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"Emmerdale will dedicate an episode to the soap&amp;#039;s long-serving actor Richard Thorp next week following his recent passing, Digital Spy can confirm. Thorp, who played Alan Turner on the ITV show for over 30 years, died last week at the age of 81.  An Emmerdale spokesperson told Digital Spy today (May 28) that the episode airing on Tuesday, June 4 will include an on-screen dedication to Thorp. The hour-long edition has been chosen as it features Turner&amp;#039;s final appearance in the programme. Thorp made his first appearance in Emmerdale in March 1982. Turner was initially portrayed as a villain but mellowed over the years. Leading tributes last week, Emmerdale&amp;#039;s series producer Kate Oates commented: &amp;quot;Richard&amp;#039;s death is a sad loss to Emmerdale, of which he was at the heart for so many wonderful years. Richard had a brilliant sense of humour and he will be missed by every single member of our production whose lives he touched.&amp;quot; Photo gallery - Richard Thorp&amp;#039;s career in pictures:  "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/emmerdale/news/a485183/emmerdale-to-dedicate-episode-to-richard-thorp/>