Live episode for Emmerdale's 40th anniversary?

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Live episode for Emmerdale's 40th anniversary?
Live episode for Emmerdale's 40th anniversary? (Image credit: ITV)

Emmerdale looks set to follow in the footsteps of Coronation Street and EastEnders by broadcasting a live episode. The rural soap - which started life as Emmerdale Farm - celebrates its 40th anniversary next year, and its bosses hope to emulate the success of EastEnders' 25th birthday show, which had 20 million viewers, and Coronation Street's 50th, which was watched by 15 million people. Emmerdale, known for turbulent families like the Dingles and the Sugdens, has even hired Coronation Street director Tony Prescott to work on the episode. He told The Sun: "I would love to do more live drama on TV. "Television as an event is the future. Look at shows like The X Factor - all the biggest grossing shows now are live." Those in charge at the programme are keeping quiet about possible plots. A source said: "No storylines have been decided yet. "Bosses want a big surprise and a big disaster. Corrie pushed the limits with their live stunts last year."

Patrick McLennan
Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 

An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.