[Scarlett.]

EMMERDALE is facing a mutiny on set after 60 PER CENT of the show’s extras were axed.

The backgrounders — some have been seen supping pints in the Woolpack for more than 20 years — have been told the cull is to make the ITV1 soap more realistic.

Emmerdale bosses have written to regulars: “One of our aims is to try to represent a small village community more accurately.

“At present we have over one hundred regular supporting artists, and in the small and fairly remote North Yorkshire village that it represents, our current thinking is that this number is too great to be realistic.” But last night four extras — who have been spared the chop but do not want to be named — hit back in a stinging statement.

They said: “Before the new series producer Anita Turner came along no one was stupid enough to believe viewers had stopped watching because there were too many background artists.

“We feel very strongly the production company are ducking the issue.” An ITV spokesman responded, saying: “It is the nature of production that there is a creative review from time to time.”

Despite the tension, bosses were celebrating yesterday after Emmerdale trounced EastEnders on Tuesday. Viewing figures peaked at 7.1 million against Enders’ 6 million.