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{{Short description|British television soap opera (since 1972)}}
{{For|the 1994 album by the Cardigans|Emmerdale (album)}}
{{pp|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox television
| image                = Emmerdale (logo).svg
| image_class          = skin-invert
| alt_name             = Emmerdale Farm {{noitalic|(1972–1989)}}
| genre                = [[Soap opera]]
| network              = [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]
| creator              = [[Kevin Laffan]]
| language             = English
| country              = United Kingdom
| starring             = {{Plainlist|
* [[List of Emmerdale characters|Present cast]]
* [[List of former Emmerdale characters|Former cast]]
}}
| theme_music_composer = [[Tony Hatch]]
| first_aired          = {{Start date|1972|10|16|df=yes}}
| last_aired           = present
| num_episodes         = 10,439<!-- As of 14 November 2025 -->{{Update after|2025|11|21}}
| camera               = [[Videotape]]; [[Multiple-camera setup|multiple-camera]]
| runtime              = 30–60 minutes (including advertisements)
| company              = {{Plainlist|
* [[Yorkshire Television]] (1972–2006)
* [[ITV Productions]] (2006–2009)
* ITV Studios Continuing Drama (2009–present)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.itvstudios.com/producer/109740 |title=ITV Studios continuing drama |website=[[ITV Studios]] |access-date=3 August 2022 |archive-date=6 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230306042909/https://www.itvstudios.com/producer/109740 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
  }}
| producer             = {{Plainlist|
* [[List of Emmerdale producers|Various]]
* (currently Laura Shaw)
  }}
| executive_producer   = {{Plainlist|
* [[List of Emmerdale producers|Various]]
* (currently Iain MacLeod)
  }}
| location             = {{Plainlist|
* [[Leeds Studios]] (1972–present)
* [[Arncliffe, North Yorkshire]] (1972–1976)
* [[Esholt]], [[West Yorkshire]] (1976–1997)
* [[Harewood House#Popular culture|Harewood House]], West Yorkshire (1997–present)
}}
}}

'''''Emmerdale''''' (known as '''''Emmerdale Farm''''' until 1989) is a British television [[soap opera]] that is  broadcast on [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]. The show is set in Emmerdale (known as Beckindale until 1994), a [[List of fictional towns and villages|fictional village]] in the [[Yorkshire Dales]]. Created by [[Kevin Laffan]], ''Emmerdale Farm'' was first broadcast on 16 October 1972. Interior scenes have been filmed at [[the Leeds Studios]] since its inception.  Exterior scenes were first filmed in [[Arncliffe, North Yorkshire|Arncliffe]] in [[Littondale]], and the series may have taken its name from Amerdale, an ancient name of Littondale.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.yorkshiredales.net/littondale/|publisher=Yorkshire Dales Online|title=Guide to Littondale|access-date=12 June 2020|archive-date=4 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604192031/https://www.yorkshiredales.net/littondale/|url-status=live}}</ref> Exterior scenes were later shot at [[Esholt]], but are now shot at a purpose-built set on the [[Harewood House#Popular culture|Harewood estate]].

The series originally aired during the afternoon and was intended to be a three-month television series. However, more episodes were ordered and transmitted during the daytime until 1978, when it was moved to an early-evening [[prime time]] slot in most regions. In the late 1980s, a new production team oversaw the name change and introduced more dramatic storylines, as well as increasing the frequency of episodes. As a result of the changes, viewers and popularity surrounding the soap increased and ''Emmerdale'' began to be considered as a major British soap opera. The programme began broadcasting in [[High-definition television|high definition]] on 10 October 2011, and in 2016, ''Emmerdale'' won the award for [[Best British Soap]] at the [[British Soap Awards]] for the first time. Since January 2019, "classic episodes" of ''Emmerdale'' have been broadcast twice daily on [[ITV3]].

==History==
===1972–1985: ''Emmerdale Farm''===
''Emmerdale Farm'' was created when [[Kevin Laffan]] was asked to write a lunchtime farming serial for ITV, as the network was looking to expand its daytime programming after government restrictions on broadcasting hours were relaxed. He initially said no as his agent advised him that writing a soap would tarnish his reputation as a playwright, which he found to be part of a snobbish attitude shown towards soap operas. Laffan eventually said yes and formed a 26-episode play that would act as a 13-week serial.<ref name="Companion">{{cite book |last1=Hayward |first1=Anthony |title=The Emmerdale Companion |date=21 September 1998 |publisher=Orion |isbn=0752817760}}</ref> Laffan had worked on a farm for six months in his youth, and said on writing about farm life: "I was intrigued by the idea that farming was a way of life, as opposed to simply a way of earning a living."<ref name=independentlaffan>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/kevin-laffan-122891.html|title=Kevin Laffan|work=[[The Independent]]|date=15 March 2003|access-date=27 November 2018|archive-date=27 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127125129/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/kevin-laffan-122891.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The premise of ''Emmerdale Farm'' was similar to the [[BBC Radio 4]] soap opera ''[[The Archers]]'', focusing on a family, a farm and characters in a nearby village. The programme's farmyard filming was originally modelled on [[RTÉ]]'s ''[[The Riordans]]'', an Irish soap opera which was broadcast from the mid-1960s to the end of the 1970s. ''The Riordans'' broke new ground for soap operas by being filmed largely outdoors (on a farm, owned on the programme by Tom and Mary Riordan) rather than in a studio—the usual practice of British and American soap operas. ''The Riordans''{{'}} success demonstrated that a soap opera could be filmed largely outdoors, and [[Yorkshire Television]] sent people to its set in [[County Meath]] to see the programme's production first-hand.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/the-plough-and-the-stars-how-tvs-revolutionary-riordans-changed-ireland-1632528.html|title=The plough and the stars: how TV's revolutionary Riordans changed Ireland|last=Byrne|first=Andrea|date=8 February 2009|work=The Irish Independent|access-date=6 October 2009|archive-date=18 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090218042831/http://www.independent.ie/national-news/the-plough-and-the-stars-how-tvs-revolutionary-riordans-changed-ireland-1632528.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=independent2006>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/emmerdale-the-village-that-won-over-a-nation-5329802.html|title=Emmerdale: the village that won over a nation|last=Kirby|first=Terry|date=15 July 2006|work=[[The Independent]]|access-date=6 October 2009|archive-date=23 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123075426/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/emmerdale-the-village-that-won-over-a-nation-5329802.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The first episode aired on 16 October 1972 at 1:30{{nbsp}}pm, and began with the [[Sugden family]] convening in the fictional village of Beckindale for the funeral of a relative.<ref name=independentlaffan/> Peter Willes, the then-head of serial dramas at Yorkshire Television, did not like that the soap began with a funeral as he found it to be a "very downbeat way to start" and "a big switch-off".<ref name="Companion" /> However, Laffan pushed the concept as he felt that a funeral would be the best option from a dramatic viewpoint. The show's early years as ''Emmerdale Farm'' centred on the Sugden family and rural farm life. The show was originally broadcast twice a week in the afternoon<ref name=independent2006/> and was regarded by critics as a "sleepy soap" where not much happened.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.atvtoday.co.uk/7854-emmerdale-40-years-on/|title=Emmerdale 40 Years On|work=[[ATV Today]]|date=17 October 2012|access-date=28 November 2018|archive-date=28 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181128095212/http://www.atvtoday.co.uk/7854-emmerdale-40-years-on/|url-status=live}}</ref> After its initial 13-week run, the positive viewer response led to an increase to 26 weeks and then a 6-month run, which led to the eventual year-long screening of the soap. The increase in episode output was accompanied by a move to a late-afternoon time slot.<ref name="Companion" /> By 1977, it was moved to a [[prime time]] evening slot in most ITV regions.<ref name=independent2006/>

===1986–1999: Revamp and becoming a major British soap===
In the late 1980s, a new production team headed by executive producer [[Keith Richardson (television executive)|Keith Richardson]] was brought in, and the show's focus moved to the nearby village of Beckindale, with more dramatic storylines such as Pat Sugden's 1986 car crash and the 1988 Crossgill fire. By 1988, the show had been moved to an evening time slot in all ITV regions.<ref name=independentlaffan/> ''Emmerdale Farm'' also began broadcasting episodes year-round that year.<ref name=telegraphrank/> Reflecting its change in focus, the title was changed to ''Emmerdale'' on 14 November 1989. Coinciding with the title change was the introduction of the wealthy Tate family, bringing with them racier storylines.<ref name=independent2006/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.entertainmentdaily.co.uk/soaps/emmerdale/|title=Emmerdale|work=Entertainment Daily|access-date=23 November 2018|archive-date=23 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123080154/http://www.entertainmentdaily.co.uk/soaps/emmerdale/|url-status=live}}</ref> Under Richardson, the soap's popularity gradually began to improve. Richardson produced the programme for 24 years, overseeing its transformation from a minor, daytime, rural drama into a major [[prime time]] UK soap opera.<ref>{{cite news|first=Leigh |last=Holmwood |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/jan/15/emmerdale-keith-richardson-leaves |title=ITV exec Richardson leaves Emmerdale after 24 years |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305222444/http://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/jan/15/emmerdale-keith-richardson-leaves |archivedate=5 March 2016 |work=The Guardian |date=15 January 2009 |accessdate= 29 May 2012}}</ref>

By 1993, ''Emmerdale'' was into its third decade on the air and December 1993 saw a major turning point in the show's history, when an episode featured [[Emmerdale plane crash|a plane crashing]] into the village of Beckindale, killing four main characters,<ref name=telegraphrank/><ref name=independent2006/> giving ''Emmerdale'' its highest-ever audience of 18 million<ref name=telegraphrank/> and marking its transformation into a major prime time soap opera.<ref name=independent2006/> The plane crash "allowed the writers to get rid of much dead wood, and reinvent the soap virtually from scratch,"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/phil-redmond-man-of-the-people-780239.html|title=Phil Redmond: Man of the people|work=[[The Independent]]|date=9 February 2008|first=John|last=Walsh|access-date=24 November 2018|archive-date=23 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123100651/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/phil-redmond-man-of-the-people-780239.html|url-status=live}}</ref> which included survivors changing the village name from "Beckindale" to "Emmerdale".<ref name=telegraphrank/> The production team had continually had issues with the fictional village's geography, but they found that the plane crash allowed them to introduce a village that had continuity.<ref name="Companion" /> Since the plane crash, ''Emmerdale'' has had increasingly dramatic storylines and glamorous characters.<ref name=telegraphrank/> In 1994, former ''[[Coronation Street]]'' producer Mervyn Watson was hired to inject more humour into the show.<ref name=bbcjuly2000/> New long-term characters, such as the Windsor and Dingle families, were also introduced in the 1990s. The Tates became the soap's leading family during the decade.<ref name=independentlaffan/>

===2000–2011: Continued success and more episodes===
By 2000, ''Emmerdale'' episodes were regularly getting 12 million viewers, and the number of episodes per week was increased from three to five.<ref name=bbcjuly2000>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/817243.stm|title=Emmerdale goes nightly|work=[[BBC News]]|date=3 July 2000|access-date=26 November 2018|archive-date=26 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126071314/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/817243.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> An ITV [[talent show]], ''[[Soapstars]]'', was held in 2001 to cast the new five-member Calder family; the Calders made their debut on the show in November that year, and all members had left by August 2002.<ref name=bbcnov2001>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1644357.stm|title=Emmerdale's Soapstars to stay|work=[[BBC News]]|date=8 November 2001|access-date=26 November 2018|archive-date=26 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126051618/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1644357.stm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/tv_film/newsid_1918000/1918416.stm|title=Emmerdale's Soapstar family dumped|publisher=[[CBBC (TV channel)|CBBC]]|date=9 April 2002|access-date=26 November 2018|archive-date=26 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126070204/http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/tv_film/newsid_1918000/1918416.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2004, ''Emmerdale'' became the first British soap opera to broadcast six episodes a week.<ref name=independent2006/> By 2006, ''Emmerdale'' was contending with, and at times beating, ''[[EastEnders]]'' in viewership.<ref name=independent2006/> In 2007, an hour-long special episode revealing the murderer of [[Tom King (Emmerdale)|Tom King]] ([[Kenneth Farrington]]) aired; the episode gained an average of 8.6 million viewers, peaking at 9.1 million viewers when Tom's son [[Carl King|Carl]] ([[Tom Lister (actor)|Tom Lister]]) confesses to the murder. The episode received more than double the amount of viewership ''EastEnders'' did.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.whatsontv.co.uk/eastenders-main/eastenders-news/emmerdale-trounces-eastenders-in-the-ratings-215245/|title=Emmerdale trounces EastEnders in the ratings|date=18 May 2007|access-date=23 October 2019|work=What's on TV?|archive-date=23 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191023111126/https://www.whatsontv.co.uk/eastenders-main/eastenders-news/emmerdale-trounces-eastenders-in-the-ratings-215245/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The early and mid-2000s saw the introduction of major long-term characters, including the King family and [[Cain Dingle|Cain]] ([[Jeff Hordley]]) and [[Charity Dingle]] ([[Emma Atkins]]).<ref>{{cite book|last1=Macdonald|first1=Ian&nbsp;W.|title=Screenwriting Poetics and the Screen Idea |chapter=The Screen Idea Work Group: Emmerdale|isbn=978-1-349-35191-6|date=2013|pages=81–110|doi=10.1057/9780230392298_5|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan, London}}</ref> This era also saw high-profile castings such as [[Patsy Kensit]] as [[Sadie King]] in 2004,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2004/feb/13/broadcasting.ITV|title=Patsy Kensit joins Emmerdale|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=13 February 2004|first=John|last=Plunkett|access-date=24 November 2018|archive-date=24 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181124112251/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2004/feb/13/broadcasting.ITV|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Amanda Donohoe]] and [[Maxwell Caulfield]] as [[Natasha Wylde|Natasha]] and [[Mark Wylde]] in 2008.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/3065607/Amanda-Donohoe-to-join-cast-of-Emmerdale.html|title=Amanda Donohoe to join cast of Emmerdale|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=23 September 2008|first=Charlotte|last=Bailey|access-date=24 November 2018|archive-date=24 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181124111816/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/3065607/Amanda-Donohoe-to-join-cast-of-Emmerdale.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Major storylines during this period included a bus crash, [[Sarah Sugden]]'s death in a barn fire, a New Year's Eve storm, the Kings River explosion, and the Sugden house fire. In 2009, the longest-tenured character, [[Jack Sugden]] ([[Clive Hornby]]), was killed off. Jack's funeral featured the first on-screen appearance in 13 years of [[Annie Sugden]] ([[Sheila Mercier]]). The same year, long-serving executive producer Keith Richardson was replaced by former series producer [[Steve November]] (later replaced by John Whiston). [[Gavin Blyth]] became the series producer, followed by Stuart Blackburn after Blyth's death.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.keighleynews.co.uk/news/8943045.stuarts-dramatic-new-role-on-soap/|work=[[Keighley News]]|title=Stuart's dramatic new role on soap|publisher=Newsquest Media Group Ltd|first=David|last=Knights|date=2 April 2011|accessdate=18 February 2023|archive-date=18 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230218143152/https://www.keighleynews.co.uk/news/8943045.stuarts-dramatic-new-role-on-soap/|url-status=live}}</ref> In January 2011, two of the soaps longest-serving characters [[Viv Hope]] portrayed by [[Deena Payne]] since 1993<ref>{{cite news|title=Deena Payne: 'I'm sad but not furious'|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/emmerdale/a298002/deena-payne-im-sad-but-not-furious/|last=Kilkelly|first=Daniel|work=[[Digital Spy]]|publisher=[[Hearst Magazines UK]]|date=14 January 2011|access-date=14 October 2024}}</ref>  and [[Terry Woods (Emmerdale)|Terry Woods]] portrayed by [[Billy Hartman]] since 1995 respectively,<ref>{{cite news|title=Hartman: 'Emmerdale has been wonderful'|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/emmerdale/a297844/hartman-emmerdale-has-been-wonderful/|last=Kilkelly|first=Daniel|work=[[Digital Spy]]|publisher=[[Hearst Magazines UK]]|date=13 January 2011|access-date=14 October 2024|archive-date=11 December 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241211041105/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/emmerdale/a297844/hartman-emmerdale-has-been-wonderful/|url-status=live}}</ref> were both killed off as part of a major fire stroyline.<ref>{{cite news|title='Emmerdale' announces shock arson plot|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/emmerdale/a289517/emmerdale-announces-shock-arson-plot/|last=Kilkelly|first=Daniel|work=[[Digital Spy]]|publisher=[[Hearst Magazines UK]]|date=24 November 2010|access-date=14 October 2024|archive-date=2 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202221310/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/emmerdale/a289517/emmerdale-announces-shock-arson-plot/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===2012–2021: Anniversary celebrations and events===
''Emmerdale'' celebrated its 40th anniversary with its first-ever live episode on 17 October 2012.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s12/emmerdale/news/a379403/emmerdale-live-episode-confirmed-for-40th-anniversary-video.html|title='Emmerdale' live episode confirmed for 40th anniversary|work=[[Digital Spy]]|date=1 May 2012|access-date=2 May 2012|archive-date=3 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503174810/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s12/emmerdale/news/a379403/emmerdale-live-episode-confirmed-for-40th-anniversary-video.html|url-status=live}}</ref> "[[Emmerdale Live]]" featured the death of [[Carl King]] ([[Tom Lister (actor)|Tom Lister]]) and a live music festival with performances by [[Scouting for Girls]] and [[the Proclaimers]] as part of the anniversary celebrations.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s12/emmerdale/news/a403017/emmerdale-holds-music-festival-with-scouting-for-girls-proclaimers.html |title='Emmerdale' holds music festival with Scouting for Girls, Proclaimers – Emmerdale News – Soaps |work=[[Digital Spy]] |date=31 August 2012 |access-date=29 November 2012 |archive-date=30 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121130221331/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s12/emmerdale/news/a403017/emmerdale-holds-music-festival-with-scouting-for-girls-proclaimers.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The story of Carl's death took the show into 2013, when [[Kate Oates]] replaced Blackburn as the new series producer. One of Oates' aims was to feature more of the village and rural countryside locations and to bring more "balance" to the show instead of focusing on "a few very high-profile stories".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/emmerdale/interviews/a490014/emmerdale-gossip-and-teasers-from-producer-kate-oates-part-one/|title=Exclusive: 'Emmerdale' gossip and teasers from producer Kate Oates – part one|work=[[Digital Spy]]|date=14 June 2013|first=Daniel|last=Kilkelly|access-date=24 November 2018|archive-date=24 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181124092559/http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/emmerdale/interviews/a490014/emmerdale-gossip-and-teasers-from-producer-kate-oates-part-one/|url-status=live}}</ref> Major storylines during this period included a helicopter crash that killed [[Ruby Haswell]] ([[Alicya Eyo]]) and [[Val Pollard]] ([[Charlie Hardwick]]), and a multi-car pile-up.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/emmerdale-spoilers-car-crash-who-dies_uk_58090dfbe4b0fce107d002ee |title='Emmerdale' Car Crash: Who Dies? Soap's Stunt Drama Lives Up to the Hype |work=[[HuffPost]] |date=20 October 2016 |first=Rachel |last=McGrath |access-date=24 November 2018 |archive-date=26 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170926215348/http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/emmerdale-spoilers-car-crash-who-dies_uk_58090dfbe4b0fce107d002ee|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2016, ''Emmerdale'' was named [[Best British Soap]] for the first time at the [[British Soap Awards]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2016/05/28/british-soap-awards-2016-emmerdale-wins-best-soap-for-the-first/|title=British Soap Awards 2016: Emmerdale wins Best Soap for the first time, Danny Miller and Lacey Turner win in acting categories – plus full list of winners|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=30 May 2016|first=Jonathan|last=McAloon|access-date=24 November 2018|archive-date=24 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181124115211/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2016/05/28/british-soap-awards-2016-emmerdale-wins-best-soap-for-the-first/|url-status=live}}</ref> In January 2019, [[ITV3]] began airing episodes of ''Emmerdale'' from the beginning of the soap's inception. Billed ''Classic Emmerdale'', ten sequential episodes have been broadcast weekly since.<ref>{{cite news|title=Emmerdale classic episodes will start airing on ITV3 later this month|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/emmerdale/a25756482/emmerdale-classic-old-episodes-airing-itv3/|last=Warner|first=Sam|work=[[Digital Spy]]|publisher=[[Hearst Magazines UK]]|date=5 January 2019|access-date=6 January 2019|archive-date=5 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190105204823/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/emmerdale/a25756482/emmerdale-classic-old-episodes-airing-itv3/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In March 2019, an episode featuring an exclusively female cast and crew was aired in support of [[International Women's Day]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/soaps/emmerdale/emmerdale-celebrates-international-womens-day-with-special-all-female-episode/|title=Emmerdale celebrates International Women's Day with special ALL-female episode|last=Timblick|first=Simon|work=[[Radio Times]]|access-date=28 November 2019|archive-date=6 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406145413/https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2019-02-26/emmerdale-celebrates-international-womens-day-with-special-all-female-episode/amp/|url-status=live}}</ref> Executive producer Jane Hudson said that the episode was "a great opportunity for ''Emmerdale'' to show the female talent we have both in front and behind the camera."<ref name="women">{{cite web|url=https://www.itv.com/presscentre/press-releases/emmerdales-international-womens-day-celebration#|title=Emmerdale's International Women's Day celebration|date=8 March 2019|website=[[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]|access-date=7 January 2020|archive-date=31 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731015019/https://www.itv.com/presscentre/press-releases/emmerdales-international-womens-day-celebration|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2020, the production and filming of ''Emmerdale'' was suspended due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref name="Corona">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-51998860|title=Coronavirus: ITV halts Coronation Street, Emmerdale, Lorraine, Loose Women filming|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=15 April 2020|archive-date=10 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200410025103/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-51998860|url-status=live}}</ref> In order to prevent the programme from coming off air, the episodes shown per week were halved from six to three.<ref name="Corona" /> They were later reduced to two episodes a week, but have since returned to the normal schedule.<ref>{{cite news |last1=McLennan |first1=Patrick |title=Coronation Street and Emmerdale return to six episodes per week from 14th September |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/soaps/coronation-street-emmerdale-six-episodes/ |access-date=10 March 2021 |work=[[Radio Times]] |date=2 September 2020 |archive-date=3 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211203214519/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/soaps/coronation-street-emmerdale-six-episodes/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In September 2020, it was announced that there would be a "big autumn shake-up"; one of the changes included the casting of [[Paige Sandhu]] as [[Meena Jutla]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Davies |first1=Megan |title=Emmerdale announces three new characters in big autumn shake-up |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/emmerdale/a33943443/emmerdale-new-characters-meena-mackenzie-ben/ |access-date=12 June 2021 |work=[[Digital Spy]] |publisher=[[Hearst Magazines UK]] |date=7 September 2020 |archive-date=18 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918040022/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/emmerdale/a33943443/emmerdale-new-characters-meena-mackenzie-ben/ |url-status=live }}</ref> She was later confirmed to be a serial killer and has been responsible for the murders of [[Leanna Cavanagh]] ([[Mimi Slinger]]), [[Andrea Tate]] ([[Anna Nightingale]]) and [[Ben Tucker (Emmerdale)|Ben Tucker]] (Simon Lennon). All of the actors involved expressed a decision to leave the soap and their exits were incorporated into Meena's serial killer arc, a storyline which has seen Sandhu awarded Best Villain at the [[Inside Soap Awards#2021 winners|2021 ''Inside Soap'' Awards]].<ref name="Crowned"/>

On 12 October 2021, it was announced that ''Emmerdale'' would partake in a special crossover event involving multiple British soaps to promote the topic of [[climate change]] ahead of the [[2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference]]. The event was first suggested by ''Emmerdale'''s executive producer Jane Hudson. It was confirmed that a social media clip featuring two characters from ''Emmerdale'' would be discussed in ''[[Coronation Street]]'', while ''Emmerdale'' itself would refer to events in ''[[Casualty (TV series)|Casualty]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Soaps unite to help highlight climate change |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2021/soaps-unite-to-help-highlight-climate-change |website=[[BBC Media Centre]] |access-date=12 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211012224658/https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2021/soaps-unite-to-help-highlight-climate-change |archive-date=12 October 2021 |date=12 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Casualty, Coronation Street, Eastenders, Emmerdale and Holby City to highlight climate change |url=https://www.itv.com/news/2021-10-12/why-eastenders-and-coronation-street-fans-will-see-characters-from-other-soaps |access-date=12 October 2021 |publisher=[[ITV News]] |date=12 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211012225151/https://www.itv.com/news/2021-10-12/why-eastenders-and-coronation-street-fans-will-see-characters-from-other-soaps |archive-date=12 October 2021}}</ref>

===2022–present: Producer and cast changes===
In January 2022, it was confirmed that the production team were in the early stages of creating the 50th anniversary storylines set to air in October 2022. They hinted that the anniversary would see a "huge shake-up".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fletcher |first1=Harry |title=Emmerdale is planning for a huge 50th anniversary this year |url=https://metro.co.uk/2022/01/04/emmerdale-is-planning-for-a-huge-50th-anniversary-this-year-15861234/ |access-date=4 January 2022 |work=[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]] |publisher=([[DMG Media]]) |date=3 January 2022 |archive-date=4 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220104114551/https://metro.co.uk/2022/01/04/emmerdale-is-planning-for-a-huge-50th-anniversary-this-year-15861234/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The anniversary episode received a mixed reaction. ''[[Radio Times]]'' appreciated the writing and acting, as well as how the series has "reinvented itself to turn away from the mundanity of the farm, and into a relevant, powerful and completely gripping soap".<ref>{{cite news |title=Emmerdale 50th anniversary review: ITV soap eyes future in bold, brave Storm Week |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/soaps/emmerdale/emmerdale-50th-anniversary-review/ |access-date=15 December 2024 |work=[[Radio Times]]}}</ref> However, it was noted by newspapers how viewers were unimpressed and had expected more drama.<ref>{{cite news |title=Emmerdale 50th anniversary episode divides viewers as some 'expected more drama' |url=https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/news/celebs-tv/emmerdale-50th-anniversary-episode-divides-25278120 |access-date=15 December 2024 |work=[[Leeds Live]]}}</ref> In 2023, Hudson, who had been the executive producer of ''Emmerdale'' since 2018, left her role.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Patterson |first1=Stephen |title=Emmerdale boss Jane Hudson quits after five years |url=https://metro.co.uk/2023/08/22/jane-hudson-emmerdale-boss-leaving-19375405/ |access-date=22 August 2023 |work=[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]] |date=22 August 2023 |archive-date=22 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230822102115/https://metro.co.uk/2023/08/22/jane-hudson-emmerdale-boss-leaving-19375405/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Hudson was replaced internally by Iain Macleod, who was promoted from ''Coronation Street''{{'}}s executive producer to overseeing both soaps.<ref name="Iain">{{cite news |title=Coronation Street boss Iain MacLeod promoted to also oversee Emmerdale |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/soaps/emmerdale/coronation-street-iain-macleod-emmerdale-newsupdate/ |access-date=15 December 2024 |work=[[Radio Times]] |archive-date=15 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241215144826/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/soaps/emmerdale/coronation-street-iain-macleod-emmerdale-newsupdate/ |url-status=live }}</ref> At the same time, former producer Sophie Roper was reappointed. She confirmed a new era for ''Emmerdale'' from 2024, with various cast changes and "bold and ground-breaking drama".<ref name="Roper">{{cite news |title=Emmerdale to air two surprise exits as young couple bow out |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/emmerdale/a61084105/emmerdale-nicky-suni-exits/ |access-date=15 December 2024 |work=[[Digital Spy]]}}</ref> The initial cast changes saw short-term characters including [[Ethan Anderson]] (Emile John), [[Nicky Miligan]] (Lewis Cope) and [[Suni Sharma]] (Brahmdeo Shannon Ramana) written out of the soap.<ref name="Roper" /> However, they later also removed characters with lengthy tenures, including [[Amelia Spencer]] ([[Daisy Campbell (actress, born 2003)|Daisy Campbell]]),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/emmerdale-star-daisy-campbell-leaving-33988030|title=EXCLUSIVE: Emmerdale star Daisy Campbell is leaving ITV soap after 13 years - 'it wasn't my choice'|last=Smith|first=Christine|date=28 October 2024|work=[[Daily Mirror]]|publisher=Reach plc.|accessdate=28 October 2024|archive-date=12 November 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241112114035/https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/emmerdale-star-daisy-campbell-leaving-33988030|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Wendy Posner]] ([[Susan Cookson]]), [[Will Taylor (Emmerdale)|Will Taylor]] ([[Dean Andrews]]),<ref>{{cite news |title=Emmerdale star films final scenes amid shock exit |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/emmerdale/a63302478/emmerdale-susan-cookson-exit-final-scenes/ |access-date=30 December 2024 |work=[[Digital Spy]] |archive-date=30 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241230142242/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/emmerdale/a63302478/emmerdale-susan-cookson-exit-final-scenes/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Brenda Walker (Emmerdale)|Brenda Walker]] ([[Lesley Dunlop]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/emmerdale-legend-lesley-dunlop-who-34070581|title=Exclusive: Emmerdale legend Lesley Dunlop who plays Brenda Walker to leave soap after 16 years|last=Bryant|first=Tom|date=8 November 2024|work=[[Daily Mirror]]|publisher=Reach plc.|accessdate=8 November 2024}}</ref> and [[Leyla Harding]] ([[Roxy Shahidi]]).<ref>{{cite web |last=Johnson |first=Brooke Ivey |url=https://metro.co.uk/2024/10/05/emmerdale-legend-set-exit-series-sixteen-years-21741666/ |title=Emmerdale legend set to exit the series after 16 years as shock death confirmed |date=5 October 2024 |work=[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]] |publisher=[[DMG Media]] |access-date=6 October 2024 |archive-date=6 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241006001010/https://metro.co.uk/2024/10/05/emmerdale-legend-set-exit-series-sixteen-years-21741666/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Uploading episodes early onto [[ITVX]] was introduced in 2024, to give viewers more flexibility in when they want to watch the series. This was inspired by a 30% rise of viewing figures for ''Emmerdale'' on ITVX.<ref>{{cite news |title=Coronation Street and Emmerdale announce huge change to new episode releases |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/coronation-street/a62576921/coronation-street-emmerdale-air-early-itvx/ |access-date=15 December 2024 |work=[[Digital Spy]]}}</ref> 

==Setting and characters==
{{main|List of Emmerdale characters}}
{{Anchor|The Woolpack}}[[File:The Woolpack Emmerdale - panoramio.jpg|180px|thumb|alt=A public house with a sign that says "The Woolpack", with three people sat on benches outside|''Emmerdale''{{'}}s fictional [[public house]], the Woolpack.]]
''Emmerdale'' has had a large number of characters since it began, with its cast gradually expanding in size. The series has also had changing residences and businesses for its characters. The series is set in Emmerdale (known as Beckindale until 1994), a fictional village in the [[Yorkshire Dales]]. It has been noted that the fictional village spans 3,217 acres and is located 39 miles from [[Bradford]] and 52 miles from [[Leeds]].<ref name="Companion" /> A [[farmhouse]], Emmerdale Farm, was the original focal point of the show when it was first broadcast in 1972. The farmhouse was eventually written out of the series in the early 1990s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.atvtoday.co.uk/635-ytv/|title='Emmerdale Farm' Up For Grabs|work=[[ATV Today]]|date=18 October 2008|first=Mike|last=Watkins|access-date=24 November 2018|archive-date=24 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181124125955/http://www.atvtoday.co.uk/635-ytv/|url-status=live}}</ref> Local [[public house]] The Woolpack is "the heart of the community".<ref name=emmerdaletour>{{cite web|url=https://www.lep.co.uk/news/cross-over-to-yorkshire-for-a-tour-of-emmerdale-1-8606267|title=Cross over to Yorkshire for a tour of Emmerdale|date=20 June 2017|work=[[Lancashire Evening Post]]|access-date=24 November 2018|archive-date=24 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181124131117/https://www.lep.co.uk/news/cross-over-to-yorkshire-for-a-tour-of-emmerdale-1-8606267|url-status=live}}</ref> Owners of the Woolpack have included [[Amos Brearly]] ([[Ronald Magill]]), [[Henry Wilks]] ([[Arthur Pentelow]]), [[Alan Turner (Emmerdale)|Alan Turner]] ([[Richard Thorp]]), [[Diane Sugden]] ([[Elizabeth Estensen]]), [[Chas Dingle]] ([[Lucy Pargeter]]), and [[Charity Dingle]] ([[Emma Atkins]]).<ref>{{cite news |title=What would Amos Brearly say? Emmerdale's Woolpack has a new landlady – and she's driving a stolen Ferrari |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/what-would-amos-brearly-say-emmerdales-woolpack-has-new-landlady-and-shes-driving-stolen-ferrari-1802241 |access-date=4 February 2022 |work=[[Yorkshire Post]] |date=10 March 2016 |archive-date=4 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220204212338/https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/what-would-amos-brearly-say-emmerdales-woolpack-has-new-landlady-and-shes-driving-stolen-ferrari-1802241 |url-status=live }}</ref> Home Farm is a mansion in Emmerdale; it was first introduced on-screen as Miffield Hall in 1973 and was renamed in 1978.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.atvtoday.co.uk/4250-itv/|title=Home Time: Emmerdale's Home Farm|work=[[ATV Today]]|date=12 February 2012|first=Mike|last=Watkins|access-date=24 November 2018|archive-date=24 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181124123824/http://www.atvtoday.co.uk/4250-itv/|url-status=live}}</ref> Other locales include a factory, a bed-and-breakfast,<ref name=emmerdaletour/> a corner shop,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lee |first1=Jess |title=Emmerdale fans spot two scandals at David Metcalfe's shop |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/emmerdale/a863518/emmerdale-fans-spot-two-scandals-at-david-metcalfes-shop/ |access-date=4 February 2022 |work=[[Digital Spy]] |publisher=([[Hearst Magazines UK]]) |date=9 August 2018 |archive-date=4 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220204212340/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/emmerdale/a863518/emmerdale-fans-spot-two-scandals-at-david-metcalfes-shop/ |url-status=live }}</ref> an outdoor-pursuits centre,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kilkelly |first1=Daniel |title=Emmerdale's Jai Sharma to face new crisis in death week fallout |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/emmerdale/a38673432/emmerdale-spoilers-jai-sharma-new-crisis/ |access-date=4 February 2022 |work=[[Digital Spy]] |publisher=([[Hearst Magazines UK]]) |date=5 January 2022 |archive-date=4 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220204200705/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/emmerdale/a38673432/emmerdale-spoilers-jai-sharma-new-crisis/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and various cafés.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lee |first1=Ben |title=Emmerdale fans spot a blunder at Bob Hope's cafe |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/emmerdale/a852936/emmerdale-blunder-bob-hopes-cafe-easter/ |access-date=4 February 2022 |work=[[Digital Spy]] |publisher=([[Hearst Magazines UK]]) |date=22 March 2018 |archive-date=4 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220204212338/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/emmerdale/a852936/emmerdale-blunder-bob-hopes-cafe-easter/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Families===
''Emmerdale'' has featured a number of families:
{{Div col}}
* The [[Sugden family]] (1972–present)
* The Bates family (1984–2001)
* The Whiteley family (1989–1994)
* The Tate family (1989–2005, 2009–present)
* The McAllister family (1993–1995)
* The Windsor/Hope families (1993–present)
* The Dingle family (1994–present)
* The Glover family (1994–2000)
* The Thomas family (1996–present)
* The Cairns family (1997–1999)
* The Blackstock/Lambert family (1998–present)
* The Reynolds family (1999–2007)
* The Daggert family (2001–2007)
* The Calder/Weston family (2001–2002)
* The King family (2004–present)
* The Sinclair/Oakwell family (2006–2008)
* The Wylde/Lamb family (2009–2011)
* The Barton family (2009–present)
* The Sharma family (2009–present)
* The Macey family (2010–2019)
* The Spencer/Breckle family (2011–2024)
* The White family (2014–2019)
* The Anderson family (2020–present)
* The Fox/Miligan family (2022–present)
{{Div col end}}

The Sugdens and their relatives, the Merricks and the Skilbecks, were at the centre of the show during the series' first two decades in the 1970s and 1980s (the ''Emmerdale Farm'' era). The Sugdens, owners of Emmerdale Farm, were its first family. Many of its members, and those of the Merrick and Skilbeck families, have left or been killed off since the mid-1990s. Sugdens remaining in the village are Jack's daughter, [[Victoria Sugden]] ([[Isabel Hodgins]]), her son Harry, and [[Andy Sugden]]'s ([[Kelvin Fletcher]]) daughter [[Sarah Sugden (2005 character)|Sarah]] (Katie Hill).<ref>{{cite magazine|date=1–7 October 2022|title=Land of soap & glory|magazine=[[Inside Soap]]|issue=40|pages=50–51}}</ref>

December 1984 saw the arrival of [[Caroline Bates]]; her teenage children, Kathy and Nick, followed in late 1985. Caroline left the show in 1989, returning for guest appearances in 1991, 1993–1994 and 1996. Nick was written out of the show when he was sentenced to ten years in prison in 1997. Kathy and her niece, Alice, remained in the village until late 2001; by then, Kathy had outlived two husbands. The wealthy Tates were introduced as the new owners of Home Farm in 1989, with the family consisting of [[Frank Tate (Emmerdale)|Frank Tate]] ([[Norman Bowler]]), wife [[Kim Tate|Kim]] ([[Claire King]]) and children [[Chris Tate|Chris]] ([[Peter Amory]]) and [[Zoe Tate|Zoe]] ([[Leah Bracknell]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2018-10-08/emmerdale-who-is-kim-tate-everything-you-need-to-know/|title=Emmerdale: who is Kim Tate? Everything you need to know|work=[[Radio Times]]|date=8 October 2018|first=Johnathon|last=Hughes|access-date=23 November 2018|archive-date=23 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123201000/https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2018-10-08/emmerdale-who-is-kim-tate-everything-you-need-to-know/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Other families followed: the middle-class Windsors in 1993, known as the Hope family after [[Viv Hope|Viv]]'s ([[Deena Payne]]) 2001 marriage to [[Bob Hope (Emmerdale)|Bob Hope]] ([[Tony Audenshaw]]), and the ne'er-do-well Dingle family in 1994.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ok.co.uk/tv/emmerdale/1476804/emmerdale-dingle-family-tree-how-related-spoilers-cast-charity-dingle-cain-chas-mum-family-itv|title=Emmerdale Dingle family tree: How are all the Dingles related? Charity, Chas and Cain Dingle's connections revealed amid confusion over the soap family|work=[[OK!]]|date=27 September 2018|first=Laura|last=Donaldson|access-date=23 November 2018|archive-date=23 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123201038/https://www.ok.co.uk/tv/emmerdale/1476804/emmerdale-dingle-family-tree-how-related-spoilers-cast-charity-dingle-cain-chas-mum-family-itv|url-status=live}}</ref> The Tate, Windsor-Hope and Dingle families predominated during the 1990s and 2000s. The era's storylines included the 1993 plane crash, the 1994 Home Farm siege, the 1998 post-office robbery, the 2000 bus crash, the 2003–04 storm and the 2006 King show-home collapse. By the mid- to late-2000s, the last of the Tates (Zoe, daughter [[Jean Tate|Jean]] and nephew [[Joseph Tate (Emmerdale)|Joseph]]) had emigrated to New Zealand. In 2009, Chris Tate's ex-wife Charity and their son Noah returned to the village. In 2017, [[Joe Tate (Emmerdale)|Joe Tate]] returned to the village. In 2018, Kim Tate returned to the village after nearly 20-year absence, and in the following year her son [[James Tate (Emmerdale)|James]] returned as well. Members of the Windsor-Hope family left the village in early 2006, and Viv Hope was killed off in a village fire in February 2011 after nearly 18 years on the show. As of 2024, only Donna Windsor's daughter, April, and the Hope branch of the family (Bob and his daughter Cathy) remain.<ref name="DSWho"/>

The King family arrived in 2004, as the Tates departed. All but [[Jimmy King (Emmerdale)|Jimmy King]], his half-sister, [[Scarlett Nicholls]], and his three children, Elliott, Angelica and Carl, were killed off. By 2018, most of the Dingles still remained, having actually increased their numbers in Emmerdale over the years. Their circumstances had changed in their two decades in the village; [[Chas Dingle]] owned half of The Woolpack, with Charity Dingle owning the other half, and Marlon was a chef there. In 2014, the Dingles, Bartons and Whites were the central families; the Bartons are a farming family, and the Whites owned Home Farm. In 2022, Daniel Kilkelly of [[Digital Spy]] stated that the Dingles were "arguably the best-known family from the current cast."<ref name="DSWho">{{cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/emmerdale/a41327788/emmerdale-cast/|title=Emmerdale cast 2022 – who plays who?|last=Kilkelly|first=Daniel|date=5 October 2022|publisher=[[Digital Spy]]|access-date=15 October 2022|archive-date=15 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221015041104/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/emmerdale/a41327788/emmerdale-cast/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Storylines==
Over the years, along with its stories of romance and family life, ''Emmerdale'' has highlighted a range of different social issues. In 2022, ''[[Leeds Live]]'' conducted a poll to ask viewers what, in their opinion, have been the greatest storylines in the soap's history. [[Meena Jutla]]'s ([[Paige Sandhu]]) killing spree was voted the winner. The other fourteen nominees, in vote order, were: [[Ashley Thomas]]' ([[John Middleton (actor)|John Middleton]]) dementia, the Hotten bypass crash, the [[Emmerdale plane crash|plane crash]], the helicopter crash, the storm and [[Tricia Dingle]]'s ([[Sheree Murphy]]) death, [[Kim Tate]]'s ([[Claire King]]) 2018 return, the Woolpack siege, [[Carl King]]'s ([[Tom Lister (actor)|Tom Lister]]) death, Kim Tate murdering [[Frank Tate (Emmerdale)|Frank Tate]] ([[Norman Bowler]]), [[Chris Tate]]'s ([[Peter Amory]]) suicide framing [[Charity Dingle]] ([[Emma Atkins]]), "Who killed [[Emma Barton (Emmerdale)|Emma Barton]]?", the Mill cottage explosion, the post office robbery and the Crossgill fire.<ref>{{cite news |title=What is the best Emmerdale storyline ever? Let us know in our Leeds Live poll |url=https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/news/celebs-tv/what-best-emmerdale-storyline-ever-26027569 |access-date=12 March 2025 |work=[[Leeds Live]] |archive-date=12 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250312163024/https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/news/celebs-tv/what-best-emmerdale-storyline-ever-26027569 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Broadcast==
===United Kingdom===
''Emmerdale'' was initially broadcast two afternoons a week in 1972, typically on Mondays and Tuesdays. From 1977, the series moved out of the daytime programming slot, with eight out of the fourteen ITV regions choosing to accommodate the programme in the 7:00{{nbsp}}pm Tuesday and Thursday slots.<ref name=independent2006/><ref name=telegraphrank/> The other six regions, including all of Scotland and London, preferred the 5:15pm slots on Mondays and Tuesdays. From 6 January 1988, all ITV regions networked the show in the 6:30{{nbsp}}pm slot, but two years later, the transmission time reverted to 7:00{{nbsp}}pm, still twice weekly. By January 1997, ITV had opted to increase output to three episodes a week, and from October 2000, a further two episodes were added, meaning ''Emmerdale'' was broadcasting every weekday. A sixth episode begin to air on Sundays in 2004, making ''Emmerdale'' the first British soap to broadcast six episodes a week.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/emmerdale-the-village-that-won-over-a-nation-5329802.html|title=Emmerdale: the village that won over a nation|work=[[The Independent]]|date=15 July 2006|access-date=23 November 2018|archive-date=23 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123075426/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/emmerdale-the-village-that-won-over-a-nation-5329802.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In January 2008, as with ''[[Coronation Street]]'', ITV announced they would cease airing ''Emmerdale'' on a Sunday night; this meant that ''Emmerdale'' would still air at 7:00{{nbsp}}pm each weekday, but to compensate, the Tuesday episode would run until 8:00{{nbsp}}pm. Producers of the soap explained that "each hour-long episode on Tuesday will be specially written and won't be two half-hour ones put together."<ref name="Battle">{{cite news |title='Emmerdale' confident about 'Enders battle |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/emmerdale/a83204/emmerdale-confident-about-enders-battle/ |access-date=11 February 2025 |work=[[Digital Spy]]}}</ref> The move meant that the second half of ''Emmerdale''{{'}}s Tuesday episode would clash with rival [[BBC]] soap ''[[EastEnders]]''.<ref name="Battle" />

On 8 July 2009, ITV announced that they were to revamp their schedule yet again. This time, ''Emmerdale''{{'}}s Tuesday hour-long episode was reduced back down to 30 minutes, and replaced with a second Thursday episode. ''Emmerdale'' and ''EastEnders'' ratings improved due to this, with ''Emmerdale'' getting 7.7&nbsp;million, its highest in over 6 months, on 1 October 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/jul/08/coronation-street-move-wednesdays|title= Coronation Street to move from Wednesdays – after nearly 50 years|work= The Guardian|first= Leigh|last= Holmwood|date= 8 July 2009|access-date= 18 July 2009|archive-date= 23 July 2009|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090723123150/http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/jul/08/coronation-street-move-wednesdays|url-status= live}}</ref> Between April and August 2019, ITV began airing an additional episode on Tuesdays at 8pm, bringing the total number of episodes a week to seven, but it was reduced back to six due to the heavy amount of filming for cast and crew involved. In March 2020, due to the effects of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], filming was suspended, and the episodes transmitted per week were decreased to three on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.<ref name="Corona" /> For three weeks of June 2020, two episodes of ''Emmerdale'' were transmitted per week in order to preserve episodes.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.entertainmentdaily.co.uk/soaps/itv-confirms-emmerdale-will-not-come-off-air-but-episodes-will-be-cut-to-two-per-week/?format=amp|title=ITV confirms Emmerdale will not come off air but episodes will be cut to two per week|work=Entertainment Daily|access-date=25 June 2020|archive-date=17 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117205355/https://www.entertainmentdaily.co.uk/soaps/itv-confirms-emmerdale-will-not-come-off-air-but-episodes-will-be-cut-to-two-per-week/?format=amp|url-status=live}}</ref> At the end of June, episodes returned to three per week.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.entertainmentdaily.co.uk/soaps/emmerdale-spoilers-leanna-apologises-to-leyla/?format=amp|title=Emmerdale SPOILERS: Leanna apologises to Leyla|work=Entertainment Daily|access-date=25 June 2020|archive-date=25 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200625085747/https://www.entertainmentdaily.co.uk/soaps/emmerdale-spoilers-leanna-apologises-to-leyla/?format=amp|url-status=live}}</ref> In September, ''Emmerdale'' returned to its regular transmission count of six weekly episodes.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/tv/coronation-street-emmerdale-return-six-18870345.amp|title=Coronation Street and Emmerdale return to six episodes a week|work=[[Manchester Evening News]]|date=3 September 2020|access-date=25 September 2020|archive-date=4 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200904091741/https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/tv/coronation-street-emmerdale-return-six-18870345.amp|url-status=live}}</ref> In January 2022, it was announced that after 32 years, ''Emmerdale''{{'}}s transmission time would move to 7:30{{nbsp}}pm, due to the ''[[ITV Evening News]]'' receiving a longer duration, with Thursday's episodes merged into one hour-long slot. The new scheduling began on Monday 7 March 2022.<ref>{{cite news
  | title = ITV National and International Evening News to become an hour-long programme from March 2022
  | publisher = ITV Press Centre
  | url = https://www.itv.com/presscentre/press-releases/itv-national-and-international-evening-news-become-hour-long-programme-march-2022
  | access-date = 24 January 2021
| archive-date = 27 January 2022
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220127015056/https://www.itv.com/presscentre/press-releases/itv-national-and-international-evening-news-become-hour-long-programme-march-2022
  | url-status = live
  }}</ref> The change meant that ''Emmerdale'' once again clashed with ''EastEnders'', this time being a daily occurrence.<ref>{{cite news |title=Emmerdale beats EastEnders in soap ratings battle as Corrie comes out on top |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/soaps/emmerdale-eastenders-ratings-battle-newsupdate/ |access-date=4 February 2025 |work=[[Radio Times]] |archive-date=3 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250403003226/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/soaps/emmerdale-eastenders-ratings-battle-newsupdate/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

From 2026 onwards, ''Emmerdale''{{'}}s scheduling is again set to change. It was confirmed that half an hour of content would be dropped from the schedule. Another change was the timeslot, with the soap set to air every weekday at 8{{nbsp}}pm for 30 minutes, with ''Coronation Street'' airing afterwards. ITV's Managing Director of Media and Entertainment Kevin Lygo explained: "research insights show us that soap viewers are increasingly looking to the soaps for their pacey storytelling. Streaming-friendly, 30 minute episodes better provide the opportunity to meet viewer expectations for storyline pace, pay-off and resolution."<ref>{{cite news |title=Coronation Street and Emmerdale to cut number of weekly episodes |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/coronation-street/a63662140/coronation-street-emmerdale-cut-episodes/ |access-date=4 February 2025 |work=[[Digital Spy]]}}</ref>

===International broadcast===
''Emmerdale'' reaches viewers in the [[Republic of Ireland]] via [[Virgin Media One]], which broadcasts the series simultaneously with ITV in the UK. ''Emmerdale'' was formerly broadcast during the day on [[RTÉ One]] from 1972 to 2001, before it moved to [[TV3 (Ireland)|TV3]], now known as Virgin Media One. RTÉ were several months behind; for many years, they broadcast the show five days a week (instead of ITV's three days a week) and took a break during the summer. As the series began a five-night week, RTÉ fell behind the ITV broadcasts; the gap between RTÉ One's last episode and TV3's first episode was approximately three months.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.breakingnews.ie/business/utv-to-take-on-rte-and-tv3-with-exclusive-rights-to-corrie-and-emmerdale-612389.html |title=UTV to take on RTÉ and TV3 with exclusive rights to Corrie and 'Emmerdale' |publisher=BreakingNews.ie |date=6 November 2013 |access-date=18 January 2015 |archive-date=18 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150118164950/http://www.breakingnews.ie/business/utv-to-take-on-rte-and-tv3-with-exclusive-rights-to-corrie-and-emmerdale-612389.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2015, UTV (the Northern Irish ITV Region holder) decided to buy the rights to ITV programming for the Republic of Ireland. It was broadcast on UTV Ireland (now [[Virgin Media Three]]) in 2015 and 2016, it was then moved back to TV3 (now known as Virgin Media one) when [[Virgin Media Ireland]], the owners of the [[Virgin Media Television (Ireland)|TV3 Group]] (now known as Virgin Media Television Ireland) bought UTV Ireland from ITV, following the sale of UTV to ITV a few months previously.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/media-and-marketing/tv3-owner-virgin-media-buys-utv-ireland-for-10m-1.2718283|title=TV3 owner Virgin Media buys UTV Ireland for €10m|last=Slattery|first=Laura|newspaper=The Irish Times|access-date=3 July 2019|archive-date=29 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629131123/https://www.irishtimes.com/business/media-and-marketing/tv3-owner-virgin-media-buys-utv-ireland-for-10m-1.2718283|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.virginmedia.com/corporate/media-centre/press-releases/virgin-media-to-acquire-utv-ireland|title=Virgin Media to Acquire UTV Ireland|website=Virgin Media|access-date=3 July 2019|archive-date=3 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190703215058/https://www.virginmedia.com/corporate/media-centre/press-releases/virgin-media-to-acquire-utv-ireland|url-status=live}}</ref>

The series has appeared in [[Sweden]] as ''Hem till gården'' ("Home to the Farm") since the 1970s&nbsp;– originally on [[SVT2|TV2]], and since 1994, on [[TV4 AB|TV4]]. ''Emmerdale'' is the most-watched daytime non-news programme in Sweden, attracting from 150,000 to 200,000 viewers daily.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://mms.se/hottop/hottop.asp|title=MMS Daily Hot Top Ratings|date=17 April 2014|publisher=MMS.se|access-date=17 April 2014|archive-date=16 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416190856/http://mms.se/hottop/hottop.asp|url-status=live}}</ref> The programme appears in [[Finland]] on [[MTV3]] where it attracts an average of 200,000 to 250,000 viewers per episode, making it the most watched non-Finnish every-weekday program in Finnish television. Ratings have, however, declined in the past few years, previously being consecutively around 350,000 to 400,000 per episode.<ref>Finnpanel. Broadcast ratings. Week 49/ 2016. Retrieved: 27 December 2016. Available: https://www.finnpanel.fi/en/tulokset/tv/vko/top/2016/49/mtv3.html {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161228034145/https://www.finnpanel.fi/en/tulokset/tv/vko/top/2016/49/mtv3.html |date=28 December 2016 }}</ref> ''Emmerdale'' is broadcast in [[New Zealand]] on [[TVNZ 1]], where it is the second-most-watched daytime programme, after the news.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.throng.co.nz/2014/04/tv-ratings-16-april-2014/ |title=Throng TV Ratings |date=16 April 2014 |access-date=17 April 2014 |archive-date=19 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419012633/http://www.throng.co.nz/2014/04/tv-ratings-16-april-2014/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Emmerdale'' was broadcast in Australia for the first time in July 2006, when [[BBC UKTV|UKTV]] began airing the series with episode 4288.<ref>{{cite news |title = Symons: Marilyn Fisher was easy, cracking the UK wasn't |date = 22 June 2006 |agency = [[Australian Associated Press]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title = Emily swaps soaps | first = Pam |last = Brown |date = 27 June 2006| newspaper = [[The West Australian]] |page = 5 |publisher = West Australian Newspapers}}</ref> ''Emmerdale'' has been available to viewers in the [[United States]] via the [[BritBox]] streaming service since March 2017. New episodes typically appear on the service within five hours of their original broadcast in the UK.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.iheartbritishtv.com/where-to-watch-british-soaps-in-the-us/|title=Where to Watch British Soaps in the US|date=20 June 2019|website=I Heart British TV|access-date=28 December 2019|archive-date=28 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191228224133/https://www.iheartbritishtv.com/where-to-watch-british-soaps-in-the-us/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Production==
{{See also|List of Emmerdale producers}}

===Filming locations===
[[File:Esholtmay2005.JPG|thumb|right|alt=Village street with stone houses|[[Esholt]], West Yorkshire, used for exterior scenes from 1976 to 1997]]
[[File:Emmerdale village by John Turner.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Village, seen from a distance across a field|Village set, built by [[Yorkshire Television]] in 1997 on the Harewood estate near [[Eccup]], Leeds, West Yorkshire]]
The original ''Emmerdale Farm'' buildings are located near to the village of [[Leathley]]. The buildings are one of the few original filming locations used for the entire series and have been involved in numerous storylines.<ref>{{cite web |title=TV Locations |url=https://www.visitotley.co.uk/tv-locations/ |publisher=Visit Otley |access-date=20 January 2022 |archive-date=21 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200221161958/http://www.visitotley.co.uk/tv-locations/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Scenes initially filmed in the farmhouse were filmed at Lindley Farm, owned by Arthur Peel, a farmer. Laffan and the researchers found his farm ideal for scenes and the location was large enough for cast and crew members to park their vehicles there. Yorkshire Television promised Peel to keep his identity and the location of his farm a secret, but viewers eventually discovered both and would visit in the hopes of meeting the cast there.<ref name="Companion" /> Location shooting was originally filmed in the village of [[Arncliffe, North Yorkshire|Arncliffe]] in Littondale, a quiet valley in the [[Yorkshire Dales]]. The Falcon, the village hotel, served as the fictional Woolpack Inn. After four years of filming there, it was moved to the village of [[Esholt]] in 1976. The Woolpack's real-life location was changed to Commercial Inn in Esholt, and eventually, the real owner of the inn agreed to change the name to the Woolpack.<ref name="Companion" />

After the soap began transmitting episodes 52 weeks of the year, the production needed more space. This led to the purchase of a four-floor mill in [[Farsley]] for £2 million, which a building team converted into the ''Emmerdale'' Production Centre.<ref name="Companion" /> Construction of another purpose-built set began on the [[Harewood House#Popular culture|Harewood estate]] in 1996 and it has been used since 1997, after being opened by Prime Minister [[John Major]].<ref name="Companion" /> The Harewood set is a replica of Esholt, with minor alterations. Filming returned to Esholt in 2016 for a special episode centred around [[Ashley Thomas]]' ([[John Middleton (actor)|John Middleton]]) dementia which aired in December 2016. The location was used to represent Ashley's onset of dementia to the viewer.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kilkelly |first1=Daniel |title=Emmerdale: Did you notice the show returned to its old village in the Ashley episode? |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/emmerdale/a817405/emmerdale-ashley-thomas-episode-old-village-esholt/ |access-date=20 January 2022 |work=[[Digital Spy]] |publisher=([[Hearst Magazines UK]]) |archive-date=20 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120125813/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/emmerdale/a817405/emmerdale-ashley-thomas-episode-old-village-esholt/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Location filming is also done in the [[City of Leeds]] and other [[West Yorkshire]] locations; scenes set in the fictional market town of Hotten are currently filmed in [[Otley]], and previously in Farsley. [[Benton Park School]] in [[Rawdon, West Yorkshire|Rawdon]] and the primary school in [[Farnley, West Yorkshire|Farnley]] were also used for filming. Interiors are primarily filmed at Yorkshire Television's Emmerdale Production Centre in Leeds, next to Yorkshire's [[Leeds Studios]].<ref>[http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showthreaded.php?Cat=0&Board=EarthTourism&Number=233786&Searchpage=1&Main=233786&Words=+pennine&topic=&Search=true#Post233786 Leeds Studios location] Google Earth  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080519190106/http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showthreaded.php?Cat=0&Board=EarthTourism&Number=233786&Searchpage=1&Main=233786&Words=%20pennine&topic=&Search=true |date=19 May 2008 }}</ref>

Four farms have been featured on ''Emmerdale'' over the years:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name
! Year(s)
! Summary
! Location
|-
| Emmerdale Farm || 1972–1993 || Belonged to the Sugden family for many years, until subsidence forces them to move. || Lindley Farm
|-
| Hawthorn Cottage || 1993–1997 || [[Matt Skilbeck|Matt]] ([[Frederick Pyne]]) and [[Peggy Skilbeck]]'s ([[Jo Kendall]]) former home until it is sold and converted into a quarry. || Bank Side Farm
|-
| Melby Farm || 1997–2002 || A farm that goes bankrupt, leaving [[Jack Sugden]] ([[Clive Hornby]]) to move into a cottage in the village. || {{nowrap|Burden Head Farm}}
|-
| Butler's Farm || {{nowrap|2003–present}} || Acquired by [[Andy Sugden]] ([[Kelvin Fletcher]]) and [[Katie Addyman]] ([[Sammy Winward]]) in 2003, before the Barton family take the farm over in 2009. || Brookland Farm
|}

===Sponsors===
''Emmerdale''{{'s}} first sponsor (from 14 December 1999 to 20 February 2002) was [[Daz (detergent)|Daz]] detergent,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/daz-recruits-soap-stars-latest-cleaner-close-campaign/843181|title=Daz recruits soap stars for latest 'Cleaner Close' campaign|work=Campaign Live|date=2 September 2008|last=Brownsell|first=Alex|access-date=8 May 2020|archive-date=31 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731000205/https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/daz-recruits-soap-stars-latest-cleaner-close-campaign/843181|url-status=live}}</ref> followed by [[Heinz Tomato Ketchup]] and Heinz [[salad cream]] from May 2003 to May 2005, a deal that cost Heinz £10 million.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/stop-press-heinz-spends-10m-emmerdale-sponsorship/204585|title=STOP PRESS: Heinz spends £10m on Emmerdale|work=Campaign Live|access-date=8 May 2020|archive-date=31 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731000038/https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/stop-press-heinz-spends-10m-emmerdale-sponsorship/204585|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Reckitt Benckiser]] took over until 2009 in another £10 million deal, advertising [[Calgon]], [[Air Wick]], [[Veet]], and [[Lemsip]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/reckitt-benckiser-sponsors-itvs-emmerdale-10m-deal/487987|title=Reckitt Benckiser sponsors ITV's Emmerdale in £10m deal|work=Campaign Live|access-date=8 May 2020|archive-date=31 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731035643/https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/reckitt-benckiser-sponsors-itvs-emmerdale-10m-deal/487987|url-status=live}}</ref> After reports of [[Littlewoods]] pulling out of a two-year deal, [[Tombola (bingo company)|Tombola Bingo]] underwrote the show from November 2009 to March 2012,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/tombola-bingo-signs-emmerdale-sponsor/943822|title=Tombola Bingo signs as Emmerdale sponsor|work=Campaign Live|access-date=8 May 2020|archive-date=31 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731015019/https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/tombola-bingo-signs-emmerdale-sponsor/943822|url-status=live}}</ref> followed by [[Bet365]] Bingo until March 2014.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.loquax.co.uk/news/4323-Bingo-Leaves-Emmerdale---But-For-How-Long.htm|title=Bingo Leaves Emmerdale – But For How Long|work=Loquaz|access-date=8 May 2020|archive-date=31 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731005424/https://www.loquax.co.uk/news/4323-Bingo-Leaves-Emmerdale---But-For-How-Long.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> [[McCain Foods]] began a two-year £8 million sponsorship on 7 April 2014.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s12/emmerdale/news/a558174/emmerdale-to-be-sponsored-by-mccain-in-two-year-deal.html|title=Emmerdale to be sponsored by McCain in two-year deal|work=[[Digital Spy]]|date=17 March 2014|access-date=17 March 2014|archive-date=17 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317183629/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s12/emmerdale/news/a558174/emmerdale-to-be-sponsored-by-mccain-in-two-year-deal.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Then on 15 April 2020, the [[People's Postcode Lottery]] took over as sponsor of the programme.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.postcodelottery.info/news/latest-news/peoples-postcode-lottery-to-sponsor-emmerdale/|title=People's Postcode Lottery to sponsor Emmerdale|website=[[People's Postcode Lottery]]|date=12 March 2020|access-date=8 May 2020|archive-date=31 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731035715/https://www.postcodelottery.info/news/latest-news/peoples-postcode-lottery-to-sponsor-emmerdale/|url-status=live}}</ref> Two years later, [[Confused.com]] replaced the People's Postcode Lottery as ''Emmerdale''{{'}}s sponsor until July 2024.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sansome |first1=Jessica |title=ITV Emmerdale fans spot noticeable change seconds before ITV soap |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/tv/itv-emmerdale-fans-spot-noticeable-24525169.amp |access-date=19 July 2022 |work=[[Manchester Evening News]] |publisher=([[Reach plc]]) |archive-date=19 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220719083557/https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/tv/itv-emmerdale-fans-spot-noticeable-24525169.amp |url-status=live }}</ref> In August, [[Specsavers]] replaced Confused.com.

==Reception==
===Ratings===
As of 2024, ''Emmerdale'' generally attracts an average of 4&nbsp;million viewers.<ref name="barb">{{cite web|url=https://www.barb.co.uk/viewing-data/four-screen-dashboard/|title=Four-screen dashboard|publisher=[[Broadcasters' Audience Research Board]]|access-date=22 January 2022|archive-date=1 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181201222837/https://www.barb.co.uk/viewing-data/four-screen-dashboard/|url-status=live}}</ref> During the 1990s, the series had an average of 10–11&nbsp;million viewers per episode. On 30 December 1993, ''Emmerdale'' had its largest-ever audience of 18&nbsp;million when [[Emmerdale plane crash|a plane crashed into the village]].<ref name=telegraphrank>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/0/british-soaps-ranked-worst-best/4emmerdaleitv-1972-presentoft-overlooked-third-soap-yorkshire/|title=From Eldorado to EastEnders – British soaps ranked, from worst to best|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=3 June 2017|access-date=23 November 2018|archive-date=23 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123120903/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/0/british-soaps-ranked-worst-best/4emmerdaleitv-1972-presentoft-overlooked-third-soap-yorkshire/|url-status=live}}</ref> On 27 May 1997, 13&nbsp;million viewers saw [[Frank Tate (Emmerdale)|Frank Tate]] ([[Norman Bowler]]) die of a heart attack after the return of wife [[Kim Tate|Kim]] ([[Claire King]]). On 20 October 1998, 12.5&nbsp;million viewers saw the Woolpack explode after a fire. Kim Tate's departure from the show on 19 January 1999 was watched by nearly 15&nbsp;million viewers.<ref name=barb/>

The village storm on 1 January 2004 attracted 11.19&nbsp;million viewers. 18 May 2004 episode in which Jack was shot by his adopted son, Andy, attracted 8.27&nbsp;million viewers. On 17 March 2005, 9.39&nbsp;million watched [[Shelley Williams]] fall from the Isle of Arran ferry. [[Zoe Tate]] ([[Leah Bracknell]]) left the show after 16 years on 22 September 2005 before 8.58 million viewers, marking her departure by blowing up Home Farm. On 13 July 2006, the Kings River house collapse was seen by 6.90&nbsp;million viewers. [[Sadie King]] ([[Patsy Kensit]]) and [[Cain Dingle]] ([[Jeff Hordley]]) left on 21 September 2006, before an audience of 8.57&nbsp;million viewers. On Christmas Day 2006, 7.69&nbsp;million saw [[Tom King (Emmerdale)|Tom King]] ([[Kenneth Farrington]]) murdered on his wedding day. [[Billy Hopwood]] ([[David Crellin]]) crashed his truck into a lake on 1 February 2007, attracting 8.15&nbsp;million viewers. The end of the "Who Killed Tom King?" storyline on 17 May 2007, had an audience of 8.92 million.<ref name="barb" />

On 14 January 2010, 9.96&nbsp;million saw [[Mark Wylde]] shot dead by wife [[Natasha Wylde|Natasha]]. Natasha's 27 October confession to daughter Maisie attracted an audience of nearly 8&nbsp;million. On 13 January 2011, 9.15&nbsp;million saw a fire kill [[Viv Hope]] and [[Terry Woods (Emmerdale)|Terry Woods]]. The live 40th-anniversary episode on 17 October 2012, drew an audience of 8.83&nbsp;million. On 16 October 2013, 8.15&nbsp;million watched [[Cameron Murray (Emmerdale)|Cameron Murray]] take the occupants of The Woolpack hostage and shoot Alicia. The next day, 7.65&nbsp;million viewers saw Cameron die.<ref name=barb/> In January 2022, their overnight viewing figures saw ''Emmerdale'' become the most watched soap opera in the United Kingdom. They beat ''[[Coronation Street]]'', a fellow ITV soap that had consistently beaten ''Emmerdale'' in the ratings. The rise in viewers was accredited to Meena's serial killer storyline.<ref name="DMG Media">{{cite news |last1=Lindsay |first1=Duncan |title=Emmerdale overtakes Coronation Street in ratings as Meena story proves popular |url=https://metro.co.uk/2022/01/20/emmerdale-overtakes-coronation-street-in-ratings-as-meena-story-proves-popular-15955841/ |access-date=22 January 2022 |work=[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]] |publisher=([[DMG Media]]) |date=20 January 2022 |archive-date=22 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220122150923/https://metro.co.uk/2022/01/20/emmerdale-overtakes-coronation-street-in-ratings-as-meena-story-proves-popular-15955841/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Critical and viewer response===
{{Further|List of awards and nominations received by Emmerdale}}
Numerous ''Emmerdale'' storylines have been criticised by viewers, due to suggestions that they are too controversial. In March 2022, ''[[Leeds Live]]'' compiled a list of top storylines that viewers were disgusted by, with the list including [[Cain Dingle]] ([[Jeff Hordley]]) having sex with an underage [[Ollie Reynolds]] ([[Vicky Binns]]), [[Charity Dingle]] ([[Emma Atkins]]) having a baby with her second-cousin Cain, [[Aaron Livesy]] ([[Danny Miller (actor)|Danny Miller]]) assisting a [[quadriplegic]] [[Jackson Walsh]] ([[Marc Silcock]]) to die, [[Maya Stepney]] ([[Louisa Clein]]) grooming step-son [[Jacob Gallagher (Emmerdale)|Jacob Gallagher]] ([[Joe-Warren Plant]]) and [[Pierce Harris]] ([[Jonathan Wrather]]) raping [[Rhona Goskirk]] ([[Zoë Henry]]).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/news/celebs-tv/emmerdales-most-controversial-storylines-cain-23493271.amp|title=Emmerdale's most controversial storylines from Cain 'paedophile' plot to teacher grooming her stepson|work=[[Leeds Live]]|publisher=([[Reach plc]])|date=26 March 2022|access-date=19 April 2022|last=Jones|first=Craig|archive-date=19 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220419204127/https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/news/celebs-tv/emmerdales-most-controversial-storylines-cain-23493271.amp|url-status=live}}</ref>

Another storyline that attracted a strong viewer response is an arc that saw [[Meena Jutla]] ([[Paige Sandhu]]) be revealed as a serial killer, with her confessing to two off-screen murders, as well as murdering regulars [[Leanna Cavanagh]] ([[Mimi Slinger]]), [[Andrea Tate]] ([[Anna Nightingale]]) and [[Ben Tucker (Emmerdale)|Ben Tucker]] (Simon Lennon). Meena immediately caused division in viewers' opinions from her introduction, and after Meena is revealed to be a serial killer, critics and viewers began to praise the character and Sandhu's acting skills, with many believing Meena had become a "top soap serial killer".<ref name="Plotlines">{{cite news |last1=Brown |first1=David |title=8 plotlines that will turn Emmerdale's Meena into a top soap serial killer |url=https://metro.co.uk/2021/06/28/plots-that-will-turn-emmerdales-meena-into-a-top-soap-serial-killer-14827518/ |access-date=7 July 2021 |work=[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]] |publisher=[[DMG Media]] |date=28 June 2021 |archive-date=9 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709190040/https://metro.co.uk/2021/06/28/plots-that-will-turn-emmerdales-meena-into-a-top-soap-serial-killer-14827518/amp/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Duncan Lindsay of the ''[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]]'' described Meena as "the most unique and entertaining soap villain ever" and admitted that he wanted her to get away with her crimes due to her strong presence on ''Emmerdale''.<ref name="Legend">{{cite news |last1=Lindsay |first1=Duncan |title=Emmerdale's Meena Jutla may be the most unique and entertaining soap villain ever |url=https://metro.co.uk/2021/10/21/emmerdales-meena-the-most-unique-and-entertaining-soap-villain-ever-15463906/ |access-date=29 October 2021 |work=[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]] |publisher=([[DMG Media]]) |date=21 October 2021 |archive-date=29 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029120838/https://securepubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?iu=%2F39694909%2FAMP%2FAMP-MetroUKCH&adk=349635430&sz=300x250&output=html&impl=ifr&ifi=5&msz=600x-1&psz=600x-1&fws=4&scp=ampRCSpotId%3Dsp_VWxmZkOI&adf=2922811639&nhd=0&adx=267&ady=7416&oid=2&ptt=13&gdfp_req=1&sfv=1-0-37&u_sd=1&artc=81&ati=8&ard=indexexchange&is_amp=3&amp_v=2110152252002&d_imp=1&c=3943007507&ga_cid=amp-3lsplrFDs9cQLMzEVc4H3A&ga_hid=7507&dt=1635509317724&biw=1134&bih=42317&u_aw=1600&u_ah=1000&u_cd=24&u_w=1600&u_h=1000&u_tz=0&u_his=50&vis=1&scr_x=0&scr_y=0&bc=7&url=https%3A%2F%2Fmetro.co.uk%2F2021%2F10%2F21%2Femmerdales-meena-the-most-unique-and-entertaining-soap-villain-ever-15463906%2F&loc=https%3A%2F%2Fmetro.co.uk%2F2021%2F10%2F21%2Femmerdales-meena-the-most-unique-and-entertaining-soap-villain-ever-15463906%2Famp%2F&bdt=4398&dtd=95&__amp_source_origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmetro.co.uk |url-status=live }}</ref> Many viewers praised Meena, and credited her with being the most interesting part of ''Emmerdale'', while some complained about the violence shown in her murderous scenes, with [[Ofcom]] receiving hundreds of complaints about her brutality.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Patterson |first1=Stephen |title=Emmerdale hit with Ofcom complaints after gruesome Meena murder |url=https://metro.co.uk/2021/12/01/emmerdale-hit-with-ofcom-complaints-after-gruesome-meena-murder-15695087/ |access-date=1 January 2022 |work=[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]] |publisher=([[DMG Media]]) |date=1 December 2021 |archive-date=1 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220101160857/https://metro.co.uk/2021/12/01/emmerdale-hit-with-ofcom-complaints-after-gruesome-meena-murder-15695087/amp/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Despite criticism, Meena regularly [[Twitter trends|trended on Twitter]] and garnered an online [[fandom]], the 'Meeniacs', who felt that the soap would not be the same following her exit.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://metro.co.uk/2022/04/18/emmerdale-fans-mourn-the-loss-of-meena-as-she-exits-forever-16489719/|title=Emmerdale fans mourn the loss of Meena as she exits forever|work=[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]]|last=Lindsay|first=Duncan|date=18 April 2022|publisher=([[DMG Media]])|access-date=19 April 2022|archive-date=19 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220419204127/https://metro.co.uk/2022/04/18/emmerdale-fans-mourn-the-loss-of-meena-as-she-exits-forever-16489719/amp/|url-status=live}}</ref> Her storyline also increased ''Emmerdale''{{'}}s ratings to the point of becoming the most-watched soap opera in the United Kingdom.<ref name="DMG Media" /> In 2021, Sandhu was nominated for Best Newcomer and Best Villain at the 2021 [[Inside Soap Awards|''Inside Soap'' Awards]], and Meena's murder of Leanna was nominated for Best Show-Stopper.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Alexander |first1=Susannah |title=''Inside Soap'' Awards announces 2021 longlist as voting opens – here's who's up for prizes |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/coronation-street/a37769663/inside-soap-awards-2021-nominees-longlist-how-to-vote/ |access-date=29 October 2021 |work=[[Digital Spy]] |publisher=([[Hearst Magazines UK]]) |date=28 September 2021 |archive-date=2 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211002110028/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/coronation-street/a37769663/inside-soap-awards-2021-nominees-longlist-how-to-vote/ |url-status=live }}</ref> She went on to win the award for Best Villain.<ref name="Crowned">{{cite news |last1=Shackleton |first1=Niamh |title=Emmerdale's Meena actress crowned Best Villain at ''Inside Soap'' Awards |url=https://www.ok.co.uk/tv/soaps/emmerdales-meena-actress-crowned-best-25523531.amp |access-date=23 November 2021 |work=[[OK!]] |date=23 November 2021 |archive-date=23 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211123095608/https://www.ok.co.uk/tv/soaps/emmerdales-meena-actress-crowned-best-25523531.amp |url-status=live }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of Emmerdale characters|List of ''Emmerdale'' characters]]
* [[List of Emmerdale spin-offs and merchandise|List of ''Emmerdale'' spin-offs and merchandise]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
<!-- Please do ''not'' add links to fan sites here, they are considered spam -->
* {{itv.com|id=emmerdale|title=''Emmerdale''}}
* {{stv.tv|id=emmerdale|title=''Emmerdale''}}
* {{IMDb title|0068069}}

{{Emmerdale}}
{{Emmerdale characters}}
{{Soap operas in the United Kingdom}}

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