Emmerdale super fans camp outside studios for hours to meet their heroes

For Anthony and Julia Cordingley and their three boys, Emmerdale has become an integral part of family life.

- by Charles Gray

Emmerdale super fan Michael Chappell with various members of the Emmerdale cast.

As well as watching the “fantastic” soap opera every night it's broadcast, the couple have spent countless hours outside of the ITV studios in Kirkstall Road, Leeds-as well as at the various film sets across the district-waiting to meet the cast.

The couple, from Cleckheaton, travel on average once a month to the studios, spending up to 10 hours a day waiting to meet and chat to those associated with the show.

The Cordingleys and fellow super fan Michael Chappell, also from Cleckheaton, said for them, the journey to the studio was relatively easy. But others travel from as far away as Scotland and Manchester in the hope of meeting their soap opera heroes.

They said virtually every meeting was 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.