Emmerdale has repeatedly grabbed headlines with dramatic events, such as the catastrophic storm of 2004 and an even more devastating one in 2024, the 2013 Woolpack siege, the terrifying helicopter crash in 2015, plus the notorious plane disaster in 1993.
Following its victory for best soap at this week’s TV Choice Awards, Emmerdale is preparing to broadcast a stunt described by star Lisa Riley as “Emmerdale does Titanic”.
This Friday, a heart-stopping episode will air featuring seven prominent characters, including Lisa’s Mandy Dingle, entangled in a catastrophic accident that sends their limousines spiralling out of control—one plummeting into a frozen lake.
Beneath the ice, the harrowing battle for survival unfolds, and not all will emerge unscathed; the recent promo chillingly teases at least one character succumbing to the icy depths, the Mirror reports.
Filming this stunt was no simple feat, as demonstrated by exclusive behind-the-scenes photos—it demanded two weeks of night shoots, the efforts of 90 crew members, specialist divers, and medics, an entire overflow carpark repurposed, the use of liquid wax, and copious amounts of soup to stave off the cold for the cast.
In an exclusive chat with the Mirror, 48-year-old Lisa remarked: “One thing we are brilliant at Emmerdale is our stunts and we are really proud of this one. It’s the biggest one I’ve been involved in – even bigger than the storm for our 50th birthday!
“This is big. It’s a huge white-knuckle ride. As soon as us Dingle girls read the scripts, we all let out a squeal as we didn’t see any of it coming. It’s so cinematic that it really is a case of ‘Emmerdale does the Titanic’.”
While she’s not spilling any beans on whether Mandy survives, Lisa admits there’s been a buzz of nervousness on set. Dominic Brunt (Paddy Kirk), Lucy Pargeter (Chas Dingle), and Emma Atkins (Charity Dingle) are also part of the seven characters in peril, with the cast being informed that one would meet their end.
Lisa reveals: “Whenever there is a stunt that involves a death, I will always be on standby to phone my agent [in case] it means I am going to need to get a new job! “, hinting at the constant uncertainty of her acting career.
The atmosphere among the cast is tense, especially given the recent high-profile exits from the soap. Last week, ITV announced a reduction in episodes for both Coronation Street and Emmerdale starting in early 2026, resulting in a loss of 30 minutes of airtime each week for the shows.
This decision, made after the Valentine’s Day storyline was shot, unfortunately leads to around 75 job losses among the cast, crew, and production teams of both series. The two iconic soaps will then be broadcast consecutively during a new “power hour” from 8 to 9pm every weeknight.
Lisa, who has been with Emmerdale since 1995, is no stranger to the precarious nature of the acting profession. Reflecting on the ever-present risk of job security in showbiz, she said: “We are all jobbing actors on the soap and there is never a day where we come in and go: ‘Oh we are safe’.
“We are a chess piece on the producer’s board. Whatever they bring to us, we bring it to the screen. And there is always going to be a day when a new producer might come in and need a big wipe out. That is what keeps the audience involved too and so we have to keep up with the climate of what people expect.”
Lisa expressed her continued astonishment at Emmerdale’s enduring popularity despite the changes in TV viewing habits, remarking: “Whenever I am out and about, people tell me: ‘We love Emmerdale’. The fact that I get to be part of it is wonderful. ITV make some big dramas that can be five episodes long. We do five parts in a week. The hamster wheel never stops.”
The upcoming Friday episode promises to be action-packed. The suspense starts with characters boarding two limousines.
Following a crash, one car plummets into a lake, leaving audiences guessing who is inside. Planning for the Valentine’s Day episode began back in August 2024, with a total of 90 crew members and specialist contractors contributing to its creation.
Shot over two weeks during night time before Christmas, the soap’s car park was transformed by Snow Business, a special effects firm, which used liquid wax to mimic an icy lake surface for these thrilling sequences.
The soap’s production manager Neil Shand has revealed the behind-the-scenes secrets of filming a recent icy lake stunt, saying: “We used lots of special equipment to film this stunt. To create the icy lake itself, our contractors, used specialist equipment to heat and create the liquid wax used for the icy surface.
“We knew that we would be filming for two weeks and so that’s why the ice was wax and fake rather than real. The unpredictability of the great British weather meant we needed an icy lake that was safe too. It looked so authentic, everyone felt as though it was genuinely icy! ”
Filming took place between 3.30pm and 2.30am, with actors arriving earlier for makeup. Lisa, one of the cast members, shared her experience: “We love doing night shoots. We all have a good laugh and we wrapped up by 2am. But we had the morning to obviously sleep in.”
The team made sure the cast stayed warm with hand warmers, water bottles, and nearby warm rooms and showers. Lisa added, laughing: “I did have three layers under my dress and Mandy’s fur on too. We had dry robes as well to rehearse in. It was damp more than anything and it was like being in the Girl Guides at times as they handed out mugs of soup too.
“But it was a lot of fun and there were plenty of laughs. The Dingles know how to have fun! ” To capture the crash scene, the crew used a high lift platform, wire rig, and camera cranes.
Neil detailed the intricate processes behind a recent daring scene, saying: “As well as suspending the limo over the ice using a specially constructed ‘wire rig’, which controlled the descent of the limo, we also created a special ‘ramp’ for it to rest on and make it safe for the cast to get in and out of the limo when it was ‘in’ the ice.”
To ensure everyone’s safety, they enlisted dive teams, stunt experts and medical professionals not just for the action on ice but also for the underwater sequences filmed in Leeds. Despite the gruelling long hours, which left the cast and crew spent, Lisa reckons the effort has paid off handsomely.
She’ll be cosying up this Valentine’s Day with her long time love, Al, for the thrilling episode viewing. “I still can’t believe Mandy is still here even filming this stunt plotline,” she expresses with enthusiasm.
“I love the speculation surrounding it. I love how when I go to the supermarket people will come up and ask if I’m involved. I remember when Paula Lane and I were recently snapped going for lunch.
“We put (on our social media) we were off to the night shoot and everyone immediately thought it was Paula. But I’m not going to say whether this speculation was right or not…! ”
Lisa playfully teases about the rumours regarding on-screen events. If Mandy does exit the stunt unharmed, this July would mark 30 years since the character first set foot in the village.
Lisa reminisces: “It’s really weird as I can remember my first scene as if it were yesterday,” “She was running with Ian Kelsey who is Beth Cordingly’s real life partner. I would like to think I am older and wiser now! ”
Her affection for Emmerdale remains unwavering, and with a smile, she confesses: “I bl**dy love my job.”