50 Years of Emmerdale: The official story of TV's most iconic rural drama

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Emmerdale’s major milestone is happening on Sunday, October 16 which marks 50 years to the day since the first broadcast of the ITV soap. Emmerdale vicar Charles Anderson, played byKevin Mathurin, has settled into the village with his ex Manpreet (Rebecca Sarker). As a team we are passionate about finding new talent and the right actor for the role. All of these actors have really made their own mark on the show already.” Spice Girl Mel B popped up as an extra at Leeds station, and in a three-legged drinking race with Angela Griffin of Coronation Street fame, and again at Leeds station in 1994.

Since 1972, Emmerdale has witnessed 74 weddings, 43 births and 105 deaths. We'll likely see that figure added to in the near future... When episodes are on and how you can watch them?As long as I can remember my Mum never missed an episode and now she watches me in it! Emmerdale is more than an institution of British television, it’s a reminder of home.”

This is because a major storm is set to rip through Emmerdale and cause all-manner of destruction. Offering a little tease of what to expect, producer Kate Brooks said: “As part of our big 50th celebrations, the big week will focus on a massive storm which is going to rip through the village and absolutely leave a massive trail of destruction in its wake. Storylines escalated, too. There had been affairs in the past, but now there were literal rolls in the hay.It’s been a gift, all the way through. I can honestly say, 25 years later, I genuinely get excited to go in every day. It’s a support network, it’s a hotbed of creativity. I used to watch it when I was a little boy, with my grandparents. It’s a little piece of magic in the world.' As well as a stunt-heavy special episode focused on the major storm ITV will also air a one-off documentary. Reflecting and celebrating on the last 50 years of Emmerdale, the TV special will document how a sleepy daytime afternoon serial about rural folk became the award-winning, hard-hitting drama that we know and love today. Emmerdale boss Jane Hudson explained: “We know one of the things our viewers love is that stunts we pull out of the bag. You can’t do those things in a live. Another big factor is covid. If we suddenly have people test positive the day of the live, for example, we go ‘Jeff is now not available for that big story’ I’m not sure what we’d do.” Some of our best-loved villagers will be in peril and it is safe to say literally the village won’t be the same after this - it will never be the same again. The impact this storm has on peoples’ lives is massive.” Producers have been digging in the archives to unearth some of the popular soaps best bits from classic Emmerdale clips and rarely-seen gems and those moment's we've forgotten all about.