Ahead of the historic ITV soap crossover, Coronation Street veteran Jack P Shepherd has been left amazed by the working methods of the Emmerdale cast. The actor, who has played David Platt for over 25 years, is part of the upcoming 'Corriedale' special, set to air in January 2026.
The Big Revelation on Set
While filming the dramatic episode, which features a multi-vehicle pile-up, Shepherd noticed a significant contrast in how his counterparts from the Dales approach their craft. Discussing the experience on the 'On the Sofa' podcast with co-stars Colson Smith and Ben Price, he revealed the key difference lies in learning lines.
'I've been working with a lot of different soap actors that we're not really familiar with,' Jack said, careful to avoid spoilers. He explained that while his own tried-and-tested method is the 'cover and check' technique, the Emmerdale team uses a more technological approach.
Dictaphones vs. The Old Hand Trick
'They have dictaphones or voice notes,' Shepherd elaborated. 'So they will record the other person's lines, and leave gaps.' After learning their own lines, the actors then practice the entire scene by playing back the recording and responding to their absent co-star's cues.
While Ben Price, who plays Nick Tilsley, seemed surprised, Colson Smith confessed he uses a similar method. The revelation suggests a fascinating cultural divide between the two iconic shows' production styles.
Who Else is Heading to the Dales?
Shepherd's Instagram has fuelled further speculation about the crossover's scale. A post captioned 'Emmerdale away' showed him dining with Simon Gregson (Steve McDonald), Alan Halsall (Tyrone Dobbs), Andrew Whyment (Kirk Sutherland), Sam Aston (Chesney Brown), and Jimmi Harkishin (Dev Alahan).
This hints their characters may be involved, adding to the already confirmed cast. From Coronation Street, Vicky Myers (DS Lisa Swain) and Kate Ford (Tracy Barlow) are crossing the Pennines. Emmerdale is sending Danny Miller (Aaron Dingle) and Jonny McPherson (Dr Liam Cavanagh).
The episode will also feature interactive elements, with viewers choosing one of four pre-filmed scenes to include. These potential encounters are between Carla Connor and Charity Dingle, Tracy Barlow and Ross Barton, Roy Cropper and Nicola King, and Kirk Sutherland and Sam Dingle.
As the soap world eagerly awaits this unprecedented collision, it's clear the collaboration is already sparking new conversations behind the scenes, with Jack P Shepherd's mind officially blown by the very different way Emmerdale works.
