‘I visited the Emmerdale set and so much of what we see on TV is real – I was speechless’

When I first stepped into the Emmerdale village, I didn’t think much of what I was going to experience would be authentic.

There’s a simple reason for this. While the exterior scenes – such as characters walking to the cafe or the Woolpack – are filmed on-set in the village, the interior shots take place in an entirely separate studio in the centre of Leeds.

Members of the public can enjoy a tour of the outdoor sets in various summer months, while indoor studio tours take place at different times.

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So, needless to say, I was expecting hollowed-out houses and faux walls everywhere.

But what I got was a totally different experience.

First off, most of the houses are real – if rather draughty. Actually, the whole village was freezing cold, which was probably my own fault for visiting in the depths of winter.

Even bundled up in three coats and a scarf, the chill seeped through.

Speaking to various members of the cast, they agreed that the temperatures out in the Emmerdale village are usually horrific, and the buildings don’t have built-in heating or double glazing in some cases.

With stars like Gabby Thomas actress Rosie Bentham and Nicky actor Lewis Cope bundled in puffer coats, it’s hard to imagine the cast forced to film summer episodes months in advance.

On our tour, we got to see the inside of various houses, including the Sharma house, which has a real TV set in the corner, along with a fully decked out dining table and comfy couches lying around.

The same went for Pollard’s Barn – though it’s not exactly as we seen on-screen, the home is set up with tables, chairs and a working kitchen with running water.

That’s not all. Venture over to the graveyard and you’ll stumble upon all the graves of deceased characters, including Val Pollard, who died in the helicopter crash.

Keen fans will remember Val singing Frank Sinatra’s My Way at her funeral, a song which is later heard playing from a speaker hidden in her extravagant gravestone – which is Val all over.

Well, that speaker works in real life, too, although sadly it was broken at the time of my visit. But mourners really can press a button and hear Val star Charlie Hardwick warbling the famous tune.

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Even the pirate ship built by Arthur Thomas and his dad Ashley is real and full-sized – perfect for hiding out in.

Right down to the junk lying in wait at Vinny’s scrapyard, so many details we see on-screen are real.

Old cars, washing machines and fridges were all piled up in stacks – I wonder if they came from production staff or neighbours to the set who donate it instead of waiting for bulky rubbish?

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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk