Perdita
03-02-2009, 05:53
This is the tear-jerking moment that the residents of Emmerdale gather to pay their final respects to their dear friend and relative Jack Sugden.
The hour-long commemorative episode also marks a year since the late Clive Hornby's final appearance in the rural serial drama as Jack Sugden, before he was forced to take a break from the show due to illness.
The 63-year-old actor passed away in July last year.
Former Emmerdale actors Sheila Mercier and Karl Davies - Annie and Robert Sugden in the show - both agreed to return for the tribute episode, which mirrors the soap's first ever episode featuring the funeral of Jack Sugden's father Jacob in 1972.
Speaking of her return, Mercier said: "It was a pleasure to return for this special tribute episode to Clive. I'm sure it will be a fitting way to celebrate the life and memory of one of Emmerdale's dearest characters."
Davies added: "I wanted to come back to do this episode, to pay tribute to a wonderful actor, friend and father. The episode is an homage to the first ever episode of Emmerdale where we see Jack returning to Emmerdale on the day of his fathers funeral, so to see his son return on the day of his funeral is a nice way to complete the circle."
Horby was the show's longest-serving character, playing Jack Sugden for 28 years.
The commemorative episode airs on Tuesday, February 10 at 7pm on ITV1.
The hour-long commemorative episode also marks a year since the late Clive Hornby's final appearance in the rural serial drama as Jack Sugden, before he was forced to take a break from the show due to illness.
The 63-year-old actor passed away in July last year.
Former Emmerdale actors Sheila Mercier and Karl Davies - Annie and Robert Sugden in the show - both agreed to return for the tribute episode, which mirrors the soap's first ever episode featuring the funeral of Jack Sugden's father Jacob in 1972.
Speaking of her return, Mercier said: "It was a pleasure to return for this special tribute episode to Clive. I'm sure it will be a fitting way to celebrate the life and memory of one of Emmerdale's dearest characters."
Davies added: "I wanted to come back to do this episode, to pay tribute to a wonderful actor, friend and father. The episode is an homage to the first ever episode of Emmerdale where we see Jack returning to Emmerdale on the day of his fathers funeral, so to see his son return on the day of his funeral is a nice way to complete the circle."
Horby was the show's longest-serving character, playing Jack Sugden for 28 years.
The commemorative episode airs on Tuesday, February 10 at 7pm on ITV1.