Emmerdale’s series producer Stuart Blackburn has been discussing the forthcoming landmark live episode – which airs on Wednesday, October 17th at 7pm – with BBC News, and he’s revealed that the organization of the hour-long broadcast has been “a logistical and financial nightmare at every single level.”

Blackburn has of course signed up award winning director Tony Prescott to oversee the live 40th anniversary episode, and the pair have had extensive discussions about planning for all eventualities with regard to what might go wrong during the live show.

But understandably one of their biggest worries is that the weather – which is not notoriously clement in October in Yorkshire – will scupper the live broadcast.

During the interview with the BBC, Blackburn revealed that at the moment, one of his biggest concerns is that there could be gale force winds on the night…

He said, “A bit of wind and lots of rain, I’d be happy with that – it’s the gale force that we’re dreading.”

The live episode is of course making history as it will be the first ever live show to be shot entirely on location.

Of the challenges he and Prescott – and of course the cast and other production crew – will face, Blackburn added, “All the other live episodes have been based around a studio so obviously all their resources were there – all the equipment’s there, all the power’s there, the canteen’s there.

“Things like the make-up and costume departments are there. They’re not here [in the village].

“Every single thing has to be brought in – the generators and entire departments from Emmerdale have got to be moved up here.

“We’ve got to feed the extras and transport them up here. It’s a logistical and financial nightmare at every single level.”

Well while I’ve no doubt that’s true, I am counting the days until it airs! Are you excited?

You can click here to read all our coverage of Emmerdale At 40, which includes news of spin-off shows and lots of clips and teasers.