Sarah Sugden’s younger years: The war between the Sugdens and the Dingles
Sarah’s early years were spent torn between her battling families!
Sarah Sugden is the troublesome, troubled teenage daughter of Debbie Dingle and Andy Sugden. She’s a big sister to her ‘saviour sibling’ Jack – who lives in Scotland with their mum – and has a lot of uncles: Charity’s sons Noah, Moses and Ryan and Cain’s son’s Nate, Isaac and Kyle.
Sarah’s also the adopted cousin of Victoria’s son, Harry.
So when it comes to being at the heart of Emmerdale, Sarah‘s right in the thick of both the Sugden and Dingle dynasties!
Emmerdale: Sarah Sugden’s arrival
Sarah arrived unexpectedly! Her mum – Debbie Dingle – was just 15 years old and had hidden her pregnancy from everyone.
She had fallen pregnant after a brief romance with older teenager Andy Sugden, but hadn’t told him either!
Debbie gave birth in a barn and planned to abandon her baby at the hospital.
But of course, the shocking arrival didn’t stay secret for long! Daz Tittensor ran for help and found Emily Kirk – Debbie’s foster mother.
Emily helped deliver the tot and Debbie named her daughter Sarah Charity – after her two grandmothers. Emily had been about to leave Emmerdale after discovering her husband Paddy had cheated. But when Debbie had the baby, she decided to stay in the village after all, and help Debbie care for Sarah.
And that’s when things started to go wrong!
Hard decisions
With Debbie struggling to cope, she turned to foster mother Emily Kirk for support.
Emily was glad to help out but Cain was annoyed and accused her of interfering, and Emily decided enough was enough – she was leaving the village.
When Debbie found out Emily was going, she begged her to take baby Sarah with her.
Emily agreed and left the village with Sarah and though Cain tried to track her down, he couldn’t.
Returning to Emmerdale
A year later Emily and Sarah came back to Emmerdale, and Emily gave the tot to her dad, Andy.
Emily was shunned by the village, who called her a child-snatcher, and she even tried to end her own life.
Debbie agreed that Andy could keep Sarah, as long as she wasn’t part of her daughter’s life. Emily moved away and things settled down.
Andy, Jo and Debbie
By now Sarah was a toddler and Andy was engaged to Jo Stiles. Debbie told the couple she’d be happy for Jo to adopt little Sarah. But when it came to signing the papers, Debbie couldn’t do it!
When Andy went to prison, Jo let Debbie spend time with Sarah. When Andy found out, he was FUMING and ended up hitting Jo – starting months of abuse.
Jo confided in Debbie, Andy moved out, and Jo left Emmerdale.
More arguments!
The Dingles tried to persuade Debbie to get custody of her daughter, but Debbie was worried about the part she’d played in the murder of policeman Shane Doyle, and refused.
Andy kept custody of Sarah when Debbie was sent to jail. When she came home she wanted to see her daughter, but Andy refused and even tried to run off to Spain. Debbie stopped him and she eventually won full custody of Sarah after Jo made a statement about Andy’s violence towards her.
Since then, Sarah’s lived first with Debbie, and now with grandmother Charity.
READ MORE: Emmerdale: Piper’s alive – but fans aren’t impressed with soap’s ‘cruel’ decision
Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm
Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm.
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