Emmerdale Woolpack owners now – eerie coincidence, huge gift in will and tragic death

Emmerdale residents Chas and Marlon are currently facing the prospect of selling the Woolpack pub, after their insurance claim was voided when they failed to declare development plans for the venue.

After being faced with handing over the pub for less money than they previously expected, will this be the end of the Woolpack’s ownership by the Dingle family? Or will they manage to find a way to save their beloved pub?

The couple have ran the famous pub together since 2021, but in the past, the Woolpack has been owned by some of Emmerdale’s well known residents throughout the years.

Daily Star takes a look at the actors who played the Woolpack pub owners, and where they are now.

Ronald Magill – Amos Brearly

Ronald Magill played Amos Brearly in Emmerdale from its very first episode, and became known as the person to go to for the village gossip.

He later departed the soap in 1991, but returned for cameo appearances in both 1994 and 1995, when his character married Annie Sugden.

Emmerdale was his last credited TV appearance, but in his life, the actor had a successful career on stage, performing in productions such as Measure for Measure.

However in his personal life, the actor also suffered heartbreak after his partner of 32 years, David Soar, died in 1997.

Ronald Magill later died ten years after his partner, on September 6 2007 at the age of 87.

The Standard also reported that Ronald had been diagnosed with Bells Palsy in the years before his death.

Following his death, it was later revealed that Ronald had left over one third of his £1.3 million estate to the man who had nursed him in the last years of his life.

His will stated that £550,000 was to be left to the man, with the other £830,000 (before inheritance tax) to be divided between Ronald’s two brothers.

Arthur Pentalow – Henry Wilks

Arthur Pentalow played Henry Wilks in Emmerdale, owning the Woolpack pub alongside Amos Brearly until 1991.

The actor already had a hugely successful career prior to Emmerdale, having starred in TV programmes including Z-Cars and in a rival soap as George Greenwood, Hilda Ogden’s friend in Coronation Street in 1971.

However tragedy struck when Arthur suddenly died of a heart attack aged 67 on August 6 1991, while driving from his home in Birmingham to Leeds, where Emmerdale is filmed.

Following Arthur’s death in real life, the character was later written out of the soap in October 1991.

In his personal life, the actor had been married to his wife Jennifer, and they had two sons called Nick and Simon.

Richard Thorp – Alan Turner

Richard Thorp played Woolpack owner Alan Turner, who was involved in dramatic storylines including the death of his wife and being held hostage by Steph Forsythe.

Prior to starring in the soap, the actor had appeared in huge TV programmes including To The Manor Born and Hollywood film The Dam Busters, but will forever be remembered for his famous Emmerdale role.

However, the actor died on May 22 2012 at the age of 81 at his home in Shrewsbury, following long bouts of illness.

His Emmerdale co-star Lorraine Chase, who played Alan’s onscreen daughter Steph, revealed to The Mirror that she had spoken to him the day before he died, saying: “It was Saturday and I got a call from Richard, which was a lovely surprise.

“He was very bright, he said he was doing well. He sounded 100 percent. And then of course the next day I heard the news he’d died.”

She also revealed that Richard Thorp would regularly ring her to check that she was ok, adding he “gave you that feeling he cared.”

Two years before his death, it seemed the actor had also received an eerie premonition, after he had a period of time away from the soap to recover from a knee injury in 2009.

Speaking of his injuries to the Evening Courier, Richard explained: “I was hobbling round the supermarket the other week when I heard one woman say to her friend, ‘Isn’t that Alan Turner over there?’ Her friend replied, ‘Don’t be silly, it can’t possibly be – he’s dead!”

Following his death, the actor also left a huge £304,831 in his will, which was left to his four children.

In his life, he had also been married three times – first to Maureen Moore, then to Lynn Mellish and finally to Noola Delany.

Elizabeth Estensen – Diane Sugden

Elizabeth Estensen has become a fan favourite character on Emmerdale since joining the soap in 1999 as Diane Sugden.

Diane was also one of the longest serving owners of the Woolpack pub, and was involved in some huge storylines including the siege on the Woolpack and being scammed by her conman lover.

However, Elizabeth left fans devastated after she announced in 2021 that she was leaving the soap, saying: “For the past 22 years I have loved playing Diane Sugden – she’s kind, reliable and fiercely loyal. However, I now feel the time has come to say goodbye.

“Emmerdale will always remain special to me. I’ve been treated with respect and kindness and I’ve had the very best friends and colleagues, both past and present. I’ll miss everyone dearly.”

Away from Emmerdale, the actress has been married to her husband Philip Allen since 1983.

She has also had a long acting career, appearing as Pam Middleton in Coronation Street during the eighties, as well as TV programmes including Last of the Summer Wine, Casualty and A Touch of Frost.

Elizabeth also revealed that at the age of 72, she has no plans to stop acting either, saying: “I’m not retiring from acting altogether, I simply want to keep working if I can.

“People of my age that are greyhaired aren’t heavily featured in things any more. But I’d like to keep on working.”

Nicola King – Nicola Wheeler

Nicola Wheeler joined Emmerdale in 2001 as Nicola King, who since arriving in the dales, has nearly been killed in a cottage fire, discovered her fiance was having an affair and then became owner of the Woolpack pub with Jimmy King.

However before becoming Nicola King, the actress also had a rival soap role in Coronation Street as Melanie Tindel in 1999, who was Maxine Peacock’s friend and bridesmaid.

Nicola decided to leave Emmerdale in 2006, saying in a statement at the time: “I’ve had an amazing five years on the show but feel the time is right to try something new. I will miss everyone at Emmerdale desperately but I’m really excited about what the future holds.”

However, she later returned to the soap over one year later and has continued to play the character ever since.

In her personal life, the actress also revealed on social media in 2015 that she was pregnant with her first child with her partner Mark.

Sharing the happy news, she said on Twitter: “Thanks for all your congratulations still got a couple of weeks until arrives. Unless he/she gets impatient.”

Nick Miles – Jimmy King

Nick Miles has played Jimmy King in Emmerdale ever since joining the soap as one part of a villainous trio of brothers in 2004.

Jimmy later went on to own the Woolpack pub with wife Nicola King for a brief period of time, before selling it back to Diane Sugden.

It is a role that the actor continues to play onscreen, but away from the dales, the actor has led a very interesting life – although it is far less dramatic than his Emmerdale counterpart.

As well as roles in TV programmes including The Bill, Nick has even made a step into blockbuster films, starring in the critically acclaimed Gangs of New York alongside Leonardo DiCaprio and Daniel Day-Lewis, in 2002.

The actor also announced that he was getting married to wife Stephanie Lumb at the National Television Awards in 2006, saying: “I’m getting wed – It’s very exciting,” and they have since been married for over 16 years.

They currently live in West Witton within the Yorkshire Dales with their adorable border terrier dog.

Emma Atkins – Charity Dingle

Emma Atkins joined Emmerdale in 2000 as Charity Dingle, and since then, she has had two long lost children show up in the village and many on/off relationships, as well as owning the Woolpack Pub with Chas Dingle.

However, she was forced to give up ownership of the pub by her cousin Chas, who is now in financial trouble with current co-owner Marlon.

The actress later revealed that she nearly did land the role however, as the part nearly went to former Coronation Street actress Suranne Jones.

After five years of playing Charity Dingle, the star left in 2005 and starred in TV programmes including New Street Law, Casualty and Daziel and Pascoe.

However it was not long before Charity arrived back in the village for more drama, with Emma returning to the soap in 2009 where she has stayed ever since.

In her personal life, the star has a less dramatic life than Charity off screen, living with her partner Tom at their home in North Yorkshire, and their son Albert.

Albert was born shortly before Emma’s 40th birthday, with the actress saying in a statement: “We’ve had a lovely healthy baby boy. He arrived just before my 40th birthday, which was the best present. I’m so delighted.”

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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk