Emmerdale turns 50! A lookback at the soap’s most explosive moments

Emmerdale celebrates its 50th Anniversary on Sunday night, marking a half-century on screens with an epic disaster that sees a storm tear through the usually-sleepy village.

The soap has come a long way since its sleepy beginnings in 1972, when some of the most dramatic events included Jack Sugden’s takeover of his family’s farm, and Peggy Skilbeck’s surprise pregnancy, with recent years seeing the country village hit by tragedy, death and destruction.

So, as fans celebrate Emmerdale’s historic milestone with yet more disaster and fan-favourite characters in turmoil, here is a look-back at the Yorkshire village’s most iconic moments. 

Emmerdale turns 50! As the ITV soap marks a half-century on screens with an epic storm, MailOnline looks back at some of the village’s most iconic moments

Historic: Back in the early 1990s, LGBT soap characters were few and far between, so when Zoe Tate realised that she was gay, and came out to her family, it made headlines nationwide

1993 – Zoe Tate comes out as gay

Back in the early 1990s, LGBT soap characters were few and far between, so when Zoe Tate realised that she was gay, and came out to her family, it made headlines nationwide.

Despite originally forming a romance with Archie Brooks, Zoe struggles to be intimate with him, and for many months kept her sexuality a secret due to concerns around how her loved ones would react.

Eventually, after sparking concern from her father Frank, Zoe decided to come out to her family, and despite her dad’s initial shock, he vowed to support her.

Zoe went onto enjoy romances with a slew of female village beauties, including Frankie Smith, Susie Wilde, Emma Nightingale, and even Charity Dingle.

Realisation: Eventually, after sparking concern from her father Frank, Zoe decided to come out to her family, and despite her dad’s initial shock, he vowed to support her

1993 – A big-budget plane crash throws the Emmerdale village into turmoil

As Emmerdale reached 20 years on screen, the soap was in danger of being axed by ITV, following a decline in viewership due to its slow and uneventful storylines, 

However, in 1993 Brookside and eventual Hollyoaks frontman Phil Redmond was tasked with overseeing a revamp of the soap, and he decided to reignite excitement with its first major disaster; a plane crashing into the village.

A record 18 million viewers tuned into the episodes, which aired over the Christmas period and cost around £1 million, and saw the death of four major characters; Archie Brooks, Elizabeth Pollard, Leonard Kempinski and Mark Hughes.

Wow! in 1993 Brookside and eventual Hollyoaks frontman Phil Redmond was tasked with overseeing a revamp of the soap, and he decided to reignite excitement with its first major disaster; a plane crashing into the village

Devastating: A record 18 million viewers tuned into the episodes, which aired over the Christmas period and cost around £1 million, and saw the death of four major character

2003 – A devastating tornado destroys Tricia Dingle (and the Woolpack!) 

While adverse weather conditions are commonplace in soap land, this was the first time that Emmerdale was rocked by an wind-based disaster.

As the Woolpack prepared to ring in the New Year, Tricia Dingle was preparing to leave the village after ending her marriage to husband Marlin.

Upon reading a romantic letter from her husband, Tricia opted to stay, but as she returned, a lightning strike caused the iconic pub to collapse on top of her, leaving her covered in bricks and debris.

Tense scenes saw Tricia fight for her life, but after slipping into a coma, she died in hospital just days later, leaving Marlon devastated.

Dramatic! As Emmerdale rang in the New Year in 2003, a huge tornado struck the village, with beloved barmaid Tricia Dingle falling victim to the disaster after being curshed by the collapsing Woolpack pub 

He’s dead! Villain Tom King was murdered after alienating much of the village with his behaviour, sparking a huge ‘Whodunnit’ with a lengthy list of 11 suspects

2006 – Who Killed Tom King?

Within months of arriving in the village, businessman Tom King became Emmerdale’s most prominent villains, upsetting this three sons with his cunning plots and plans for his vast fortune.

After marrying his wife Rosemary on Christmas Day, just days later Tom was murdered after being struck on the head with an ornament and pushed out of a window, sparking a huge ‘Whodunnit’ with a lengthy list of 11 suspects.

The plot sparked a flurry of speculation from fans around who could be responsible, and through an online competition viewers could get the chance to watch the 11 different versions of Tom’s death, featuring each suspect committing the crime, before the true culprit was revealed.

Weeks later, it was revealed that Carl King was responsible for this father’s death after learning he forced Chas Dingle to end their relationship, and while he and his brothers were eventually arrested, a lack of evidence meant the trial collapsed, and Carl was never prosecuted for the killing.

Dark: Emmerdale sparked controversy in 2011 when it tackled the divisive topic of assisted dying, illegal in the UK, and in graphic pre-watershed scenes depicted the moment a paralysed Jackson Walsh ended his life

2011 – Jackson’s assisted suicide

Emmerdale sparked controversy in 2011 when it tackled the divisive topic of assisted dying, illegal in the UK, and in graphic pre-watershed scenes depicted the moment a paralysed Jackson Walsh ended his life.

After a train accident left him quadriplegic, Jackson begged his mother Hazel and partner Adam to help him die by making a cocktail of drugs, but both refused.

Eventually, in tear-jerking scenes, Hazel realised that she had to let her son go and in a moving scene delivered the drink that would bring his life to an end.

The episode sparked a flurry of complaints to media watchdog Ofcom, but bosses insisted they had handled the storyline sensitively, with actor Marc Silcock, adding that programme-makers had ensured the death was not glorified.

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RIP: In 2012 Emmerdale celebrated its 40th Anniversarywith a live episode, which along with two weddings and two births, saw the death of bad boy Carl King at the hands of Cameron Murray

2012 – The live episode

Emmerdale celebrated its 40th Anniversary in 2012 with a one-off live episode, which was heavily teased with plans for two weddings, two births and a surprise death.

As Chas prepares to tie the knot with Dan Spencer, she is desperate to flee her furious ex Carl, and comes dangerously close to killing him after hitting him with a brick.

The eventful hour-long episode also saw Katie Macey tie the knot with Declan, to Megan’s fury, and both Debbie Dingle and Gennie Walker give birth to their babies in dramatic scenes.

In a shocking climax, the Anniversary special ended with Cameron coming face-to-face with Carl, before grabbing the same brick Chas used and killing him in a shocking cliffhanger.

Epic scenes: In 2016 Emmerdale delivered one of its most spectacular stunts yet, as multiple lives were left hanging in the balance after a huge car pile-up hit a motorway

RIP: Sparked by a demented Emma Barton, who violently pushed her husband James from a viaduct after keeping in hostage in their home, the crash saw a dementia-stricken Ashley Peacock grind to a halt when James landed on his bonnet

2016 – The devastating bridge pile-up

In 2016 Emmerdale delivered one of its most spectacular stunts yet, as multiple lives were left hanging in the balance after a huge car pile-up hit a motorway.

Sparked by a demented Emma Barton, who violently pushed her husband James from a viaduct after keeping in hostage in their home, the crash saw a dementia-stricken Ashley Peacock grind to a halt when James landed on his bonnet, before colliding with several other cars.

The tragedy led to James’ tragic death, while Rhona Goskirk and Aaron Dingle were left fighting for their lives in hospital, and Emma spent weeks desperately covering her crimes.

Tragedy: In 2015 Emmerdale bosses announced that much-loved vicar Ashley Peacock would be diagnosed with dementia, setting the stage for his eventual exit from the soap after 22 years

2017 – Ashley’s death from dementia

In 2015 Emmerdale bosses announced that much-loved vicar Ashley Peacock would be diagnosed with dementia, setting the stage for his eventual exit from the soap after 22 years.

The hard-hitting storyline was extended after being praised by viewers for its sensitive portrayal of the disease, and even included a much-lauded episode showing how Ashley was viewing the world around him after being overcome by the disease.

While Ashley’s deteriorating condition left many viewers in tears, the storyline also saw him rekindle his relationship with wife Laurel, with the pair remarrying before welcoming their baby daughter Dotty. 

After taking a turn for the worst, Ashley was brought home to die surrounded by his family, and following a short reunion with Laurel, the priest quietly passed away in heart-wrenching scenes. 

Heart-breaking: After taking a turn for the worst, Ashley was brought home to die surrounded by his family, and following a short reunion with Laurel, the priest quietly passed away in heart-wrenching scenes

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Violent: After first entering the village as the devastated husband of Tess Harris, Pierce slowly began to show his true colours after he began a relationship with Rhona Goskirk, who herself was cheated on by her husband Paddy

2017 – Pierce rapes Rhona

After first entering the village as the devastated husband of Tess Harris, Pierce slowly began to show his true colours after he began a relationship with Rhona Goskirk, who herself was cheated on by her husband Paddy.

Gradually displaying his possessive nature, Pierce and Rhona’s fast-paced relationship drew concerns from much of the village, especially after he recorded a sex tape without her consent before blaming it on her best friend Vanessa. 

It all came to head on the couple’s wedding day when Rhona refused to move out of the village with her new husband, after he discovered her drunken kiss with ex Paddy, and when she tried to escape, Pierce pinned her down and raped her.

Eventually Rhona revealed the truth about her ordeal and Pierce was arrested and sentenced to five years in prison, however he later made a surprise return to the village in 2020 to kill Rhona’s new love interest Graham Foster.

Scary: It all came to head on the couple’s wedding day when Rhona refused to move out of the village with her new husband, after he discovered her drunken kiss with ex Paddy, and when she tried to escape, Pierce pinned her down and raped her

Bunny boiler: In 2020, Emmerdale’s newest bombshell Meena Jutla was revealed as one of the soap’s greatest serial killers, murdering Leanna Cavanagh after she learned the truth about her grisly past

2021 – Meena’s reign of terror

In 2020, Emmerdale’s newest bombshell Meena Jutla was revealed as one of the soap’s greatest serial killers, murdering Leanna Cavanagh after she learned the truth about her grisly past.

While Meena’s terrifying true colours were kept under wraps for many months, with victims Andrea Tate and Ben Tucker paying the price, the village finally learned the truth after footage emerged of the nurse attempting to drown Victoria Barton.

Escaping the village and going on the run, Meena resurfaced to get her revenge during Billy and Dawn’s wedding day earlier this year, before being captured by the authorities.

Her subsequent trial, which saw Meena attempt to play the innocent victim and charm the jury, was gripping viewing, and as the serial killer was found guilty, she was hysterically dragged back to prison in her final appearance on the soap. 

Emmerdale turns 50 on Sunday, October 16 with an hour-long special at 7pm on ITV.

She’s going down! Escaping the village and going on the run, Meena resurfaced to get her revenge, before being captured by the authorities, with her subsequent trial leaving viewers gripped