Coronation Street star Sally Carman has described the filming of tonight's historic Corriedale crossover as an extraordinary experience that felt like being part of a major film production.
The soap actress revealed the intensity of the stunt, which saw the cast shooting scenes on dark roads surrounded by burning vehicles.
"I think when you're watching blockbuster films and stuff, you're like, 'Wow, they're good,' but they're living in the real moment of what was happening. And we got the opportunity to do that, the Abi Franklin actress told GB News and other press.
"We're literally running down this road, and there are cars on fire and whatever else is going on, and suddenly you're like, 'Oh, wow, this is what it's like to like, you know, to really do it."
Sally Carman's character Abi was involved in the dramatic Corriedale scenes
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She continued: "So in that respect, it was brilliant because it was just so exciting.
"And you got to play with all these brilliant actors, and everyone just pulled it out of the bag.
"I think that's what surprised me, because obviously it was brilliantly written, and we see the scenes, but then when you actually bring it on the floor, you see what people add and their energy, what they bring to it, and the talent and all those things.
"And you're kind of like, 'Wow, this is, this is pretty cool!'"
Sally Carman reflected on the huge ITV soap stunt
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Reflecting on how much she and co-stars appreciated the unique opportunity, Ms Carman continued: "And to be a part of that is just like...
"It's been said a million times, but a once in a lifetime situation, and one that I think we're all just really buzzing from it.
"So it's really hard to find the exact words, but yeah, it was just, it was just bang on."
The highly anticipated crossover episode aired on ITV1 this evening, with the special bringing together characters from both Coronation Street and Emmerdale in an unprecedented moment in soap history.
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The worlds of the two ITV soaps collided in Corriedale
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At the heart of the drama was a devastating multi-car pile-up occurring on a dark road between Hotten and Weatherfield.
The collision was triggered when Debbie Webster's (Sue Devaney) wedding to Ronnie Bailey (Vinta Morgan) took a dramatic turn, leading to a drink-fuelled Carl Webster (Jonathan Howard) speeding away with Debbie in his vehicle.
Simultaneously, Becky Swain (Amy Cudden) loses control of her car while attempting to escape her past alongside Lisa Swain (Vicky Myers) and Betsy Swain (Sydney Martin).
ITV's executive producer, Iain MacLeod, disclosed during the recent Corriedale press event that the crossover underwent a significant location change from its initial concept.
Corriedale aired tonight after weeks of anticipation from fans
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The original plan envisioned the dramatic crash taking place on the M62 motorway, but this proved unfeasible when production teams assessed the logistics.
Mr MacLeod explained that he had enquired about the expense of closing the motorway for filming purposes, only to be told by production staff that such an undertaking was not possible.
Budget limitations and practical considerations ultimately forced the alteration, though Mr MacLeod insisted the fundamental storylines remained intact throughout development.
He credited the writing teams of both programmes for providing strong narrative foundations that survived the location adjustment.
"I just took gold and wove it into something hopefully entertaining," Mr MacLeod stated.
Mr MacLeod expressed particular admiration for screenwriter Owen Lloyd-Fox, who penned the crossover script, having worked extensively on both programmes.