Fans of the long-running drama Emmerdale are already eagerly-awaiting the soap's 50th anniversary celebrations this autumn. The show's bosses have been slowly teasing what viewers can expect from the storylines that will unfold during the milestone month - and more details have now been unveiled.
Whilst there is sure to be many surprises still being kept under wraps, it has now been revealed that the Yorkshire village will be subject to a huge storm in October. Three popular characters have also been confirmed to be making a comeback to the Dales, The Mirror reports.
Aaron Dingle, played by Danny Miller, will be making a return to the village after leaving in 2021 before heading into I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here. He will be joined by Tracy Metcalfe, played by Amy Walsh, who exited the soap earlier this year ahead of welcoming her new baby and Diane Sugden played by Elizabeth Estensen, who left in late 2021 after announcing her retirement - but their return will only be "temporary".
"A massive storm will rip through the village and leave a trail of destruction in its wake," Producer Kate Brooks teased with press ahead of the 50th anniversary: "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."
The village has seen a number of disasters over its 50 years of broadcasting including a plane crash in the village in 1993 and the New Year's Eve storm in 2003 that killed Tricia Dingle. Executive Producer Jane Hudson explained how the 50th birthday gale will be different.
"It’s in daytime, so you can actually see what’s happening," She said: "It affects the entire village – and some people are seriously injured, so I think it will feel really different.
"We thought instead of celebrating one day, why don’t we celebrate the whole month to mark our 50th," She continued: "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.
"There is always potential for a murder," Jane added: "It’s Emmerdale, there’s normally a murderer lurking around the corner somewhere."
The month long celebration will begin with Kim Tate (Claire King) and Will Taylor (Dean Andrews) preparing for their upcoming nuptials. But when Kim overhears Harriet Finch (Katherine Dow Blyton) declare her love to Will on the eve of the wedding, there's sure to be some drama to follow.
Speaking of the celebrations on ITV's This Morning, resident soap reporter and Emmerdale scriptwriter Sharon Marshall said: "I've been having to keep my mouth shut for so long about what we are planning. I can tell you a few things.
"A big storm I can tell you that. I can tell you it's going to be like a month long celebration. Big storm in the village - lots of destruction there and three returns, Diane, Aaron and Tracy - only quick returns but they're there and you'll just have to wait for the rest because it's not until October."
Emmerdale airs weekdays on ITV and ITV Hub from 7.30pm.
