It was on October 16th 1972, exactly forty years ago today, that Emmerdale Farm graced our screens for the first time.
It told the gentle tale of the country and the folk that lived in it. Then in 1989 they changed the name to Emmerdale, and the village changed forever with a list of disasters, affairs, blackmail and murder that was longer than Cain Dingle’s... criminal record!
So to join in the 40th birthday festivities, Sharon Marshall visited Yorkshire’s most famous village during rehearsals for the live episode to be shown on October 17th. The first live episode in Emmerdale’s history is the highlight of a week of celebrations and will see a brace of babies, two weddings, and a death.
While in the Dales, Sharon chatted to Dan and Chastity (Liam Fox and Lucy Pargeter) about Chas’s love quadrangle and what Chastity actually means. Genesis and Nikhil (Sian Reece-Williams and Rik Makaram) talk about how they’ve become the Brangelina of the Dales; oh, and if it’s true that Nikhil’s fussy, picky fastidious nature is based on co-star Chris Bisson.
We asked the cast about going live and discovered their concerns about wind, and the other elements; plus it’s a celebration, so we did our bit by immortalising Emmerdale’s great moments in cake form - which has to be seen to be believed.
With thanks to