Emmerdale backstage secrets – Plastic food, real graves, tributes and spelling errors

One of the most well-known soap operas in the UK is Emmerdale, and the Daily Star recently paid a visit to the set to have a look behind the scenes.

We had the opportunity to see the renowned village where the outside scenes of the soap are filmed before the 50th anniversary launch and discovered some intriguing information along the way.

The Emmerdale set was full of behind-the-scenes secrets, from touring recognizable structures like The Woolpack Pub and Cafe Main Street to paying respects to characters who are no longer in the show.

Here, Daily Star shares some information about the Emmerdale set that you might not be aware of.

Emmerdale is filmed at two locations

You might be startled to learn that the interior and exterior sequences for one of television’s most recognizable villages, Emmerdale, are shot separately.

Therefore, even if you might want to take a picture behind the Woolpack bar, the famed pub’s actual inside is separate from the structure itself.

The interior scenes for the soap are filmed in a studio in Leeds, one of the two sites where the show is shot.

The Harewood Estate’s specifically constructed village, which was established in 1997 after Emmerdale shifted production away from the actual village of Esholt, is where the outside sequences are shot.

The estate is empty, but many of the structures are used by the many production teams that work on the soap, including the makeup team, which is located in Harriet Finch’s cottage, Woodbine Cottage.

By applying layers of yoghurt and manure to the walls to promote the growth of moss and lichen, the set and prop designers were able to create the appearance of the hamlet buildings being ancient and worn.

Barton and Dingle Motors is one of the sets that had all of its sequences shot in the village, but for an unexpected cause.

The characters work on the vehicles outside because the garage at Barton and Dingle Motors is actually too small to fit most autos.

The village hall features tributes to past residents

The village hall, commonly known as the Emmerdale Institute, is one structure on the Emmerdale lot that does have an interior set.

Inside, there is a lovely stained-glass window and thoughtful memorials to previous occupants, including images of famous people and iconic families like the Turners and the Sugdens.

Given that the villagers can enjoy performances on a stage, perhaps it’s time to resurrect the legendary Woolpackers band for a younger audience?

There’s plastic treats in the café window

Yes, we have all engaged in it.

We’ve all walked by Café Main Street’s window and remarked, “Oh, those cakes look delicious.”

Nevertheless, it makes sense that the incredibly lifelike cakes and pastries in the display are made of plastic rather than actual food in order to maintain their appearance over time.

But don’t worry, because ice cream is available to guests visiting the Emmerdale set at a discounted rate from what you would typically pay.

We were able to reward ourselves with a 99 cone with a flake, which often costs around 40p from the ice cream van in Emmerdale village and costs up to £2.50 or more elsewhere.

St Mary’s Church keeps villagers ‘in the know’

The Emmerdale set’s meticulous attention to detail is astounding and deserving of a standing ovation on its own.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream outdoor theater show and a jumble sale will be among the upcoming village events that are frequently updated on the St. Mary’s Church sign.

Prior to Marlon and Rhona’s wedding in Emmerdale next week, we also noticed a lovely sign for their approaching nuptials during our visit to the set.

There’s real gravestones in the churchyard

Fans have shed tears at the tragic deaths of several Emmerdale characters over the years, including Valerie Pollard and Francis “Butch” Dingle.

As they stroll through the churchyard in the hamlet, visitors to the Emmerdale set may pay their respects to the deceased cherished inhabitants, including Tricia Dingle and Alan Turner.

While some of the gravestones in the Emmerdale churchyard are fictional, there are also some authentic gravestones there.

When the set was constructed in 1997, a graveyard in London was undergoing renovations and provided several gravestones for Emmerdale, which viewers would be able to see as they travel through the churchyard.

If viewers pay great attention, they will also be able to see that the Emmerdale set’s allotments are situated exactly adjacent to the churchyard.

The grocers’ sign features a spelling mistake

Did you know that one of David Metcalfe’s grocery store’s signs contains a spelling error? It is a short distance from Café Main Street and is located across from the Woolpack Pub.

All of the items that the villagers can buy are listed on a sign that is located to the left of the shop.

But if you look closely, “confectionery” is really misspelled as “confectionary,” which is why it is rumored that a close-up of the sign is never shown on television.