Emmerdale has been our screens for 52 years, but the name we now know and love was once Emmerdale Farm. That’s right, the soap was known by another name for 17 years before changing course.
But what year did it drop the Farm part in its name, and why?
The history of Emmerdale Farm
Emmerdale Farm launched on Monday October 16 1972. It was the brainchild of screenwriter Kevin Laffon, who was commissioned to write a lunchtime farming serial.
The ITV soap was originally called Emmerdale Farm and based on the BBC Radio 4 drama The Archers.
It’s title came about after the farm that was owned by the Sugdens, who were the show’s central family.
The focus was on the Sugdens and their farm, but also the locals who lived in the surrounding village, which was called Beckindale.
Emmerdale Farm was broadcast twice a week in the afternoons and was originally intended to be a three-month serial.
However, by 1977 following popular demand it was given a prime time evening slot across most of the ITV regions. It began airing at 7pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
When did Emmerdale Farm change its name?
In 1986, Emmerdale Farm entered a period of change.
A new production team, headed by executive producer Keith Richardson was brought in and the soap’s focus shifted from Emmerdale farm to the village of Beckindale.
The drama was ramped up too, with the introduction of more daring and racier storylines.
Reflecting this change in focus, Emmerdale dropped the Farm in its title on November 14 1989.
It was a bold move to rid the programme of its agricultural connotations, but this cosmetic change was just the start.
That same week marked the arrival of the wealthy Tate family, who were brought in as the new owners of Home Farm.
With the spiced up scripts, Richardson’s new look Emmerdale was a ratings hit and saw the programme transformed from a minor drama into a prime time soap.
A new name for the village
1993 was a year of big change for Beckindale.
The original Emmerdale Farm, which was the former residence of the Sugden family was vacated due to subsidence. Hawthorn Cottage became the new Emmerdale Farm.
Large parts of Beckindale were damaged on the night of December 30 1993 when a plane exploded over the village and crashed, killing nine of the locals. Although five of the deaths had not been characters in the serial, four victims were known to viewers. Mark Hughes, Elizabeth Pollard, Archie Brooks and Leonard Kempinski all perished. Meanwhile, all passengers and crew of the plane also died, making the death toll 147.
Following that terrible tragedy, Beckindale was renamed Emmerdale, which it is still known by to this day.
By January 1997 Emmerdale was up to three episodes a week, airing at 7pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Monday and Friday night episodes were added in 2000.
Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm.
Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.30pm and 2.05pm.