{{Short description|Fictional character from Emmerdale}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}} {{Use British English|date=June 2013}} {{Infobox soap character |series = Emmerdale |name = Matt Skilbeck |image = Matt Skilbeck.jpg |creator = [[Kevin Laffan]] |introducer = David Goddard |portrayer = [[Frederick Pyne]] |first = Episode 1 <br />{{start date|1972|10|16|df=y}} |last = Episode 1410<br />{{end date|1989|12|07|df=y}} |years = 1972–1989 |occupation = Sheep farmer |wife = [[Peggy Skilbeck]] (until 1973)<br />[[Dolly Skilbeck]] (1978–1990, 1992–present) |father = Oliver Skilbeck |mother = Elizabeth Skilbeck |sons = [[Sam Skilbeck]]<br />[[Samuel Skilbeck]] |daughters = [[Sally Skilbeck]] |grandfathers = Clive Skilbeck<br />Michael Barlow |grandmothers = Mildred Barlow |aunts = [[Beattie Dowton]] }} '''Matt Skilbeck''' is a fictional character from the [[Television in the United Kingdom|British]] television soap opera ''[[Emmerdale]]'', played by [[Frederick Pyne]]. He is one of the series' original characters and made his debut in the first episode broadcast on 16 October 1972. Pyne was interviewed for the role in 1971 and cast the following year. He came into the show with farming knowledge and an expectation that he would only be in it for five years. Matt is a sheep farmer and married to [[Peggy Skilbeck]] ([[Jo Kendall]]) at the beginning of the serial. Matt is characterised as mild-mannered, honest, and stubborn, although Pyne thought his character was too nice. Following Peggy's death and those of his children, Matt marries barmaid [[Dolly Acaster]] ([[Katharine Barker (British actress)|Katharine Barker]]; Jean Rogers). A change in Matt's personality occurs when quarry owner Harry Mowlem ([[Godfrey James]]) makes advances towards Dolly and Matt attacks him, leading to his arrest for Mowlem's murder. Pyne decided to leave ''Emmerdale'' in 1989 to pursue work in the theatre. He was unhappy that the writers chose to split Matt and Dolly up, as they had been one of the few remaining happy families in soap at the time.
==Creation and casting== Matt is one of the eight original main characters conceived by playwright and creator of ''Emmerdale'', [[Kevin Laffan]].<ref name="Beginning">[[#refhayward|Hayward 1997]], pp. 10–11.</ref> After the show's story was mapped out, casting director Sue Whatmough, producer David Goddard, director [[Tristan de Vere Cole]], and Laffan began the casting process. Actor Frederick Pyne had been earmarked for the role of Matt in 1971, following his appearance in the television legal drama ''[[Justice (1971 TV series)|Justice]]''.<ref name="Beginning"/> He told Anthony Hayward of ''The Emmerdale Companion'' that the producer of ''Justice'' had "put in a good word" for him. He recalled that at the end of his first interview, he was told not to think too much about it, as the show might not go ahead. A year later, he was asked to meet with Goddard and Laffan, who cast him as Matt.<ref name="FP">[[#refhayward|Hayward 1997]], pp. 184–185.</ref> Pyne and his co-stars were taken on for 26 episodes, with an option for another 26. He said that none of them were aware of how popular the serial would become.<ref name="Granditer">{{cite magazine|last=Granditer|first=Wendy|date=16–29 August 2003|title=Where are they now – Frederick Pyne|magazine=[[Inside Soap]]|issue=238|page=71}}</ref> Unlike the other cast members at the time, Pyne had farming knowledge as he worked on a farm on the borders of Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire when he was younger.<ref name="Kingsley297">[[#refkingsley|Kingsley 1988]], pp. 297–298.</ref> Pyne admitted that his biggest fear was forgetting his lines and he said he was "very irritable" while learning them, so he liked to be left alone.<ref name="Kingsley297"/> Pyne thought he would only be in the serial for five years, but he stayed for 17. He said he had an enjoyable time until near the end.<ref name="FP"/>
==Development== ''Emmerdale'' originally centred on the Sudgen family, who ran Emmerdale Farm just outside Beckindale village, with the initial episodes focusing on the death of patriarch Jacob and the return of his eldest son [[Jack Sugden|Jack]] ([[Andrew Burt]]), who has been left the farm by his father.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/40+years+ago+this+was+the+Sugden+soap+opera-a0311434641|title=40 years ago this was the Sugden soap opera|last=Panther|first=Lewis|date=14 October 2012|work=[[The Sunday People|The People]]|access-date=29 April 2021}}</ref> [[Jo Kendall]] was cast as Matt's wife, [[Peggy Skilbeck|Peggy]], who resents her brother inheriting the farm as she feels it belongs to the rest of the family.<ref name="Beginning"/> Pyne immediately identified with his character and the Sugden family, explaining: "When they described Matt and Peggy to me as an ordinary farming couple, with Peggy being the daughter of the Sugdens, I said, 'I know these people.'"<ref name="FP"/> Matt was initially billed as "a content countryman" who does not hold the same ambitions as his wife, who had hoped that selling their share of the farm would lead to a move to suburbia. Matt is happiest when he is enjoying his job on the farm and he feels he has done "a fair day's work", however, his love for his wife means he will allow her to win and he will break away from the farm for Peggy's happiness.<ref name="Beginning"/>
''Soap Box'' author Hilary Kingsley described Matt as a "mild-mannered sheep-farmer".<ref name="Kingsley297"/> She observed that he is slow moving and slow talking, likening his speaking voice to that of "dictation speed."<ref name="Kingsley297"/> She also called him "a plodder" and "stubborn when his temper is aroused".<ref name="Kingsley297"/> Pyne thought that Matt was "too nice and goody-goody" during his tenure.<ref name="Kingsley297"/> The character's decent, honest nature was true to Laffan's ideal.<ref name="Kingsley297"/> Matt's storylines often revolved around his family and affected by tragedy. Shortly after giving birth to their twins [[Sam Skilbeck|Sam]] and [[Sally Skilbeck]] (Jamie and Justine Bell), Peggy dies from a [[brain hemorrhage]]. The twins and Matt's aunt are later killed when a train hits their car. Matt "spent the night stumbling around on the moors",<ref name="Rowe">{{cite news|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/How+Dairy+Spice%2C+Emmerdale+extra%2C+turned+into+Scary+Spice%2C+worth...-a061136464|title=How Dairy Spice, Emmerdale extra, turned into Scary Spice, worth pounds 4m!; 25 Years of Emmerdale|last=Rowe|first=David|date=5 October 1997|work=[[Sunday Mirror]]|access-date=29 April 2021|archive-date=29 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429232016/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/How+Dairy+Spice,+Emmerdale+extra,+turned+into+Scary+Spice,+worth...-a061136464|url-status=live}}</ref> with Kingsley noting that Matt was "totally grief-stricken".<ref name="Kingsley297"/> The character later marries [[Dolly Acaster]] ([[Katharine Barker (British actress)|Katharine Barker]]; Jean Rogers). She has a miscarriage at eight months, but they go on to have a son [[Samuel Skilbeck]] (Benjamin Whitehead).<ref name="Rowe"/>
A different side to the normally laid back character emerges when Harry Mowlem ([[Godfrey James]]) begins making advances towards Dolly. Matt later attacks the quarry owner and Pyne justified his character's actions, explaining: "Mowlem was such a monster that even the most placid person would lose their temper."<ref name="FP"/> Matt is arrested for manslaughter when Mowlem is found dead, but he is released when criminal Derek Warner (Dennis Blanch) later admits to Mowlem's murder.<ref>[[#refparkin|Parkin 2002]], p. 68.</ref>
Pyne decided to leave ''Emmerdale'' in 1989 to pursue theatrical work.<ref name="Kelly">{{cite news|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Emmerdale+Week%3A+Those+were+the+dales..+WE+FIND+THE+EMMERDALE...-a0130431740|title=Emmerdale Week: Those were the dales.. We Find The Emmerdale Originals|last=Kelly|first=Jon|date=18 March 2005|work=[[Daily Mirror]]|access-date=27 April 2021}}</ref> He explained "I was approaching 50 and thought that, if I didn't get out soon and do other good character work in the theatre, I never would."<ref name="FP"/> He told Wendy Granditer of ''[[Inside Soap]]'' that he was happy to stay all those years, and he had "a lovely time", but he felt he had done enough. He also disliked the show's move away from farming to more sensational plots featuring sex and violence.<ref name="Granditer"/> Pyne's departure also coincided with that of Laffan's.<ref name="FP"/> He filmed his last scenes on 5 November 1989.<ref name="Granditer"/>
On-screen, Dolly has an affair, ending her and Matt's marriage. Pyne expressed his dislike of the plot, believing that it was out of character. He thought it was sad that one of the "few good, happy families" in soap had to be split up.<ref name="FP"/> He felt that there should be "at least one happy family per soap, otherwise it's all rows."<ref name="Granditer"/> Pyne found it fairly easy to move on from ''Emmerdale''. He secured a role in a pantomime, followed by various stage productions.<ref name="Granditer"/> He kept in touch in with his co-stars, including [[Sheila Mercier]] ([[Annie Sugden]]).<ref name="Granditer"/> Pyne later said he regretted being on ''Emmerdale'' for so long, as he felt [[typecast]]. He said: "I wouldn't advise young actors to stay in a soap for too long because it can do them as much harm as good."<ref name="Kelly"/>
==Storylines== Matt is married to Peggy Sugden and helps out on the Sugdens' farm. Peggy becomes concerned for their future when the farm is bequeathed to her brother Jack Sugden, after their father's death. Peggy finds out she is pregnant and encourages Matt to pursue a factory job in Hotten. During the interview, Matt objects to being described as an "unskilled labourer" and stays on in Beckindale to work for Emmerdale Farm Ltd. Peggy gives birth to twins, Sam and Sally, but dies of a brain haemorrhage soon after. Upon his wife's death, Matt inherits her shares in Emmerdale Farm Ltd. The twins are sent to live with Matt's aunt [[Beattie Dowton]] (Barbara Ogilvie). All three are killed in a car crash when the children are just three years old.
Matt later marries Woolpack barmaid Dolly Acaster. Matt and Dolly convert a barn attached to the Emmerdale farm house into a cottage for them to live in. Dolly gives birth to their son Samuel, who is named after Matt's first-born son. Matt's former grandfather-in-law [[Sam Pearson (Emmerdale)|Sam Pearson]] ([[Toke Townley]]) is also pleased with the naming decision. Quarry owner Harry Mowlem begins harassing Dolly, to the couple's distress. Mowlem believes he has an old score to settle, as Matt had taken the dog Mowlem was ill treating away from him. Matt gets into a physical struggle with Mowlem after finding him stealing sheep. The following morning, Mowlem is found dead and Matt is charged with manslaughter. He is cleared when Mowlam's crooked associate Derek Warner confesses to the crime.
After the reclusive Mr Metcalfe ([[Bernard Kay]]) dies, Matt learns that Metcalfe has left him Crossgill farm in recognition of his help. Dolly insists that they move out of Emmerdale Farm, but Matt is reluctant. Crossgill is razed to the ground after builder Phil Pearce ([[Peter Alexander (English actor)|Peter Alexander]]) leaves some rags to burn unattended in the farmhouse. Dolly and Matt grow apart and she has an affair with timber consultant [[Stephen Fuller (Emmerdale)|Stephen Fuller]] (Gregory Floy). After the failure of his second marriage, Matt leaves the village to run a sheep farm in Norfolk, but later remarries Dolly after she and Sam join him.
Matt was mentioned after Annie’s death in 2020, when her granddaughter [[Victoria Sugden|Victoria]] ([[Isabel Hodgins]]) visits Matt to arrange Annie's funeral.
==Reception== Jon Kelly of the ''[[Daily Mirror]]'' observed that "life was tough" for Matt, and branded him a "hapless farmhand".<ref name="Kelly"/> Writer and critic Hilary Kingsley called Matt "the most boring man in soap".<ref name="Kingsley297"/> Wendy Granditer of ''Inside Soap'' noted that "All Matt Skilbeck wanted was a quiet life".<ref name="Granditer"/>
==References== {{reflist}} *{{cite book|last=Hayward|first=Anthony|author-link=Anthony Hayward|title=The Emmerdale Companion|year=1997|publisher=Orion Media|isbn=978-0-7528-1776-7|ref=refhayward}} *{{cite book|title=Soap Box|last=Kingsley|first=Hilary|year=1988|publisher=[[Macmillan Publishers]]|isbn=978-0-333-46949-1|ref=refkingsley}} *{{cite book|last=Parkin|first=Lance|author-link=Lance Parkin|title=30 Years of Emmerdale|year=2002|publisher=Granada Media Group|isbn=978-0-233-05068-3|ref=refparkin}}
{{Emmerdale characters|past}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Skilbeck, Matt}} [[Category:Emmerdale characters]] [[Category:Fictional farmers]] [[Category:Television characters introduced in 1972]] [[Category:British male characters in soap operas]] [[Category:Sugden family]]