Title sequence

The title sequence is a short graphical sequence which opens every episode of Emmerdale. It traditionally contains various shots of the Dales usually culminating in an aerial shot of the village, followed by a close-up.

Title sequence throughout the years[]

1972 sequence[]

Emmerdale Farm's first set of titles provided viewers with a glimpse into life in the Dales. Opening with a slow panning shot of the fields in the Yorkshire Dales before slowly zooming in on the village of Arncliffe, which was being used as the fictional Beckindale village at the time. A shot of a sunset through trees followed, as the camera then moved away from the trees to the farmhouse being used for Emmerdale Farm. Kevin Laffan's name appeared on the farmhouse shot. The end of part stinger just played over the final moments of a particular scene.

The first four episodes contained a longer version of the opening theme, composed by Tony Hatch and performed on an oboe with piano and strings accompaniment. In these, the theme would usually play well into the first scene of the programme and then fade as the first line of dialogue came in. The shorter version used for Episode 5 (30th October 1972) and Episode 6 (31st October 1972) finished at the end of the opening titles rather than continuing into the first scene. The longer titles resumed for Episode 7 (6th November 1972) and Episode 8 (7th November 1972), with the shorter theme reappearing permanently from Episode 9 (13th November 1972) onwards.

These opening titles were used up until Episode 150 (2nd April 1974).

In 2009, the original theme played over the end credits of Jack Sugden's funeral episode.

1974 sequence[]

Debuting with Episode 151 (8th April 1974), the programme's second title sequence was similar to that of the original and extremely similar to that of the end credits. The titles were made up of two shots, one moving along the Yorkshire Dales until coming to the village of Arncliffe which was still being used as the fictional village, Beckindale, at the time. The shot would then switch to an angled view of the farm being used as Emmerdale Farm.

The music would remain the same version used originally by Tony Hatch, but the font style and colour would change to a bolder yellow identical to that used in the break bumpers and end credits introduced with Episode 133 (4th February 1974). The end credits remained the same but with the different font.

These opening titles were used up until Episode 260 (20th May 1975).

1975 sequence[]

Debuting with Episode 261 (13th October 1975), the Emmerdale Farm title sequence once again changed. This is to date the longest-serving title sequence in the show's history lasting until Episode 1402 (9th November 1989), when the show would drop 'Farm' from its name and shift focus onto the surrounding village.

These titles are often referred to as the 'Sunset' titles, due to the fact that the sequence uses footage of various farm activity interspersed with surrounding scenery as the sun gradually sets in the background. The final shot appears with the sun setting directly behind a farmhouse. It is unknown where the footage for the sequence was filmed, but for the first time the farmhouse seen at the end of the sequence is not the building used for Emmerdale Farm in the programme. The music was also given a slight revamp but this is hardly noticeable.

There was a big change to the font and colour in the sequence, with the bold yellow now being replaced by a slim white Italic font. The writing credit continued over the last shot of the sequence as normal, also in the new font.

1989 sequence[]

Debuting with Episode 1403 (14th November 1989), the title sequence received a revamp as the programme shortened its name to just Emmerdale. Keeping the white italic font and the Tony Hatch theme, the titles featured quick short shots of country life around Esholt (the village used as Beckindale at the time), animals, farm machinery and life in the village as well as various activities such as someone hang-gliding, a Land Rover fording a stream, an oil tanker going over a bridge and someone out horse-riding at Home Farm.

For the end of parts screens, only the music changed. The end of part screen was black with Emmerdale End of Part One over the top.

These titles would last until Episode 1694 (10th September 1992).

1992 sequence[]

Debuting with Episode 1695 (15th September 1992) the next sequence of opening titles chose to completely do away with Tony Hatch's original theme, instead being replaced by a faster more upbeat version played on piano. The titles were replaced to show shots of the Yorkshire countryside with superimposed footage of non-characters representing the themes of the show - walking through the countryside, a couple in bed together, a man holding his head in his hands and somebody climbing. At the end of the sequence, footage led us closer to the village. The village that can be seen at the end of the titles is actually Kettlewell, a village in Upper Wharfedale. The sequence ends with a view of The Woolpack.

This sequence is notable for being the first in the show's history not to feature a shot of a farmhouse, signalling the programme's shift to focus more on the village community rather than primarily the happenings at Emmerdale Farm.

Despite this update, the title sequence was short-lived. Only surviving a few months longer than the 1974 sequence, the titles would be updated again just over fifteen months later.

1993 sequence[]

Debuting with Episode 1829 (30th December 1993) the show saw a new set of titles which consisted of shots from the previous titles, the 1989 and 1992 titles specifically, as well as some new shots of the Yorkshire countryside and a hang glider.

These titles lasted until Episode 1930 (15th December 1994) and were the shortest living title sequences used in the show's history.

1994 sequence[]

Debuting with Episode 1931 (20th December 1994) some new titles were introduced which consisted of shots of the Yorkshire countryside and scenes from rural events such as a horse riding, a car driving through a puddle, a rock climber, hang glider, mountain biker, a helicopter, a doctor's car driving through a village then the final shot being of Kettlewell with the "Emmerdale" title appearing at the bottom of the shot. The tempo dip that was used in the previous version of the opening theme was removed, and the whole theme now used the same tempo instead.

The end of part stingers changed slightly with the font being updated. The end credits were also updated, Instead of the theme just fading in a short piano motif took us into the new side by side closing credits.

These opening titles were used for four years until Episode 2458 (17th December 1998).

1998 sequence[]

Debuting with Episode 2459 (21st December 1998), there was a new sequence to the opening titles of the series with a new theme music. The opening titles were replaced by another montage, this time of helicopter shots of the Yorkshire moors and farming areas. Superimposed were short scenes of actors (which were not members of the cast) performing the various emotions seen in a soap. The closing credits rolled over a continuous shot of Emmerdale, filmed from a helicopter flying away from the village.

The new theme tune was a grand orchestral theme which rolled over the titles, credits and break bumpers. From Episode 3884 (31st October 2004), a different version of the theme, played mainly on the piano, was used for the break bumpers only.

This would last until 2005, with the last episode using this sequence being Episode 4155 (19th September 2005).

2005 sequence[]

As of Episode 4156/4157 (20th September 2005), there was a new sequence to the opening titles of the series, with the same 1998 theme music. The opening titles were replaced with another helicopter montage, this time marginally slower and without the actors. The closing credits were generic ITV Network style credits over a continuous shot of the village, again from a helicopter, but filmed from a different angle.

These titles would last until Episode 5932 (27th May 2011).

Sometimes only one shot of any episode of the series at the end of the opening sequence.

2011 sequence[]

Debuting in 30th May 2011, there was a new sequence to the opening titles of the series, this time a new theme music, with new generic shots.

The new titles have been given a complete revamp going away from the helicopter shots that had been in use since 1998. They start out with a Range Rover driving through the woods, cuts sideways to a woman stroking a man's leg with her foot: a couple running upstairs in Home Farm, a dog in The Dingles' living room; then finally finishing on a new CGI image of the village, angled at Main Street which ends with the new logo fading on to the screen.

The theme tune was re-recorded to give a contemporary fresh look to the show. This version differs the most from the previous theme tunes as it wasn't recorded using live instruments. Instead, a modern synthesiser was used to create the sounds needed.

This sequence has lasted til this day.

Theme Tune[]

The original theme tune created by Tony Hatch was the longest ever to be used. For a number of episode in 1972, a longer version was used to open episodes but from 1973 a shorter version was used. In 1975 when the opening titles changed the piano motif was removed. In 1987, from November 26 to December 10, An entirely piano piece was temporarily used. In 1989 when the word "Farm" was dropped from the titles, the Emmerdale theme tune underwent a slight tweak. These changes were carried over until 1992.

When the series was revamped in 1992 the theme tune was updated. A more upbeat piano version was made and used for the opening and closing credits. When the titles changed again 1993 the original theme was used for the closing credits again. But when the titles changed in 1994 the new theme tune was used until the big change in 1998. Also, in 1995 the piano motif returned to the end credits.

When the series was revamped for a second time the theme tune was re-recorded for a more orchestral sound. This was to coincide with the move from Esholt to Harewood. It was given a slight tweak in 2003. The end of part music was more akin to the 1972-1989 end of part music.

In 2011, the theme tune was re-recorded to give a contemporary fresh look to the show. This version differs the most from the previous theme tunes as it wasn't recorded using live instruments. Instead, a modern synthesiser was used to create the sounds needed.