Emmerdale's new executive producer has hailed the show's recent triumph at the British Soap Awards as "long overdue".
The rural ITV soap emerged victorious in last month's prestigious ceremony, scooping the top prize for Best Soap for the first time in the award's 18-year history.
Speaking to The Huffington Post UK, Iain MacLeod admitted he was amazed that 'Emmerdale' hadn't won before, and was pleased it had finally received the recognition it deserved.
“The Soap Awards have been in place for 18 years, and I just think it’s long overdue," he told us. "I don’t feel any extra pressure, I’m just massively proud of everyone.
"It feels like, to me, it’s no secret that it’s an amazing soap. It seems like a bit of a mystery that the incredible work that all my predecessors have done hasn’t been recognised before. I don’t feel that there’s any additional pressure having won that award."
Iain recently took over from Kate Oates as the show's exec producer, after she took up the same role on rival soap 'Coronation Street'.
She oversaw some of the show's biggest storylines in recent memory, including the helicopter crash and Robert Sugden and Aaron Dingle's romance, both of which were highly praised by viewers.
It's set to be another big summer in the Dales too, with an explosion set to rock Mill Cottage next week, with some lives left hanging in the balance.
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