Adam Forsythe is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera, Emmerdale. He was played by Richard Shelton.
Casting
Shelton's casting was announced in April 2005. Adam was introduced as the village's new doctor and a love interest for Steph Stokes (Lorraine Chase). Shelton said "I'm delighted to be joining 'Emmerdale' and have been a fan of the show for many years". He added: "Adam is a great character and it will be interesting to see what the writers have got planned for him." An 'Emmerdale' spokesperson said: "Dr Forsythe will create a stir with the locals from the moment he sets foot in the village, but there is more to him than meets the eye."
In an interview with the Daily Express, Shelton expressed a desire to return, despite his character being killed off. He said "Well allegedly [he killed himself]… we never did that scene. I ended up in prison because I lost the plot, well Adam lost the plot. I think he was well intentioned, but yeah he went off the rails, he was a bit overzealous with his ambitions. "And yeah, he ended up in prison and he allegedly killed himself, although, did he? We never saw the body, so I don’t know". Shelton admitted: ""I think I’d love to go back for a short time, I don’t think I’d want to return for a long time, because I’ve got the music now and that’s my immediate focus.
Development
In his first medical emergency, Adam is tasked with helping teenager Debbie Dingle (Charley Webb) with helping deliver her baby, Sarah in the woods. Shelton described the scene as "intimate" which he had to be "brave for". He revealed: "Charley is great, my first scene was with Charley. I was playing a doctor, she was having a baby in the woods. I remember saying 'Are you kidding me? I’ve never delivered a baby, I don’t know what to do. There were two midwives standing by, acting this [scene] and trying to remember lines, it was quite an intimate thing. This is what happens as an actor, you’ve got to dive right in and you forget any embarrassment. I’m a doctor and helping someone deliver a baby in the woods, I remember looking up at one point going, 'Am I doing this right? They were like, "You’re doing a great job!." I'm not going to lie, it was a bit like, "Wow"." He added "It’s one thing acting on stage when there’s a distance between you, but when it’s television, it’s so intimate, the cameras are right there and right up against you and it’s got to be real. I had to let go of everything and I had to be a bit brave, you get over the embarrassment very quickly".
Storylines
Adam arrives in Emmerdale, following his divorce from Isla Forsythe (Sara Griffiths). His first medical emergency in the village is being alerted by Daz Eden (Luke Tittensor) to Debbie Dingle in labour while in Seth Armstrong's (Stan Richards) hut. Adam safely delivers Debbie's daughter, Sarah. Adam sets up a clinic in the church hall and works hard to gain the respect and admiration of his new neighbours. Working in the village and wins over pensioners Edna Birch (Shirley Stelfox) and Betty Eagleton (Paula Tilbrook) with his well-worn charm offensive. Adam begins spending time with B&B manager Steph and there is an attraction between the two of them and they begin a relationship