EMMERDALE has joined forced with other TV soaps this week to raise awareness of climate change. In crossover scenes highlighting environmental issues during the Cop26 climate summit, a video from Emmerdale was featured in a Monday episode of Coronation Street tackling air pollution. And Emmerdale referenced Hollyoaks in its Monday episode.

Originally conceived by Emmerdale executive producer Jane Hudson, the crossover follows months of planning and meetings between the soaps.

Originally a lunchtime soap about a rural community in a Yorkshire village, Emmerdale Farm was first broadcast in October 1972, with exterior scenes filmed in Arncliffe in Littondale. Production later moved to Esholt, where exterior shots of the Woolpack were filmed, then in 1997 a village set was built on the Harewood estate and exterior scenes have been shot there ever since.

Emmerdale fans continue to visit Esholt, where the Woolpack pub is a main attraction.

Our look back on Emmerdale over the years (see photos above) features photos of filming in Esholt back in 1994 and preparing the Commercial pub for filming in 1987.

Richard Thorp, who played Woolpack landlord Alan Turner, is pictured with the then landlord of the real-life Woolpack at its grand opening in 1991. Prior to that the Esholt pub had been called The Commercial.

Also pictured above is a cast charity cricket match in Esholt in 1983 and Annie Sugden ruling the roost in Emmerdale Farm. The late Sheila Mercier, who played Annie, is pictured celebrating the Yorkshire soap's 10th birthday with stars including Frazer Hines.

And who remembers the Emmerdale Farm record? Recorded by cast members in St Paul’s Church, Esholt, in September 1985, when the soap filmed there, all profits from sales of the album went to Save The Children.