Episode 770 (23rd December 1982)

{{Infobox_Episode
|image              = [[File:Episode 770.png|250px]]
|number             = 770
|date               = [[23rd December]] [[1982]]<br>(Thursday)
|production code    = 
|writer             = [[Kevin Laffan]]
|story associates   =
|story editor       = 
|script editor      =
|designer           = 
|producer           = [[Anne W. Gibbons]]
|executive producer = [[Michael Glynn]]
|director           = [[Frank Smith]]
|previous           = [[Episode 769 (21st December 1982)|21st December 1982]]
|next               = [[Episode 771 (11th January 1983)|11th January 1983]]
}}

''[[Dolly Skilbeck|Dolly]] goes into labour, but only [[Jackie Merrick|Jackie]], [[Sandie Merrick|Sandie]], [[Andy Longthorn|Andy]] and [[Jane Hardcastle|Jane]] are there to help her. Jackie drives her to the hospital despite having no license, and Dolly has a [[Samuel Skilbeck|son]] just as [[Matt Skilbeck|Matt]] arrives at the hospital.''

==Plot==
[[Jackie Merrick|Jackie]] is looking forward to joining the army and getting away from [[Beckindale]]. [[Donald Hinton|Donald]] worries that he's doing it for the wrong reasons. [[Dolly Skilbeck|Dolly]] has had a false alarm about the baby coming, but is back home. [[Amos Brearly|Amos]] has decided to stop drinking and [[Henry Wilks|Henry]] wonders if he's feeling alright. [[Pat Sugden|Pat]] is helping [[Sandie Merrick|Sandie]] prepare for a party she and Jackie are having at [[Emmerdale Farm]]. They've invited [[Jane Hardcastle|Jane]] and [[Andy Longthorn|Andy]]. [[Annie Sugden|Annie]] and [[Sam Pearson|Sam]] will be going to church, while [[Jack Sugden|Jack]] and Pat while be spending the evening with [[Matt Skilbeck|Matt]], Dolly and [[Joe Sugden|Joe]]. Annie asks [[Alan Turner|Alan]] about his plans for Christmas, and invites him to the farm if he's alone. He's grateful, but says he's going to some friends in Scotland. When Joe drives up to the farm he almost hits some sheep on the road. Jack, Matt and Pat join him in trying to get them back into their enclosure, while Dolly stays at home resting. Jackie and Jane are enjoying themselves but he notices that Sandie is acting strange, which she denies. Suddenly Dolly goes into labour. Jackie decides that the only thing to do is drive her to the hospital, even though he has no licence. Sandie goes with Jackie in Annie's car, while Jane and Andy go out looking for Matt. Jackie and Sandie get Dolly to the hospital just in time. Joe calls Amos who has to leave [[Seth Armstrong|Seth]] in charge at [[the Woolpack]] while he runs off to get Annie, Sam and Henry from church. Dolly has a healthy baby boy just before Matt arrives at the hospital.

==Cast==

=== Regular cast ===
* [[Annie Sugden|Annie]] - [[Sheila Mercier]]
* [[Joe Sugden|Joe]] - [[Frazer Hines]]
* [[Jack Sugden|Jack]] - [[Clive Hornby]]
* [[Pat Sugden|Pat]] - [[Helen Weir]]
* [[Matt Skilbeck|Matt]] - [[Frederick Pyne]]
* [[Dolly Skilbeck|Dolly]] - [[Jean Rogers]]
* [[Sam Pearson|Sam]] - [[Toke Townley]]
* [[Seth Armstrong|Seth]] - [[Stan Richards]]
* [[Henry Wilks|Mr. Wilks]] - [[Arthur Pentelow]]
* [[Amos Brearly|Amos]] - [[Ronald Magill]]
* [[Donald Hinton|Rev. Donald Hinton]] - [[Hugh Manning]]
* [[Alan Turner]] - [[Richard Thorp]]
* [[Jackie Merrick|Jackie]] - [[Ian Sharrock]]
* [[Sandie Merrick|Sandie]] - [[Jane Hutcheson]]
* [[Andy Longthorn]] - [[Mark Botham]]
* [[Samuel Skilbeck]] - [[Benjamin Whitehead]] ''(uncredited)''

=== Guest cast ===
* [[Doctor (Episode 770)|Doctor]] - [[Alex Frank]]
* [[Jane Hardcastle]] - [[Alison Dowling]]
* [[Walter (Al Dixon)|Walter]] - [[Al Dixon]] (uncredited)

==Locations==
*[[Vicarage]] - ''Family room''
*[[The Woolpack]] - ''Exterior, bar''
*[[Emmerdale Farm]] - ''Family room, parlour, fields''
*[[St. Mary's Church]] - ''Nave/altar''
*[[Emmerdale Farm Barn Conversion]] - ''Family room''
*[[Hotten General Hospital]] - ''Waiting room, maternity ward''

== Notes ==
*The children at the carol service are uncredited despite lines of dialogue.
*A doctor is uncredited despite a line of dialogue.
*A nurse is uncredited despite a line of dialogue.
* First appearance of [[Samuel Skilbeck]]

{{December 1982}}