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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Entertainment
Gemma Jones

Emmerdale's set secrets including a hidden house and real headstones

Emmerdale has been on ITV for almost 50 years.

The soap has been home to many loveable characters such as the Dingle family and has created some hard-hitting storylines. Recently, we have seen murderer Meena send multiple village residents to their graves and beloved Marlon Dingle acted out some emotional scenes as he suffered a stroke.

But, even after so many years on air, the much-loved ITV soap still holds many secrets. Even as an avid fan of the show, you may not know that there's a house on set that's never seen on screen and that set creators create fake mould to make it look more realistic.

READ MORE: Emmerdale's Lucy Pargeter teases 'no one is safe' ahead of show's 50th anniversary

Here's all the secrets of the set that you might not know.

Fake mould

In an attempt to make the fictional village seem older than it actually is, the wizards behind the magic of the set decided to create a fake mould effect.

To create the effect, creators of the show used yoghurt and manure on the walls to give it a more authentic look. Entertainment correspondent Richard Arnold revealed on Good Morning Britain: "To make it look like a careworn and centuries old village, they ground down the stones to make it look authentic. Here’s a top DIY tip for you, they threw yoghurt and manure at the walls to encourage the growth of lichen."

Secret hidden house

The team at Emmerdale used to film in a real village, but they moved to a purpose built set which has allowed them to create some very special hiding places on set. Some of the houses on the street actually house the show's production during filming days. They're never seen as a close up on screen but some of the homes are where the show's staff store their props or where the cast go and get their hair and make-up done.

Richard revealed the true purpose of Harriet Finch's home on the soap. He said: "For me, this was always Edna’s home - now Harriet and co live here and if you fancy a touch up and a tickle, this is the place to go to, because it’s actually the make-up department whenever the cast and crew are filming here."

The cemetery with real gravestones

Emmerdale is the only soap that owns its own cemetery. The graveyard is where many of the show's most famous characters have been laid to rest.

But many viewers won't be aware that there are actually some real headstones there too. It all happened when a cemetery in London was being cleared for development, and the headstones that had been left there were then removed and sent up to Yorkshire. However, fans will be pleased to know that the bodies weren't moved too, so it's only the headstones that are real.

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