Adam Forsythe
Encyclopedia
Dr. Adam Forsythe was a fictional character
on the ITV
soap opera
Emmerdale
. He was played by Richard Shelton
.
was in labour while in Seth Armstrong
's hut.
Adam set up a clinic at the church hall and worked hard to gain the respect and admiration of his new neighbours.
Working in the village and living at the B&B, Adam was right at the heart of the community and soon won over pensioners Edna Birch
and Betty Eagleton
with his well-worn charm offensive.
And it wasn’t just the oldies that loved the new GP
. His living circumstances meant Adam started spending a lot of time with B&B manager Steph Stokes – who was finally getting her life back on track after a traumatic year.
From the offset there was a flicker of attraction between the pair and as they continued to live under the same roof as their relationship blossomed. But falling in love hadn’t been on Steph’s agenda – especially considering she’d never experienced real devotion before.
However, Adam got her to trust him and soon she opened up about her traumatic childhood, confessing to him that her brother Terence
had sexually abused her.
Horrified by the revelations, Adam vowed to support Steph and appealed to her to tell her father Alan
what had happened.
However, as Steph and Adam were grappling with the fall out of her confession, Alan had got back in touch with Terence. Upon arriving in Emmerdale, Terence was quick to deny Steph’s claims – leaving only Adam believing her story.
Life was hard for the couple as Terence continued to cast a shadow over their lives but a breakthrough came when the violent alcoholic confessed he had abused Steph to a horrified Alan.
Adam was delighted to see him driven out of Emmerdale and hoped for a quieter life. The problem was that Terence had no intention of going quietly and started digging around in the doctor’s past to find blackmail
material.
He didn’t have to dig too far, soon Terence discovered that Adam was not legally allowed to practice as a doctor after being struck off years before for assaulting a child.
Backed into a corner, Adam started to panic and when he came home to find Terence in the B&B cornering Steph a struggle ensued. The violent altercation ended when Adam struck Terence over the head with a Fire extinguisher
and killed him. He and Steph dragged the body to the woods and buried it.
Terrified she was going to confess all, Adam then whisked Steph away to Barbados
and married her The newlyweds returned to Emmerdale but it was clear Steph wasn’t coping at all. Instead Adam was forced to drug her to try to contain her growing paranoia – provoking suspicion in those close to them.
But as hard as Adam tried to keep Steph quiet, he couldn’t and when she spectacularly fell apart he was forced to take drastic measures. Letting her confess to Alan, Adam then accompanied father and daughter to the woods where Steph offered to dig up Terence’s corpse.
However, Adam had already moved it (we later found out that he moved Terence's body underneath the Kings Show Home, were it was discovered after the House Collapse) and she was left looking mad. Realising he’d double-crossed her, Steph went crazy and was promptly sectioned. Adam has proved that beneath the polished surface beats the heart of a calculating villain willing to go to any measures to stay afloat.
Adam left the village to escape what he thought was the inevitable exposing of his actions. The police discovered Terence's body. It emerged from the police that Adam was able to continue to illegally practise medicine, because his father, who had the same name as him, and who was also a doctor, died whilst abroad in Africa. Adam did not inform the authorities (the GMC
and coroner's office) in the UK, but merely obtained and started using his dead father's Medical registration documents.
On 7 November, The Day of Steph's trial, Adam was led to court in handcuffs to testify against his estranged wife who flew into a rage when she saw him after the court had adjourned for the day. After Steph falsely admitted to murdering Terence along with Adam, Adam committed suicide in prison, by hanging himself and his body was found on 12 November.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
on the ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
Emmerdale
Emmerdale
Emmerdale, is a long-running British soap opera set in Emmerdale , a fictional village in the Yorkshire Dales. Created by Kevin Laffan, Emmerdale was first broadcast on 16 October 1972...
. He was played by Richard Shelton
Richard Shelton
Richard Shelton is an English actor and singer, best known to millions for playing the role of Dr Adam Forsythe on British television's daytime Soap Opera Emmerdale on ITV1...
.
Background
Adam arrived looking for a quiet life in the Dales following his divorce. His first medical emergency from on his arrival was being alerted by Daz Eden that Debbie DingleDebbie Dingle
Deborah "Debbie" Dingle is a fictional character in the British ITV1 soap opera Emmerdale. She is portrayed by Charley Webb...
was in labour while in Seth Armstrong
Seth Armstrong
Archibald Seth Armstrong is a fictional character in the ITV soap Emmerdale, played by Stan Richards from 1978 until 2003, when the actor's ill health forced him to leave the show for more than a year...
's hut.
Adam set up a clinic at the church hall and worked hard to gain the respect and admiration of his new neighbours.
Working in the village and living at the B&B, Adam was right at the heart of the community and soon won over pensioners Edna Birch
Edna Birch
Edna Birch is a fictional character on the ITV soap opera Emmerdale. She is played by Shirley Stelfox.In a village marred by affairs, double-crossing and sin, widow Edna is a paragon of virtue. She first appeared on the show in 2000, but had been living in the village for many years...
and Betty Eagleton
Betty Eagleton
Elizabeth "Betty" Eagleton is a fictional character from the British soap opera Emmerdale played by Paula Tilbrook. She made her first on-screen appearance on 12 April 1994 and, in 2011, following the death of Viv Hope, she is the longest-serving female character.-Backstory:Betty Pendergrast and...
with his well-worn charm offensive.
And it wasn’t just the oldies that loved the new GP
General practitioner
A general practitioner is a medical practitioner who treats acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health education for all ages and both sexes. They have particular skills in treating people with multiple health issues and comorbidities...
. His living circumstances meant Adam started spending a lot of time with B&B manager Steph Stokes – who was finally getting her life back on track after a traumatic year.
From the offset there was a flicker of attraction between the pair and as they continued to live under the same roof as their relationship blossomed. But falling in love hadn’t been on Steph’s agenda – especially considering she’d never experienced real devotion before.
However, Adam got her to trust him and soon she opened up about her traumatic childhood, confessing to him that her brother Terence
Terence Turner
Terence Turner is a fictional character in the British ITV soap opera Emmerdale. He was played by first by Stephen Marchant and then by Nick Brimble until the character's demise....
had sexually abused her.
Horrified by the revelations, Adam vowed to support Steph and appealed to her to tell her father Alan
Alan Turner (Emmerdale)
Alan Jonathan Turner is a fictional character in the British soap opera Emmerdale played by Richard Thorp. He first appeared on 18 March 1982, and is the longest running character in the soap. Originally portrayed as an inept, boozing and bullying manager for NY Estates at Home Farm, he has...
what had happened.
However, as Steph and Adam were grappling with the fall out of her confession, Alan had got back in touch with Terence. Upon arriving in Emmerdale, Terence was quick to deny Steph’s claims – leaving only Adam believing her story.
Life was hard for the couple as Terence continued to cast a shadow over their lives but a breakthrough came when the violent alcoholic confessed he had abused Steph to a horrified Alan.
Adam was delighted to see him driven out of Emmerdale and hoped for a quieter life. The problem was that Terence had no intention of going quietly and started digging around in the doctor’s past to find blackmail
Blackmail
In common usage, blackmail is a crime involving threats to reveal substantially true or false information about a person to the public, a family member, or associates unless a demand is met. It may be defined as coercion involving threats of physical harm, threat of criminal prosecution, or threats...
material.
He didn’t have to dig too far, soon Terence discovered that Adam was not legally allowed to practice as a doctor after being struck off years before for assaulting a child.
Backed into a corner, Adam started to panic and when he came home to find Terence in the B&B cornering Steph a struggle ensued. The violent altercation ended when Adam struck Terence over the head with a Fire extinguisher
Fire extinguisher
A fire extinguisher or extinguisher, flame entinguisher is an active fire protection device used to extinguish or control small fires, often in emergency situations...
and killed him. He and Steph dragged the body to the woods and buried it.
Terrified she was going to confess all, Adam then whisked Steph away to Barbados
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
and married her The newlyweds returned to Emmerdale but it was clear Steph wasn’t coping at all. Instead Adam was forced to drug her to try to contain her growing paranoia – provoking suspicion in those close to them.
But as hard as Adam tried to keep Steph quiet, he couldn’t and when she spectacularly fell apart he was forced to take drastic measures. Letting her confess to Alan, Adam then accompanied father and daughter to the woods where Steph offered to dig up Terence’s corpse.
However, Adam had already moved it (we later found out that he moved Terence's body underneath the Kings Show Home, were it was discovered after the House Collapse) and she was left looking mad. Realising he’d double-crossed her, Steph went crazy and was promptly sectioned. Adam has proved that beneath the polished surface beats the heart of a calculating villain willing to go to any measures to stay afloat.
Adam left the village to escape what he thought was the inevitable exposing of his actions. The police discovered Terence's body. It emerged from the police that Adam was able to continue to illegally practise medicine, because his father, who had the same name as him, and who was also a doctor, died whilst abroad in Africa. Adam did not inform the authorities (the GMC
General Medical Council
The General Medical Council registers and regulates doctors practising in the United Kingdom. It has the power to revoke or restrict a doctor's registration if it deems them unfit to practise...
and coroner's office) in the UK, but merely obtained and started using his dead father's Medical registration documents.
On 7 November, The Day of Steph's trial, Adam was led to court in handcuffs to testify against his estranged wife who flew into a rage when she saw him after the court had adjourned for the day. After Steph falsely admitted to murdering Terence along with Adam, Adam committed suicide in prison, by hanging himself and his body was found on 12 November.