Samuel David Skilbeck (known as Sam) is the son of Matt and Dolly Skilbeck. Samuel is born in December 1982, and is named after Sam Pearson, the grandfather of Matt's first wife, Peggy. Matt and Peggy had previously had a son of the same name who died young. The original idea was to call the child David Samuel, but after a misunderstanding, the name is altered to Samuel Benjamin. Matt and Dolly separated in 1989, and Dolly and Sam left the village in 1991.