Emmerdale ’s 50th anniversary celebrations will feature a huge storm, as well as the shock return of three popular characters.
Bosses have promised that the October tempest will be the biggest stunt ever seen on a soap.
And there could be trouble brewing as Aaron Dingle, Diane Sugden and Tracy Metcalfe all make a comeback.
Producer Kate Brooks said: "A massive storm will rip through the village and leave a trail of destruction in its wake. Some of our best-loved villagers will be in peril.
"The village will literally never be the same again.
"We also have the return of some very familiar faces to the Dales. Diane, Aaron and Tracy will all be making a re-appearance, albeit on a temporary basis, but they’ll be at the heart of some really big stories that will impact their lives."
Emmerdale has been rocked by several disasters over the years, including the 2003 storm that killed Tricia Dingle.
But Executive Producer Jane Hudson has vowed the 50th birthday gale will be different.
She said: "It’s in daytime, so you can actually see what’s happening. It affects the entire village – and some people are seriously injured, so I think it will feel really different."
Jane also refused to rule out a killing as part of October’s anniversary month.
She said: "There is always potential for a murder. It’s Emmerdale, there’s normally a murderer lurking around the corner somewhere."
The October plots begin with Kim Tate (Claire King) preparing to tie the knot with Will Taylor (Dean Andrews).
But there’s drama ahead as she overhears Harriet Finch (Katherine Dow Blyton) declare her undying love to Will on the eve of the wedding.
Jane said: "We thought instead of celebrating one day, why don’t we celebrate the whole month to mark
our 50th.
"We will then be ending the month with a storyline which kicks off a whole new story and potentially sees one of our characters looking at spending the rest of their life in jail."
