50 Years of Emmerdale: The official story of TV's most iconic rural drama

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Olympic cyclist Victoria Pendleton dropped into Home Farm in 2014 as the celebrity guest at the estate’s relaunch As long as I can remember my Mum never missed an episode and now she watches me in it! Emmerdale is more than an institution of British television, it’s a reminder of home.” The root of Emmerdale is brilliant families, like a crochet blanket. We’ve had these family driven characters for so long, and viewers care – they want to know what they’re doing, because we’re in their household night after night. That’s what makes it so terrific. I honestly feel like I’m part of the heart of the programme, and that fills me with pride.' After 22 years, the production moved to the Harewood Estate, where a replica of Esholt was constructed, after the village became too busy to film, with congestion and disruption caused by visits from fans hoping to catch a glimpse of the soap’s characters and locations. You can take an official tour of Emmerdale's village.

Will's wedding to Kim Tate will be a focal point of the 50th anniversary month, but there are sure to be fireworks when Harriet decides it's a good idea to confess her feelings. She feels like she’s done all she can at Emmerdale and wants to focus on her music career and make a real go of it. Bosses have pulled out all the stops for the 50th anniversary month and Isobel’s exit will be no different." A source told the publication: "It’s been a big decision for Isobel but she’s ready to try new things. Emmerdale was intended to fill a lunchtime slot for only 13 weeks - which equates to 26 episodes. It moved to being broadcast in the evening, where it has remained, from 1990. The ITV programme was originally filmed in the real-life village of Arncliffe in the Yorkshire Dales before moving to Esholt in West Yorkshire. I’m so thrilled to be part of Emmerdale’s iconic 50th celebrations. To be working in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales with such an amazing team. Fifty years ago one of my first jobs was playing Sharon Crosswaite on Emmerdale Farm, then a humble lunchtime show, and now here I am again, full circle. I couldn’t be happier.”

It’s a life-changing experience to work with such a good ensemble team. There are still people involved in the show that I was with on the first day, there are no airs and graces, no one’s above anyone else-it’s the best formula for getting the job done.' Darcy Grey joined the role of sparky electrician Marcus Dean, the son of Rhona’s rapist Pierce Harris, late last year. It’s still got the best work ethic and it’s still the most down to earth place, and I know people always say, ‘Oh, it’s like a family’ but it really is. I think it’s because we’re the only one that has the greenery, the rural setting, the beautiful Dales, it just looks different from city soaps. And there’s such a variety of different people because of the setting; there are people from the city, there are country bumpkins and you wouldn’t normally get that on a soap.' It’s a factory for making TV that people engage with. It’s a great job for me because I can do what I enjoy. I can do serious stuff, I can do a bit of comedy, I can sing a bit. It plays to my strengths as an actor, and I feel valued there. It’s not about giving people what they want all the time, so we’re not just making the audience happy, we’re annoying them, you want to keep them watching and you want to take them on a journey. Characters are taken out of their comfort zones and do something bad and go on a curve of redemption.'

It’s been a gift, all the way through. I can honestly say, 25 years later, I genuinely get excited to go in every day. It’s a support network, it’s a hotbed of creativity. I used to watch it when I was a little boy, with my grandparents. It’s a little piece of magic in the world.' To mark the occasion, cast members including Louise Jameson, Kevin Mathurin, Emile John and Lawrence Robb, who have joined the soap in recent years have come together for a special birthday shoot.Everything you need to know about Britain's most iconic rural drama can be found in this beautifully designed and fact-filled book. Jessie Elland, who plays Chloe Harris has had several big storylines since joining the show and is looking forward to what lies ahead for Chloe. Harriet is no Kim Tate but they are both feisty women and able to look after themselves so there will be more fireworks. They will have their moments." As well as a stunt-heavy special episode focused on the major storm ITV will also air a one-off documentary. Reflecting and celebrating on the last 50 years of Emmerdale, the TV special will document how a sleepy daytime afternoon serial about rural folk became the award-winning, hard-hitting drama that we know and love today. But it now seems the 21-year-old actress wants to make a switch, going full-time with her music career after covering everything from Abba to One Direction's Harry Styles on her YouTube channel.

Spice Girl Mel B popped up as an extra at Leeds station, and in a three-legged drinking race with Angela Griffin of Coronation Street fame, and again at Leeds station in 1994. While Emmerdale has started airing a new romance between Harriet Finch and Dan Spencer, it already seems doomed to fail as Harriet still has feelings for her ex-partner Will Taylor. Emmerdale is celebrating its 50th anniversary with lots of treats planned for fans and we are on-hand to ensure you don’t miss any of it. Some of our best-loved villagers will be in peril and it is safe to say literally the village won’t be the same after this - it will never be the same again. The impact this storm has on peoples’ lives is massive.” In 2001 with a little 'help' the villagers bid farewell to Kathy. Pictured: (L-R) Tricia Fisher (Sheree Murphy), Marti Pellow and Kathy Glover Malandra Burrows (Image: YTV)Sounds like it is action you won’t want to miss. To ensure you make the most of the Emmerdale 50th anniversary experience, we’ve got all the key information you need below.

Storylines escalated, too. There had been affairs in the past, but now there were literal rolls in the hay. To be part of a serial drama as iconic as Emmerdale on its 50th birthday is special in itself. What makes it even better is the gorgeous people I get to work with on a daily basis. Dreamy!” Past and present cast members will take part in the documentary as they take a trip down memory lane and reflect on how far their characters have come. We’ll bring you more information on when the documentary will air when we have it.I’ve been on all the soap sets and it’s the one I find most realistic. I catch myself looking to cross the road because you forget you’re not in a real village. They are proper buildings, proper infrastructure,' says Parfitt who highlights there have been various locations used over the years. Katherine Dow Blyton, who plays Harriet, recently told Digital Spy and other media: "I'm involved [in the anniversary] because Harriet has once again got herself mixed up with men problems. Aside from the name, lunchtime slot and bucolic imagery, there was the theme tune, which is the same arrangement but about five times slower, and admittedly, some of the cliff-hangers, compared to today, are rather tame, such as Annie’s best teapot being broken. It was a nostalgia fest, and I think that’s how Emmerdale was perceived for a good while.' As a team we are passionate about finding new talent and the right actor for the role. All of these actors have really made their own mark on the show already.”