Festive Filming Begins in the Dales

Christmas in Emmerdale is never quiet — and this year promises to be no exception. The cast has dropped major hints about what fans can expect as filming begins for the ITV soap’s festive episodes, teasing a mix of heartbreak, humour, and a jaw-dropping stunt that could change lives in the village forever.

Speaking exclusively to The Mirror at the Inside Soap Awards 2025, the stars offered just enough to send speculation into overdrive — and it sounds like the Dales will be anything but peaceful this December.

“It’s Going to Be Innocent and Silly — Until It Isn’t”

Rising star Bradley Riches, who plays newcomer Lewis Barton, revealed that Christmas will bring both chaos and comedy. “It’s exciting!” he said. “It’s going to be innocent, silly — you’re gonna be like, ‘What the hell is going on?’”

Meanwhile, Shebz Miah (Kammy) hinted that the soap is leaning into some lighter moments too: “It’s the light-hearted scenes I feel we need, so it’s going to be important. There’s quite a few things happening — it’s Emmerdale, so things are always changing! It’s going to be fun.”

Gabby’s Christmas Birthday — and Trouble Brewing

Rosie Bentham, who plays Gabby Thomas, stayed tight-lipped on the details but did drop one fun tidbit: “It’s Gabby’s birthday on Christmas Day — 25th December 2001 — that’s it! The whole episode is about her birthday,” she joked.

Fans, however, are expecting Gabby’s day to be anything but simple — especially given her history of drama and disastrous romances.

Heartbreak for Bear — and a Christmas Mystery

The Dingle clan isn’t escaping the festive turmoil either. Bradley Johnson (Vinny Dingle) and Lisa Riley (Mandy Dingle) teased a devastating storyline for Bear Wolf that will stretch through the holiday season and beyond.

“We’ve got the Bear storyline coming up!” Bradley revealed. Lisa added: “We don’t know where Bear is. That’s going to play out all the way ‘til Christmas — and past Christmas.”

Fans are already speculating whether Bear’s mysterious absence could lead to tragedy — or tie into one of the soap’s infamous festive stunts.

A Christmas Stunt to Remember

Adding to the anticipation, Lisa Riley dropped a major clue that Emmerdale’s Christmas episodes could feature another massive stunt sequence. “Vicky Thomas is directing it,” she said — the same director responsible for the show’s explosive limousine crash earlier this year.

Bradley teased: “Something big is happening!”

Vicky herself previously explained the intensity behind her stunt work, revealing how the Emmerdale team once built a full-scale frozen lake in a car park for a previous sequence. “When we got the scripts, we realised it had to be something epic to match the story,” she said. “We built a proper, life-sized lake — not a pond or puddle — right where we used to park our cars!”

If Christmas 2025 is following that same creative playbook, viewers can expect something spectacularly dangerous — and possibly deadly.

Laughter, Loss, and One Big Shock

With the cast promising a balance of comedy, emotion, and high-stakes drama, this festive season looks set to deliver everything fans love about Emmerdale. From missing villagers to emotional reunions — and possibly another life-or-death stunt — the Dales are gearing up for a Christmas no one will forget.

As Lisa Riley teased with a knowing grin: “It’s Emmerdale — when isn’t it big at Christmas?”