Emmerdale has been our screens for almost 52 years and its history is rich and varied. It began in 1972 as the brainchild of screenwriter Kevin Laffan, who was commissioned to write a lunchtime farming serial.
Based on BBC Radio 4 drama The Archers, Emmerdale was originally called Emmerdale Farm, after the farm that was owned by the Sugdens, who were the show’s central family. It was based in the village of Beckindale and the surrounding areas and the focus was on the Sugdens as well as the goings-on in the local pub, The Woolpack.
A history of Emmerdale: The launch of Emmerdale Farm
Emmerdale Farm launched on Monday October 16 1972. It aired at lunchtime and the pilot was watched by an audience of 2.2 million.
The first ever episode of Emmerdale Farm focused on the funeral of Jacob Sugden. Kevin Laffan felt the dramatic event would draw viewers in.
The opening of the episode features the now-iconic scene of Marian Wilks riding her horse in the Dales – a scene which was recreated with Kim Tate for the opening of the 50th anniversary episode in 2022.
Also in the episode we saw the return of ‘prodigal son’ Jack Sugden, who had inherited the farm, much to the outrage of his siblings Peggy Skilbeck and Joe Sugden. Emmerdale’s first line of dialogue was spoken by Peggy who clocks Marian on horseback and asks her husband, Matt who she is.
When Emmerdale Farm launched it was broadcast twice a week in the afternoons. Originally the idea was that it would be a three-month serial. However, by 1977 the show was so popular, it was given a primetime evening slot.
Theme tunes and opening titles
The original theme tune for Emmerdale Farm was created by renowned composer Tony Hatch. It had a very distinctive, nostalgic quality..
Emmerdale Farm’s 1972 titles opened with a moving camera panning over the green fields of Yorkshire before slowly zooming into Arncliffe, a real-life village that was used to portray the fictional Beckindale. As the village came into focus, the words Emmerdale Farm then appeared on the screen in simple white text.
The opening titles and theme tune has changed over the years, including a more upbeat theme tune played on the piano being introduced in 1992, followed by a grand orchestral version in 1998.
The current Emmerdale opening credits first aired on May 30 2011. The theme tune was re-recorded, but using a synthesizer instead of live instruments. The opening shots went on a journey around some of Emmerdale’s most iconic interiors – from the hallway at Home Farm, to the Woolpack bar.
Emmerdale Farm becomes Emmerdale
In 1986, a new production team, headed by executive producer Keith Richardson was brought in. The soap’s focus shifted from Emmerdale farm to the village of Beckindale.
The drama was ramped up too and therefore the decision was made to drop the Farm from the title from November 14 1989.
1989 is also when the Tate family arrived as the new owners of Home Farm. The scripts were spiced-up, the storylines became racier and more daring, and Emmerdale was therefore transformed from a minor drama into a primetime soap. Beckindale was then renamed Emmerdale after the tragic plane crash of December 1993. And the rest, as they say, is history!
A history of Emmerdale: Filming locations
The iconic ITV soap is set in the Yorkshire Dales. And Emmerdale’s exterior has become as familiar as the characters which live there.
When Emmerdale started in 1972, the village of Arncliffe was used as the external set. In 1976, filming was switched to the real-life village of Esholt, near Bradford. It remained there until 1997, by which point the residents of Esholt were keen to get their home back so a life-size replica of Esholt was built on the private Harewood Estate in Leeds.
The majority of the interior filming – locals’ homes, businesses, and of course, The Woolpack are done at the ITV studios in Leeds.
None of the properties, including Kim Tate’s Home Farm, the Dingles’ Wishing Well Cottage and Moira’s Butlers Farm, are actual homes, it’s only their exteriors that are used on the soap. However, both the church and town hall are actual buildings and filming takes place in both.
The cast and characters of Emmerdale
The characters in Emmerdale are well-known and many tend to stick around for years. However, no one who appeared in the first episode of Emmerdale still remains in the cast.
The longest-serving current cast member is Chris Chittell. He plays Eric Pollard and has been in the soap for almost 38 years, having joined on September 30 1986. He is followed by Kim Tate actress Claire King, who despite an absence of many years has, in total, been on the show since December 12 1989 and has served almost 35 years.
Original cast member Sheila Mercer who played Annie Sugden, is the second longest-serving overall character. Her last appearance was in February 2009, giving her a tenure of 36 years and four months. Her on-screen son, Jack Sugden, is the third longest-running character at 35 years and five months. However as he was played by two different actors in Emmerdale – Andrew Burt (1972-1976) followed by Clive Hornby (1980-2008), neither becomes a longest-serving cast member.
Others in the top 10 also include Victoria Sugden, who was born on the show in 1994, and various members of the Dingle family: Sam, Mandy and Zak.
A history of Emmerdale: Production team
The first episode of Emmerdale was conceived and written by Kevin Laffan and script editor David Crane. It was produced by producer David Goddard and executive producer Peter Holmans, and directed by Tristan de Vere Cole.
The longest-serving executive producer of the soap was Keith Richardson. He joined the programme in 1986 andstayed until 2009.
The Emmerdale production team has recently changed again. Executive producer Jane Hudson left the soap in 2023. She was replaced by Coronation Street boss Iain MacLeod who now oversees both shows.
Series producer Kate Brooks left in 2024 and currently in charge are Laura Shaw and Sophie Roper.
Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm.
Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm.