Bringing it back on topic though...
Emmerdale's sexing up was a casualty of the franchise auction in an indirect way. In an interview for the 40th anniversary, Phil Redmond noted "one London company did a lot of research to prove that it would be better to axe Emmerdale and they do their own new show."
When bought in by YTV and asked what he felt was required to boost the ratings he said "Scrap it, and buy a new one from me."
The following interview with Redmond is here and offers some background, plus a fascinating interview with Ian Rowley, who did the SFX for the plane crash that resulted. Especially interesting as they still filmed in Esholt at this point.
He was also involved with blowing the Queen Vic up for EastEnders.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gOAJ_Ki8Ws
When Phil Redmond talks about a Virus storyline for Christmas 1994; that did happen in Brookside in 1995.
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