10 Totally True Facts About… Chris Chittell (Emmerdale’s Pollard)
lnsidesoap YOUR BRIEFING ON THE MAN BEHIND EMMERDALE’S POLLARD…
1 Christopher John Chittell was born on 19 May 1948 in Aldershot, Hampshire. Chris’ dad served in the Indian Army and Chris almost followed suit, as he intended to join the Royal Navy after leaving school. However, he became a model instead. “I did some modelling in the 60s,” explains Chris. “My agent also sent me for acting auditions, and I ended up with the National Theatre for two years.” 2 Chris’ first National Theatre performance was at the Chichester Festival in The Royal Hunt Of The Sun. The star later made his television debut on the series Knock On
Any Door, before starring in his break-out role Potter on the 1967 film To Sir, With Love alongside future pop legend Lulu. The following year, Chris appeared as a trooper in The Charge Of The Light Brigade. 3 In 1986, Chris joined Emmerdale as Eric Pollard. Since then, Pollard’s got married five times and found out that he has a son, David. Pollard’s had many jobs – including an auctioneer, an antiques dealer, the owner of a wine bar, a factory and now he co-owns a B&B. “Things have certainly changed since I first arrived,” says Chris. “Back then it was very much a show about farm life. There was a lot of countryside shots, working with animals and sitting round the farm table.”
4 In 1979, Chris married Caroline Hunt, who he met in South Africa while filming Zulu Dawn. Together, they have two children, Rebecca and John, but in 2005, Chris and Caroline went their separate ways. When Lesley Dunlop (aka Brenda) arrived in Emmerdale in 2008, the pair started dating, and they were married on 18 June 2016. “For some people, working together would be a nightmare, but we love it,” laughs Chris. “We make a point of not talking about Emmerdale at home, though – that would be just too sad, wouldn’t it?”
5 Chris is very close to his on-screen son, Matthew Wolfenden (David), who calls Chris his ‘second dad’. When Matthew tied the knot with wife Charley Webb (who plays Debbie), Chris was one of his four groomsman.
6 Chris has proved on multiple occasions that he’s not afraid of a challenge, and in 2011, he took part in a 200-mile expedition for
charity! “My pals are mad enough to accompany me on a tremendous journey, testing us at every level,” shared Chris at the time. “There will be bogs, rivers, trails, no trails – clean sweet air and silence!” However, he later revealed that the task had to be abandoned. “Sadly, due to the extremes – getting lost a few times, and not being able to move during the night because of the huge bogland – the journey was not to be completed.”
7 When Pollard did a sky-dive in 2014, Chris decided to take to the skies himself – despite
his fear of heights! “When I am given the opportunity to do something that charges me with adrenalin, I do, because I love it,” said Chris. “However, I am not great with heights, so this was a challenge for me. The director told me to do what Eric Pollard would do on the way down and I have seen the footage – my eyes are as big as saucepans!” 8 After Emmerdale’s helicopter crash in 2015, Chris confessed that he’s not always into the show’s big stunts. “What a load of old rubbish,” he chuckled. “The show sits very well in its own right. It’s a great show, and to go to all this expense for just one week… I’m being devil’s advocate – of course it has repercussions. It’s great to be a part of it, though. When we did the promo, there’s this silly old goat dragging along behind these guys. I’m part of it! It’s great!” 9 Before Chris had his big break, he was known on the small screen for making some X-rated Swedish films! “I thought I would never work in England again because of the content of the films,” admits Chris. “I thought I was going to be fired, even after years in Emmerdale!”
10 Earlier this year, Chris was awarded the British Empire Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours, for his service to drama and
charity. “When I first heard I would be receiving this honour, I couldn’t quite believe it,” grins Chris. “Then I thought of the hundreds of people I have met along the way, who give up their time for others and are not set to receive an accolade, so
I share this with them.”