Emmerdale is 50 years young (Picture: ITV)
Yes, you read that right – ITV soap drama Emmerdale is celebrating its 50th anniversary this month.
The show formerly known as Emmerdale Farm was created by Kevin Laffan and was first broadcast on October 16, 1972.
Since then it has gone on to become one of the most beloved soap operas in British TV history, and lots of drama is in store as the show marks its impressive milestone.
Faith Dingle’s fate has finally been sealed in some very emotional scenes, while a storm is set to tear through the farm, and not everyone is expected to make it out alive.
But just how many episodes have graced the airwaves across those gloriously dramatic 50 years?
How many episodes of Emmerdale have there been in its 50-year history?
Since 1972, over 9000 episodes – 9487 at the time of writing – have been broadcast on ITV, and counting!
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To put that into perspective, that is over 4000 episodes more than BBC One’s flagship soap EastEnders (that currently stands at 5180) and also outpaces Channel 4’s Hollyoaks tally of 5950.
It is beaten however by ITV’s other popular soap Coronation Street, which has a whopping 10,230. Granted that did start in 1960 so does have a 12-year head start.
Emmerdale was known as Emmerdale Farm from 1972-1985, before a new production team came aboard and rebranded the show.
In fact, the series was only originally meant to be a three-month television series, but more episodes were ordered and transmitted during the daytime until 1978.
As its popularity continued to grow it was given an early-evening prime time slot ahead of its overhaul in the mid-1980s, which resulted in more dramatic storylines and an increased number of weekly episodes.
It has won many awards across the years and 9000-odd episodes, including the 2001, 2017 and 2020 BAFTA TV awards for Best Soap.
It is also fresh off a win in 2022 after taking home the National Television Award for Best Serial Drama on October 13.
MORE : Claire King reveals Kim Tate is ‘camp as Christmas’ in Emmerdale’s 50th anniversary
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Happy birthday Emmerdale!