Published Wednesday, 17 October 2012
Some of the Emmerdale cast try to keep warm during rehearsals for the live show. (© @gemmaoaten)
With the fall-out from two weddings, two births and a mystery death to pack in, the live show will run for an hour on Wednesday evening - a daunting, yet exciting prospect for all those involved.
"Nerves are kicking in BIG TIME," Charley Webb, who plays Debbie Dingle, confessed on Twitter.
And no wonder. She's set to give birth to the baby she hopes can help save daughter Sarah in her battle against leukaemia, while still in the dark over the goings-on between partner Cameron and her aunt Chas.
Unfortunately for newlywed Chas, her ex Carl knows exactly what's going on and he's still threatening to blow the whole sordid affair wide open - not caring who gets caught in the crossfire.
"This is it - don't get scared now!" Tom Lister, who plays the bad boy King brother, tweeted.
While there are plenty of candidates for a good old-fashioned soap murder and speculation has been rife among fans, show bosses are staying tight-lipped as to who will be making a swift exit.
They're only going so far as to say the repercussions will be "major and far-reaching".
Whatever happens during the live show, Thursday night's episode will see the drama continue when a body is discovered and the police are called.
But before that, the cast and crew are hoping luck is on their side to get them through the challenge of going live in front of millions of viewers.
"There is so much out of my control with a live episode," director Tony Prescott, who has previously seen the Coronation Street cast through two live specials, said.
"At Corrie, 50% of it was set in studio so we were in controllable conditions - whereas with Emmerdale, the majority of the action is set outside."
He added: "What we basically have for the 40th birthday episode is a magnificent play, set on the world's biggest stage, in the middle of the Yorkshire wilderness.
"You can just imagine the problems that could be unleashed."
Catch Emmerdale's live episode on UTV on Wednesday at 7pm - meanwhile, check out our gallery and leave a comment to guess which character's set to meet their maker!