Len Reynolds
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Leonard "Len" Reynolds is a fictional character from the
British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...
ITV
soap opera A soap opera (also called a daytime drama or soap) is a genre of a long-running radio or television Serial (radio and television), serial, frequently characterized by melodrama, ensemble casts, and sentimentality. The term ''soap opera'' originat ...
''
Emmerdale ''Emmerdale'' (known as ''Emmerdale Farm'' until 1989) is a British television soap opera that is broadcast on ITV (TV network), ITV. The show is set in Emmerdale (known as Beckindale until 1994), a List of fictional towns and villages, fict ...
'', played by Peter Martin.


Development

In May 2007, Martin's character Len was killed off because Martin accepted a role in a stage production of ''
Dad's Army ''Dad's Army'' is a British television British sitcom, sitcom about the United Kingdom's Home Guard (United Kingdom), Home Guard during the World War II, Second World War. It was written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft (TV producer), David Crof ...
''. Anna Brecon,
Cleveland Campbell Cleveland Campbell (born 3 October 1977 in Rochdale, UK) is a British actor. His family is originally from Kingston, Jamaica. He is best known for his role in ITV (TV network), ITV's ''Emmerdale'' as Danny Daggert. He played the part from 2001 ...
, and
Anthony Lewis Joseph Anthony Lewis (March 27, 1927 – March 25, 2013) was an American public intellectual and journalist. He was a two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize and was a columnist for ''The New York Times''. He is credited with creating the field o ...
, three of Martin's former co-stars, reprised their roles as Tara Thornfield,
Danny Daggert Danny Daggert is a fictional character from the Television in the United Kingdom, British television soap opera ''Emmerdale'', played by Cleveland Campbell. He made his first appearance during the episode broadcast on 25 June 2001. Development ...
, and Marc Reynolds, respectively, for Len's funeral.


Storylines

Following the death of his wife, Hattie Len arrives in the village to visit their son, Sean. The family welcomes Len's presence as Sean and his wife, Angie, are having marital difficulties, and Len is a mediator. Sean and Angie separate after Angie has an affair with Cain Dingle and Sean later leaves with his new girlfriend, Tara Thornfield. Len stays to help Angie rebuild her life at the request of his granddaughter Ollie (
Vicky Binns Victoria Jane Binns (born 27 August 1982) is an English actress, known for her two roles in the two veteran ITV soap operas ''Emmerdale'' and ''Coronation Street''. She had a lead role in ''Von Trapped'' opposite Caroline Quentin and also appea ...
), and Len keeps a close watch on his grandchildren. Following Angie's death, Len's grandson Marc goes to live with his father, and Ollie stays behind with her boyfriend Danny Daggert, who moves in with them. Ollie leaves for
University A university () is an educational institution, institution of tertiary education and research which awards academic degrees in several Discipline (academia), academic disciplines. ''University'' is derived from the Latin phrase , which roughly ...
, leaving Len and Danny depressed. Len develops feelings for the local pensioner
Edna Birch Edna Birch is a fictional character from the British ITV (TV network), ITV soap opera ''Emmerdale'', played by Shirley Stelfox. She made her first appearance during the episode first broadcast on 25 May 2000. Edna is characterised as a proud an ...
(
Shirley Stelfox Shirley Rosemary Stelfox (11 April 1941 – 7 December 2015) was a British actress, known for her portrayal of the character Edna Birch, a moralising busybody in the ITV soap opera ''Emmerdale'', and as Rose, the vampy sister of the snobby an ...
), but she does not reciprocate. However, he finds love again with flamboyant newcomer
Pearl Ladderbanks Pearl Ladderbanks (also Hartbourne) is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera ''Emmerdale'', played by Meg Johnson. She first appeared on the show in episode 3500 on 30 July 2003. Pearl's storylines included defending her rapis ...
(
Meg Johnson Meg Johnson is an American poet and lecturer. Her poems have appeared in numerous literary magazines, including '' Midwestern Gothic'', '' Slipstream Magazine'', '' Word Riot'', ''Hobart'', and many others. Her first collection of poems, ''Ina ...
). Enchanted by Pearl's sunny personality, Len invites her to move in with him and Danny. Pearl, however, is hiding a secret. Her son, Frank Bernard Hartbourne (Rob Parry), who she said was a financial advisor, had been paroled after serving a sentence for
rape Rape is a type of sexual assault involving sexual intercourse, or other forms of sexual penetration, carried out against a person without consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority, or against a person ...
. When Len discovers the truth, he is horrified but realizes what Pearl has been through and agrees to stand by her. Problems escalate when Frank's arrival is announced in the Hotten Courrier, and the villagers become irate, turning their frustrations on Len and Pearl. Only
vicar A vicar (; Latin: '' vicarius'') is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior (compare "vicarious" in the sense of "at second hand"). Linguistically, ''vicar'' is cognate with the English p ...
Ashley Thomas Ashley Thomas is a fictional character from the British soap opera ''Emmerdale'', played by John Middleton. He made his first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 5 December 1996. It was announced on 22 October 2015 that Middleto ...
( John Middleton) and Edna stand by them. After Frank is savagely beaten by Scott Windsor ( Ben Freeman), he moves into a bail hostel in Leeds. Devastated at being treated so cruelly by their neighbours, the couple decides to leave Emmerdale for a few weeks and contemplate moving to Cheshire nearer to Sean and Tara. Len and Pearl eventually return and rebuild their relationship with their neighbours. Len and Pearl's relationship is tested when Pearl falls into debt after trying to save money to visit her grandson Owen Hartbourne ( Oliver Lee) in
Hong Kong Hong Kong)., Legally Hong Kong, China in international treaties and organizations. is a special administrative region of China. With 7.5 million residents in a territory, Hong Kong is the fourth most densely populated region in the wor ...
after he visits.
Eric Pollard Eric Pollard (also Pollock) is a fictional character from the British soap opera ''Emmerdale'', played by Chris Chittell. He made his first appearance in the soap on 30 September 1986. Having appeared continuously since, he is currently the lon ...
(
Chris Chittell Christopher John Chittell BEM (born 19 May 1948) is an English actor, known for his role as Eric Pollard in the ITV soap opera ''Emmerdale''. He has portrayed the role since 1986, making him the longest-serving cast member in the soap's histo ...
), Pearl's boss, begins blackmailing her even after she has repaid some of the loans and Len angrily punches him. Eric then charges Pearl the early settlement fee and tells her it must be paid, or he will report Len to the police for assault. When Len finds out, he is annoyed that Pearl kept it from him. Their relationship ends and Pearl leaves the village in disgrace. She returns several months later, intent on winning Len back. He tells Pearl he is in love with Edna, although Pearl is uninterested. However, Len and Pearl reunite and plan their wedding after Len proposes. During this time, Edna confides in Len that she discovered a forged structural report connected to the Kings' River showroom explosion, incriminating the King family's role in the incident. He persuades her to report the evidence to the HSE, but it is insufficient. Len later learns that Tom is blackmailing Edna over the knowledge that her son Peter Birch ( Philip Bird), was really her sister Lily Butterfield's (
Anne Charleston Anne Charleston (born 30 December 1942) is an Australian-born former actress prominent in television, radio and theatre, notable for her career locally and in the United Kingdom in both England and Ireland. She began her career on the stage in ...
) child. Len punches Tom, who retaliates, and a brawl breaks out until Tom's youngest son
Carl Carl may refer to: *Carl, Georgia, city in USA *Carl, West Virginia, an unincorporated community *Carl (name), includes info about the name, variations of the name, and a list of people with the name *Carl², a TV series * "Carl", an episode of tel ...
( Tom Lister) arrives. Len swears revenge on Tom for his treatment of Edna and the cover-up of the explosion. Len is further incensed when Tom invites Edna to his wedding to Rosemary Sinclair (
Linda Thorson Linda Thorson (born Linda Robinson; June 18, 1947) is a Canadian actress known for playing Tara King in '' The Avengers'' (1968–69). Early life Born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Linda Robinson attended Bishop Strachan School, and then moved ...
) at home farm. Len visits Tom but leaves. Tom is later killed after being struck over the head and sent through a window. On the day of the Village's 500th birthday pageant, Len comforts Edna after Pearl fails to include her while supervising activities. He returns to the church with his friend,
Sandy Thomas Sandy Thomas is a fictional character from the British soap opera ''Emmerdale'', played by Freddie Jones. Sandy was introduced as the father of Ashley Thomas ( John Middleton). He made his first appearance during the episode broadcast on 6 No ...
(
Freddie Jones Frederick Charles Jones''Births, Marriages & Deaths Index of England & Wales, 1916-2005.''; at ancestry.com (12 September 1927 – 9 July 2019) was an English actor who had an extensive career in television, theatre and cinema productions for ...
). During the celebrations outside, Len dies in his chair of a
heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when Ischemia, blood flow decreases or stops in one of the coronary arteries of the heart, causing infarction (tissue death) to the heart muscle. The most common symptom ...
. He is discovered by Sandy, who brings him a drink and thinks he is asleep. He tries to rouse him until finally checking Len's pulse, realizing he has died. Sandy, knowing it is too late, tells a shocked Pearl, who is devastated. Jo Stiles ( Roxanne Pallett), who had become a close friend of Len's through Danny, begs
Donna Windsor-Dingle Donna Windsor (also Windsor-Dingle) is a fictional character from the British ITV (TV network), ITV soap opera ''Emmerdale''. She was originally played by Sophie Jeffery until 1997. Actress Verity Rushworth took over the role in 1998. She made h ...
(
Verity Rushworth Verity Charlotte Rushworth (born 15 August 1985) is an English actress. She is known for portraying the role of Donna Windsor in the ITV soap opera ''Emmerdale'' from 1998 to 2009, with a guest appearance in 2014. She has played many theatre r ...
) to continue trying to resuscitate him, but to no avail. An ambulance arrives to take Len's body away while Pearl contemplates her loss in private, while Sandy comforts Betty Eagleton ( Paula Tilbrook) and Edna. As news of Len's death spreads around the village, his body is driven away in an ambulance while Katherine Jenkins sings him out, closing the pageant, unaware of the death that has occurred.


References


External links


Len Reynolds
at
itv.com itv.com is the main website of ITV plc, the UK's largest commercial television broadcaster which operates 13 out of 15 regions on the ITV network under the ITV1 brand. The website offers the ITVX streaming service, with sections for ITV News, ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Reynolds, Len Emmerdale characters Television characters introduced in 2001 British male characters in soap operas Fictional mechanics in soap operas