Rachel Hughes
Rachel Hughes | |||||||
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Emmerdale character | |||||||
Former; regular | |||||||
Introduced by | Stuart Doughty | ||||||
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Rachel Hughes is a fictional character from the British television soap opera Emmerdale, portrayed by Glenda McKay. She made her first appearance during the episode broadcast on 7 September 1988 and departed following the character's death on 12 May 1999.
Creation and casting
In 1988, Emmerdale was networked for the first time, which meant the episodes were shown at the same time in all
Development
Characterisation and early storylines
Writer Anthony Hayward described Rachel as "an awkward teenager" who was interested in animal rights.[4] A sixth-form pupil upon her introduction to the serial, Rachel was often seen studying for her A-levels. She takes a year out before going to university and finds employment as a receptionist at Tate Haulage.[4] McKay told Hayward that she and Rachel were much more in parallel and shared a lot of similarities when she was younger, such as boyfriend troubles. But as she got older, McKay felt that she was just coming to work and playing the character. She said "Both of us have changed. Rachel is quite glamorous these days".[5]
Writers soon scripted an affair between Rachel and married character
Rachel's brother Mark was killed off in the plane disaster storyline in 1993. McKay felt enormous guilt that her real brother was written out, as he did not want to leave and she was continuing the job he wanted to do.[5]
Marriage to Chris Tate
Following the plane disaster, Rachel embarks on an affair with
During episodes airing in early 1995, Rachel discovers she is pregnant.[9] McKay said the news is "a bit of a shock" to the couple, and joked that her character's pregnancy was immaculate conception, as Chris had been told that he could not father a child because of his injuries from the plane crash. She also thought this was the reason that the pair did not use contraception.[9] Rachel is seen struggling to accept the news and McKay told Ross: "Rachel talks to Sarah Sugden about the problems of raising children, especially when the father is disabled, and it's not long before she has her rose-coloured spectacles well and truly shattered."[9] Kathy also learns of Chris and Rachel's affair, leading to a physical altercation between the two women. McKay was proud of the scenes, calling it "a real fight" and said Rachel does not stand a chance against Kathy, who acts like The Incredible Hulk.[9]
The birth of Rachel and Chris's son coincided with the off-screen death of Rachel's former stepfather Joe Sugden.[10] McKay explained that Kathy decides that she should be the one to break the news to Rachel, as she is genuinely concerned about how upset Rachel will be. Rachel faints upon hearing the news of Joe's death, which then causes her to go into labour six weeks early. McKay said Rachel is "so terrified" that she asks Kathy to go to the hospital with her.[10] McKay recalled that the birth was the most difficult thing she had to act out during her time in the show. She also found her character's labour scenes put her off having her own children.[10]
Rachel and Chris marry, but their marriage is soon tested by Chris's desire for another child. Amory explained that after being written out of his father's will and with a half-sibling on the way, Chris feels insecure about his rights to the Tate family fortune. The idea of having another child comes to Chris at a drunken dinner party, but Rachel dismisses it as "a flippant comment".[11] Amory thought that the idea was also a way for Chris to keep Rachel at home. He said "He doesn't like the fact that Rachel's so independent and I do think it's a way of making sure she's got enough to do without going down to the Woolpack or going on her girly nights out."[11] Amory continued saying that Chris admires her independence, but feels that she exercises it too strongly and he would rather that she stay at home, while he goes out to work.[11] Amory defended his character's decision to have another child, as he felt that it would be nice if their son was not an only child.[11] Amory added that he was not sure why Rachel married Chris, saying "I think you'd have to be fairly thick-skinned or stupid to marry him."[11]
Graham Clark and departure
In 1999, Rachel was given a new love interest in the form of teacher
McKay decided to leave Emmerdale as she wanted to pursue new acting and presenting roles. She stated "I've been at Emmerdale for 11 years so it is a big change, but there comes a time when you have to go. I have other strings to my bow, and now seems like the right time to put them to the test."[14] McKay also grew to dislike her character during her storyline with Graham Clark. She told the Daily Record's Vicky Spavin: "Graham made her feel so insecure that, in a way, she had done all she could. I just wish she'd punched him! Still, she was a challenge to play."[14] McKay filmed her final scenes in April and her exit aired on 12 May 1999.[14] Producers decided to kill Rachel off and McKay was happy to have a dramatic final storyline to play out.[14]
Storylines
Rachel arrives in Beckindale with her mother Kate and brother Mark, after her parents divorce. Her mother feuds with Joe Sugden after he shoots and kills the family dog because it was bothering his sheep. However, Joe and Kate fall in love and marry. Rachel is more accepting of her mother's new relationship, while Mark wants their parents to reconcile. Rachel has an affair with married man Pete Whiteley on her 18th birthday. Pete ends it when Rachel's father
Rachel discovers that she is pregnant with Chris's baby and gives birth to their son, Joseph Mark Tate, on the same day her former stepfather Joe dies. Kathy helps Rachel when she goes into labour and stays with her on the journey to the hospital, leading to the two women becoming best friends. Rachel also names Kathy as Joseph's godmother. Rachel and Chris marry with Jack and his wife, Sarah, as witnesses. Wanting another child, Chris undergoes fertility treatment, but Rachel secretly takes the pill. Chris and Rachel break up after Chris betrays Rachel by stealing private information from her work file. Rachel is granted custody of Joseph. Rachel learns that her mother has died of a brain haemorrhage. She then embarks on an affair with Jack, after he comforts her and attends Kate's funeral with her. Jack has no intention of breaking up his marriage and returns to his wife.
Rachel dates schoolteacher Graham Clark, who exerts control over her. He gets her fired from her job by planting drugs in her bag. He also gets her to dye her hair and dress differently. Rachel soon discovers that she now looks like Graham's late wife, Rebecca. Rachel decides to end the relationship and tries to break up with Graham during a picnic. When Graham attempts to force himself on her, Rachel tries to run from him, but he corners her on a clifftop. Rachel realises that Graham killed his wife and confronts him, leading him to push her off the cliff to her death. Graham returns to the village and pretends that Rachel is missing. The villagers search for her and Graham watches on as Jack finds Rachel's body.
Reception
The character earned a reputation as "Emmerdale's scarlet woman" and a "husband-snatcher" due to her various affairs with married men.[9] During a feature on the "wild women" of Emmerdale, a writer for the Daily Mirror said "Not the most obvious of scarlet women, given those jumpers and that helmet hairdo, Rachel did not let that stop her having steamy affairs with some unlikely locals. Let's face it, married farmer Jack Sugden is no one's idea of a sex magnet, and neither is the morose Chris Tate, Kathy's ex- husband. She also bedded Steve Marchant, who moved on to marry Kim. All her loves ended badly, none more so than her final fling with the psychotic Graham who threw her off a cliff then threw himself at Kathy's feet."[15] Daniel Kilkelly of Digital Spy branded Rachel a "tragic" character and called her exit from the show "explosive", adding "the curse of the Tates had struck again..."[16]
See also
References
- ^ a b Parkin 2002, p.73.
- ^ a b Hagan, Angela (27 February 1999). "The first time I: Glenda McKay". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
- ^ Rowe, David (5 October 1997). "How Dairy Spice, Emmerdale extra, turned into Scary Spice, worth pounds 4m!; 25 Years of Emmerdale". Sunday Mirror. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
- ^ a b Hayward 1991, p.118.
- ^ a b c Hayward 1997, pp.144–145.
- ^ a b c Parkin 2002, p.74.
- ^ a b c "Michael – Rachel – Jayesh: Glenda McKay on Emmerdale's intriguing love triangle". The Official Emmerdale Magazine. No. 10. November–December 1993. pp. 4–6.
- ^ a b c d Ross, Victoria (October 1994). "Rachel's made me smile again!". Inside Soap. No. 26. p. 29.
- ^ a b c d e Ross, Victoria (January 1995). "Rachel's baby bombshell". Inside Soap. No. 29. p. 26.
- ^ a b c Ross, Victoria (July 1995). "Bless him!". Inside Soap. No. 35. p. 13.
- ^ a b c d e Childs, Helen (10–23 August 1996). "Heir-Raising!". Inside Soap. No. 55. pp. 12–13.
- ^ a b c "Mean, moody... and mad?". Inside Soap. No. 124. 3–16 April 1999. p. 15.
- ^ a b c Martin, Tricia (17–30 April 1999). "Control freak". Inside Soap. No. 125. p. 18.
- ^ a b c d Spavin, Vicky (8 May 1999). "Now I've been killed off I'll have more time to relax". Daily Record. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
- ^ Smith, Sue (21 August 1999). "The wild women of Emmerdale". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
- ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (16 January 2018). "Emmerdale: Which Tate family members can return for Joseph's storyline?". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
- ISBN 978-0-85112-966-2.
- ISBN 978-0-7528-1776-7.
- ISBN 978-0-233-05068-3.