Stan Richards
Born: 8th December 1930

BBC Pure Soap 20th May 2003

Seth's caps are fashion icons

Seth Armstrong's taste in fashion isn't normally linked with the catwalk.
But Stan Richards, who has played Emmerdale's odd-job man for 25 years, recalls a time when he was a real trend-setter.

In his early days on the soap Seth wore a round woolly hat.

Stan told the TV Times: "But one day they couldn't find it, so they rooted around in the costume department and came up with this knitted one, with a peak on.

" As soon as it appeared on screen we began to get inquiries about it, so we did a story in TVTimes saying that if people wanted the knitting pattern, they should write to Yorkshire TV.

" Do you know we got 15,000 responses! Think about it, somewhere out there are 15,000 idiots wearing these caps!"

Seth told the magazine that he's enjoyed his quarter century propping up the bar at the Woolpack.

He added: "Did you know outside some of the cast in Coronation Street, I'm the longest serving soap actor in Britain. And I was voted No6 in the Top 10 Kings of Soap TV poll last year - I came above JR of Dallas that's not bad for an old idiot is it?

" Seth's a very good character to be. Everybody likes him, he's quite harmless and he's funny, I hope. When he comes on, people begin to giggle in expectation."

Teletext

LATEST NEWS AND GOSSIP

Richards: Farm old timer

Emmerdale's Stan in hospital
by TV Plus staff

Emmerdale veteran Stan Richards - who plays Seth Armstrong - is making progress after being admitted to hospital with a collapsed lung.

A spokeswoman for the ITV1 soap said: "Stan Richards is still recovering in hospital and making slow but steady progress following breathing difficulties.

"Everyone at Emmerdale wishes him the very best for a quick recovery."

She said scenes were being re-written to account for Seth's absence. "Otherwise the production has not been affected."

Richards, 72, was taken to Sheffield General Hospital last week.

The actor, who lives in Barnsley, has clocked up more than a quarter of a century on the ITV1 soap.

RECEIVED: 13/08/2003 11:12:45

ITV.COM

Fighting Spirit

Wednesday | 13.08.03

Emmerdale's ailing Stan Richards is desperate to return to work.

The brave star is recovering in hospital after suffering a collapsed lung but has vowed to make it back onto television screens.

Stan is one of Emmerdale's best loved cast members, he's been playing mischievous pensioner Seth Armstrong for the last 26 years. He has been temporarily written out of the show while he recovers from his ordeal.

But, despite his family's wishes, the 73-year old has no intention of retiring, and is already looking forward to returning to the fictional village as soon as possible.

His daughter-in-law Amanda, 31, tells The Sun, "He can't wait to get back to work. When anyone talks about retirement he won't listen, he simply refuses to slow down."

Meanwhile, bosses at Yorkshire Television - who make Emmerdale - were delighted to hear that Stan is on the mend.

A spokesperson says, "We're pleased to hear he is doing so well."

Emmerdale Home Page