Sandy Thomas

Sandy Thomas
Emmerdale character
Portrayed by Freddie Jones
Duration 2005–
First appearance 6 November 2005
Introduced by Kathleen Beedles (2005)
Gavin Blyth (2009)
Classification Present; regular
Profile
Occupation Sailor (retired)
Home Mulberry Cottage

Sandy Thomas is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera, Emmerdale, played by Freddie Jones. He made his first appearance on 6 November 2005. The character departed in March 2008, but returned to the show in February 2009.

Storylines

Sandy arrives in Emmerdale on his son Ashley (John Middleton) wedding day to Laurel Potts (Charlotte Bellamy). Ashley and Laurel find him in their bedroom and Ashley introduces him as his father.

Ashley and Sandy were estranged, due to Sandy helping Ashley's mum die from a terminal illness. However, Ashley's new wife Laurel and granddaughter Jasmine (Jenna-Louise Coleman) are pleased to have him around. Sandy makes friends with Daz Eden (Luke Tittensor) and Shadrach Dingle (Andy Devine) but makes an enemy of Edna Birch (Shirley Stelfox). He is accused of kidnapping Belle Dingle (Eden Taylor-Draper) at Christmas 2005 after she went missing.

After a major fall-out with his son, Sandy moved in with Alan Turner (Richard Thorp) and Betty Eagleton (Paula Tilbrook). Father and son reconciled but Sandy stayed with Alan and Betty. Sandy left Emmerdale in March 2008. Sandy returned in February 2009, when it was revealed that Jasmine had visited him when she left Emmerdale. He and his lady friend helped Jasmine find a flat but she went on the run again after Marlon, Eli, Ashley and Laurel Thomas came looking for her.

Jasmine told Sandy what had happened to Shane Doyle (Paul McEwan) and that Debbie Dingle (Charley Webb) was on remand for manslaughter. She felt guilty and wanted to confess but Debbie and Sandy insisted she go on the run. She returned to Emmerdale briefly to collect some money from Sandy and saw Danielle Hutch (Nicola Stapleton) being arrested. She went to Debbie's court hearing and confessed - just as Debbie was about to plead guilty to manslaughter. She was charged with manslaughter and pleaded guilty. She was sentenced to four years in prison, leaving Debbie and her family devastated.

Sandy stayed at the vicarage but overcrowding meant he and Doug had to share a room. Unhappy, he tried blackmailing Nicola King (Nicola Wheeler) to move out by telling her his age; it didn't work. Resorting to desperate measures, Sandy and Laurel's father, Douglas Potts (Duncan Preston) wrote Nicola a love letter, apparently from Jimmy (Nick Miles) inviting her to move into Mill Cottage. She accepted, easing the overcrowding but Ashley threw Sandy out after his preoccupation with Jasmine led to Gabby Thomas (Annelise Manojlovic) damaging the computer in Café Hope. Ashley was furious when Gabby said that she thought if she was naughty, she would be sent to prison and could ask the governor to let Jasmine go because it was making her grandad very sad. Debbie found him sleeping in the shed in her garden. Sandy and Ashley reconciled but Sandy, seeing Diane was lonely, asked if he could move into The Woolpack and she agreed. Sandy stayed at The Woolpack until December 2009 when Laurel, disgusted at Ashley choosing Sally Spode (Siân Reeves), left the village with the children. Doug was equally unhappy and moved into The Woolpack so Sandy returned to the vicarage, wanting to support his son. He was thrilled when Ashley and Laurel managed to patch up their marriage. Sadly, Laurel was unable to forgive Ashley completely and began an affair with Marlon Dingle. It didn't last long and when Ashley demanded she choose, him or Marlon, she chose to give her marriage another go. This time, Ashley was unhappy and began taking his anger out on Sandy. Ashley violently attacked Sandy on numerous occasions but this was soon discovered, first by Rachel Breckle and soon after by Gabby and finally Laurel. Absolutely disgusted that Ashley could hit an old man, she threw him out but Edna Birch reported Ashley to the police. Sandy refused to give a statement but Ashley admitted it. Eventually he and Sandy began to rebuild their relationship and Sandy became friends with Sean Spencer (Luke Roskell)

Development

Jones announced his decision to quit in January 2008, remaining on-screen until March, however in October 2008, 7 months after deciding to quit, it was announced that he was to return to Emmerdale.[1]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s12/emmerdale/news/a133980/sandy-to-make-emmerdale-return.html

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