Excitement is building for an unprecedented television event as stars from Emmerdale and Coronation Street prepare to collide in a special crossover episode. The one-off instalment, dubbed 'Corriedale', is scheduled to air in early January, promising explosive drama and interactions never before seen by soap fans.
Filming Begins for Soap Spectacular
Last week, soap expert Sharon Marshall confirmed on ITV's This Morning that filming was imminent, featuring four stars from each of the iconic serials. While Mike Parr, who plays Ross Barton in Emmerdale, couldn't attend the segment in person, a large picture of the actor was prominently displayed. His colleagues confirmed on his behalf that he will be sharing the screen with Kate Ford, who portrays the formidable Tracy Barlow in Coronation Street.
Following the broadcast, Parr took to the comments section of Sharon Marshall's Instagram post to share his excitement. He expressed that he was 'gutted' to have missed the segment and tantalisingly teased fans about his upcoming scene. 'All I can say is that the scene between Ross and Tracy is mouth watering!!!', he wrote. With both characters currently single, speculation is rife that a steamy romance could be on the cards for this unlikely pairing.
Which Other Soap Favourites Are Taking Part?
The crossover filming will see several other beloved characters from the two worlds meet. Emmerdale's Emma Atkins (Charity Dingle) revealed she will film a scene with Alison King (Carla Connor), while James Hooton (Sam Dingle) is set to work alongside Andy Whyment (Kirk Sutherland). Nicola Wheeler (Nicola King) confirmed she will be sharing scenes with the legendary David Neilson, who plays café owner Roy Cropper.
It was also confirmed earlier this month that Vicky Myers and Danny Miller will definitely feature in the crossover, reprising their roles as DS Lisa Swain and Aaron Dingle respectively. The exact plot remains a closely guarded secret, but a Coronation Street spokesperson hinted at a dramatic narrative, asking: 'What leads Lisa and Aaron to find their lives intertwined on a dark and foreboding night in January?'
A 'Mind-Blowing' Event for Soap Fans
Iain MacLeod, ITV’s Executive Producer for Continuing Drama, shared his enthusiasm for the project. 'It’s beyond exciting that filming is under way on Corriedale,' he stated. 'There is a massive buzz around both the Leeds and Manchester sites and the images coming out of the shoot are utterly spectacular.'
He went on to promise an unmissable event for viewers, adding: 'As a soap fan myself, I think my head is going to explode when the episode airs next year. It will be mind-blowing, historical and unmissable.' The episode is described as a one-hour spectacular, featuring explosive scenes and nail-biting drama.
In a unique interactive twist, soap bosses will soon give fans the chance to vote for which duo they would most like to see feature in the final episode, making the audience a direct part of this groundbreaking television moment.
