I think it's Jack Sugden but wanted to know if he has been in it the longest.

I believe it's Seth Armstrong who has been there since the 70s.

The character of Jack has been in it the longest but was played by a different actor and left for a number of years anyway. Clive Hornby (the current Jack) has been in the role since 1980.

Alan Turner joined in the very early 80s (82?), Eric Pollard in 86, Zoe in 89. I THINK they're the only true old-skool characters left and everyone is post-planecrash (except a couple like Viv, who were there only a short while before the crash anyway), though I'm not certain.

Thanks for that

Where is Seth currently anyway?

in australia apparently with betty and kathy - unsure if stan richards will return due to poor health

Emmerdale producers are waiting for him to start filming when he is better.

I read that Betty is meant to be returning at Christmas and Seth returns early 2005. It'll be good to have him back he was cool, not been the same without him.

Seth and Betty are in Austrialia at the moment.

Seth's exit did not seem to be planned. All it seemed was that he went without a leave storyline.
Betty's exit was different, and they used the excuse to send her off the join Kathy and Seth down under again.