Matt Skilbeck

Matt Skilbeck
Emmerdale character
Portrayed by	Frederick Pyne
Duration	1972–1989
First appearance	Episode 1 16 October 1972 (1972-10-16)
Last appearance	Episode 1410 7 December 1989 (1989-12-07)
Classification	Former; regular
Created by	Kevin Laffan
Introduced by	David Goddard
In-universe information Occupation Sheep farmer Father Oliver Skilbeck Mother Elizabeth Skilbeck Wife Peggy Sugden (until 1973) Dolly Acaster (1978–1990, 1992–) Sons Sam Skilbeck Samuel Skilbeck Daughters Sally Skilbeck Grandfathers Clive Skilbeck Michael Barlow Grandmothers Mildred Barlow Uncles Ned Barlow Aunts Beattie Dowton Sarah Barlow First cousins Polly Ferris

Matt Skilbeck is a fictional character from the British television soap opera Emmerdale, played by Frederick Pyne. He is one of the series' original characters and made his debut in the first episode broadcast on 16 October 1972. Pyne was interviewed for the role in 1971 and cast the following year. He came into the show with farming knowledge and an expectation that he would only be in it for five years. Matt is a sheep farmer and married to Peggy Skilbeck (Jo Kendall) at the beginning of the serial. Matt is characterised as mild-mannered, honest, and stubborn, although Pyne thought his character was too nice. Following Peggy's death and those of his children, Matt marries barmaid Dolly Acaster (Katharine Barker; Jean Rogers). A change in Matt's personality occurs when quarry owner Harry Mowlem (Godfrey James) makes advances towards Dolly and Matt attacks him, leading to his arrest for Mowlem's murder. Pyne decided to leave Emmerdale in 1989 to pursue work in the theatre. He was unhappy that the writers chose to split Matt and Dolly up, as they had been one of the few remaining happy families in soap at the time.