You didn't think that Emmerdale's 50th anniversary was going to be a mega chilled one, did you? Surely not? Not in a small farm town where residents come into contact with more serial killers than dairy products.
ITV is set to make Emmerdale's half-century (yes, really) anniversary a truly explosive one by bringing some legendary faces back to the Yorkshire Dales this October.
Show bosses are remaining fairly tight-lipped on the specifics for now, but what they have revealed is that the anniversary episodes will revolve around a major storm (like, a real one) set to catastrophically transform the fictional town of Emmerdale once and for all.
Emmerdale producer Kate Brooks revealed, "It will leave a massive trail of destruction in its wake and some of our best loved villagers will be in peril. It's safe to say that the village won't be the same ever again because the impact this storm will have is massive."
Bosses have also revealed that not one, but two, but THREE Emerdale icons are set to storm the Dales for the anniversary eps in a series of epic returns. Kate revealed that Aaron Dingle (played by I'm A Celeb King of the Jungle Danny Miller), Diane Sugden (played by the downright iconic Elizabeth Estensen) and Tracy Metcalfe (played by Amy Walsh) – who all left Emmerdale in the last year – will be returning to the show for these anniversary episodes.
She said, "They'll be at the heart of some really big stories that will impact their lives and the lives of the characters they will leave behind."
The show's executive producer, Jane Hudson added, "Tracy is gonna come back with news of her own and how is Nate [Robinson] going to respond to that? Of course Aaron is back. Is he going to find out his mum is cheating on Paddy [Kirk] who he sees as a father? What if he discovers that Sandra [Flaherty] is not all about Liv [Flaherty]?"
Discussing the life-changing storm on the horizon for the residents of Emmerdale, Jane said, "In terms of filming it's quite unprecedented with the scale of what we're doing."
She added, "One of the things we were keen to do is make sure our storm is in daytime so you can see what is happening. It is a wind storm rather than a rain storm. We've got some amazing machines being tested at the moment, which are epic.
"There is one element that nobody has done and no other soap could do it apart from Emmerdale because of where we are."
We just know this is going to blow us away...
Also, don't think we've forgotten about all those rumours about Mr Amy Walsh aka Toby-Alexander Smith aka Gray Atkins jumping ship (or, you know, popping up on the train) to the Dales as there just isn't enough drama on the show... Could Amy's return mean Toby's arrival? We're watching (Emmerdale... all the time).
Who is leaving Emmerdale in 2022?
Who's leaving Emmerdale this year?
1 of 2Ellis Chapman (played by Aaron Anthony)
ITV have confirmed that Ellis leaves the soap in early February after being offered a job abroad. However, there's a spanner in the works as Ellis has to drop the bombshell news to his new flame Belle Dingle before he says goodbye to the village for good.
2 of 2Meena Jutla (played by Paige Sandhu)
Serial killer Meena's reign of terror has lasted for over 18 months and taken the lives of three victims including Leanna Cavanagh and Andrea Tate, but she will soon be getting her comeuppance as it's been confirmed the character will be leaving the soap.When and how Meena will be leaving is yet to confirmed, however fans have a suspicion that she could attempt to strike on Billy Fletcher and Dawn Taylor's wedding day.Speaking about leaving the show, actress Paige Sandhu said, "I will miss everything because I love her. I think she's hilarious, she's got so much charisma, she's so strange, she is just odd and everything about her." She told Inside Soap, "She's so weird and it's so much fun to play such a weird character. Going to those dark places is really fulfilling but then there's that slightly comedic edge which is always fun."
Who is arriving in Emmerdale in 2022?
Who's arriving in Emmerdale this year?
1 of 3The British Soap Awards 2022 - Arrivals
We appreciate these rumours have been doing the rounds for months, but until we're told no, we're still entitled to dream. Switching soaps could be the case for recent EastEnders leaver Toby-Alexander Smith, who played Albert Square baddie Gray Atkins, as the actor has been tipped join Emmerdale after his character's crimes were finally exposed in recent episodes. A role in Emmerdale could be an easy win for Toby, who recently just welcomed his first child with his girlfriend, former (and now again) Emmerdale star Amy Walsh). Speaking about his plans now he’s finished EastEnders, Toby said, “Who knows what’s around the corner but for right now I’m very happy to just be a full-time dad.” No, sorry, we're not buying it - if you ask us, two storms are on the horizon.
2 of 3Mary Goskirk (played by Louise Jameson)
Acclaimed actress Louise Jameson is joining the cast of Emmerdale as Rhona Goskirk's mum, Mary, who will burst onto the just in time to interrupt a very important time in her daughter's life. Oops.Mary and Rhona have a strained relationship, but will they be able to make amends? And what will happens when Rhona finds out the real reason Mary turned up in the village?Speaking about joining Emmerdale, Louise said, "It feels like such a gift to be welcomed into the Emmerdale cast. Playing Zoe's on screen mum is the icing on the cake."
3 of 3Marcus Dean (played by Darcy Grey)
Rhona Goskirk will get the shock of her life when her abusive ex-husband Pierce Harris' son Marcus Dean (played by Darcey Grey) shows up in the Dales.What Marcus doesn't realise, however, is that the meeting has been set up by Vanessa Woodfield after a dying Pierce writes to his ex-wife to ask her to reach out to Marcus for him.Teasing Marcus' arrival, Darcy said, "For Marcus, the battle of being torn between wanting to forget his relationship with his Dad but also ultimately, wanting to simply be loved is a challenge many of us face, and one that I hope I can bring some truth to. He is such an open book, with such an uncertain future that I just can't wait for you all to see where his journey in the village takes him!"
Who is returning to Emmerdale this year?
Who is returning to Emmerdale this year?
1 of 3Tracy Metcalfe (played by Amy Walsh)
After welcoming a baby with her EastEnders actor boyfriend Toby-Alexander Smith (aka serial killer Gray Atkins), Amy Walsh will be returning to Emmerdale as Tracy Metcalfe later this year. Tracy departed the village for a new life last year after splitting from Nate Robinson over her one night stand, but what will bring her back to the Dales?
2 of 3Aaron Dingle (played by Danny Miller)
Aaron Dingle is an Emmerdale legend thanks to his iconic romance with Robert Sugden and he's set to return to the village a year after he left when actor Danny Miller quit his role and appeared on I'm A Celeb.
3 of 3Diane Sugden (played by Elizabeth Estensen)
Speaking of Emmerdale legends, they don't get much bigger than Diane Sugden. She was last seen leaving the Dales to start a new life in Portugal last year, so just what will bring her back (albeit temporarily)? We can't wait to find out...