A deadly explosion in Emmerdale’s barn on Thursday leaves Mandy Dingle’s wedding dreams hanging by a thread in the first spectacular TV soap stunt since the pandemic started.
Over the past three days, teaser scenes have been screened showing three residents lying in hospital – Paul Ashdale, Liv Flaherty and Jimmy King – but fans will have to tune in to find out who is in grave danger of losing their life.
The nightmare begins when Paul and Liv have a row in the barn after she starts to gather evidence to prove he has been beating up son Vinny.
Meanwhile, driving towards the barn in a van is Jimmy, who is feeling panic-stricken about his struggle with ex Juliette over the custody of their son, Carl.
And just as he nears the barn, events take a dramatic twist, causing a catastrophe…
(Image: At the wheel of the truck, Jimmy King [NICK MILES] struggles to breathe and as he rounds a corner)
“The explosion is one of the biggest I have ever seen on Emmerdale,” says actor Nick Miles, 58, who has played long-suffering Jimmy for 16 years.
“It was like being on a movie set and I have not seen anything so immense. The courage to do such a big explosion, set against Covid restrictions, is enormous.”
It took Emmerdale bosses four months to plan the dramatic plotline.
As part of strict guidelines, a bare minimum of cast and crew were on set for the stunt at any one time, with seven unmanned cameras – one of which blew up in the explosion – used to keep numbers down.
(Image: Emmerdale’s cast and crew have successfully filmed their biggest stunt since the Covid 19 pandemic began a year ago)
(Image: Paul Ashdale [REECE DINSDALE] is put in grave danger)
A special barn was designed to make sure the best possible scenes could be shot within the restrictions and mannequins were used for close shots.
Chutes were also attached to the barn to fire off a mixture of gas and petrol to cause the explosion, while lightweight debris was fired out to make the scenes even more dramatic.
To keep the actors safe, stunt doubles took their place for close action shots too.
“I never felt in danger,” says Reece Dinsdale, 61, who plays Paul, as he gives the Mirror an exclusive peek behind the scenes.
“The planning was painstaking and even though it took longer to film than in normal times, it looks so unbelievably dramatic. To pull something off during a pandemic is extraordinary.”
(Image: The explosion is going to be fatal for someone)
(Image: Emmerdale will be the first soap to have an explosive stunt since the pandemic)
Isobel Steele, 20, who plays Liv, says: “The explosion was hot, loud and much bigger than I imagined it would be. I’ve never been involved in anything like this before and I was gobsmacked! It is very dramatic.”
All three stars involved in the storyline took on a lot more responsibility, doing their own hair and make-up, for example, to get it right.
“We’ve had to make compromises,” explains Isobel. “As well as learning our lines, we’ve had to use our own props and take on more roles for this stunt.
“And even though that has meant more pressure, it has all been worth it because you would never know we have done it during Covid.”
The actors admit it was bittersweet when told about their characters’ involvement, knowing their time on the ITV soap could soon be over.
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Nick says: “With big, exciting plots, there is danger too. So when they phone you up to tell you your character is involved in a huge storyline, you do wonder what will happen.”
Emmerdale was the first soap to return to filming last year after the first national lockdown and all three stars have naturally been chuffed to be back working. But they long for normality to return on the set.
“It’s very strange,” admits Nick. “It’s so lonely at times because there are no longer any communal dressing rooms or green rooms. You can’t eat together in the canteen and they have a maximum of six involved in a scene.
“If you are in a stunt like this where Jimmy is in a van, then that is not many people.”
Isobel agrees: “It’s 100% lonelier. It’s a very different way of working now, especially when you are used to the camaraderie on set. We had to have a celebration from afar when the explosion went off.
I know it is not natural at all to be two metres apart and for someone like Lisa Riley, who is such a lovely tactile person, it’s not like her at all! It’s been a massive adjustment.”
(Image: Behind the scenes on the stunt)
But there have been upsides to Covid, jokes Reece, because he hasn’t been confronted in the street by angry fans over his character’s evil bullying.
“For once, having a mask is a benefit,” he says. “Nobody recognises me and so far, there has been nobody with umbrellas beating me over the head!”
It remains to be seen whether he has done something new to spark fury but the coming days in Emmerdale are going to provide plenty of twists and turns for the soap’s loyal fans.
“Who is a goner?” asks Reece. “Soon we will find out if it is Paul, Jimmy or Liv. And there is a surprise fourth character who appears in the hospital too… so it could be any one of four.”
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Originally from https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/killer-emmerdale-explosion-ruins-dingle-23832175