emmerdale-history tvradio soaps Virgin Media

Find out the latest soap storylines in our comprehensive soap reviews section.

Brief history

Whose idea? Originally called Emmerdale Farm, the soap, which focused on the Sugden family, was created as afternoon entertainment by Kevin Laffan. However the farming drama fast became popular enough to be placed in an evening slot.

Where's it set? In Beckindale, a fictitious rural village in Yorkshire. The show has now been renamed Emmerdale.

The very start: The first-ever episode followed the funeral of Jacob Sugden, whose death left widow Annie to take care of the farm with her children and her father.

Controversy! It's not all horse manure and haystacks. Tricky storylines over the years have included a plane crashing over the village, murder, adultery, kidnapping, lesbianism and schizophrenia.

26 January 2007