Series 8

1979-01-03

Matt finds a mysterious van on the farm, but is informed that no sheep have been stolen. Meanwhile, the eviction problem with Nellie is solved.

1979-01-09

Donald gets an earful from Florrie and Len following his sermon - and both Donald and Florrie are shocked when Len quits her job on her behalf! Meanwhile, Trevor's replacement Maurice arrives.

1979-01-11

It's Christmas in Beckindale and the villagers celebrate. Donald's words affect Florrie, who invites her overbearing mother over, to Len's annoyance.

1979-01-16

Florrie returns to working for Donald but this angers Len, and Donald is shocked to discover Len has been made redundant. Meanwhile, Jessie's stay in Beckindale ends abruptly when she is taken ill.

1979-01-18

Henry gives Maurice a piece of his mind, and Len is determined to give Donald a piece of his mind. Meanwhile, Jessie is desperate to return home but a visit from the doctor stops her in her path.

1979-01-23

Jessie returns to Darlington but Dolly is horrified to be informed that Jessie is in hospital after collapsing. Meanwhile, Amos receives grief from Sam about his wrote up of the pantomime.

1979-01-25

Jessie's collapse is revealed to have been caused by heart problems, whilst Len struggles to find work as Florrie struggles to occupy her free time.

1979-01-30

NY Estates foreman Neil causes controversy among the villagers when they catch him speeding across the village. Meanwhile, Dolly blames herself over Jessie's condition and worries who will look after her.

1979-02-01

Neil continues to cause fury among the villagers, especially Amos as he narrowly avoids getting knocked down. Meanwhile, Dolly is annoyed that Phyllis can't look after Jessie whilst Matt is forced to keep secrets from her when a cow and calf die from heart failure.

1979-02-06

When Annie and Dolly visit Jessie in hospital all seems well - but Jessie has another shock in store for them.

1979-02-08

Amos isn't the only one who's annoyed about Batty's driving - Tober feels he's had enough of it and takes some drastic action.

1979-02-13

The feud between Batty and Tober escalates further when Neil wants Tober prosecuted, and Tober later blocks the road for Batty with his wheelbarrow. Meanwhile, Kitty asks around about Joe's marital status.

1979-02-15

Martha takes desperate action about the Tober and Batty feud by assaulting PC Edwards, which works. Meanwhile, Kitty accepts Joe's job offer as a farmhand.

1979-02-20

Maurice is shocked at the state of Bull Pot Farm and infuriates Arthur when he tells him to fix it up to get out. Meanwhile, Margaret and David arrive in the countryside for a holiday.

1979-02-22

Sam helps Arthur with his farm, and Arthur is angry when Eric reopens a public footpath on Arthur's land. Meanwhile, Margaret and David go house hunting in the village but have no luck.

1979-02-27

Annie has a talking to an ungrateful Arthur about how much time everyone is spending on helping him. Meanwhile, Arthur's step daughter Eileen arrives and clashes with Arthur before being kicked out.

1979-03-01

Eileen is fuming when Maurice blames her for her father's mood, whilst an outburst from Joe angers Margaret, David, Henry and Amos. Also, Arthur discovers a dead sheep at Emmerdale Farm -having choked on litter.

1979-03-06

Joe discovers that Margaret caused the death of the ewe, and tries to make her pay the price. David tries to get her to return home with him. Meanwhile, Arthur is rushed to hospital after Sam accidentally slams his fingers in the car door.

1979-03-08

Eileen gives up on Arthur, whilst Annie is shocked to receive a torrent of abuse via a phone call to Arthur. However, she is more forgiving when Arthur explains that he thought Wilf had rung him back.

1979-03-13

Simon arrives in the village; taking a liking to Kitty and clashing with Matt. Meanwhile, Matt is infuriated when Joe and Kitty fail to turn up to help him, leaving Annie puzzled...

1979-03-15

Dolly is upset when the doctor says that Jessie won't be getting better any time soon. Meanwhile, a fight between Joe and Kitty gives Simon the perfect opportunity to win her over, which he tries.

1979-03-20

Joe finds himself becoming restless in Beckindale, and soon after finds Simon and Kitty drinking together. Meanwhile, Henry finds himself interested in Irene.

1979-03-22

Kitty suffers a knock to the head after hitting her head on the steering wheel when she crashes the tractor. Insistent on being fine, she discharges herself from hospital against the doctor's recommendation. Joe is jealous after believing Kitty is meeting with another man on the day of the Farmer's social.

1979-03-27

Irene lets Henry down gently, whilst Joe and Kitty's moment is interrupted by Simon.

1979-03-29

The Farmers' Social takes place and Kitty convinces Joe to stay in Beckindale. Meanwhile, Henry makes amends to Amos and Annie.

1979-04-03

Joe is horrified to find Wendy in a state after being a victim of rape. Matt and Annie are questioned as they witnessed the attacker. Colly goes on the warpath and hunts down Poor Ocker when he suspects him of being the attacker.

1979-04-05

Colly interrogates Poor Ocker and a fight ensues, stopped by the police. Later, after running into problems with NY Estates, Smarty Garret and Ocker get their own backs by starting a fire.

1979-04-10

Cully believes the police are doing nothing about his daughter's rape, so, despite Amos's warning, he takes matters into his own hands.

1979-04-12

Joe and Kitty find the rapist and a chase ensues, with Seth and Amos going into pursuit. However, the chase takes a dark turn when Poor Ocker and Smarty Garret accidentally knock him down on their motorbike.

1979-04-17

The man has died from his injuries and PC Edwards is unable to identify him. Meanwhile, Ocker is revealed to have a vascular condition which has been aggravated by the crash, and resolves to fundraise for treatment in America.

1979-04-19

Henry is shocked when Bob reveals that the man killed in the motorcycle accident had just been released from prison for sexual assault. Also, Poor Ocker and Smarty Garret are arrested for starting the Kimber Barn fire.

1979-04-24

Poor Ocker is let off with a suspended sentence for his role in the barn fire, whilst Smarty doesn't get so lucky. Meanwhile, Donald returns to the village with the news that Clive has been released from prison.

1979-04-26

Phil and Joe clash when Phil accuses him of reporting Phil to the RSPCA. Meanwhile, Olwen struggles with Amos at choir practice.

1979-05-01

Maggie approaches Donald and tries to get him to sort out the feud between Joe and Phil, whilst the feud reaches the climax where a struggle between Joe and Phil results in Phil getting shot - and accusing Joe of shooting him deliberately.

1979-05-03

Joe is worried that nobody will believe that shooting Phil was an accident, especially when Terry backs up Phil's statement. However, Annie points out that if DSI Hoskins and PC Edwards didn't believe him, he would have been arrested.

1979-05-08

Annie tries to get the Fletchers to admit the truth, however Phil refuses to let her speak to Maggie and Terry guiltily remains loyal to his father. Meanwhile, DSI Hoskins attempts to get the truth and questions Henry and Joe.

1979-05-10

DS Hoskins clears up inconsistencies by getting Terry to go back to the crime scene. It all becomes too much for Terry and he admits the gun went off itself. Meanwhile, Amos is chuffed when he manages to trick the customers into redecorating The Woolpack.

1979-05-15

Meg is suspicious and Seth is furious when Jimmy arrives out of the blue. and both are in for a shock when Meg meets his wife Susan. Meanwhile, Sam helps Amos with an article for the Hotten Courier.

1979-05-17

When Susan reveals that she and Jimmy have had to move with his parents as he was made redundancy, Dolly tries to help out by seeing if she can get Jimmy work on the farm. Meanwhile, Amos makes a shock discovery - Jimmy is an ex-convict.

1979-05-22

Amos's discovery pushes Susan to reveal that Jimmy has served a prison sentence to Seth and Meg - and is surprised to discover Seth already knew. Meanwhile, Susan confides in Dolly that she may be pregnant, and Dolly begins to have fears about having children with Matt.

1979-05-24

Jimmy is shocked when Matt reveals that Susan is pregnant, and struggles to adjust to the news. Meanwhile, Henry warns Maurice to be careful with the villagers when Maurice announces his intentions to renovate the NY Estates properties.

1979-05-29

Dolly and Sam argue over Jimmy when Dolly overhears Sam make comments about him. Meanwhile, Kitty tells Joe that she's been offered a job in Essex and is leaving to take it.

1979-05-31

Jimmy decides to leave the village, but not before talking to Matt about children. Meanwhile, Kitty's departure leaves Dolly thinking about her position on the farm.

1979-06-05

Dolly is thrilled when Dr. Jacobs calls to notify here that he's gotten her a last minute appointment with the specialist. Meanwhile, Amos is suspicious of a man who tries every beer in The Woolpack twice before leaving.

1979-06-07

Joe is furious when Jack calls and expresses his opinion that Emmerdale Farm will end up like NY Estates if they keep expanding. Meanwhile, the stock sale at Hathersage Farm takes place and Amos is curious as to why Henry is desperate to go. Also, Ernie accuses Amos of sending Ian to spy on him.

1979-06-12

Amos is annoyed when Henry's plough proves to be a hit with the regulars. Meanwhile, Donald helps Ed learn about his family. Also, Dolly and Matt receive good news from the specialist.

1979-06-14

Amos spots an opportunity to convince Henry to get rid of the plough when Henry accidentally reverses his car into it. Meanwhile, Dolly becomes interested in the Hathersage Farm farmhouse and is relieved when Maurice is uninterested, but is shocked when Maurice makes an offer later on.

1979-06-19

Dolly is disappointed when Ed tries to get more money out of Maurice, however after discovering Maurice's intentions, Ed wonders if he should sell to Maurice. Meanwhile, Amos is over the moon when Ian wants to put The Woolpack in the Good Beer Guide.

1979-06-21

Ed considers moving back to the village with his wife to try save their relationship. Meanwhile, Amos is unimpressed when Henry's plough causes more problems.

1979-06-26

The Sugdens are suspicious when Maurice appears to be hiding away his daughter. However, Matt finds Judy drunkely slumped over her steering wheel. Meanwhile, Ed and Geoff Atwill suspect they may be related and get help from Donald.

1979-06-28

Henry decides the plough must go when Geoff reverses into it. Meanwhile, alcoholic Judy makes the mistake of going to The Woolpack. Also, Donald discovers that Geoff and Ed are distant relatives.

1979-07-03

Annie tries to get Judy to open up, and Henry prevents her from getting drunk in The Woolpack. However, an oblivious Joe asks her out for a drink and they go to The Feathers Country Hotel. Meanwhile, Ed and Geoff sell 50 acres to Emmerdale Farm and use the rest of the land for their farm museum.

1979-07-05

Maurice confides in Donald and Annie about Judy's drink problem. Annie finally manages to get Judy to tell the tragic story of how she began drinking heavily. Meanwhile, Dolly is thrilled to discover she is pregnant.