To celebrate its 50th anniversary, Emmerdale is airing weeks of action-packed episodes, and the ITV soap’s boss has hinted that the birthday month ends with a “really big bang.”
The ITV soap’s writers and producers have been putting the finishing touches on explosive anniversary storylines for the past year as Emmerdale approaches its 50th birthday on October 16. In a few weeks, a windstorm is expected to wreak havoc across the Yorkshire Dales, but executive producer Jane Hudson has hinted that there will be more drama at the end of the month.
In light of her mother Faith Dingle’s (Sally Dexter) passing, it has so far been revealed that Chas Dingle (played by Lucy Pargeter) keeps up her covert relationship with Al Chapman (Michael Wildman).
The lovable Will Taylor (Dean Andrews) is set to wed Kim Tate (Claire King), but his ex-girlfriend Harriet Finch (Katherine Dow Blyton) will try to talk him out of marrying the village businesswoman.
When Nicola King (Nicola Wheeler) learns that someone has complained about vicar Charles Anderson (Kevin Mathurin) to the Bishop, she might also drive him from the village.
In addition to all of this, a terrifying storm will sweep through the village, putting the lives of numerous characters in danger.
Producer Jane spoke with Express.co.uk and other media outlets earlier this week to discuss the upcoming anniversary storylines.
She teased: “It is a rollercoaster of emotion and there is a visual input which will blow more than your socks off, put it that way,” avoiding giving away too many plot details about what will happen in the upcoming weeks.
There are devastation and deaths, but there are also genuine moments of intimacy, love, and heartbreak, Jane suggested.
“Our characters will be put to the test in terms of both their emotional and physical fortitude.
I must forewarn you that there will be many tears, and we will witness how our community handles the fallout from this terrible storm.
She gave the impression that after the disastrous storm, things would only get worse for the Emmerdale characters.
We end the month on a really big bang, which will carry us well into the New Year, Jane continued.
Will there be another natural disaster at the end of the month, or will the “big bang” be brought on by some shocking information that the locals learn?
After presenting the concept of a deadly storm to her coworkers, Jane said: “We’ve done storms before, we’ve done every story before, so it’s always about how we can make this one feel different, bigger, and better. I was quite aware of the eye rolls I was drawing.
“When we first started talking about our 50th anniversary, which was more than a year ago, I believe our lovely village and desire to showcase our landscapes, farms, and scenery were really important to us.
“I was really hoping that the storm would come during the day because I think it is quite easy for something special to turn gloomy and dark when you can’t see what makes it so special.
We were certain that this storm would occur during the day, and we were particularly drawn to a windstorm because the village can occasionally act as a wind tunnel when shooting there.
Emmerdale’s most recent storm-related catastrophe happened on New Year’s Eve in 2003.
Regular viewers will remember that Tricia Dingle was partially buried under the Woolpack’s roof after being struck by lightning (Sheree Murphy). She later passed away from her wounds in the hospital.
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