After the Flood fans spot baffling link between ITV drama and soap Emmerdale
When two worlds collide!
After the Flood returned to our screens this week with a much-anticipated – and frankly, quite brilliant – series 2, but some viewers were thrown by a baffling link to ITV soap Emmerdale.
The crime drama first aired in 2024, and made a welcome return to our screens on Sunday (January 18). Understandably, some of those watching needed a recap of series 1 before diving in, as the events of series 2 are closely linked to the series before.
Fans needed to be paying close attention to every scene. Which is probably why a small number of eagle-eyed ITV viewers spotted something most fans overlooked…
After the Flood’s baffling link to ITV soap Emmerdale
ITV crime drama After the Flood series 2 saw Sophie Rundle return as Joanna Marshall, this time as a newly-promoted detective. The mystery thriller picked up a year after the events of the first series, and saw Jo called to investigate a new case. This time, a dead body found on the Moor – and there was a key suspect.
In episode 1, Matthew McNulty’s character Xav Palmer – who had a crucial link to the victim – tried to evade questioning by running from Jo. But she soon caught up with him.
And it was at this point that fans noticed something very peculiar about the scene. As Jo slammed on her breaks at the sight of Xav, the car following her very nearly crashed into the back of her.
Once Jo had hastily parked up, the same red car was seen parking up behind her car. And it looked VERY familiar to soap fans…
Charity Dingle’s car appears on After the Flood
Emmerdale fans will know this EXACT car very well indeed. The red car is a 2007 Peugeot 207, with the registration MT07 VFF. And it’s the car Charity Dingle has driven for years in the ITV soap. Yep, the very same car has popped up in After the Flood!
One canny viewer tweeted: “What is Charity Dingle’s car doing in After the Flood? Did Mack get lost on his way to Manchester?”
Of course, Emmerdale fans will know that Charity’s car was written off in the dramatic Corriedale crash earlier this year. So we can only guess that After the Flood used the car before hand. In fact, After the Flood was filmed in March 2025.
It may come as a surprise to some viewers, but ITV shows have been known to share props before. They also, on occasion, share sets and costumes to reduce waste, cut costs, and manage production efficiency. And, although we’ve ever heard of a famous soap character’s car turning up in another drama before, we do know that cars can be easily transported!
Are ITV’s Emmerdale and After the Flood filmed in the same place?
After the Flood is set in the fictional town of Waterside. But filming actually took place in and around Greater Manchester and Derbyshire. Exact locations included Wythenshawe, Royton, Saddleworth, Rochdale and Heywood in Greater Manchester, and Glossop and Old Glossop in Derbyshire.
Meanwhile, iconic ITV soap Emmerdale is set in the eponymous Yorkshire village. But it is mostly shot on a purpose-built set located on Harewood House Estate in West Yorkshire.
Harewood is owned by The Earl and Countess of Harewood. It’s situated a short drive away from the centre of Leeds and Harrogate. The grand estate has also been used to film other dramas, including ITV smash hit Downton Abbey.
The majority of the interior filming, including locals’ homes, businesses, and of course, The Woolpack are done at the ITV studios in Leeds. Occasionally the villagers will venture out into the fictional town of Hotten. These scenes are actually shot in the real-life town of nearby Otley.
Read more: After the Flood recap: How series 1 ended and what it means for series 2
