Pat Sugden

{{Short description|Fictional character from Emmerdale}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}} {{Use British English|date=June 2013}} {{Infobox soap character | series = Emmerdale | image = Pat Sugden.jpg | caption = Helen Weir as Pat Sugden | name = Pat Sugden | portrayer = [[Lynn Dalby]] (1972–1974) Helen Weir (1980–1986) | years = 1972, 1974, 1980–1986 | first = 6 November 1972 | last = 26 August 1986 | introducer = David Goddard (1972) Anne Gibbons (1980) | occupation = | creator = [[Kevin Laffan]] | alias = Ruth Merrick Pat Merrick | father = David Harker | mother = Dolly Harker | brothers = Syd Harker | sisters = [[Janie Blakey]] | husband = [[Tom Merrick]] (until 1973) [[Jack Sugden]] (1982–1986) | sons = [[Jackie Merrick]] Tommy Merrick [[Robert Sugden]] | daughters = [[Sandie Merrick]] | grandsons = [[Sebastian White (Emmerdale)|Sebastian White]] | granddaughters = Louise Merrick | uncles = Tom Harker | aunts = Elsie Harker }}

'''Patricia Ruth''' "'''Pat'''" '''Sugden''' (also '''Harker''' and '''Merrick''') is a fictional character from the British soap opera ''[[Emmerdale]]'', played by actresses [[Lynn Dalby]] in 1972 and 1974. Helen Weir took over the role when Pat was reintroduced as a regular character in 1980. Pat's main stories are her marriages to violent drunk, [[Tom Merrick]] ([[Dave Hill (actor)|Dave Hill]]) and later [[Jack Sugden]] ([[Clive Hornby]]). One of Pat's most prominent storylines involved the reveal of her son, [[Jackie Merrick]] (Ian Sharrock) being Jack's biological son. Weir and Hornby began a relationship off-screen and later married. Weir became pregnant and writers decided to also make Pat pregnant and she gives birth to [[Robert Sugden]]. Producers offered Weir an additional two-year contract to remain in ''Emmerdale'' but she declined their offer. Weir later revealed that her decision came from a dispute with producers over the inclusion of her and Hornby's son playing the role of Robert. Producers decided to kill Pat off in a car accident story and she made her final appearance during the episode broadcast on 26 August 1986.

==Development==

===Creation and characterisation=== Pat is characterised as a "passionate and strong minded" female. Pat easily settles into farm life and contributes by taking over control of [[Sam Pearson (Emmerdale)|Sam Pearson]]'s ([[Toke Townley]]) vegetable garden.<ref name=mag1>{{cite magazine|first=Linda|last=Hawkins|title=Pat Sugden—played by Helen Weir |magazine=Emmerdale Farm: Celebration Edition 1000 Episodes |date=November 1985 |issue=1 |pages=8 |publisher=(London Editions Limited)}}</ref> In her backstory, Pat was born in Beckindale, the village the soap opera was originally set in. Pat's maiden name is Harker.<ref name=book8>[[#refheatley|Heatley 1994]], p.59.</ref>

When the character was introduced in 1972, she was known also known as Ruth Merrick.<ref name=book6>[[#refparfitt|Parfitt 2022]], p.139.</ref> She arrives with her husband, [[Tom Merrick]] ([[Dave Hill (actor)|Dave Hill]]) and their two children [[Jackie Merrick]] (Uncredited) and [[Sandie Merrick]] (Jenny Mayors-Clark). Pat's relationship with Tom was troublesome due to his alcoholism and he was violent towards her. Shortly after Pat's arrival, her ex-boyfriend [[Jack Sugden]] ([[Clive Hornby]]) returns to the village.<ref name=book5>[[#refparfitt|Parfitt 2022]], p.128.</ref> In the book, "50 Years of Emmerdale", author Tom Parfitt stated that Pat always loved Jack, despite her marriage to Tom. He added that Tom "was a lousy husband, a drunk, openly violent towards Pat and jealous of Jack's return to the village."<ref name=book5/> In his book, ''Emmerdale Family Album'', Michael Heatley described the Merrick marriage as "disastrous".<ref name=book8/> Writers created a romantic backstory between Pat and Jack. Pat had been in a relationship with Jack in 1964, but he left her and moved to London.<ref name=book3>[[#refparkin|Parkin 2002]], p.56.</ref> This left Pat on the rebound and she marries Tom.<ref name=mag1/> When Pat and Jack become reacquainted, they reminisce over their past relationship. This makes Tom jealous and he questions the nature of their relationship. Pat tries to convince Tom that she no longer loves Jack, but he remains suspicious. Pat later convinces Jack to sack Tom from his job, forcing the Merrick family to move away.<ref name=book5/> In her later appearances, writers continued to portray Pat's marriage to Tom as problematic and they later divorce.<ref name=book3/>

===Reintroduction=== Pat was reintroduced into ''Emmerdale'' in 1980. She returns with her two children Jackie and Sandy, now played by Ian Sharrock and Jane Hutcheson respectively. Pat soon reunites with Jack.<ref name=mag1/> 1981 saw the introduction of a new story for Pat, in which it is revealed that Jackie is Jack's biological son. Pat became pregnant by Jack and quickly began a relationship with Tom to conceal the pregnancy.<ref name=book4>[[#refparkin|Parkin 2002]], p.60.</ref> The reveal scenes occurred during an episode featuring an argument between Pat and Jack.<ref name=book6/> Jackie discovers the truth in 1982 and writers used the reveal to put Jackie in place as the rightful heir to Emmerdale Farm. Jackie resented both Pat and Jack following the discovery.<ref name=book4/> In 1982, writers married Pat and Jack.<ref name=book4/> The story had been planned prior to Pat's reintroduction. Sharrock later revealed that producers informed him of the story when he joined the cast in 1980.<ref name=book6/> He added that it was difficult for Jackie to accept Jack as his father because he spent years trying to gain Tom's approval, despite him being an "unreliable" father figure.<ref name=book6/>

===Marriage to Jack Sugden=== They portrayed the Sugden marriage in stark contrast to the ideal marriage between [[Matt Skilbeck|Matt]] ([[Frederick Pyne]]) and [[Dolly Skilbeck]] (Jean Rogers). Pat's strong mindset often leads to arguments with Jack but they appear to enjoy this. Unlike the Skilbecks, Pat and Jack would be bored with a tranquil life and "enjoy the stimulation of pitting their wits against each other."<ref name=mag1/> Writers continued to give Pat marriage issues and Jack has an affair with Karen Moore ([[Annie Hulley]]).<ref name=mag1/> His affair makes Pat question whether or not she made the correct decision marrying Jack. Another issue writers explored was Jack's relationship with Pat's children, including Sandie, which causes more friction.<ref name=mag1/> Off-screen, Weir and Hornby began a relationship and later married. Weir told Cozens that portraying the affair was not challenging and her rapport with Hornby allowed them to perform better during filming. She explained "no problems. We were simply working and it didn't impinge on our own lives. Jack and Pat aren't us or like us, but I suppose it was easier doing something like that with Clive because we know each other so well."<ref name=sun1/>

===Pregnancy and departure=== Pat later becomes pregnant and during the episode broadcast on 22 April 1986, she gives birth to a boy, [[Robert Sugden]].<ref name=book9>[[#refhayward|Hayward 1999]], p.44.</ref> During Weir's pregnancy, writers had to change Pat's usual scenes featuring her working on the farm. Hornby told Maureen Cozens from ''[[Sunday Sun]]'' that "they've written out any scenes of Pat driving the tractor or dipping the sheep - she used to do quite heavy stuff, which Helen can't at the moment."<ref name=sun1>{{cite news |last1=Cozens |first1=Maureen |title=Country heirs |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001723/19850825/011/0011 |work=[[Sunday Sun]] |access-date=31 October 2023 |pages=11 |date=25 August 1985|url-access=subscription|via=[[British Newspaper Archive]]}}</ref> The pregnancy storyline was created following blurring between fiction and reality.<ref name=leaving>{{cite news |last1=Gillingham |first1=Syd |title=Helen's happy about her fate |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000521/19860825/079/0006 |work=[[Derby Telegraph]] |access-date=30 October 2023 |pages=6 |date=25 August 1986|url-access=subscription|via=[[British Newspaper Archive]]}}</ref> Weir became pregnant with Hornby's child and gave birth in to a son in December 1985. Producers decided to write the pregnancy into Pat's storyline and wanted them to include their new-born child in the ''Emmerdale Farm'' cast. Weir and Hornby were willing to oblige on the condition the child would be referred to by his real name on-screen. Weir and Hornby called their son Thomas but this polarised producers, who believed that Pat would never call their son Thomas, as Pat's abusive husband was also named Tom. The show's producers offered Weir a new two-year contract and wanted the child to be called Robert in the series.<ref name=leaving/> This would have required Weir and Hornby to refer to their own child as Robert on-set, which they were not comfortable with. Weir decided to turn down the contract renewal and they decided to write Pat out of the series.<ref name=leaving/>

Hornby told Syd Gillingham from the ''[[Derby Telegraph]]'' that he and Weir were apprehensive of accepting the producers offer because their characters could have later been written out.<ref name=leaving/> He believed that had they have accepted the producers proposal of including their child, he may have answered to Robert instead of Thomas.<ref name=leaving/> Weir added that producers were willing to let her act with another baby whilst filming scenes. She stated that the offer was "ludicrous" because she would bring her own child to set and look after another child during filming in parallel to each other.<ref name=leaving/> Of her decision to leave, Weir added "I shall miss playing Pat - they have been six happy years. But you can't allow a television programme to intrude on real life. There's little doubt that in years to come we'll look back on the decision we had to make and be even more sure that it was the right one under all the circumstances."<ref name=leaving/>

Writers decided to kill Pat off in a car-crash storyline. Pat takes her sister, [[Janie Blakey]] (Lesley Duff) to the train station and on her way back she is killed in a crash.<ref name=book11>[[#refparfitt|Parfitt 2022]], p.143.</ref><ref name=leaving/> The crash scenes occurred following Pat using her Ford Fiesta vehicle and over-taking a milk lorry, then swerving to avoid a flock of sheep. The vehicle then rolled down a hill and killed Pat in the wreckage.<ref name=book11/> Weir's departure and Pat's death was announced prior to the broadcast. Photographs of taken during the filming of Pat's funeral were published in the ''[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]]'' on 25 July 1986. They detailed the dispute between Weir and producers. An ''Emmerdale'' publicist confirmed that it was Weir's decision to leave the role, adding that "obviously Pat Sugden is going to be sadly missed by all the viewers."<ref>{{cite news |title=Death at the farm |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003741/19860725/019/0019 |work=[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]] |access-date=31 October 2023 |pages=19 |date=25 July 1986|url-access=subscription|via=[[British Newspaper Archive]]}}</ref> The crash and Pat's final on-screen appearance occurred during the episode broadcast on 26 August 1986.<ref name=book9/>

==Storylines== In September 1980, Ruth, now calling herself Pat, returns to Beckindale with Jackie and Sandie to stay with her aunt Elsie after she separates from Tom. Elsie refuses to let them live in her home due to her children's noise making. She moves into a small caravan. Pat begins dating Jack and Tom later returns. He tries to frame Jack for arson but Jack provides an alibi. Seth Armstrong discovers Tom's schemes and orders him to leave Beckindale or he will reveal his role in the arson.

In 1982, Pat and Jack marry and are happy in their union until 1984, when Jack has an affair with a reporter named Karen. The couple break-up for a while but later reconcile. In 1985, Pat discovers she is pregnant. In April 1986, she gives birth to a son, [[Robert Sugden]], which brings her and Jack closer together. However, in August Pat dies after her car crashed down a hillside when she swerved to avoid a flock of sheep. Pat has an on-screen funeral and is buried in the village churchyard. Jack was left to bring up Robert alone.

==Reception== The ''Sunday Sun's'' Maureen Cozens praised Jack's affair storyline, stating that "the scenes provided some of the best, most challenging acting for the two of them."<ref name=sun1/> She described Pat as not very vivacious and with a "dreary voice", especially when the character says "Jaack luv".<ref name=sun1/>

==References== {{reflist}} *{{cite book|last=Michael|first=Heatley|title=Emmerdale Family Album|year=1994|publisher=[[Macmillan Publishers|Boxtree]]|isbn=1-85283-922-8|ref=refheatley}} *{{cite book|last=Hayward|first=Anthony|author-link=Anthony Hayward|title=Emmerdale: Behind The Scenes|year=1999|publisher=[[Orion Publishing Group]]|isbn=0-75281-857-0|ref=refhayward}} *{{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}} *{{cite book|last=Tom|first=Parfitt|title=50 Years of Emmerdale|year=2022|publisher=[[Cassell (publisher)|Cassell]]|isbn=978-1-78840-316-0|ref=refparfitt}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sugden, Pat}} [[Category:Emmerdale characters]] [[Category:Television characters introduced in 1972]] [[Category:British female characters in soap operas]] [[Category:English female characters in television]] [[Category:Sugden family]] [[Category:Deceased fictional characters]]