Emmerdale's hour-long 50th anniversary special airs this weekend
The soap first aired in 1972
After first being broadcast way back in 1972, ITV soap Emmerdale is celebrating a massive five decades on our screens on Sunday 16th October, and bosses have huge plans to mark the special occasion.
Unveiling plans back in September, ITV released an image of the cast outside of The Woolpack, revealing a special hour-long episode will air exactly 50 years to the day since it launched, on Sunday 16th October.
Bosses wrote on social media: 'We’re celebrating our 50th birthday with an hour-long episode on Sunday 16th October, exactly 50 years to the day since we aired 🎉
'To mark the occasion, we’re unveiling a new, official cast photograph taken earlier this year!'. (sic)
Although the episode won't be live, Emmerdale bosses have promised fans it will be full of drama and excitement.
The hour-long, one-off weekend episode will be part of 50th birthday week plans, where bosses have confirmed a disastrous storm will hit the village, featuring the soap's biggest stunt in history.
Emmerdale Producer Kate Brooks spoke to the Daily Mirror earlier this month, where she confirmed legendary cast members such as Tracy Metcalfe (Amy Walsh), Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller), and Diane Sugden (Elizabeth Estensen), will return.
She told the publication: "A massive storm will rip through the village and leave a trail of destruction in its wake. Some of our best-loved villagers will be in peril. The village will literally never be the same again.
"We also have the return of some very familiar faces to the Dales. Diane, Aaron and Tracy will all be making a re-appearance, albeit on a temporary basis, but at the heart of some really big stories."
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When is Emmerdale on TV?
Emmerdale airs at 7.30pm Monday-Friday, with 30 minute episodes.
The hour-long special for the soap's 50th anniversary will air on Sunday 16th October at 7pm.
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