‘Emmerdale’ producers reveal the storylines they're most proud of

It's time for Emmerdale to celebrate its 50th birthday, and now the ITV soap’s team of producers are looking back on the show’s legacy.

Part of that includes those storylines that kept viewers talking or made a powerful impact. Executive producer Jane Hudson reveals her fondest Emmerdale plots are those that reached out to the public.

“My proudest story is any story that gives a voice to a viewer who has been silenced through guilt, shame, or fear.

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"For example, Vinny suffering domestic abuse from his father, Victoria’s rape, and Laurel’s decision to have a termination after the diagnosis that the baby has Down Syndrome.

“I was massively proud of that story because there are so many women and men who live in shame, guilt, and fear they can’t speak out over what is fundamentally their right to choose.”

Producer Kate Brooks agrees with this sentiment. “I am most proud of stories that raise awareness and help people. We have got access into people’s living rooms.

“Every story is important, whether it is a lighter story that gives people a respite from the daily grind or the hard-hitting stories like Marlon’s stroke. Working here makes me feel proud.”

Fellow producer Laura Shaw shares her long history with the show as she ponders the stories that stand out for her. “I’ve worked on Emmerdale for 20 years and I am going to struggle to pick out one!

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“I echo everything that has been said. I enjoyed producing Charity’s historical abuse and the flashback episode. You take a character like Charity who you feel you know everything about and then you discover something new.”

But as Shaw points out, the lighter moments have their place, too. “Bernice thinking that Liam was a serial killer was a great story too. Only Emmerdale can do a comedy story like that!”

As for storylines that earned the most attention from the audience, it will come as no surprise that the exploits of murderous Meena Jutla (Paige Sandhu) make that list.

“The Meena story garnered so much reaction,” says Brooks.

“It brought so much love and hate. Regardless of whether you liked Meena or not, you still watched it. Emmerdale is a form of escapism.”

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But what about the soap’s big milestone? Well, Hudson gave us some fresh teasers at a recent press event.

"It is a rollercoaster of emotions, and there is a visual impact that will blow more than your socks off, put it that way!" she reveals.

"There's deaths, there's destruction, but there's also real moments of intimacy, of heartbreak and love. We're going to see our characters tested in not just their physical strength, but their emotional strength as well.

"There's going to be a lot of tears — I must warn you about that!

"We go into our storm, which has got more than one stunt across the week; and then just when you think things can't get any worse for our Emmerdale characters, they really, really do," adds Hudson.

"We end the month on a really big bang that propels us well into the New Year."

How much more can those villagers take? Find out when Emmerdale airs an hour-long anniversary special on Sunday 16th October at 7pm on ITV.

Watch Emmerdale cast members tease the 50th anniversary