Emmerdale

Jeff Hordley, Danny Miller and Lisa Riley on their isolation specials

MONDAY & WEDNESDAY / ITV Emmerdale never fails to rise to a challenge. So I’m sure that fans will be in for a treat as, starting this week, they bring us six special episodes, filmed under lockdown. Stars Danny Miller (Aaron), Jeff Hordley (Cain) and Lisa Riley (Mandy) explain…

EMMERDALE

MONDAY & WEDNESDAY / ITV / 7PM / SOAP

Adapting to change has always been part and parcel of working on a soap. An actor’s sudden illness or the unpredictable British weather means scripts often have to be rejigged at a moment’s notice. But Emmerdale has brought a new meaning to the motto ‘Keep calm and carry on’.

As coronavirus continues to upend life as we knew it, and the show’s bank of episodes filmed before the pandemic runs dry, cast and crew have pulled out all the stops to ensure that, for the time being at least, we get our regular dose of Dales drama.

New ways of working

Over the next three weeks, six special instalments will air, filmed under lockdown restrictions and reflecting the current health crisis. Sam and Lydia take centre stage on Monday, and Cain and Aaron are in a two-hander episode on Wednesday. Mandy and Vinny are on the bill next week along with with Nicola and Jimmy, while the final two episodes will feature stories involving Chas and Paddy and Marlon, Ellis and Al.

‘New ways of working have been introduced,’ says our Emmerdale insider. ‘These include social distancing, filming units working in designated studios and scripts with a smaller number of actors.’

Adds executive producer Jane Hudson, ‘When we first discussed these episodes in March, the writers instantly rose to the challenge. Three months on, the scripts have an added poignancy.’

Dales stars Jeff Hordley,

Danny Miller and Lisa Riley give us the inside story…

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