EMMERDALE stars, including Bolton’s Sammy Winward, pictured, are hard at work preparing for next week’s live show.

It is being screened on Wednesday as part of the ITV1 soap’s 40th anniversary celebrations.

The former Turton High School pupil’s character in the show, Katie Sugden, is involved in a week of storylines which will see births, marriages and a death.

The actress, who turns 27 today, said: “This is once in a lifetime, to be able to do a live episode and be involved in such amazing storylines. It's a huge year for all of us.”