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."
Check out the best comfort TV shows to binge watch:
Married At First Sight Australia (All 4)
Although the UK version of Married At First Sight is brilliant, the Australian series takes the drama to the next level! You can watch series 4-9 on All 4 now.
If that's not enough, you can also watch MAFS UK, USA and New Zealand on All 4.
Ru Paul’s Drag Race (BBC iPlayer)
With series 4 airing, you can binge all of series 1, 2 and 3 right now on BBC iPlayer.
The Great British Bake Off (All 4)
Fancy reliving some of the best GBBO episodes? Series 1-5 of is available now on All 4. You can also catch up on weekly episodes of series 6.
The Durrells (ITV Hub)
Series 3 and 4 of ITV's British comedy-drama The Durrells is available to watch now on the ITV Hub.
Call the Midwife (BBC iPlayer)
You can watch series 1-11 of Call the Midwife, as well as some Christmas specials, on BBC iPlayer right now.
The Repair Shop
You can watch series 4-10 of The Repair Shop on BBC iPlayer, with experts Jay Blades, Suzie Fletcher, Steve Fletcher, Will Kirk, Kirsten Ramsay and Dominic Chinea.
The Simpsons (All 4)
A classic that never fails to cheer anybody up! The Simpsons is available on All 4.
Sherlock (BBC iPlayer)
If you missed it the first time around, series 1-4 of crime drama Sherlock, featuring Benedict Cumberbatch, are available now on the BBC iPlayer.
First Dates (All 4)
Fancy some love in your life? Join some singletons at Fred Sirieix's First Dates restaurant, with series 1-19 available on All 4.
First Dates Hotel and Teen First Dates are also available to watch.
Our Yorkshire Farm
Follow the lives of Amanda and Clive Owen and their nine children as they work and live on their sheep farm in Swaledale. Series 1-5 are available on MY5.
The Vicar of Dibley (BBC iPlayer)
Series 1-3, as well as the 2004 and 2006 Christmas specials are available to watch on the BBC iPlayer. The special 'lockdown' episode, which aired in December 2020, is also available for fans to catch up.
Taskmaster (All 4)
Series 1-13 of BAFTA-award winning game show Taskmaster, hosted by Greg Davies, are also available on All 4 right now.
MasterChef
Let your mouth water as Gregg Wallace and John Torode try and find the next MasterChef. As well as a number of celebrity series, you can watch series 15-18 of MasterChef on the BBC iPlayer.
You can also watch episodes of Celebrity MasterChef and MasterChef Australia.
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.
Now read:
The best TV crime dramas to binge watch right now
All of the popular TV shows looking for applicants right now
Your ultimate guide to Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins
How to listen to heat radio:
<a class="article-body-link" href="http://If your favourite music icons are the Spice Girls and your favourite Ks are Kylie and the Kardashians, you need heat Radio in your life! heat Radio is portable, so you can listen to us on the move. Simply download our app from your phone’s app store, listen online at heatradio.com and at heatworld.com. We’re on all the smart speakers too, just say “play heat Radio"." target="_blank">heat radio