Fans of ITV soap Emmerdale may be surprised to find out what exactly is behind the doors of some of the cottages in the fictional village.
Emmerdale is celebrating its 50th anniversary later this year. In the build-up, fans will have to juggle an emotional wedding between Marlon and Rhona and the Dingles saying farewell to their matriarch Faith as her cancer worsens.
To mark the anniversary, producers of the show invited The ECHO along for a private screening of some of the upcoming events. While we are not allowed to reveal some of the secrets the cast shared just yet, we can tell you a few inside facts about the soap only hardcore fans might know.
READ MORE: Emmerdale stars share unused storylines they're dying to make happen
We were curious to find out whether or not the village is as huge as it appears and what was actually filmed in studio compared to on location. One of our biggest interests was whether or not we could pull up a seat and enjoy a pint at the Woolpack. After spending several hours in the village, here's everything we discovered...
It's a lot smaller than on television
As soon as we pulled up, the only words on my lips were how tiny the village was. Despite the breath-taking surroundings the Yorkshire countryside has to offer, Emmerdale is but a tiny gem in its crown. What we see on television is accurate but the camera crew must be commended for their technique in making the area look more than the whole two streets it is.
At a simple pace, you could cover the entire village and return back to your starting point in no more than two minutes. I didn't expect it to have sprawling country lanes or hidden passageways out to the country, but the diminutive nature of Emmerdale is certainly one of the first things you notice.
But this only adds to the charming, boutique feel of the village that is often translated on screen.
There isn't an "outdoor set"
What you see is what you get. If the characters are wandering around the village on screen they are literally in the middle of the Yorkshire countryside. Some soap operas and dramas have streets built in the studio but a part of Emmerdale's charm is they get to make the most of the beautiful location they're in.
During our interviews with the cast, multiple actors said one of the stand-out perks of Emmerdale is they have so much nature to make use of. This means if it rains on set it rains on screen and the producers don't have a say on it otherwise.
The cottages are used by staff
There are multiple homes dotted around the village that viewers never really get an inside look at. We're left presuming they belong to civilians who steer clear of the theatrics and therefore never have a reason to be examined.
I decided to investigate further and discovered the crew and staff use the cottages for equipment and tea rooms. With the number of homes around Emmerdale, it was quite the bombshell that literally no one actually lives there.
Some buildings are real, some are not
Both the church and town hall are real buildings that the cast use for their scenes. My initial thoughts going in were, "there's no way they fit an entire crew in here," but they do. As aforementioned, everything translates a lot bigger on television than in reality but both were quite a cosy squeeze.
Looking around both buildings felt like travelling back in time as they both had such a rustic, nostalgic feel to them. There were no heavy production wires bolted to the floor or missing fourth walls to capture the footage. Once again, everything you see is what is really there.
Familiar settings such as the café and salon are sadly not in the village as they're housed in a studio closer to the city. And if you're wanting to knock a few pints back next to the Dingles, well...
You can't visit the Woolpack
I cannot put into words how disappointed I was when I discovered my dream of being served a pint in the Woolpack would never come to fruition. Stood outside, I looked up at one of soap opera's most famous pubs, knowing I'll never get to enjoy one of the many lagers that have been thrown around by countless characters.
On the day, however, there was a live band for us to enjoy and bottomless prosecco so not all was lost.
READ NEXT
- Emmerdale stars share unused storylines they're dying to make happen
- Emmerdale's Marlon and Rhona set for heartwrenching wedding drama
- Kerry Katona shares family announcement as fans call 'twins'
- Rylan Clark addresses relationship rumours as fans issue Coleen Rooney demand
- Gogglebox star Stephen Webb welcomes new addition to family
Receive newsletters with the biggest and breaking TV and showbiz news by signing up here
