Emmerdale first landed on the small screen back in the 70s and has since gone on to become a staple on ITV . Although after 12 years on air bosses decided that it was necessary to shift its focus and change the title. Originally it was called Emmerdale Farm – after being based on BBC Radio 4 The Archers.
The soap, which is set in the Yorkshire Dales, initially revolved around the Sugden’s. The programme centred around the family and their rural life on their working far. The unique unit lived in a sprawling house that often attracted lots of drama.
It started out as a three-month serial but after five years of continued success by 1977, the show was awarded a prime-time evening slot across most ITV regions. Honouring the family, producers decided to drop Farm and keep it as just Emmerdale . Over the past 50 years, there have been several changes within the production team.
But in the late 1980s, Emmerdale saw a dramatic storyline which included original cast member Pat Sugden fatally dying. In May 1994 the village was renamed Emmerdale from Beckindale in honour of Annie Sugden, who was left in a coma for three months. It was reported that Helen Weir, who played the character, clashed with executives off-screen which led to her suddenly quitting the show and being written out.
She ended up dating Clive Hornby who was her onscreen husband, Jack Sugden with the couple having a child. It was later revealed that her decision came from a dispute over the inclusion of her and Cl.