2009 was Emmerdale's 38th year. At the start of the year the producer Anita Turner and executive producer Keith Richardson  were both still in charge of the programme, though Gavin Blyth and Steve Frost took over each respective roles from March onwards.

Major storylines included Debbie Dingle and Jasmine Thomas being sent to prison for their parts in Shane Doyle's death, Sally Spode's stalking of Ashley Thomas, Jack Sugden's offscreen death in Spain, the returns of Cain Dingle and Charity Tate and the arrival of three new families - the Wyldes, the Bartons and the Sharmas.