I was sorting through my photos at the weekend and I came across the pictures of my trip to the Emmerdale set. It was part of a scheme run by ITV called Access All Areas, where members of staff spend a day at a different department. So for one day only I swapped the daily news for The Dales and headed to the Woolpack.

It was great to see what goes on behind the scenes, who knew there were animal soft toys in the cages on the vet set or that the Dingles actually live right behind Holme Farm?!

But as the scheme is only open to members of staff I thought I’d give you the next best thing and share my experience, so sit back and enjoy the tour…

Welcome to Emmerdale

Welcome to Emmerdale

First stop, The Woolpack!

What a cosy pub

What a cosy pub

Pint anyone?

Pint anyone?

Marlon's kitchen at the pub

Marlon’s kitchen at the pub

The attention to detail on set is amazing

The attention to detail on set is amazing

There's a new receptionist at the vet!

There’s a new receptionist at the vet!

I don't think the Emmerdale vets will be able to revive this cat

I don’t think the Emmerdale vets will be able to revive this cat

The soap used to be filmed in a real village but it moved to this custom made set because the filming schedule was too disruptive but the crew were worried viewers would spot the differences, that's why they came up with the plane crash storyline that destroyed most of the village!

The soap used to be filmed in a real village but it moved to this custom made set because the filming schedule was too disruptive but the crew were worried viewers would spot the differences, that’s why they came up with the plane crash storyline that destroyed most of the village!

At the time Jackson Walsh was the latest character to be laid to rest in the Emmerdale graveyard after a powerful storyline about assisted dying

At the time Jackson Walsh was the latest character to be laid to rest in the Emmerdale graveyard after a powerful storyline about assisted dying

Gone but not forgotten

Gone but not forgotten

If it wasn't for the television lighting rig you'd think you were in a real church hall

If it wasn’t for the television lighting rig you’d think you were in a real church hall

The setting for many a disastrous soap wedding

The setting for many a disastrous soap wedding

Meeting the start! With Danny Miller who played Aaron and Matthew Woolfenden who plays David

Meeting the stars! With Danny Miller who played Aaron and Matthew Woolfenden who plays David

Pauline Quirk & I - at the time she was involved in a storyline about assisted suicide but she and I chatted about less serious matters (mainly diets!)

Pauline Quirk & I – at the time she was involved in that assisted suicide storyline but she and I chatted about less serious matters (mainly diets!)

What do you think of my wheels? I'm sure the Dingles won't mind me taking it for a spin!

Time to go home – do you think the Dingles will let me borrow their van?