'Emmerdale' live episode confirmed for 40th anniversary - video
Published May 1 2012, 16:56 BST | By Daniel Kilkelly and Tom Mansell
Emmerdale will broadcast a live episode for its 40th anniversary, Digital Spy can exclusively confirm.The special broadcast will take place in October to celebrate the ITV1 soap's milestone.
Show stars Jason Merrells and Gaynor Faye, who play Macey siblings Declan and Megan, revealed the news to Digital Spy's showbiz reporter Anna Williamson on the red carpet at the British Soap Awards at the weekend.
Merrells commented: "We've got the 40th anniversary of the show [coming up], it's got a live ep so everybody's positive about that. It should be pretty good, the stories are getting stronger and everything's hotting up."
Meanwhile, Faye predicted that the live broadcast would feature "fireworks".
She explained: "None of us actually know whether we're involved or not… I think they're going to try and involve everybody because it's such a celebration and such an achievement to get to the 40th year. So fingers crossed everybody will be involved."
In a statement released exclusively to Digital Spy this afternoon (May 1), an Emmerdale spokesperson commented: "In celebration of its 40th birthday, Emmerdale will be going live for the first time for an episode in October.
"Series producer Stuart Blackburn has already confirmed that the anniversary will be a week long celebration of 'must see TV featuring two weddings, one of which will be the most unexpected we have ever seen, plus the birth of two babies'.
"Further highlights and the date and length of the episode will be announced on a separate occasion."
Soap fans saw Coronation Street go live for its 40th and 50th anniversaries in 2000 and 2010 respectively, while EastEnders broadcast a live special for its 25th birthday.
> Emmerdale boss teases "spectacular" anniversary plans
> Emmerdale: Character teasers, gossip from producer Stuart Blackburn
> Read more Emmerdale news and spoilers
One of the babies is Debbie's obviously but no ones mentioned Gennie's baby as one..
August 31st 2012 at 9:56pm
And Danny MIller just has to make an appearance lol!!
August 7th 2012 at 5:12pm
More boaring plots with Debbie and the Baby saving the world!
May 2nd 2012 at 9:32pm
Whoop!! Looking forward to this, i'll be watching with bells on! lol It'll be interesting to see how it works though seen as their sets are so far away from the actual village, which is why i think they haven't put a live ep out before now. That said, i'm guessing it'll be high drama of some sort probably mostly outdoors like Corrie was as its more feasable! (Jesus i sound like a nerd) :-P But i agree with you on the weather front Michelle, as it's live telly and all that, i'll be on the edge of me seat! Lol.. I'm hoping that whatever happens, Laurel and Marlon finally GET IT ON!!!
May 2nd 2012 at 7:37pm
They have slapped the 1st 40-odd eps on DVD...
May 2nd 2012 at 5:33pm