Lucy Pargeter • 	16th October 2002 	# 	22 years, 2 months
31	Faith Dingle 	Sally Dexter • 	30th November 2000 	13th October 2022 	21 years, 11 months
32	Joe Sugden 	Frazer Hines 	16th October 1972 	11th August 1994 	21 years, 10 months
33	Betty Eagleton 	Paula Tilbrook 	12th April 1994 	25th December 2015 	21 years, 8 months
34	Ashley Thomas 	John Middleton 	5th December 1996 	9th February 2018 	21 years, 2 months
35	Donna Windsor 	Verity Rushworth • 	26th August 1993 	9th September 2014 	21 years, 1 month
35	Terence Turner 	Nick Brimble • 	30th April 1985 	21st May 2006 	21 years, 1 month
37	Aaron Dingle 	Danny Miller • 	24th December 2003 	# 	21 years
38	Michael Feldmann 	Matthew Vaughan 	13th February 1990 	4th January 2011 	20 years, 11 months
39	Jimmy King 	Nick Miles 	19th February 2004 	# 	20 years, 10 months
39	Noah Dingle 	Jack Downham • 	1st March 2004 	# 	20 years, 10 months
41	Tom King Jr. 	James Chase • 	1st April 2004 	19th December 2024 	20 years, 8 months
42	Andy Sugden 	Kelvin Fletcher 	4th July 1996 	16th August 2016 	20 years, 1 month
43	Kathy Brookman 	Malandra Burrows 	26th November 1985 	1st November 2005 	20 years
44	Sarah Sugden Jr. 	Katie Hill • 	6th June 2005 	# 	19 years, 7 months
45	Henry Wilks 	Arthur Pentelow 	16th October 1972 	29th August 1991 	18 years, 10 months
46	Samson Dingle 	Sam Hall • 	12th January 2006 	6th August 2024 	18 years, 7 months
47	Debbie Dingle 	Charley Webb 	24th December 2002 	11th February 2021 	18 years, 2 months
48	Cathy Hope 	Gabrielle Dowling • 	9th February 2007 	# 	17 years, 11 months
49	Kelly Windsor 	Adele Silva 	10th August 1993 	27th May 2011 	17 years, 9 months
50	Shadrach Dingle 	Andy Devine • 	30th March 2000 	17th November 2017 	17 years, 8 months
51	Viv Hope 	Deena Payne 	10th August 1993 	13th January 2011 	17 years, 5 months
52	Arthur Thomas 	Alfie Clarke • 	26th August 2007 	# 	17 years, 4 months
53	Matt Skilbeck 	Frederick Pyne 	16th October 1972 	7th December 1989 	17 years, 2 months
54	David Metcalfe 	Matthew Wolfenden 	26th November 2006 	30th November 2023 	17 years
55	Heath Hope 	Sebastian Dowling • 	9th February 2007 	1st January 2024 	16 years, 11 months
56	Jackie Merrick 	Ian Sharrock • 	21st November 1972 	16th August 1989 	16 years, 9 months
57	Brenda Walker 	Lesley Dunlop 	2nd April 2008 	# 	16 years, 8 months
57	Pearl Ladderbanks 	Meg Johnson 	30th July 2003 	30th March 2020 	16 years, 8 months
59	Sandie Merrick 	Jane Hutcheson • 	21st November 1972 	11th May 1989 	16 years, 6 months
60	Leyla Harding 	Roxy Shahidi 	11th August 2008 	# 	16 years, 5 months
61	Carly Hope 	Gemma Atkinson • 	13th June 2001 	2nd June 2017 	16 years
61	Donald Hinton 	Hugh Manning 	25th October 1977 	28th October 1993 	16 years
63	Terry Woods 	Billy Hartman 	2nd February 1995 	13th January 2011 	15 years, 11 months
63	Marian Rosetti 	Gail Harrison • 	16th October 1972 	1st September 1988 	15 years, 11 months
65	Zoe Tate 	Leah Bracknell 	12th December 1989 	22nd September 2005 	15 years, 9 months
66	Caroline Bates 	Diana Davies 	21st February 1984 	5th August 1999 	15 years, 6 months
67	Moira Dingle 	Natalie J Robb 	17th July 2009 	# 	15 years, 5 months
67	Matty Barton 	Ash Palmisciano • 	17th July 2009 	# 	15 years, 5 months
67	Angelica King 	Rebecca Bakes • 	6th August 2009 	# 	15 years, 5 months
67	Edna Birch 	Shirley Stelfox 	25th May 2000 	26th October 2015 	15 years, 5 months
71	Jai Sharma 	Christopher Bisson 	11th September 2009	# 	15 years, 4 months
71	Holly Barton 	Sophie Powles 	17th July 2009 	20th November 2024 	15 years, 4 months
73	Tom Merrick 	Jack Carr • 	6th November 1972 	10th February 1988 	15 years, 3 months
74	Nick Bates 	Cy Chadwick 	26th November 1985 	30th September 1999 	14 years, 10 months
75	Dolly Skilbeck 	Jean Rogers • 	22nd February 1977 	15th August 1991 	14 years, 6 months
76	Jacob Gallagher 	Joe-Warren Plant 	12th August 2010 	# 	14 years, 4 months
77	Amy Wyatt 	Natalie Ann Jamieson •	8th October 2010 	# 	14 years, 3 months
78	Val Pollard 	Charlie Hardwick 	1st February 2004 	25th December 2017 	13 years, 10 months
78	Christopher Tate 	Peter Amory 	14th November 1989 	18th September 2003 	13 years, 10 months
78	Janie Harker 	Lesley Duff • 	27th November 1972 	9th September 1986 	13 years, 10 months
81	Elliot Windsor 	Luca Hoyle • 	28th March 2011 	# 	13 years, 9 months
81	Pat Sugden 	Helen Weir • 	6th November 1972 	26th August 1986 	13 years, 9 months
83	Leo Goskirk 	Harvey Rogerson • 	31st May 2011 	# 	13 years, 7 months
83	Katie Sugden 	Sammy Winward 	18th July 2001 	9th February 2015 	13 years, 7 months
85	Amelia Spencer 	Daisy Campbell 	19th July 2011 	20th December 2024 	13 years, 5 months
85	Scott Windsor 	Ben Freeman • 	10th August 1993 	14th January 2007 	13 years, 5 months
87	Priya Kotecha 	Fiona Wade • 	14th September 2009	27th January 2023 	13 years, 4 months
88	Kyle Winchester 	Huey Quinn • 	1st December 2011 	# 	13 years, 1 month
89	Doug Potts 	Duncan Preston • 	30th April 2007 	27th February 2020 	12 years, 10 months
90	Sarah Sugden 	Alyson Spiro • 	7th April 1988 	16th November 2000 	12 years, 7 months
91	Kerry Wyatt 	Laura Norton 	17th July 2012 	# 	12 years, 5 months
92	Sandy Thomas 	Freddie Jones 	6th November 2005 	19th February 2018 	12 years, 3 months
93	Vanessa Woodfield 	Michelle Hardwick 	10th December 2012 	# 	12 years, 1 month
93	Sam Pearson 	Toke Townley 	16th October 1972 	22nd November 1984 	12 years, 1 month
95	Archie Breckle 	Kai Assi \bullet 	13th December 2012 	# 	12 years
96	Elsa Chappell 	Natasha Gray • 	8th February 1990 	12th December 2001 	11 years, 10 months
97	Dan Spencer 	Liam Fox 	9th November 2011 	17th August 2023 	11 years, 9 months
98	Georgia Sharma 	Lin Blakley • 	3rd November 2011 	31st July 2023 	11 years, 8 months
98	Rishi Sharma 	Bhasker Patel 	3rd November 2011 	28th July 2023 	11 years, 8 months
98	Biff Fowler 	Stuart Wade 	10th March 1994 	1st November 2005 	11 years, 8 months
==Other long tenures==
(as of 11th Jan 2025)
===10+ years===
*4,206 days: Ross Barton (2013-present)
*4,076 days: Steph Stokes (2002-2013)
*4,021 days: Liam Cavanagh (2014-present)
*4,010 days: Paul Lambert (2004-2015)
*3,955 days: Alice Bates (1991-2001)
*3,952 days: April Windsor (2014-present)
* 3,900 days: Rachel Hughes (1988-1999)
* 3,842 days: Tracy Robinson (2014-present)
* 3,819 days: Daz Spencer (2014-2024)
*3,761 days: Edward Ruskin (1973-1983) & Billy Hopwood (1997-2007)
*3,750 days: Carl Holliday (2014-present)
*3,699 days: Archie Brooks (1983-1993)
===5+ years===
*3,624 days: Eve Jenson (2001-2011)
*3,589 days: Tara Thornfield (1997-2007)
*3,539 days: Emma Barton (2015-2024)
*3,503 days: Moses Dingle (2015-present)
* 3,422 days: Emma Nightingale (1995-2004)
*3,411 days: Johnny Woodfield (2015-present)
*3,265 days: Bill Middleton (1984-1993)
*3,253 days: Harriet Finch (2013-2022)
*3,242 days: Jock MacDonald (1981-1990)
*3,229 days: Emily Kirk (1999-2008)
*3,228 days: Albert Dingle (1995-2004)
*3,179 days: Amba Metcalfe (2014-2023)
*3,178 days: Carl King (2004-2012)
*3,121 days: Samuel Skilbeck (1982-1991)
*3,092 days: Adam Barton (2009-2018)
*3,073 days: Richie Carter (1999-2007)
*3,054 days: Dotty Thomas (2016-present)
*3,037 days: Lydia Dingle (2016-present)
*2,903 days: Marc Reynolds (1999-2007)
*2,745 days: Frank Tate (1989-1997) & Megan Macey (2012-2019)
*2,718 days: Louise Appleton (2001-2008)
*2,658 days: Isaac Dingle (2017-present)
*2,652 days: TJ Woods (2003-2011)
*2,492 days: Jack Sugden Jr. (2012-2019)
*2,454 days: Dawn Fletcher (2018-present)
*2,438 days: Liv Dingle (2016-2022)
*2,420 days: Ryan Stocks (2018-present)
*2,379 days: Manpreet Sharma (2018-present)
*2,353 days: Nikhil Sharma (2009-2016)
*2,287 days: Len Reynolds (2001-2007)
*2,258 days: Pete Barton (2013-2020)
*2,220 days: Kirin Kotecha (2014-2020)
*2,211 days: Roy Glover (1994-2000)
*2,210 days: Billy Fletcher (2018-present)
*2,200 days: Vinny Dingle (2019-present)
*2,193 days: Ned Glover (1994-2000)
*2,165 days: Danny Daggert (2001-2007)
*2,161 days: Bear Wolf (2019-present)
*2,154 days: Gail Loman (2019-present)
*2,095 days: Will Taylor (2019-2025)
*2,091 days: Scarlett Nicholls (2007-2012)
* 2,034 days: Butch Dingle (1994-2000)
* 2,026 days: Lucas Taylor (2019-present)
*2,025 days: Lynn Whiteley (1989-1994) & Daz Eden (2003-2009)
*2,022 days: Wendy Posner (2019-present)
*1,999 days: Gennie Walker (2008-2013)
*1,968 days: Nate Robinson (2019-2024)
*1,964 days: Vic Windsor (1993-1998)
*1,946 days: Mark Hughes (1988-1994)
*1,941 days: Tricia Dingle (1998-2004)
*1,935 days: Nellie Dingle (1995-2000)
*1,911 days: Eve Dingle (2019-present)
*1,876 days: Latisha Daggert (2001-2006)
*1,857 days: Alicia Metcalfe (2010-2015)
*1,838 days: Harry Sugden (2020-present)
==See also==
*List of appearances
*List of recurring and minor Emmerdale characters
Category:Lists