Emmerdale: 50 Unforgettable Years (S53EP ITV Sunday 16 October 2022)

50 Unforgettable Years: This one-off special documentary commemorating 50 years of Emmerdale explains how a sleepy afternoon daytime drama about rural people evolved into the award-winning, ratings-busting, peak-time drama that it is today.

The archive will be mined for engrossing vintage Emmerdale clips as well as rarely seen treasures for viewers to enjoy. From family disputes, fires, and fights to more humorous incidents from life on the farm and in the Emmerdale village.

The stars of Emmerdale past and present will look back on their renowned storylines to share reflections on their characters and memories from throughout the years. They will appear alongside contributions from beloved cast members. The acclaimed cast will recall significant events from the past five decades with a wealth of insider information and anecdotes.

This milestone celebration will honour the show’s 105 deaths, 43 births, and 74 weddings since 1972 while remembering some of its most well-known family dynasties, such as The Sugdens, The Tates, and The Dingles.

Along the way, we’ll learn about the playwright Kevin Laffan’s initial goals for Emmerdale Farm, how TV critics and viewers reacted to the program’s early portrayal of rural life, and how it ultimately changed to reflect the evolving tastes and lifestyles of its devoted audience.

Airdate: Sunday 16 October 2022 at 18:00 on ITV

Season 53 Episode 

Emmerdale is a British soap focusing on the lives of several families and locals living around an estate, a farm and the nearby village in the Yorkshire Dales. It is the second longest British soap in television history since airing its first episode on ITV in 1972, as ‘Emmerdale Farm’, the show was renamed in 1989.