The 1990s
The late 1980s and early 1990s saw the departures of Sandie Merrick, Matt Skilbeck, Dolly Skilbeck, Samuel Skilbeck and Kate Sugden. These departures took place between 1989–1991.
The Sugdens were also supplanted by the Tates after 17 years 1972–1989 of being centre stage. The Beckindale air disaster however threw the family back into the limelight when Jack became the hero of the hour but it also killed Joe's stepson, Mark and Annie's husband of 5 weeks; Leonard were killed in the disaster.
It also lead to some more departures throughout 1994–1995.
Joe Sugden pondered on the fanciful idea that the Sugden family had been cursed as he totted up the number of deaths in the family in the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s. Shortly afterwards, he was killed in a car crash.
By 1997 the number of Sugdens had decreased whereas a decade earlier. There was not a family in the village that were not related either by step-family, blood or marriage to the Sugdens. In 1994 Jack and Sarah married and had a child; Victoria Anne Sugden and went on to adopt Andy Hopwood that same year Rachel Hughes went on to marry Chris Tate who was previously married to Kathy Merrick who was also married to Rachel's Step-cousin; Jackie Merrick.
By the late 90s farming was no longer the shows issue so the Sugdens were pushed further to the back burner while other families took over. The 90s ended on an unhappy note when Jack's stepniece Rachel was murdered by her lover Graham Clarke as the 00s would start on an unhappy note as well.
Read more about this topic: Sugden Family