Scarlett.
20-05-2011, 10:25 AM
EMMERDALE will toast its 40th birthday in a spectacular live show.
TV chiefs want to match the success of live episodes by Coronation Street and EastEnders.
The ITV1 soap - whose newest arrival is former Hollyoaks hunk Matt Milburn - began as Emmerdale Farm in 1972.
It will be 40 next year, and bosses are planning dramatic plots that will reach a climax in the live show.
Corrie director Tony Prescott - who masterminded last year's live 50th anniversary when the Street was hit by a tram crash - has been recruited for the show.
Tony said: "I would love to do more live drama on TV.
"Television as an event is the future. Look at shows like The X Factor - all the biggest grossing shows now are live."
Corrie's 50th anniversary drew 15 million viewers, while 20 million tuned in for EastEnders' live 25th birthday show.
An Emmerdale source told TV Biz: "No storylines have been decided yet.
"Bosses want a big surprise and a big disaster. Corrie pushed the limits with their live stunts last year."
Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/soaps/3590663/Live-special-for-Emmerdales-40th.html#ixzz1Mt3Xh9SU
TV chiefs want to match the success of live episodes by Coronation Street and EastEnders.
The ITV1 soap - whose newest arrival is former Hollyoaks hunk Matt Milburn - began as Emmerdale Farm in 1972.
It will be 40 next year, and bosses are planning dramatic plots that will reach a climax in the live show.
Corrie director Tony Prescott - who masterminded last year's live 50th anniversary when the Street was hit by a tram crash - has been recruited for the show.
Tony said: "I would love to do more live drama on TV.
"Television as an event is the future. Look at shows like The X Factor - all the biggest grossing shows now are live."
Corrie's 50th anniversary drew 15 million viewers, while 20 million tuned in for EastEnders' live 25th birthday show.
An Emmerdale source told TV Biz: "No storylines have been decided yet.
"Bosses want a big surprise and a big disaster. Corrie pushed the limits with their live stunts last year."
Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/soaps/3590663/Live-special-for-Emmerdales-40th.html#ixzz1Mt3Xh9SU