ITV announces Emmerdale and Coronation Street specials
By Diva Rodriguez
It's going to be a suds filled summer as the soaps air specials to leave you laughing, crying and gasping for more. Special nostalgia-filled programmes have been commissioned to air alongside the new episodes of Emmerdale and Coronation Street, currently being filmed in Leeds and Manchester, which will continue to air on ITV across the summer months.
Emmerdale will revisit three generations of its most popular families whilst Coronation Street will look back at its memorable moments and iconic characters.
Check out below what's in store on both Emmerdale and Coronation Street.
Emmerdale Family Trees
A new 4 part, 30 minute series narrated by Gaynor Faye looking back at different generations of three of the soap’s most loved families – The Tates, The Sugdens and The Dingles.
The series will be a mixture of archive footage and new talking heads by cast members past and present.
The Sugdens
This episode will look at the farming family that’s been at the heart of the soap since it launched in 1972 with Annie Sugden at the helm. Over almost 5 decades they’ve endured heartbreak, feuds and sibling rivalry like no other.
We hear from Alyson Sprio who married into the Sugden family as Jack's wife Sarah who quickly became embroiled in some of the families biggest storyline up to her dramatic death in a Barn Fire. Frazer Hines, who played Joe Sugden, looks back at his time as the son of Annie and shares stories about becoming part of the soap's most famous farming family.
The Tates
In the late 80’s the Tates burst on the scene, bringing glamour, money and power to the farming community. Alongside Frank, his wife Kim and his children Chris and Zoe, they quickly became embroiled in some of the soap's most memorable storylines; from the plane crash that left Chris paralysed to the paternity battle over Kim’s son Jamie.
Alexander Lincoln, who plays Jamie Tate spills the beans on being the son of the village villain Kim Tate and Claire King who plays her shares why she relishes being part of the family that brought money and glamour to the sleepy village in Yorkshire.
The Dingles I – Older and Wiser
The Dingles hit our screens in the mid 90’s and fast became one of the country's most loved families. The older generation made their mark with Zak leading the pack. In this episode we’ll weave our way through the life, loves, scams and antics of him, his three wives and his seven children.
James Hooton, who plays Sam Dingle reveals how the whole family got behind one of the Dingles bests scams - creating a medieval theme park. Lisa Riley (Mandy Dingle) shares stories of why the Dingle code doesn't always keep the whole family in check.
The Dingles II -Young Guns
In this episode we’ll look at the family shenanigans of the latest Dingles who make up a mix of loveable rogues, heartbreakers and surprise siblings. From Aaron’s destructive streak to Liv’s battles with alcoholism, we’ll map the family relationships that have brought fresh new storylines to the series.
Danny Miller, who plays Aaron Dingle, describes how the Dingle family name can be a blessing and a curse. And surprise son of Cain, Nate Robinson, played by Jurell Carter talks about his explosive affair with his father’s wife.
Coronation Street Memorable Moments
This is an 8 part, 30 minute new clip-based series narrated by Jason Manford. Looking back over 60 years, each episode has been carefully curated from the archives to bring alive each theme via specially selected highlights.
Coronation Street: Weddings
A celebration of the best and most dramatic weddings in Weatherfield. There have been 130 weddings over the decades and viewers will get to see some of the most dramatic, shocking and heart-warming.
Coronation Street: Villains
A look back at some of the notorious baddies to ever walk the streets of Weatherfield. You’ll be on the edge of your seat all over again as we remember the likes of Richard Hillman, Charlie Stubbs, Maya Sharma and Pat Phelan.
Coronation Street: Stories That Gripped The Nation
Coronation Street has always connected with its audience, made headlines and broken new ground in television drama. We look back at pivotal storylines that captured the public’s imagination.
Coronation Street: Battle Axes
Coronation Street was founded on its dominating matriarchs and Northern working- class battle axes. This episode will celebrate the best of them.
Coronation Street: Scandals
You’re never far away from a scandal on Coronation Street – affairs, underage pregnancies, bigamy are all events that have rocked the street over the years.
Coronation Street: Partnerships
We celebrate the classic pairings and comedy double acts that have kept us entertained across the decades.
Coronation Street: Famous Faces
A celebration of some of the many famous faces that have graced the street over the years including Sir Ian McKellen, Joanna Lumley and Maxine Peake. We’ll also look at actors who appeared in the soap ‘before they were famous’ in other roles.
Coronation Street: High Days and Holidays
The residents of Weatherfield love a change of scenery and this episode will look at their many holidays which very rarely go to plan.
Coronation Street Icons
This is a new 4 part, 30 minute series narrated by Sally Lindsay looking back at some of the iconic characters who have walked the cobbles over the years.
We’ll celebrate some of the longest serving much loved cast members and chart their character’s journey and find out what the actors themselves think of their time on the street.
The four iconic characters are Ken Barlow (played by William Roache), Sally Metcalfe (played by Sally Dynevor), Liz McDonald (played by Beverley Callard) and Roy Cropper (played by David Neilson).
The episodes will contain archive footage and new talking heads by cast members past and present.
Coronation Street Icons: Ken Barlow
William Roache reveals just what life was like for the original cast of Coronation Street and why Violet Carson was the natural leader. He admits his love for an on screen punch up where he always tries to play it as real as possible. Bill also likens his current role as the head of the Barlows as that of a mafia boss, surrounded by his henchman.
Coronation Street Icons: Sally Metcalfe
Sally Dynevor tells the story of how she nearly messed up her role on Coronation Street on her very first day. She reveals the real off-screen relationship with her on screen daughters Rosie and Sophie, and speaks frankly about how a hard-hitting breast cancer storyline coincided with her own battle with the illness.
Coronation Street Icons: Liz McDonald
Beverley Callard reveals Liz’s racy wardrobe secrets and how she often buys some of the more outrageous outfits herself. She also talks about the off-screen mother/son relationship that she has with Simon Gregson who plays her on screen son Steve.
Coronation Street Icons: Roy Cropper
David Neilson talks about how his own Mum influenced Roy Cropper’s mannerisms, and how a conversation at a party turned into one of his most memorable storylines when Tracy Barlow lured Roy into bed for a bet.