Look who’s in lockdown
Emmerdale’s the first soap to film special new episodes – including a corker for Vinny and Mandy
Get ready for soap as you’ve never seen it before, as Emmerdale this week begins screening six special episodes that feature some of the characters in lockdown.
As with most television and film productions around the world, filming in the Dales was halted in March when social distancing restrictions came into force.
But now, while adhering to strict rules, producers have been able to make the new episodes – to be screened over the next three weeks – with each featuring two or three characters, including Mandy and Vinny and Cain and Aaron, who are isolating together.
Viewers can expect to see resentments and past feuds resurface, old wounds exposed, relationships scrutinised, and doubts and insecurities laid bare. There’ll also be reflection on the nation’s gratitude for those working to keep the country safe from the virus.
This week’s first episode sees Sam and Lydia at loggerheads over Sam’s refusal to allow Lydia to leave the house. Having turfed out Mandy and Vinny and with Samson stuck on a school trip, they’re alone.
James Hooton, who plays Sam, says, ‘It shows a bit of Sam and Lydia’s comedy and emotion, tinged with apprehension of Covid-19. He’s got this overriding objective to keep Lydia safe. He thinks he’s being gallant – she wouldn’t necessarily agree.’
The second episode will see Cain in trouble with Aaron for hiding a letter from his recently jailed husband Robert, with Aaron still struggling to move on in life, as the blokey pair try to adjust to being in lockdown together.
Danny Miller, who plays Aaron, says their story will explore masculinity during lockdown. ‘As a man, I know how difficult it is to talk in general. With the lockdown and the scary reality of the virus thrown in, it makes it ten times harder to share feelings.
‘I’m glad the writers took two of Emmerdale’s male characters “who don’t like opening up” to address how easy it can be when that burden is lifted by having a simple conversation with one another.’
Next week, Mandy and Vinny will be holed up in the salon as Mandy discloses a long-held secret, while in the second story Jimmy fears Nicola is tiring of their relationship. In the final week we’re treated to Chas and Paddy followed by Marlon, Ellis and Al.
Lisa Riley, who plays Mandy, says, ‘I love the story we’re telling as Mandy has a 15-year-old secret that is the big “bomb” of the episode. She’s been sitting on this for so long and things will suddenly make sense. It will have huge repercussions.’
Bradley Johnson, who plays Vinny, adds, ‘It’s nice because it’s so relevant and is reflecting what is going on in people’s lives.’
However, one change that’s perhaps less likely to be embraced so warmly is that the cast have to do their own make-up. Lisa says, ‘Mandy’s renowned for her fake hair and eyelashes but the makeup artists can’t touch us due to social distancing and I can’t put them on myself, so they’ll have to go!O