Sam Dingle is a fictional character from the British television soap opera Emmerdale, played by James Hooton.

[2] On his character profile on the ITV website, Sam is described as "a simple, sweet-natured man who can easily be taken advantage of".

Hooton opined that his character deals with lockdown well, as he does the shopping and continues to work, but his "one overriding objective" is to protect Lydia from the virus, as he sees her as vulnerable.

He gets involved in several dodgy schemes with his family, one of which is taking part in an armed robbery with his uncle Albert Dingle (Bobby Knutt).

Sam is released from prison two years later and he returns to the village for his brother Butch Dingle's (Paul Loughran) funeral.

Sam serves another prison sentence for accidentally hitting pensioner Edna Birch (Shirley Stelfox) with a car.

Sam begins a relationship with Alice Wilson (Ursula Holden-Gill) and they later leave Emmerdale to start life on their own farm in Norfolk.

The police get involved when Detective constable Martin Crowe (Graeme Hawley), hears Ashley Thomas (John Middleton) tell Diane Sugden (Elizabeth Estensen) that he believes that Sam had helped Alice die.

Martin opens a murder investigation and when the police come to arrest Sam at Wishing Well Cottage, the Dingles barricade themselves inside.

Sam is arrested for drug possession after Eli persuades him to be his courier, so he and Samson are able to live in the village.

This is not the only incident that alarms the Dingles and social services – whilst living at Dale View, Samson leaves the house and is struck by Val Pollard's (Charlie Hardwick) car.

Sam secures a job at Eric Pollard's (Chris Chittell) factory, which he plans to sell to the King family.

Lisa Dingle (Jane Cox) tries to warn him off, but Sam ignores her, hoping he might have a chance with Jo.

Sam finds Ukrainian immigrant Olena Petrovich (Carolin Stoltz) hiding in the Dingle's barn and helps tend to her wounded leg, while keeping her presence a secret.

When Olena fails to attend Lisa's homecoming party, Sam goes looking for her and sees her kissing Eli.

However, Eli blasts Sam for ruining Olena's life, before revealing that Zak had already told her to leave, or be deported.

Sam tries to make amends to Olena by paying £200 into a bank account for her, before he finds Eric unconscious at the B&B, unaware that Eli had just robbed the B&B.

Sam later discovers the body of Natasha's husband Mark Wylde (Maxwell Caulfield) in the woods, after his dog digs him up.

Sam later begins a relationship with Tracy Shankley (Amy Walsh), but reunites with Rachel when she returns.

However, their reunion does not last long due as Rachel, who is going through a custody battle with Jai Sharma (Chris Bisson), starts hitting Sam.

Sam struggles when it is revealed that Zak has been having an affair with their lodger, Joanie Wright (Denise Black).

Things for the family become worse when Aaron Livesy (Danny Miller) reveals that he was sexually abused as a child, and Cain instructs Sam not to tell Zak.

[10] A critic for the Daily Post commented on his dim-witted nature, writing "Sam Dingle isn't exactly known for his razorsharp wit and macho persona; neither is he much of a ladies' man.

In recent weeks his worrying tendency to fail to think things through saw him burn down Eric's factory, and now he has got the wrong end of the stick again.

When Jo shows him some kindness, Sam gets the wrong impression that some of his non-existent charms have rubbed off on the beleaguered farmer's wife.