Matty Barton (formerly Hannah Barton) is the youngest child of John Barton and Moira Dingle.
Biography
2009-10: Arrival at the farm
Hannah arrives in the village with her family, who have purchased the Sugden's former farm. She soon gets a crush on Andy Sugden, but he rejects her since she's just a teenager. It is revealed that she is being bullied via text, however she hides this from her family who have failed to realise that she is having trouble settling in, the texts she is receiving are from classmate Kayleigh Gibbs.
In January 2010, Hannah confides in Victoria Sugden, who is aware of the texts as she has been forced into sending some herself. Eventually Hannah confronts Victoria in the Woolpack loos and is hurt when Victoria admits she and Kayleigh have been sending the texts. As result to this Hannah flushes Victoria's head down the toilet. After the fight is broken up Hannah reveals she is being bullied. Months later Hannah forgives Victoria and the two girls become friends again.
In August 2010, Hannah starts a relationship with Isaac Nuttall, a student. Feeling under pressure Hannah sleeps with Isaac, but is mortified to discover their contraception had failed. Because of this and Holly's drug problem they break up.
2011-12: Life on the farm and father's death
In 2011 with the arrival of Alex Moss, who is immediately attracted to Hannah, she sleeps with him but the relationship does not last and Alex deserts Hannah the next day. Alex later turns his attention to Victoria and they start a relationship, much to Hannah's disappointment and jealousy. Victoria becomes suspicious of Alex and Hannah's behaviour and Alex admits that he seduced Hannah and then left her, but Hannah gives Victoria and Alex her blessing and the two continue their relationship.
After her father's death in February 2012, Hannah begins to work more on the farm, at the same time slipping behind with her college work. It is later revealed that she failed to turn up to some of her A-level exams. When her sister Holly goes to live in London with her friend Roz Fielding, Hannah decides she had had enough of life in Emmerdale and the bad memories there, and goes with Holly to start afresh in London.
2013-2018: Move to London and Manchester
Hannah tells her family charity work abroad when she hears of Holly's death; she can't cope with attending her sister's funeral, much to Adam's dismay. However, she does send a holly bush. A few months later she tells Moira she also can't return for Christmas.
At some point, she chose to live as a man named Matty, always feeling that she was born in the wrong body. She moved to Manchester but continued to tell her mother that 'she' was still living in London, even masquerading as Hannah when Moira went to visit.
2018-: Coming out as transgender and return to the village
In June 2018, Matty returned and snuck into Butlers Farm to retrieve his birth certificate to legally change his gender. He was caught by Cain Dingle but when Moira walked in she instantly recognised him as 'Hannah'. Moira reacted badly to Matty's revelation, telling him to leave. Victoria was also shocked to see her friend was now a man, but soon accepted him. Cain tried to set Moira and Matty up to get them to reconcile but Matty walked in on Moira saying harsh things about him and left. Cain tried to convince him to forgive Moira, but Matty felt unable to and returned to Manchester.
Personality
As Hannah, she was always shy and quiet, for a number of reasons. She was bullied, had numerous problems in her family and all the while she felt like something was wrong. She grew up scared, thinking she was gay. After time away from her family, she realised that she was a man trapped in the wrong body and began the process of transitioning from female to male.
Matty is still quiet shy although more confident in his own body and identity.
Quotes
"Alcoholic!" - first line as Hannah Barton about Andy Sugden.
"I can't..." - first line, upon his 2018 return as Matty Barton, to Cain Dingle.