Cast and crew will be exposed to the elements as the ITV1 drama goes live for an hour-long broadcast tomorrow evening (October 17), as no scenes will take place in the programme's regular studio sets.
© ITV
Emmerdale's Jason Merrells.
© Rex Features / ITV
> 'Emmerdale' 40th anniversary - full coverage
Merrells, who plays Home Farm boss Declan Macey, today (October 16) told BBC Breakfast that Emmerdale chiefs have made the right choice despite the risks involved.
He commented: "No-one's ever attempted something like this on-location, that's the uniqueness of what we're doing. Our village that we've got built here is also pretty unique, and it's great to show it off.
"The location is one of the strongest things that Emmerdale's got going for it. I think it's a brilliant decision to go live here, rather than in the studio."
© ITV
© ITV
The 43-year-old admitted that he is trying not to get too nervous ahead of the special 40th anniversary transmission.
"I'm more excited than nervous, I think," he explained. "Everyone's really buzzing about it. It's a really big deal for us, it's our anniversary today, and tomorrow we're doing this live episode.
"We've been rehearsing quite full-on for the last week or so, and it's brought the cast and crew together in a much more integral way.
"I was texting a friend of mine last night trying to describe it, and I was saying, 'It's like doing a massive promenade theatre show on location in Yorkshire, but to 14 million people!'"
Emmerdale Live airs tomorrow from 7pm on ITV1.
