The Bartons look to be in their thirties, and Moira to me looks early thirties. (Since Natasha, Faye, Val are supposed to be in their mid-to-late forties and Moira looks quite young compared to them). I think the one thing that doesn't gel with me is the Bartons, esp. Moira, having an 18-year-old. But it's possible that like many in Emmerdale, she had her first child in her teens.

Is Val late forties? Really...!?

She said she was embarrassed about becoming 50 about a year ago.



Ma Barton is the BEST thing to happen to Emmerdale in years!

After her on-screen hubby! Pa Barton just HAS to be the sexiest farmer in the history of Emmerdale!

John Barton has joined Cain and Carl on my Emmerdale swoon list!

Her mum is probably from Stornaway.

Please show me where I said I was speaking for the whole of the British Viewing Public??? However, I am sure you will agree, people have contributed and queried a few things on this thread, not just my opinion!

also in The Bill wasnt she?

It was stated that they had their kids young, and looking at them i have no trouble believing that any of the kids are theirs.

I also strongly disagree with the backlash that seems to be forming against the new family! i love the whole family, pa, ma barton and their kids as well - the girls are sweet and quite refreshing and the mum and dad really seem to work and just fit together really well - havent really seen enough of the son to judge yet, though.

I think we are all entitled to our opinions!

Yep, she suited the previous roles I have seen her act out. In my opinion this character doesn't suit the actress.

Just came across this thread and I'm with the OP, I don't like the Moira character although I don't mind the rest of the family. She is just another ball-breaker with a bad attitude, and if I was Scottish I'd be insulted by the continued use of this stereotype - always applied to women,never men of course. A couple of other examples are the woman in the most recent series of Wild at Heart and that ghastly harridan in Ashes to Ashes who was looking for her daughter (?) - if I'd been that kid I'd have stayed lost for as long as I could!
Last edited by laineythenomad : 19-08-2009 at 09:57

When did i say you werent? i was simply giving mine, not deriding anyone elses.

It's funny how differently we can see things. I was just thinking that Ma Barton seemed a bit too sweet and it was good to see her show her mettle over the misunderstanding with Andy.

I quite like her, I just hope the writers do go down the same old road with her & her husband having affairs & spliting up , giving them other family issues & farming stress to deal with

I agree with that, I mean they have three teenagers, what more stress do they need. I also like the family and am interested to see how they develop. Pa Barton has already had a run in with the Dingles, so they have that angle to work with. Hopefully they will concentrate on that and the children, how they fit into village life and their relationships, rather than messing with the marriage as per usual.

Thanks for that! I was guesstimating Val in her late forties from general stuff onscreen. So, she's about fifty-one now?



I was iffy about Moira initially, but I liked her on Tuesday, when she could admit she had been wrong, and apologized for it and resolved to not let gossip influence her. She seemed just like John Barton there!

Still not warming to her, seems very plastic and fake in the scenes.

Ma Barton has gone way up in my estimation after last nights episode. The way she told the Dingles what for and gave them a few home truths was excellent. More of that please

I wasn't convinced by it. Not feisty enough.

Sorry, but I am not seeing how she's fake, and I am especially not seeing how she's supposedly "plastic."

The actress IMO doesn't suit the character. Not fussed in the slightest if people don't agree with me.

Nobody has mentioned the fact that the actor who plays The Barton,s son is mixed race Although, I suppose the actress who plays Ma Barton is very dark, so they thought they,d get away with that mistake

It was probably a decision, not a mistake. What's to say that Ma Barton doesn't have a black grandparent or greatgrandparent? And regardless of the actor's background, the character does look like he could be his mother's son (imo).

I like her, btw, and Pa Barton too - yum!

Ma Barton ain't half PHWOOAR!

pa barton and the son are ok but I really can't stand those daughters, such bad acting and stupid face-pulling from the elder one.

IMO that is the only reason she was cast for this role.