It's taken us nearly seven weeks, five rounds, 14 heats, 75 characters and 1,084 votes cast by 154 individual FMs to get to this point! With only 10 characters remaining, who will be crowned Digital Spy's Favourite Character?

2012 Winner - David Metcalfe http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showt...364&highlight=
2013 Winner - Nicola King http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showt...108&highlight=
2014 Winner - Nicola King http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showt...610&highlight=
2015 Winner - Ross Barton http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showt...306&highlight=

I will countdown from 75th place, with the characters ranking history and a brief opinion on the characters.
Feel free to disagree with me, discuss the characters as we go along, and predict where you think the final 10 will place!

Just a quick reminder of who the finalists are:

Cain Dingle
Aaron Livesy
Robert Sugden
Nicola King
Charity Dingle
Kerry Wyatt
Chas Dingle
Leyla Harding
Bernice White
Nikhil Sharma

If you've forgotten how you ranked the finalists, here's the link to the voting thread:
http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2137046

A massive thank you to every single FM that took the time to vote. Without the votes, this wouldn't exist, so I appreciate it:

Nozze02, ME1234567, star89, yohinnchild, Joline44, mojo5000, AmyEWright, Beaurepaire, Binky321, Oldnjaded, Zally, Maya_Sue, BroodingDane, syedluver, BOOM-BB, boxer1988, baby livesy, lulu g, ianradioian, SS_Summer, Janet Plank, MrJames, cornishanna, Lizzie B, EddyBee, ferdybookgeek, lolly-licker, Mie_Andreasen, Captainswan, WhatYouGonnaDo?, laoghaire, Sez_babe, Fhionnuisce, Kazz64, Eden11, eleana, sweetazkandi, Auds77, mosh-chops, lulu25, Walnut-whip, Hugh_Jass1, Radio.Gaga, Sweetkittyuk, doctorwhofancal, fruitbased, Andy_Marlowe, lmcd08, thejoyof_pat, QueenAmy, Alleycat666, Glendarroch, dorothy7, ArtyAttack, crewbs, AllyLK, bananaman_007, rubberduck3y6, DVRBob, Crazy_Banana, dekaf, black_amaryllis, Callyhandra, Stefanino, dancing.queen, Mark_Washingto1, ib1234, stitcherjenny, Cuishla, Zen Lotus, JamSandwiches, ll_Calypso_ll, abrightyz, Siena VS, LaneKent, stripycow, ThaGazBoi, Mumto3, Jessica_Bobbing, Edey, Anti Static, CollieWobbles, Gulftastic, scarlet8715, kwynne42, Dress to Kill, DizzyBe, Mixle, marsha_Cutiepie, Purple., Bandita, Jay_A7X, Cheekymonkey09, Rita's Kabin, pam rose, Randomguy83, Roni_J, lemonpinklady, Tom_Stockton, ofthenight, Luxray, Black Sofa, SolRai, Shelly456, trevon1, starlet16, lozzerbozzer, hellomoto977, Kirsty_M, willows, MJsDirtyDiana, SoapGirl95, stendan forever, Neighbours_Fan, kessuki, JWDrama1980, Murph_x, IsaacH, SecretLifeoBees, Molly_May1, Paul_Robs1, Queen-Mona, avon942, VickyS15, Liberphie, Doodvid, MK184, Pink_Smurf, Everlong Girl, soap-lea and pembo2004

A special mention to the FMs below who voted in every single heat - such dedication! Without you, the threads wouldn't receive half the attention they do, so cheers!:

cyrilandshirley, baisbais, samcains90, Corstemmee, Andybear, Pandora., casperfan2002@y, LeeBoy19, MrRen, Mishcoll, Amello, Best_Soap, Alanna_Housden, Lucie_Girard, cazza7, barlowconnor, Hannah_P, Ownnnn, Storm_Shaker, Pete Callan, djswifty and SULLA

Let's crack on, shall we?!
Before I announce the winner, we have to rewind all the way back to Round 1 so we can officially rank those who left us way back when ! I hope you've got a cuppa at the ready; let's get started!

Hooray! I've been looking forward to this for ages. Thanks for running it, Reserved.

Ohhhhh...

omg!! soo excited!!

oooh exciting.... just want to thank you reserved, this has been great fun!

75 [67] Jai Sharma - Round 1 - 3.41%
Ranking History (25-27-32-67-75)

Jai drops eight places to rock bottom! It takes some doing to rank beneath all the kids (especially the babies) but Jai's such a filthy character he's managed it. Please, Emmerdale, keep Leyla away from him!

74 [57] Angelica King - Round 1 - 3.72%
Ranking History (X-X-52-57-74)

Taking a massive drop down the rankings is the child of Nicola and Jimmy. The kids have all been pretty stable this year in the rankings, but for some reason, Angelica is the exception with her massive fall. I'm sure it's not personal.

73 [69] Heath Hope - Round 1 - 3.85%
Ranking History (X-60-69-69-73)

Another year goes by with Emmerdale completely ignoring the twins. I've ranted here for the past two years about their lack of presence, and I'm not going to stop now. They're about 10 years old now; stop ignoring them and let us see them growing up like we do with the rest of the children!

72 [NE] Tess Harris - Round 1 - 3.96%
Ranking History (X-X-X-X-72)

I'm about four weeks behind (so won't be commenting on recent happenings on the show) but I did read Tess is dead! I celebrated, but then wished it was Paddy that had been run over instead. I didn't actually mind Tess as a character, but affairs annoy me, and if her dying means one less affair - bye!

71 [NE] Johnny Woodfield - Round 1 - 4.23%
Ranking History (X-X-X-X-71)

A fair place considering Johnny's part in the show right now.

70 [68] Cathy Hope - Round 1 - 4.49%
Ranking History (X-58-68-68-70)

As has always been the case, Cathy beats Heath in the rankings. Not surprising their rankings are so poor because they might as well not exist. Pull your finger out, Emmerdale

69 [71] Amba Sharma - Round 1 - 4.84%
Ranking History (X-X-X-71-69)

Amba climbs two places. Probably got a sympathy vote due to having David as a father

68 [NE] Molly Sharma - Round 1 - 5.07%
Ranking History (X-X-X-X-68)

Molly's return hasn't set the world alight, but I'm being harsh - she's only a child.

67 [NE] Gordon Livesy - Round 1 - 5.09%
Ranking History (X-X-X-X-67)

Not seen much of Gordon considering I'm behind - just watched the episode where Chas takes him up on his offer of a hotel. Vile, the pair of them - I don't need that image in my head, thank you very much.

66 [NE] Kyle Wyatt - Round 1 - 5.72%
Ranking History (X-X-X-X-66)

Kyle debuts inside the bottom ten, but it's a pretty decent ranking, considering.

Glad to see Jai right at the bottom where he belongs

Thank you Reserved for all the hard and great work you did.

65 [56] James Barton - Round 1 - 5.92%
Ranking History (X-X-58-56-65)

James falls back down the rankings after his small climb last year. Struggling to say much about James; he had potential at the start of his stay to be some sort of creep, but once Emma was brought in, it seemed they may have had seconds thoughts, leaving us with a rather dreary character. I haven't given up on the character, but it feels like Emmerdale has.

64 [70] Jack Sugden - Round 1 - 5.94%
Ranking History (X-X-59-70-64)

Jack climbs six places.

63 [NE] Moses Dingle - Round 1 - 6.23%
Ranking History (X-X-X-X-63)

Moses debuts in a decent place; it's because Charity is his mother, of course

62 [NE] Joanie Wright - Round 1 - 6.24%
Ranking History (X-X-X-X-62)

Up next is a proper skank. Cannot stand her. I'm like some sort of hooligan when Belle challenges her. The spit was repulsive but only because we had to witness a close up shot of it. The action itself, go Belle! Just watched the episode where Belle gives her a smack, too. Love it.

61 [47] Georgia Sharma - Round 1 - 6.31%
Ranking History (50-28-35-47-61)

Whoops! Looks like Georgia left last year and shouldn't have been eligible to compete this year - my mistake

Exciting! Jai at the bottom. *laughs forever*

60 [24] Paddy Kirk - Round 1 - 6.52%
Ranking History (22-25-24-24-60)

Up next is Paddy - look at his ranking before today. So very consistent. What does that tell you, Emmerdale? Having said that, I'm delighted at his drop. Loathe the character, always have, so I take great pleasure in announcing that he has had the biggest drop in the competition this year. Take that, you pig!

59 [64] Samson Dingle - Round 1 - 6.59%
Ranking History (X-X-50-64-59)

Samson's up five places. Turning into a decent little actor, this one - like all the kids are on Emmerdale. Didn't rate him a year or so ago and cringed at his scenes, but recently I've actually been enjoying them instead of cringing

58 [66] Leo Goskirk - Round 1 - 6.75%
Ranking History (X-X-64-66-58)

Leo also takes a climb up the rankings. It will be interesting to see where they take Leo in the next few years due to his down's syndrome. Will they put the effort in with him or will they give him the twin treatment?

57 [59] Noah Dingle - Round 1 - 7.22%
Ranking History (44-54-41-59-57)

Noah climbs two places. Use to dislike Noah but he's another kid who's recently won me round. Being Charity's son helps, too

56 [60] Doug Potts - Round 1 - 7.42%
Ranking History (X-X-X-60-56)

Why was he brought back? I'm a little less harsh on him these days, he's (very) slowly winning me round but still... will he ever be more than a background character?

55 [55] Sam Dingle - Round 1 - 7.43%
Ranking History (33-14-39-55-55)

Sam sticks at 55. His moping around Megan gets right on my tits. Why does it always have to turn into some sort of love affair? I really liked them as friends, but they've ruined it with his 'feelings' for her.

53 [49] Lisa Dingle - Round 1 - 7.60%
Ranking History (15-16-49-49-53)

Lisa continues her fall down the rankings - something that's not stopped since the competition started, and I don't understand why! Lisa is a fairly solid character and she's been fantastic recently. No doubt she'll go running back to Zak soon, but in general, I just don't think she deserves to be so low.

53 [62] Amelia Spencer - Round 1 - 7.60%
Ranking History (60-57-46-62-53)

Amelia crashed out early last year but manages to gain some control and reverse the damage this year. We haven't seen much of Amelia recently, so I'm surprised she did so well.

52 [72] Tracy Shankley - Round 1 - 7.70%
Ranking History (X-X-X-72-52)

Last year, Tracy appeared in the bottom three, but this year she takes one of the biggest climbs of the year!

51 [53] Rishi Sharma - Round 1 - 7.71%
Ranking History (57-30-30-53-51)

Rishi hasn't been able to turn it around for himself after his massive drop last year. With Georgia gone and Nikhil on the way out, I suspect Rishi will continue to be a spare part.

Paddy! The filthy skank.

Massive drop for Paddy.. a well deserved drop mind you.

Poor Paddy, I love him but this story line has hurt his character, especially the falling out he had with Aaron and his lack of presence in the abuse story.

I'm surprised Doug ranked so high, he is annoying as hell. Val was right about him Diane needs to dump dopey Doug ASAP.

Well someone must love him. According to a Mirror article Paddy has been getting a lot of filthy fanmail from 'older' fans.

Yay! Jai at the bottom!

LOL I saw that, I do still like Paddy, I just hope him and Aaron can reconcile the he will go back to being one of my favorites.

I guess Paddy will just have to forgive Robert for trying to kill him in a grain silo and then shooting him then, if he wants to stay in Aaron's good books

Reserved - thanks so much for doing this. I always enjoy it, it's fun, plus it's interesting to see the way other fms vote.

I agree with other fms comments re: Jai and Paddy Neither of them deserved to do well. I wonder though if Paddy would have done better if he hadn't had the affair with Tess.

50 [42] Lachlan White - Round 1 - 7.78%
Ranking History (X-X-X-42-50)

Lachlan drops eight places after his fairly impressive debut. I don't like him, but then I don't think we're suppose to.

49 [63] Gabby Thomas - Round 1 - 8.26%
Ranking History (55-53-63-63-49)

Gabby finally gets a boost up the rankings! Just so we're clear, the original actress got this ranking, not that imposter calling herself Gabby! I loved Gabby, and whilst I do think the current one is doing a good job, it isn't Gabby I hate recasts anyway, but for me, the original actress brought something different to the role, and I've loved her in the role for many, many years and really enjoyed watching her heavily involvement in the show just before she left (typical). I'm still annoyed that we haven't had any kind of explanation as to why - it'd be easier to swallow if the actress left of her own accord.

48 [44] Rakesh Kotecha - Round 1 - 8.29%
Ranking History (X-X-X-44-48)

Rakesh was someone I would've put money on getting into Round 2 this time last year, so I'm very surprised he's done worse than last year! With Kirin gone, it'll be interesting to see where they take him. It's quite disappointing that his biggest storyline is/was the DNA results, yet it fell pretty flat and seems absolutely pointless now Kirin's gone

47 [54] Marlon Dingle - Round 1 - 8.44%
Ranking History (39-46-54-54-47)

Ugh. Do we have to discuss this cretin? I'm not a violent person, but I think I could go to town on Marlon. How has he climbed? Have you all lost your minds?

46 [23] April Windsor - Round 1 - 8.47%
Ranking History (X-X-X-23-46)

April takes one of the biggest drops in the competition this year. Last year she was the last child standing, but is beaten by Arthur and Sarah this year. It's been a very quiet time for her and it was unrealistic to expect her to keep up that sort of momentum.

LOL true, it probably will happen. Paddy will tell Robert "thank you for looking out for my surrogate son while I was busy smashing my now deceased side piece. So I forgive you for trying to kill me twice, holding my surrogate son hostage and threatening to kill my special needs pre-school age step son"


I think if Paddy had been more involved in Aaron's story he'd have done better, it would have made people look at him in a better light.

I think the problem with April is that she's too sickly sweet and 'cute'. I don't like those sorts of kids and I've seen several fms say on here that they liked her to start with but have had enough of all that sugar.