When the property burns down, Dolly's dreams of a better life are ruined and she almost has an affair with Stephen Fuller (Gregory Floy).

[2] Recasting characters was common practise in American shows but an unusual occurrence in a British soap opera.

Jean Rogers' agent put her forward for the role but then the 1979 ITV strike occurred and delayed the casting process.

[2] To help facilitate the recast and have it appear more authentic on-screen, writers conjured up a way to temporarily write Dolly out of the series.

She refused because she believed that viewers would have a difficult time adjusting to a new face, so Dolly's attire should remain unchanged.

With an agreement reached, Dolly's reintroduction saw her exiting a car having returned from the convalescent home in her original attire.

She is portrayed as "bright and bubbly" which is in stark contrast to her "silent and placid" husband Matt Skilbeck (Frederick Pyne).

Dolly is also played as a "homemaker" and she used her spare time to help Amos Brearly (Ronald Magill) serve beer at The Woolpack pub.

[5] Dolly's introduction storyline saw her arriving in Beckindale from to take part in a brewery training scheme at the local pub, The Woolpack.

"[2] It transpired that writers were not keen on seeing Dolly's pregnancy through because of past experiences with the babies who played Sam and Sally Skilbeck.

[2] On-screen, Dolly gives birth to their first child Samuel Skilbeck (Benjamin Whitehead), who was hired from two weeks old.

[2] Whitehead eventually called Rogers "mamma" in scenes and they carried on avoiding the earlier disruptions that occurred on-set with the Bell twins.

This began with a "brief encounter" themed storyline featuring Dolly becoming involved with a timber consultant Stephen Fuller (Gregory Floy).

Floy who played Stephen had asked for more money to continue the storyline but his request angered producers who quickly killed the character off-screen.

On-screen Dolly learns of Stephen's death in a fatal car accident via a radio news bulletin.

He told Anthony Hayward, author of The Emmerdale Companion that "Dolly had an affair and broke our marriage up, which I really didn't like.

[2] In the months leading to her departure, writers created a new affair storyline with married counsellor Charlie Aindow (David Fleeshman).

[11] Dolly left the series that year and departure story featured her leaving the village to live in Norfolk with Samuel after the conclusion of her affair with Charlie.

She soon falls for widower Matt Skilbeck and they marry the following year on 29 June 1978, with Dolly receiving a kiss from the local chimney sweep for luck.

Dolly becomes pregnant again and gives birth to a healthy son, Samuel David Skilbeck who is born on 23 December 1982.

Dolly suffers another miscarriage in November 1985, this time at the hands of nasty quarry owner Harry Mowlam, who is later killed following a fight with Matt.

Matt is arrested under suspicion as he had a long-standing rivalry with Mowlam and the motive due to him causing Dolly's miscarriage.

Dolly stands by her husband and the real killer, Derek Warner is arrested and the Skilbecks soon put the ordeal behind them.

Dolly has an affair with timber consultant Stephen Fuller which puts strain on the marriage forcing the couple apart.

Matt receives a job in Norfolk and before leaving tells Dolly his loves her and she agrees to let him see Sam at weekends.

Dolly resigns from the pub after Kim Tate (Claire King) offers her a job as a live-in housekeeper.

After being used as bait by the Tates to lure a potential client, Dolly decides to leave the village with Samuel after receiving a job and they relocate to be nearer to Matt in Norfolk.

Martin Wainwright from The Guardian said that Dolly, Seth Armstrong (Stan Richards) and Amos Brearly (Ronald Magill) were "Stella Gibbons sounding characters".

"[14] Upon viewing Dolly seducing Matt, Geoffrey Phillips from the Evening Standard opined that show's writers were injecting "a few extra hormones into the rump of the rustic serial.

"[15] Phillips could not easily understand Emmerdale's success but noted it's "little dramas" helped, such as those concerning Matt's murder charge and the Skilbeck divorce.