Emmerdale is of course celebrating 40 years of broadcasting in October this year, and ITV have now released details of two special spin-off shows which will accompany the live episode of the soap.

The first, which is entitled Emmerdale At 40, is a five-part documentary series which will see the cast, past and present, telling the stories of some of the soap’s biggest plotlines.

Members of the production team will also contribute, revealing the secrets behind some of the show’s biggest stunts, such as the plane crash and the collapse of the pub’s chimney, which of course killed off Marlon Dingle’s wife Tricia, who was played by Sheree Murphy.

The stories told will encompass the characters – and cast of course – who’ve created headlines over the years, what with affairs, marriages, births, deaths and everything inbetween!

We’ll see contributions from Emma Atkins, Jeff Hordley, Chris Chittell, Claire King, Jane Cox, Charlie Hardwick, Danny Miller, Deena Payne, Dominic Brunt, Elizabeth Estensen, John Middleton, Kelvin Fletcher, Ken Farrington, Leah Bracknell, Lucy Pargeter, Mark Charnock, Maxwell Caulfield, Norman Bowler, Sammy Winward, Sheree Murphy and Tony Audenshaw.

We’ll also get to see previously unseen behind-the-scenes footage too.

Here’s a run down of the special shows…

• The Headline Makers includes a look at the Who Killed Tom King storyline as the cast recall shooting 11 different endings but weren’t told whoddunit…and Charlotte Bellamy and John Middleton reveal how being given a cot death storyline made a huge impact on them as parents as well as actors.

• The Weddings includes a look at Charity’s five weddings, Jimmy and Nicola’s mad dash down the aisle after their day in court and Diane’s wedding day revelation of bowel cancer during the service itself.

• The Crimes includes Kim Tate’s notorious bumping off of Frank in 1997, Natasha Wylde taking revenge on her husband with a shotgun in 2010 and we’ll hear from village bad-boy Jeff Hordley (Cain) on the kidnap of Tom and Sadie King.

• The Affairs includes the sexy teenage love triangle between Andy, Katie and Robert and Chas and Carl being broken up by seductress Eve.

• And in The Woolpack we’ll hear how landlady Diane almost lost her beloved pub to conman Charlie in 2010 and we’ll relive its near destruction by the storm in 2004.

Emmerdale At 40 is a Shiver production for ITV1, series produced by Yvette Lyons and executive produced by Mark Robinson.

Also, after the live episode has aired, ITV2 will present, Emmerdale Live: The Fallout, which will be hosted by Stephen Mulhern.

Here’s what ITV have to say about the hour-long special…

When the action ramps up for the 40th birthday, ITV2 will take you closer than you’ve
ever been before, with the ultimate behind-the-scenes pass to the most explosive
village in the Yorkshire Dales.

This October, Emmerdale celebrates its 40th birthday with a live episode on ITV1,
broadcast entirely from their village location, and directed by BAFTA award-winning
director Tony Prescott.

Over on ITV2, we’ll be right there in the thick of the action to provide immediate reactions from the cast, crew, viewers & superfans with unprecedented & exclusive access to Harewood Estate – or as it’s more commonly known, Emmerdale.

Broadcasting live from Smithy Cottage, we’ll capture the cast as soon as they come off-air, following their epic hour-long, live transmission and we’ll go behind-the-scenes to reveal the months of preparation and rehearsals involved in producing their finest hour.

There’ll be discussions on breaking storylines and viewers will be able to interact directly
with the show – to give us their thoughts and pose any questions.

And with host, Stephen Mulhern at the helm there are sure to be plenty of laughs along the way, as well as a few unexpected surprises.

Are you excited for the show’s 40th?