For Anthony and Julia Cordingley and their three boys, Emmerdale has become an integral part of family life. As well as watching the “fantastic”

soap opera every night it’s broadcast, the couple have spent countless hours outside of the ITV studios on Kirkstall Road in Leeds – as well as at

the various film sets across the district – waiting to meet and interact with the cast.

The married couple from Cleckheaton travel on average once a month to the studios – sometimes for 10 hours a day – to meet with those associated with the show and talk about their favourite (and most hated) characters and storylines.

(from left) Michael Chappell, Julia and Anthony Cordingley travel frequently to the ITV studios on Kirkstall Road to meet the cast of Emmerdale.

We met with them and fellow Emmerdale super fan Michael Chappell from Cleckheaton to discuss what the show means to them and their many memorable encounters with those who make it so special.

For the three interviewees it is a relatively easy journey to get to the studios and meet the cast, but they said that people travel from as far away as Scotland and Manchester to meet their heroes.

And they said that virtually every meeting is a memorable one, with the cast more than happy to chat with their fans, sign cast cards and, on occasion, improvise interactions while staying in character.

All three said that their love of the show, which was first broadcast in 1972, started at a young age.

Anthony said that he watched it with his parents and grandparents “as far back as I remember”, citing storylines such as the Beckindale plane crash and the Home Farm fire.

He said his first interaction with a cast member came when he met Adele Silva, who played Kelly Windsor, at Leeds train station, saying: “I will always remember it because I got her signature on a train ticket!”

It sparked the group to reflect on the character’s exploits, with Michael saying: “Wasn’t she always after men?”

Anthony replied: “Yep. She was a man eater.”

It’s these sorts of collective reflections and memories on the show that bind the fans who give so much of their time to come with the hope of meeting the characters.

Michael said that he “loves meeting new people” and is captivated by the Emmerdale show, adding: “I just love programmes from Yorkshire. Television has always been big for me and I love learning how much goes in to putting it together.”

The group added that they have also visited the purpose-built Emmerdale village near Harewood House and sites where specific scenes are shot, such as the town halls in Morley and Bradford, which have been used for court scenes and weddings respectively.

Julia also said that she finds it “amazing” to see how the show is put together, adding that seeing behind the scenes of how last year’s limo crash took place left her speechless.

Ultimately the fans set up shop to meet the cast members and the group said that in almost every case they are “really good and really nice people”. Julia said: “You might get the odd one who is in a rush and can’t stop but most will chat.”

Asked if there were any stand-outs, they all spoke highly of Emma Atkins, who has played Charity Dingle since 2000. Anthony said: “She will finish a 12-hour shift and park up and stick around for 30 or 45 minutes, even when she’s absolutely shattered. And always with a smile on her face.

“Our three boys have met her and the second time she said ‘I have seen you before’.”

Anthony also had a memorable meeting with Oliver Farnworth, who played dodgy paramedic John Sugden. He said: “I told him ‘I don’t like your character but I like you’, and he replied saying ‘I don’t like my character either!’.”

Julia also remembered a special moment when three cast members – including on-screen couple Moira and Cain Dingle – were driving out of the studio. The couple began having a pretend argument for those who had gathered, with Moira saying: “Shut up husband.”

Anthony added: “They love to have a giggle and have a laugh and when they were staying in character it was just hilarious.”

He added that he enjoys coming down to give the cast support and lift their spirits, saying: “The way I see it is they put on a show for us every night and someone has to give something back so one time I decided in my infinite wisdom to get a seven-foot dragon mascot suit and come down to cheer them on.

“It was absolutely amazing. People were driving up and down beeping their horns.”

The trio have countless signatures from the cast and have also been supported by those behind the scenes, with Julia receiving dozens of cast cards upon request by the Emmerdale team – many of which have now been signed.

The current cohort of Emmerdale fans are carrying on a long tradition of visiting the sets and studios to meet the characters. For years the show was filmed in the village of Esholt, but was moved to a purpose-built set as demand grew and the village became flooded with fans of the show.

The trio also said their fondness and respect for the show has grown over the years as the storylines reflect real-life events, with Julia saying: “There’s parts you can take away and they give help and advice.”

Charities that have helped with storylines include the mental health group Andy’s Man Club, which featured during a storyline around Paddy Kirk, and Stroke UK, who worked with Marlon Dingle and helped him and the audience “better understand the telltale signs of how it happens”.

The group also urged likeminded Emmerdale super fans to come to the studios if they want to make friends and meet the characters, with Anthony saying: “If you’re into soaps then come down and say hello.”