JOHN Middleton has feared that Emmerdale could "be axed like Brookside" in order to cater for younger audiences. As Emmerdale prepares to mark its 50th with plenty of stunts and shocking moments, former star John Middleton says the soap runs the risk of collapsing.

Speaking in the new series of Soap From The Box, John said: "You have to be very careful, and I think it's the big mistake that Brookside went down, they went for stunt after stunt after stunt. "Eventually, you're audience is tuning in to watch a stunt, and then that's it, then they go away. "You're aiming for a young, but very fickle audience, you've done your stunt and then they go off and what something else. "What you need is a loyalty to the characters because that's what brings you in and actually develops your understanding of drama and what it's about." READ MORE ON EMMERDALEALFIE GLOOM NTA viewers spot EastEnders' Shane Richie looking unimpressed at Emmerdale winLIVING THE LIFE Emmerdale fans call out 'ridiculous' blunder with the village's workers And the soap's current longest-serving star, Chris Chittel, says it's a shame the soap has moved to "sensationalism" with its storylines. "The biggest change is the topic of storylines, they're all sensationalist, which is a shame," he said. "We have to look at life and be able to reflect it to do our jobs.

And life as we see it now, hells bells, you daren't cough, walk in the street because there's a death. "But life is not like that.

I saw a wonderful episode of Coronation Street with Sarah Lancashire and Julie Goodyear in the pub. "They'd closed up for the night and it was just magical.

Emmerdale’s Ashley Thomas actor fears soap will ‘be axed like Brookside’ for chasing younger audience

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