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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Charlotte Tutton

Emmerdale confirms terrifying cow stampede stunt as characters in grave danger

Emmerdale has confirmed one of the big stunts during the storm week will be a cow stampede, that leaves lives on the line.

The ITV soap celebrates its 50th anniversary next week with a huge stunt week, and deaths confirmed.

It's been teased a series of different events will unfold, with most of the village in peril in one way or another.

Now, details have been confirmed about one of the stunts, and its certainly a soap first.

Bosses recently teased that one part of the week had never been done before, and could only be done by Emmerdale - and it appears they were talking about the stampede.

Emmerdale has confirmed one of the big stunts during the storm week will be a cow stampede at Moira's barn (ITV)

Spoilers confirm that the cows at Moira Dingle's farm end up escaping their barn, which is collapsing around them in the wind.

As the cows get out, it's not long before the storm panics them and they begin to stampede.

Show designer Duncan Howell has also revealed details, and appeared to confirm the cows would charge at some characters and leave them in danger.

He spilled: "This was one of the big elements of the week. A cow stampede has not been done on a soap to this extent. We began with conversations and lots of planning with the farmer.

Spoilers confirm that the cows at Moira Dingle's farm end up escaping their barn (ITV)

"It was really important that this did not cause any harm or stress to these animals. The cattle we used all actually live on the farm. For the filming element we created a new cattle pen near to a run which was a fence running down to one of their fields.

"So when they came out of the pen they gathered to go down the run to their field. They know they get fed both in the pen but also in the field. We did a rehearsal which was useful as it ensured the producers and everyone was happy with what we were doing and it was recorded to ensure there was no distress or any stress being caused to the animals.

"We put their food on the back of a feed hopper and whizzed that down first so the cows had seen their food go. So when they came out of their pen they ran as a group to get to the food. It was successful. Of course there was a bit of trickery as we used a thing which we called ‘cow cam’.

Nate, Sam and Belle are tipped to be caught up in the stampede (ITV)

"An amazing company called Animated Extras from Shepperton Studios created a cow’s head that could be puppeteered.

"This will enable the audience to see a cow’s point of view. In the scene it will look as if the cows are running towards the Emmerdale characters as the cows stampede. It worked perfectly. "

It's not been confirmed in the spoilers who is in danger as the cows escape, but recent teasers from boss Jane Hudson may reveal more on this.

Speaking to The Mirror in August, she said: "There is a story, which involves Nate, Sam and Belle, which is the one that only Emmerdale can do. And that's going to dominate quite a lot of the 50th as well."

Got any theories or thoughts on the storyline? Let us know in the comments section below

Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7:30pm on ITV and ITV Hub, with an hour-long episode on Thursdays.

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