This British TV soap has gradually become an institution, almost as big as Coronation Street and EastEnders. Launched in 1972 on ITV, it was originally known as Emmerdale Farm and focused on the farming business run by the Sugden family.
Gradually the focus shifted to the inhabitants of Beckindale, the nearby village.
In November 1989, that change was reflected when the show was rebranded as Emmerdale, and the Tate family became more prominent, overshadowing the Sugdens. In time, the Dingle and King families took more of the spotlight.
The tone of the soap has changed dramatically over the years. There's still plenty of muck-spreading, but it's not of the agricultural variety - more the gossip down at the Woolpack. The soap features a wide character base of different social classes, along with strong storylines, including sex, power, careers, crime and murder. And to keep audiences hooked, there have been numerous disasters along the way, such as a major plane crash, fires, arson, car crashes and explosions.
In the UK... it's next showing on TV3 
United States
Comments
Emmerdale is film just up the road from me on an estate in Harewood house. The set was redirected from its usual location of Kirkstall road in Leeds
they've done auditions for a new family in emmerdale my m8 got through 2 the next round
I used to watch Emmerdale in Vancouver BC and loved it, will it ever be shown over here again, = can I get old episodes on here, then I can try and catch up to your current episodes.
did i read the tv screen correctly that a WALLER is a name on the credit list...i watch emmerdale at 4pm tv1 or tv2 at 5.05am .....could you tell me about the person above- please and thankyou....great grand father left sheffield for nz in 1862.....there are oodles of waller folk here in nz too....i would like to find a waller in yorkshire who would chat to me via post or email.........kind regards ian waller
please save christopher villiers-grayson sinclair in emmerdale.
Everyone in Emmerdale lies to the police, now even the police are lying to the police. The unconvincing Chief constable looks like a bouncer at a seedy night club. Are the writers anti-police?
Im madly in love with charly webb, she can oil up my dipstick any day lol.
to cbc you say emmerdale is to costly to put on air and you want to go strictly canadian , what ever happend to loyalty to your viers. tke old reruns of fraiser of that will save money for emmerdale.!!!!!!!!!!
where is emmerdale filmed