How many people have played Jack Sugden in Emmerdale

A.� Jack Sugden is now played by Clive Hornby but he was played by Andrew Burt during the series' first two years of screening and he reappeared in 1976. Four years on, YTV wanted to bring the character back and Clive was recast in the role.

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Q.� His wife underwent a bit of a transformation too

A.� Sarah Sugden, whose death is currently a murder trial in the soap, was played until recently by Alyson Spiro. She was cast as the farmer's wife in 1994, and she took over from Madeleine Howard who left after six years in the cast.

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Q.� Have there been many other major changes like that in Emmerdale

A. Well, Scott Windsor, the womanising rogue, was played by Toby Cockerell, until he went to the army and returned as Ben Freeman. Elsa Feldman, who married Nick Bates, was played by Naomi Lewis until she returned from Australia, whereupon Natasha Gray took over.

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Q. What about in Coronation Street I remember the late Susan Barlow as a blonde all those years ago

A.� Katie Heanneau first played the teenage Susan, and then Suzy Patterson, the blonde, stepped in between 1979 and 1981. Latterly, Wendy Jane Walker played the unfortunate Susan, who was killed in a car cash, and whose son Adam is the subject of a bitter custody battle.

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Q. Children in Corrrie seem to make the most incredible transformations

A.� Well, Sarah Louise Platt was initally played by Leah King in 1987, then Lyndsey King between October 1987 and October 1999, and Tina O'Brien stepped in thereafter. Tracey Langton (now Preston) was originally played by Christabel Finch (1977-1983), then Holly Charmanette (1985-1988), and most recently by Dawn Acton from 1988 on and off until 1999. Nicky Tilsley was first played by Warren Jackson from January 1981 to Sptember 1996, and then Adam Rickett took over from 1997 to April 1999.

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Q.� Any famous stars who made soap appearances

A.� Joanna Lumley famously appeared as Ken Barlow's girlfriend back in the sixties, and today's Hollywood superstars like Meg Ryan, Ricky Martin, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Demi Moore, all at some point appeared in daytime soap operas before their careers took off.

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By Katharine MacColl