Emmerdale confirms timeslot for 50th anniversary Sunday special

Emmerdale has confirmed the final scheduling details for its hour-long 50th anniversary special.

Show bosses recently announced plans to air an extended episode on Sunday, October 16 – the exact date that Emmerdale turns 50.

While it's unusual for Emmerdale to air on a Sunday, the scheduling decision means that the soap gets an on-screen celebration on its special day.

Final schedules have now revealed that Emmerdale will take the 7pm timeslot on ITV on Sunday, October 16.

ITV

This won't be the only Dales content airing that evening, as tribute documentary Emmerdale – 50 Unforgettable Years screens beforehand at 6pm.

The rest of the week plays out as usual from October 17, with episodes airing nightly at 7.30pm from Monday to Friday. Thursday's episode will be an hour-long as usual.

Emmerdale's week of celebration will see a deadly storm hit the village on the day of Kim Tate and Will Taylor's wedding.

Show producer Kate Brooks recently told Digital Spy and other media: "As part of our big 50th week, we will focus on a massive storm that's going to rip through the village and leave a massive trail of destruction in its wake.

emmerdale village in the storm storyline

AMY BRAMMALL//ITV

"Some of our best-loved villagers will be in peril and it's safe to say that the village will never be the same after this. The impact this storm has on people's lives is just massive. That is our big set-piece stunt.

"In terms of filming, it's quite unprecedented, the scale of what we are doing. There are elements of the big storm week that I've not seen on a soap drama before and it's very exciting and nerve-wracking to be part of that."

Emmerdale airs on weeknights at 7.30pm on ITV, and streams on the ITV Hub.