Alan Turner is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Emmerdale, played by Richard Thorp. He debuted on-screen on 23 March 1982. Thorp died on 22 May 2013 and the last scenes that Thorp filmed as Alan were aired on 4 June 2013 in a special hour-long episode dedicated to him. At the time of his death, he was the longest-running character in the programme. It was announced on 12 September 2013 that Alan would be killed off-screen in late October with his daughter Steph (Lorraine Chase) returning for his funeral. Alan died in his sleep on 24 October 2013.
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Casting
Thorp took a break from filming in 2009 due to health issues before returning to filming in March 2010. In 2010 Thorp, commented on his tenure in the show, saying, "I ought to have regrets about staying, but I'm the laziest human being alive so I don't". He added, "there was no point in me moving on because I wasn't good enough!" Thorp went on to bemoan the lack of storylines for Alan: "I would hate to leave, but I wish they'd find more for me to do". He added that he had suggested that "Turner get a love interest" but that the writers had refused, saying "they'd have to dig her up". In 2010, Thorp commented on his role, saying that Emmerdale had been "very good to me and has renewed my contracts for years, but they have not got as much work for me these days – I'm more like the village memorial now than an active character".
Characterisation
Alan used to be an inept, boozing and bullying manager for NY Estates at Home Farm, but has mellowed out over the years and is now an important member of the community. However he still likes to be in charge and has a tendency to be bossy. You're most likely to see him in the Woolpack putting the world to rights.
What's on TV profiled Alan as a "boozer and womaniser in his younger years, Alan Turner has mellowed with age and become a stalwart of the community".
Storylines
Alan moved to the Emmerdale village in 1982. Alan and Jill ended their marriage in 1985. Alan spent his early years in the village doing business deals and working on the local council. He worked as an estate manager for NY Estates, having a rival in Joe Sugden (Frazer Hines), who later got his job. Alan finds himself outwitted by NY Estates' gamekeeper Seth Armstrong (Stan Richards) on several occasions.
Alan and Caroline Bates (Diana Davies) start dating when she becomes his secretary at NY Estates in 1984. The couple plan to marry in 1989, but Caroline leaves the village to care for her ailing mother, Alice Wood (Olivia Jardith). Alan becomes landlord of the Woolpack following Amos Brearly's decision to retire in January 1991. Alan married Shirley Foster (Rachel Davies) on 10 February 1994. Four months later, on 7 June 1994, Shirley is shot by Reg Dawson (Niven Boyd) during a siege at Home Farm, and she dies. In 1998, Alan's granddaughter, Tricia Stokes (Sheree Murphy), arrives in the village, and they form a close relationship. Steph, Alan's daughter and Tricia's mother, arrives in the village in 2002. Steph and Alan have several disagreements, but are united by their grief for Tricia after she is killed in a storm.
Alan and Shelley Williams (Carolyn Pickles), Steph's best friend, start dating but Steph is not happy about having a rival for Alan's attention and voices her disapproval but the relationship continued and they began making plans to move to Spain. Steph lies that Shelley only wants Alan's money so Shelley left, leading Alan to begin drinking heavily. Alan and Steph argue on the B&B stairs before Alan falls down them and Steph looks after him but drugs him, leaving him at her mercy, as she plans to sell Alan's business and put him into sheltered accommodation. Alan realises what Steph is doing and manages to tell his neighbours, leading Steph to almost kill them both by driving to a quarry edge. However, she cannot go through with it, and her scheming is revealed.
Shelley disappears, and Steph is suspected of murdering her; Alan accepts that Shelley is dead, only for her to attend the memorial service. Although horrified that Shelley had let Steph go to prison for suspected murder, he forgives her, and they try to rebuild their relationship but Shelley could not cope with Steph being around, and Shelley leaves the village. Steph consequently goes after Shelly to bring her home. On the ferry, Steph and Shelley argue, leading Shelley to fall overboard. Steph leaves her to drown, and returns to the village. Steph's relationship with Alan strengthens, and he allows her to take over the B&B again.
Reception
In 1999, Thomas Quinn of the Daily Mirror felt Alan was deceiving himself thinking he was going to marry Stella (Stephanie Schonfield) as "she's rich and beautiful while he's poor, fat, old and boring". In 2002, Alan was named as one of "The 30 greatest Emmerdale residents" by a writer for Inside Soap. They said "Roly-poly Alan was originally a ruthless businessman hated by all, now he's a cuddly landlord, swapping the boardroom for the bedrooms of the B&B he runs."