Barbara Ann was a friend of Caroline Bates as well as an ex-girlfriend of Jack Sugden and the mother of Jack's secret son John Sugden.
Jack and Barbara met at the wedding of Jack's son Jackie Merrick and Caroline's daughter Kathy Bates in February 1988. Jack spotted Barbara across the aisle and was immediately taken with her. At the wedding reception at Emmerdale Farm, Caroline officially introduced the pair and they hit it off. Jack even missed his brother Joe buying Home Farm Estate at auction as well as Jackie and Kathy's welcome home party to spend time with Barbara.
History teacher Barbara opened up to Jack about how she and her ex-husband kept putting off having a family due to their large mortgage and bills until Barbara realised she no longer loved him and didn't want him to the be the father of her children. Barbara felt guilty about this tried to keep pretending she still loved her husband for a long time until they finally split up around 1986.
Jack and Barbara
Jack was smitten with Barbara, however their fling was short lived as Barbara was still in love with the man she was with when she left her ex-husband. Jack understood Barbara wasn't ready for a relationship and the pair split amicably. Unbeknownst to Jack, Barbara had become pregnant during their fling and gave birth to his son John later that year.
Barbara died in 2024, and her funeral was held in August of that year, in which her son John met his previously unknown half-sister Victoria Sugden. In December 2024 John mentioned Barbara again when he said she would disapprove of John and Aaron Dingle being a couple.