Actors' union Equity has claimed that Emmerdale's stars are furious about their work schedules.

The union spoke out about the soap's "exhausted" performers being asked to work six days per week.

"Management are worried the actors are exhausted and unhappy," spokesperson Nigel Jones told the Sunday Mirror.

A spokesman for Yorkshire TV, which produces the soap, insisted: "It is highly unusual for actors to be required for filming on a Saturday."

Emmerdale's ratings have been boosted by recent high-profile plots, including Jo Stiles (Roxanne Pallett) marrying Andy Sugden (Kelvin Fletcher) in prison, and the cot death storyline involving Laurel Thomas (Charlotte Bellamy) and her baby.