Stuart Blackburn - Emmerdale DS interview
Emmerdale entered a new era earlier this year as Stuart Blackburn was appointed as the soap's new series producer. Having worked as the show's story editor since 2009, Blackburn has been right at the heart of the rural drama's recent period of success and, as a life-long Emmerdale fan, he is now aiming to take the programme to new heights in the coming months. With a number of characters bowing out in the weeks ahead and hints that new arrivals could be on the way, Digital Spy recently caught up with Stuart for his first in-depth interview about his future plans for Emmerdale.
After four months in charge of Emmerdale, how's it all going?
"I think it's going really, really well. Every week I'm learning new things, in fact I'm probably learning new things every day. I understand the responsibility of looking after a show like this - it's a massive show that I was a fan of as a child. The team here at Emmerdale and the support I've had has been great. I'm excited every day by the challenges, and I love working here."
What's your vision for the show? Are there any particular changes that you'd like viewers to notice as your episodes continue coming through?
"On screen, I'd like there to be a slightly faster pace and I want Emmerdale to have a modern and contemporary feel, but without losing sight of its roots as I'm proud that this show is set in the village that it is - it's the most stunning and beautiful location. We might not be an urban show, but I think we can be an urbane show - modern, contemporary and with a real cutting edge. I'd also like the show to be full of wit and warmth, as I'd never want to lose the humour. That's not to say that I like to do huge comedy stories, but I think if there's wit and warmth with every character then that's where we'll get that humour - character-based humour that feels real."
Do the episodes airing at the moment fully represent your vision for the show, or will it take a while for your plans to be reflected on screen?
"Well, I was here for two years before taking over as producer as I was working as story editor, so I'm not going to hide behind anything as I've been across all of the material that is on screen at the moment. But obviously the further we go into my tenure, the more it will be my work. I take great pride in what's on screen now and great excitement in what we've got coming up."
You've mentioned wit and warmth, but some fans think that the show feels quite dark at the moment. Do you think that's just because the Aaron, Jackson and Hazel story has been so prominent?
"I think it is because that story has had such prominence. But even in that story, there was a massive amount of warmth and moments of wit there. I think that when you've got a story that is so emotional and has had such a long build, people tend to forget the other stuff that has gone on around it. I think people tend to forget the episode that went out the night before Jackson's death, where we had the party at the Dingles' - I think it was one of the funniest episodes that I've seen. All of the kids were there and they were playing games with Lizzie, so even on the evening before a really sad and tragic episode, we had one of the funniest and warmest episodes that I've seen. So I think we can do both. I don't think that tackling hard and powerful subjects means that you have to forego the humour. We've all been in dark places sometimes, but we don't stop laughing and we don't stop living."
We know that all of the Maceys apart from Declan are leaving the show, so will that mean a new family at Home Farm?
"I think what we'll see is that, no matter how explosive and dramatic the departures of his family members are and how powerful that storyline is, Declan is left as the man who seems to have everything. He's got his freedom again, he's got the money, he's got the big house and he's got the big car. So what we'll be exploring is what's next for Declan - we're not rushing into any new families. Home Farm is Declan's and that's where he belongs. There may be people coming along to join him along the way, but those may be more established faces rather than new ones. It will be all change, but it'll be Declan staying at Home Farm."
Declan is a popular character but he seems to have become slightly less so as he's become more ruthless. Will we see him return to his old self?
"For me, Declan hasn't changed. I think Declan is funny, he's witty and he's relaxed - until he's pushed into a corner or until he's challenged! I think he's a man who can compartmentalise and put things into boxes - in the afternoon he might have to deal with a very tricky problem and realise he has to be ruthless, but in the evening he'll see that he's dealt with that and now it's time for fun. I think there'll be an evolution of Declan and we'll start to understand him more. We'll see that he's a man who's capable of being very hard and holding a grudge for a long time, but that doesn't stop him from enjoying life."
Why are the rest of the Maceys being written out of Emmerdale?
"It was absolutely because of the story - that story of Ella and Adam was so explosive. I think sometimes what soaps can do is have great characters and great actors and they'll tell a story with them, but they're so afraid of change and that means stories don't have consequences. For me, with a heavy heart, as soon as we saw this story evolving we realised that in order to play it properly, it had to have consequences. We couldn't do a story that was so big and have everyone happy and acting like it never happened two months later. So it was a story-led decision and I do think we've had a high quality of actors in the story - some of Ella's scenes have been magnificent. She'll be leaving for the foreseeable future, but she's not going to be killed, let's say that!"
With so many characters leaving Emmerdale, can we expect an influx of newcomers?
"There won't necessarily be an influx, but there are changes coming and we'll see some new faces on screen. We've just had Rachel Breckle joining, and some very interesting characters who are linked to her and her background will appear. I think they'll have a very clear effect on screen and they'll be types of characters who we haven't seen for a while - they're really exciting. But we do have a big, solid cast here and I wouldn't ever want to get more in just because people are leaving. It's about the story and when the timing's right."
Will the departing characters have dramatic exit storylines or will they leave quietly?
"It's different for all of them. For Leyla, the story of her departure is going to be so emotional, so powerful and so full of consequences. I've been watching some of the episodes in the edit and they're so, so moving. Equally with Mia and Ella, their departures will not be a whimper - they're going to go out with a bang and in the process, that will change the attitudes and lives of quite a few people for a long, long time. It's all character-dependent and again, the most important thing for me is consequences. There should always be consequences for those who are left behind."
The new titles and reworked theme tune had a bit of a mixed reaction. Are you still happy with them?
"Absolutely. It's been interesting looking at the mixed reaction, but at this end, the overall response has been really positive and I love them. We really wanted an opening that started to tell a story and started to hint that, yes, it's a small village but there's big drama. And look, I've been working in telly for years now, and I have never, ever known any change of credits or theme tune that hasn't had fans - quite rightly - saying, 'I don't like this change'. It would have been impossible for us to do this and please everyone, but I'm happy with them and I think they do exactly what we wanted them to do - they start to reposition Emmerdale into something that's very strong, very modern and very fresh. I'm happy with them, and we also know that far more people contact to complain than contact to praise!"
Some viewers are keen to see the older characters get more screen time. What are your thoughts?
"I love our older characters and it's always a really fine balancing act. I absolutely adore them, I personally want to see more of them, and I think we will see more of them. We'll make sure that they're properly served as the show goes on. And certainly for one or two of them, as we head into the future, there is a really big story. I absolutely want a more contemporary Emmerdale, but I want a realistic look to the show as well. People have parents, grandparents, older friends and older relatives and they're absolutely at the fore of my thinking."
Do you think Emmerdale is lacking a big villain with Nathan and Kelly gone?
"There are still villains, but maybe at the moment they're lying dormant and not showing their true colours! I think that as we go into late summer and head into the autumn, some of those people in the cast who are capable of bad behaviour will show their true colours with a vengeance!"
Does Emmerdale have a big autumn and winter planned?
"Yes! I can say, hand on heart, that I've worked on a lot of shows and I haven't ever been as excited. We have two, three, four, five big stories that are going to coalesce and create a perfect story storm. They're going to have life-changing effects and it's going to be an exciting time, it really is."
After so many dark times, some viewers are keen to see happier material for Aaron. Will he ever head in a new direction?
"It's going to be a long, long journey. What I cannot do and what would be unforgivable would be to take Aaron on this journey and then say, 'Oh, he's been a bit upset for a while, let's give it a month or two and then he'll be happy again'. He's got a long way to go. Ultimately over the coming months, there will be a degree of redemption for him, but he has a long battle ahead.
"For Aaron, it's irrelevant what his friends, family and the courts say about what he's done - it's about what he feels. We need to keep that character real and true and we're committed to following it through. But all stories must have hope, and this one does. There's a lot of people on his side and it's perhaps time for Chas to step up to the plate as his mother. Aaron will be surrounded by love, but it'll take him a while to take that on board and deal with everything that's happened."
Aaron and Adam's friendship has been really nice to watch and has proved popular, so will we see more of it?
"Absolutely - it's a great, great friendship. Those two are great and it'll never be forgotten. Obviously we may not see them together in every episode, but this whole story for Aaron started with Adam and they've been through so much together. They're so great on screen and I like them together. I don't think there's anything that could separate them, so even if we don't always see them together, that is a true and real friendship that I'd like to maintain."
There's been some speculation over Lyndon Ogbourne returning as Nathan - is he making a comeback?
"I know Lyndon and I like him a lot, and I think the great thing with Nathan was that he was such a powerful character who we loved to hate. And bizarrely with that story, we ended up feeling sorry for him! The time might not be right for him to return now, but Nathan isn't dead and we know he's a character who holds grudges. Short-term and medium-term, there are no plans - but it's good to have a character like that on the fringes, so I never say never. But any rumours about an immediate return are just that - rumours!"
We keep hearing that there's a big story on the way for Debbie. Is it definitely happening?
"Absolutely - yes it is. I've seen some of it in the edit and I think in the next four to six weeks, that's really going to grow and grow. We haven't been lying or teasing people - it's going to be a very big story that will last for over a year and touch the hearts of a lot of our regular characters. A lot of decisions are going to have to be made - it's a heartbreaking story and, again, it will have consequences."
What about talk of a big story for Laurel and Ashley?
"Again, for once, these rumours are true! I adore Laurel and Ashley and that family set-up there. I think they're great characters who are at the heart of Emmerdale, and I think they're played by superb actors. And yes, they have one, two, three stories coming up! They're going to be right at the centre of things for quite a long time."
Do you have any big plans for the Barton family?
"Yes, definitely. I think what we're going to see a lot of is John's ambition. John and Moira are a very modern farming couple, and John is a very ambitious man. But obviously along the way, Adam has not gone the right way to make friends with Declan, shall we say! So there's a big, big story and the consequences of Adam's actions may well come back to haunt them. I know there's a massive story coming up for John and Moira that will affect not just them but other families as well."
Exclusive: 'Emmerdale' gossip, teasers from producer Stuart Blackburn - interview
Life in Emmerdale has been far from quiet this year with high-profile storylines including John Barton's tragic demise, Ashley Thomas's downfall, an emotional rollercoaster for the Dingles and the dramas of Chas and Cameron's affair.
Show chiefs are now promising much more to get excited about over the next few months as the ITV1 soap builds up to its 40th anniversary celebrations in October, which will include an ambitious live episode.
Digital Spy recently caught up with Emmerdale's series producer Stuart Blackburn for an in-depth and exclusive chat about recent storylines and what's to come. Read on to find out what he had to say!
There have been lots of big storylines on Emmerdale in the past year. Are there any particular plots or moments that you're most proud of?
"I'm not trying to dodge a bullet at all when I say that there's genuinely no single particular story. Instead, it's how we've managed to play out such a range - from the more hard-hitting stories like the assisted suicide and Lisa's rape, to the real soap drama of 'Who attacked Cain?' and love triangles.
"That's what I've found most gratifying - the fact that we can tell such a wide variety of storylines, and yet it all feels seamless and real. It's the balance and the mix that I take most pride in."
Emmerdale had one of its best years at the British Soap Awards, so that must have been a real highlight for the team.
"Yes, I was absolutely delighted - and not just for the cast, because it filters through the whole show. On the occasions when we're not winning things, the whole team considers what more we need to do. Everyone works their socks off day and night - on weekdays and weekends - so getting those awards was so important for everyone here.
"The morale here as we head towards the 40th anniversary has just been lifted. I think often people say, 'Oh, it doesn't matter if we win awards, we don't mind and we just carry on'. But actually it does matter, so we were really thrilled."
Can you give us any gossip on what fans can expect from the 40th anniversary?
"I hope that the whole week - and not just the live episode itself - is going to be a celebration of great soap storylines. We've got births, we've got weddings and more big, big stories.
"Rather than rounding things off or ending them, pretty much every story that is told in that anniversary week is going to be part of a bigger story that takes us into 2013. We're going to see some really bold, exciting stuff."
Ahead of Corrie's anniversary, fans knew to expect a tram crash quite far in advance. Are you planning any big announcements of your own, or will you be keeping things a bit more secretive?
"Well, what I can say - and I've been saying it for about a year - is that we're not going down the line of stunts for the anniversary. However, there will be two or three momentous things that we're going to try to keep under our hats. I think the biggest gift we can give our audience is surprise. We want people to say, 'Wow - did I just see that? Has that really happened?'
"So we really hope everyone will play along with us. Spoilers can often help to build up excitement, but in this case, it would be great if we could have two or three surprises that the audience didn't see coming at all. But the main point for me is not just to celebrate 40 years, but to kick ahead into next year and beyond."
There's been lots of discussion about the Maceys' music festival. Will this be part of the anniversary week, or is it a red herring?
"It's not a red herring - it's there or thereabouts. Certainly the consequences of it will start hitting home in that week. I can't say much more than that, but it's a music festival that has serious consequences for all the players."
When it comes to the live episode, your studios and village are miles apart. How is this difficulty being addressed?
"By going for it hell for leather! The entire live episode is going to be shot on-location at the village. It's not a stunt, but I don't think that's ever been done before - a live episode entirely on location. As you can imagine, on an October evening high on the Yorkshire moors, it's going to present us with one or two challenges!"
Will there be a sense of nostalgia for the anniversary, or is it more about the current storylines? Would you rule out returnees?
"I absolutely would not rule out returnees - not at all. Having said that, I don't want a nostalgic feel to the anniversary - for me, it's very much about the here and now. The most important time for Emmerdale is always 'next week and the week after', so the episodes will be a celebration of all that the show is right now, and very much about looking forward, too."
Some of the fans have recently been wondering whether the 'Emmerdale 24/7' digital initiative has been dropped. Is that the case, or will it continue?
"We want it to continue in some form or another. So far it's been great - the Facebook pages that we've got have really engaged the audience and we've got good numbers looking at those. Following Aaron after he left for France was a great example of the sort of stuff that we can do.
"Nobody doubts the success that we've had so far, but at the moment it's a case of trying to make it commercially viable and pay for itself. It's not confirmed yet, but we're hopefully going to carry on in our own small way doing as much as we can, with a strong online presence and interesting plans for the 40th anniversary. The project is not dead and buried, but we're going to pause for reflection and find different ways of moving on."
Ashley's story has been a big talking point recently, and we've noticed many viewers are starting to feel sorry for him. Would you say this is a redemption story for Ashley?
"The reaction is remarkable and really pleasing. When you go back to the beginning of this story, here's a man who for weeks and months psychologically bullied his father, before actually physically lashing out at a fairly defenceless old man. And yet here we are now - rightly, I think - having a degree of sympathy for him.
"I'm pleased that there is now sympathy for Ashley and there's now a big, long-term journey for him. He's very much going to remain at the heart of the show and hopefully he's a character who will slowly find his own redemption and the forgiveness of those around him."