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Sam Dingle
Sam Dingle is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Emmerdale, played by James Hooton. He made his first appearance in the episode broadcast on 14 February 1995.
Actor James Hooton was cast as Sam in December 1994. He decided to shave off his hair before his audition after learning what the role would entail. He commented "I thought, 'that will get it for me' and it did." The producers agreed, as the short haircut made Hooton look "tough", which was ideal for the character. Sam was introduced as a prominent member of the "roguish" Dingle family. Of his casting, Hooton stated "I love being part of Emmerdale. The Dingles are just like my real family now." He was originally supposed to be in the serial for eight episodes. His first contract ended in March 1995 and he hoped that it would be renewed, so he would become as well known as Annie Sugden and Seth Armstrong. He later received a contract extension to July 1996.
On his character profile on the ITV website, Sam is described as "a simple, sweet-natured man who can easily be taken advantage of". It is noted that he loves his family, and that he wants to "win their approval with his enthusiasm". He is billed as a "loyal, thoughtful, honest" character that "stands up for what is right". The profile states that he enjoys nature and working outside, and dislikes people thinking that he is "stupid". It adds that Sam has "one of the longest police records of anyone" on Emmerdale, despite his "innocent soul".
In 2010, actor Hooton spoke to Holy Soap about portraying Sam. He explained that since Sam is so different from him in real life, he likes to "hide behind the character", and that he enjoys portraying a character that is different from how he "might be perceived in real life". He stated that due to his differences from Sam, he does not get noticed in public, unlike his co-stars. In 2018, Hooton revealed that there were periods of time where he did not enjoy working on Emmerdale, and credited co-star Blick, who portrays his on-screen love interest Lydia, for making him enjoy it again. He commented: "It's been 23 years off and on I've been involved in the show, and obviously a lot of water goes under that bridge over that time. I've gone through many years when I've not enjoyed the job as much as I might have done, and it's been a bit of a renaissance period for me as I'm enjoying the job more so than I ever have done. And I think that's in part down to working with Karen and what she brings to the table." He confirmed that in those times, he considered leaving the soap, but decided against it since he had carved a career as Sam. A year later, he reflected on 25 years of his character. He expanded on his unhappiness, revealing that a few years into his tenure on the soap, a "young and ambitious" Hooton met with the then-executive producer of Emmerdale to discuss his future on the soap. He felt "sidelined" on the soap, and asked the executive producer if there was a chance of Sam being more involved in storylines, to which the producer told him that he would never receive a big storyline. Reflecting on his time since then, he expressed his joy that his feelings about working on Emmerdale had improved. Hooton went on to explain that for "a long-standing actor in a soap", being killed off is always a worry, since they are only contracted on 12-month contracts, which are renewed annually. He added that if he was written out, he would be "gutted", stating: "it's definitely the best job for me".
As a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sam and Lydia star in a standalone "lockdown" episode in 2020. Hooton stated that it is "not all fun and games", to reflect lockdown not being a fun process for others. He explained that there is "light-hearted jovial stuff" in the episode, as well as "motional and serious stuff". This is due to Sam's worries about Lydia having Huntington's disease, so he worries that the virus will have more of an effect on her than anyone else. He noted that the episode is "journey for both of them", and praised the writing. Hooton opined that his character deals with lockdown well, as he does the shopping and continues to work, but his "one overriding objective" is to protect Lydia from the virus, as he sees her as vulnerable. He notes that Lydia does not agree with Sam's protection of her.
Sam arrives in Emmerdale village following his release from a young offenders institute. He falsely claims to have kidnapped Robert Sugden (Christopher Smith) in order to claim ransom money from Robert's family. He gets involved in several dodgy schemes with his family, one of which is taking part in an armed robbery with his uncle Albert Dingle (Bobby Knutt). However, they are both caught by the police and subsequently jailed. Sam is released from prison two years later and he returns to the village for his brother Butch Dingle's (Paul Loughran) funeral. Sam serves another prison sentence for accidentally hitting pensioner Edna Birch (Shirley Stelfox) with a car. He is held in the same prison as his distant relative, Solomon Dingle (Paul Shane).
Sam begins a relationship with Alice Wilson (Ursula Holden-Gill) and they later leave Emmerdale to start life on their own farm in Norfolk. They return to Emmerdale soon afterwards, when Sam discovers Alice is pregnant. Alice gives birth to their son via caesarean section, so she can start treatment for cancer. Sam's younger half-sister, Belle Dingle (Eden Taylor-Draper), accidentally names the baby Samson Dingle (Bradley Milnes) when she mistakes "Sam's son" for his name. Sam and Alice marry upon discovering her cancer is terminal. Eventually, Alice becomes so weak that she is unable to hold Samson so, at Alice's request, Sam obtains morphine from his cousin Eli Dingle (Joe Gilgun) and gives Alice an overdose, ending her life. The police get involved when Detective constable Martin Crowe (Graeme Hawley), hears Ashley Thomas (John Middleton) tell Diane Sugden (Elizabeth Estensen) that he believes that Sam had helped Alice die. Martin opens a murder investigation and when the police come to arrest Sam at Wishing Well Cottage, the Dingles barricade themselves inside. After eventually gaining entry and arresting Sam, Del Dingle (Hayley Tamaddon) tells them that she helped Alice die, so she is arrested too. Soon, all the Dingles admit to helping Alice die in order to protect Sam. With the family worried that Social Services will remove Samson if Sam confesses, his half-brother Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) asks Sam to describe Alice's death to him in as much detail as possible. Cain tells the police he helped Alice die and they charge him with the crime.
Sam is arrested for drug possession after Eli persuades him to be his courier, so he and Samson are able to live in the village. Sam is afraid he will lose Samson when the police charge him, and he runs away with his son, but soon turns himself in. This is not the only incident that alarms the Dingles and social services – whilst living at Dale View, Samson leaves the house and is struck by Val Pollard's (Charlie Hardwick) car. He also drinks an alcoholic drink left lying around by Daz Eden's (Luke Tittensor) girlfriend, Penny Drury (Amelia Sefton). Sam rushes him to hospital, where Samson recovers.
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Sam Dingle
Sam Dingle is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Emmerdale, played by James Hooton. He made his first appearance in the episode broadcast on 14 February 1995.
Actor James Hooton was cast as Sam in December 1994. He decided to shave off his hair before his audition after learning what the role would entail. He commented "I thought, 'that will get it for me' and it did." The producers agreed, as the short haircut made Hooton look "tough", which was ideal for the character. Sam was introduced as a prominent member of the "roguish" Dingle family. Of his casting, Hooton stated "I love being part of Emmerdale. The Dingles are just like my real family now." He was originally supposed to be in the serial for eight episodes. His first contract ended in March 1995 and he hoped that it would be renewed, so he would become as well known as Annie Sugden and Seth Armstrong. He later received a contract extension to July 1996.
On his character profile on the ITV website, Sam is described as "a simple, sweet-natured man who can easily be taken advantage of". It is noted that he loves his family, and that he wants to "win their approval with his enthusiasm". He is billed as a "loyal, thoughtful, honest" character that "stands up for what is right". The profile states that he enjoys nature and working outside, and dislikes people thinking that he is "stupid". It adds that Sam has "one of the longest police records of anyone" on Emmerdale, despite his "innocent soul".
In 2010, actor Hooton spoke to Holy Soap about portraying Sam. He explained that since Sam is so different from him in real life, he likes to "hide behind the character", and that he enjoys portraying a character that is different from how he "might be perceived in real life". He stated that due to his differences from Sam, he does not get noticed in public, unlike his co-stars. In 2018, Hooton revealed that there were periods of time where he did not enjoy working on Emmerdale, and credited co-star Blick, who portrays his on-screen love interest Lydia, for making him enjoy it again. He commented: "It's been 23 years off and on I've been involved in the show, and obviously a lot of water goes under that bridge over that time. I've gone through many years when I've not enjoyed the job as much as I might have done, and it's been a bit of a renaissance period for me as I'm enjoying the job more so than I ever have done. And I think that's in part down to working with Karen and what she brings to the table." He confirmed that in those times, he considered leaving the soap, but decided against it since he had carved a career as Sam. A year later, he reflected on 25 years of his character. He expanded on his unhappiness, revealing that a few years into his tenure on the soap, a "young and ambitious" Hooton met with the then-executive producer of Emmerdale to discuss his future on the soap. He felt "sidelined" on the soap, and asked the executive producer if there was a chance of Sam being more involved in storylines, to which the producer told him that he would never receive a big storyline. Reflecting on his time since then, he expressed his joy that his feelings about working on Emmerdale had improved. Hooton went on to explain that for "a long-standing actor in a soap", being killed off is always a worry, since they are only contracted on 12-month contracts, which are renewed annually. He added that if he was written out, he would be "gutted", stating: "it's definitely the best job for me".
As a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sam and Lydia star in a standalone "lockdown" episode in 2020. Hooton stated that it is "not all fun and games", to reflect lockdown not being a fun process for others. He explained that there is "light-hearted jovial stuff" in the episode, as well as "motional and serious stuff". This is due to Sam's worries about Lydia having Huntington's disease, so he worries that the virus will have more of an effect on her than anyone else. He noted that the episode is "journey for both of them", and praised the writing. Hooton opined that his character deals with lockdown well, as he does the shopping and continues to work, but his "one overriding objective" is to protect Lydia from the virus, as he sees her as vulnerable. He notes that Lydia does not agree with Sam's protection of her.
Sam arrives in Emmerdale village following his release from a young offenders institute. He falsely claims to have kidnapped Robert Sugden (Christopher Smith) in order to claim ransom money from Robert's family. He gets involved in several dodgy schemes with his family, one of which is taking part in an armed robbery with his uncle Albert Dingle (Bobby Knutt). However, they are both caught by the police and subsequently jailed. Sam is released from prison two years later and he returns to the village for his brother Butch Dingle's (Paul Loughran) funeral. Sam serves another prison sentence for accidentally hitting pensioner Edna Birch (Shirley Stelfox) with a car. He is held in the same prison as his distant relative, Solomon Dingle (Paul Shane).
Sam begins a relationship with Alice Wilson (Ursula Holden-Gill) and they later leave Emmerdale to start life on their own farm in Norfolk. They return to Emmerdale soon afterwards, when Sam discovers Alice is pregnant. Alice gives birth to their son via caesarean section, so she can start treatment for cancer. Sam's younger half-sister, Belle Dingle (Eden Taylor-Draper), accidentally names the baby Samson Dingle (Bradley Milnes) when she mistakes "Sam's son" for his name. Sam and Alice marry upon discovering her cancer is terminal. Eventually, Alice becomes so weak that she is unable to hold Samson so, at Alice's request, Sam obtains morphine from his cousin Eli Dingle (Joe Gilgun) and gives Alice an overdose, ending her life. The police get involved when Detective constable Martin Crowe (Graeme Hawley), hears Ashley Thomas (John Middleton) tell Diane Sugden (Elizabeth Estensen) that he believes that Sam had helped Alice die. Martin opens a murder investigation and when the police come to arrest Sam at Wishing Well Cottage, the Dingles barricade themselves inside. After eventually gaining entry and arresting Sam, Del Dingle (Hayley Tamaddon) tells them that she helped Alice die, so she is arrested too. Soon, all the Dingles admit to helping Alice die in order to protect Sam. With the family worried that Social Services will remove Samson if Sam confesses, his half-brother Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) asks Sam to describe Alice's death to him in as much detail as possible. Cain tells the police he helped Alice die and they charge him with the crime.
Sam is arrested for drug possession after Eli persuades him to be his courier, so he and Samson are able to live in the village. Sam is afraid he will lose Samson when the police charge him, and he runs away with his son, but soon turns himself in. This is not the only incident that alarms the Dingles and social services – whilst living at Dale View, Samson leaves the house and is struck by Val Pollard's (Charlie Hardwick) car. He also drinks an alcoholic drink left lying around by Daz Eden's (Luke Tittensor) girlfriend, Penny Drury (Amelia Sefton). Sam rushes him to hospital, where Samson recovers.