List of Emmerdale characters (1997)

The following is a list of characters that first appeared in the British soap opera Emmerdale in 1997, by order of first appearance.

Paddy Kirk

Main article: Paddy Kirk

Dee Pollard

Dee Pollard
Emmerdale character
Portrayed by	Claudia Malkovich
Duration	1997-98
First appearance	13 February 1997
Last appearance	7 April 1998
Introduced by	Mervyn Watson
Classification	Former; regular
Profile
Occupation	Student
Family Husband Eric Pollard (1997-2001)

Dee Pollard (née de La Cruz) was the former wife of Eric Pollard and she appeared from February 1997 until April 1998.

Eric Pollard flew to the Far East looking for love and found it with Filipino student Dee de la Cruz in a Manila restaurant. His initial interest was sex, but two weeks later he proposed and the couple made plans for Dee to follow Eric back to Britain. When she arrived in 1997, dressed in a miniskirt and skimpy coat, and wearing high-heels, the locals in Emmerdale were curious. They were shocked when she announced that she was Eric's fiancee. But the unlikely relationship continued and Dee became Mrs Pollard in a May registry-office wedding. Dee left Emmerdale in April 1998 after discovering that her mother had died and Eric had kept this hidden from her. Dee returns home to the Philippines. Her marriage with Eric was annulled in 2001.

Will Cairns

Will Cairns
Emmerdale character
Portrayed by	Paul Fox
Duration	1997-99
First appearance	27 February 1997
Last appearance	27 January 1999
Introduced by	Mervyn Watson
Classification	Former; regular
Family Father Tony Cairns Mother Becky Cairns Sisters Charlie Cairns Emma Cairns Nieces Geri Cairns

William "Will" Cairns arrived in Emmerdale in February 1997 with his family as the second child and only son of Tony and Becky Cairns. One of his main storylines was when he was kidnapped by, Fiona Mallender, the daughter of a soldier his father had served with who wanted to avenge her father's death on a training exercise, which she blamed Tony for. Will left the village in January 1999, joining the rest of his family in Germany after his father was injured in a climbing accident.

Emma Cairns

Emma Cairns
Emmerdale character
Portrayed by	Rebecca Loudonsack
Duration	1997-98
First appearance	27 February 1997
Last appearance	26 August 1998
Introduced by	Mervyn Watson
Classification	Former; regular
Profile
Occupation	Student
Home	Germany
Family Father Tony Cairns Mother Becky Cairns Brothers Will Cairns Sisters Charlie Cairns Daughters Geri Cairns

Emma Cairns arrived in Emmerdale in February 1997 with her family as the youngest child and daughter of Tony and Becky Cairns, heavily pregnant. She gave birth to her daughter Geri a month later. Her father Tony wanted her to have Geri adopted and Emma initially agreed. However, she changed her mind when she bonded with her baby daughter but this didn't last. Gradually, Becky found herself looking after Geri more and more and so Geri was put up for adoption after all.

The father was later revealed to be Greg Cox, the ex-boyfriend of her sister Charlie. This led to Charlie leaving, only a few months after arriving. Her parents left for Germany in April 1998, with Emma joining them in the autumn.

Tony Cairns

Tony Cairns
Emmerdale character
Portrayed by	Edward Peel
Duration	1997–98
First appearance	27 February 1997
Last appearance	22 April 1998
Introduced by	Mervyn Watson
Classification	Former; regular
Profile
Home	Germany
Family Wife Becky Cairns Sons Will Cairns Daughters Charlie Cairns Emma Cairns Granddaughters Geri Cairns

Anthony "Tony" Cairns arrived in Emmerdale in February 1997 with his family after retiring early from the army. When his youngest daughter Emma gave birth to a baby girl who she named Geri at the young age of 13, Tony wanted her to have Geri adopted, to which Emma initially went along with. However, she defied her father and changed her mind when she grew close to her baby daughter. Tony left with Becky for Germany in April 1998 after he is offered a new job.

Becky Cairns

Becky Cairns
Emmerdale character
Portrayed by	Sarah Neville
Duration	1997-98
First appearance	27 February 1997
Last appearance	29 April 1998
Introduced by	Mervyn Watson
Classification	Former; regular
Profile
Home	Germany
Family Husband Tony Cairns Sons Will Cairns Daughters Charlie Cairns Emma Cairns Granddaughters Geri Cairns

Rebecca "Becky" Cairns arrived in Emmerdale, where she grew up when she was young, in February 1997 with her family. Becky had a lesbian fling with vet Zoe Tate. After her affair with Zoe was exposed, Becky left with her husband Tony for Germany in April 1998 in an attempt to patch up her marriage.

Charlie Cairns

Charlie Cairns
Emmerdale character
Portrayed by	Sarah Graham
Duration	1997
First appearance	27 February 1997
Last appearance	30 July 1997
Introduced by	Mervyn Watson
Classification	Former; regular
Family Father Tony Cairns Mother Becky Cairns Brothers Will Cairns Sisters Emma Cairns Nieces Geri Cairns

Charlie Cairns arrived in Emmerdale in February 1997 with her family. She is the eldest of Tony and Becky Cairns' three children. When her younger sister Emma gave birth to a baby a month later, she was devastated to learn her boyfriend, Greg Cox, was the father and this led to Charlie's departure in July.

Billy Hopwood

Main article: Billy Hopwood

Lord Alex Oakwell

Main article: Lord Alex Oakwell

Tara Thornfield

Main article: Tara Thornfield