Political soap as Cameron and Osborn descend on Emmerdale

Instead, the pair chatted with apprentices about working on the ITV1 soap during a visit to the set near Leeds.

Mr Cameron and Mr Osborne walked down the famous village street in freezing drizzle before ducking into the pub.

But they emerged to watch a scene being rehearsed after a briefing from director Peter Rose.

They watched as actor Trudie Goodwin - who plays Georgia Sharma - parked her BMW outside The Woolpack and got out to chat to her screen daughter, Priya - played by Fiona Wade, about selling her house.

Mr Cameron apologised for bringing the rain and gave the actors a traditional “break a leg” send-off before they started the scene.

He watched with the Chancellor as the action played out, with many other members of the regular cast looking on from behind the cameras.

The two men chatted with the crew and stars, with the Chancellor posing for pictures with Kelvin Fletcher, who plays Andy Sugden, and Michelle Hardwick, who plays Vanessa Woodfield.

Asked if Mr Cameron was an Emmerdale fan, a Downing Street spokeswoman said: “When he was last speaking about television programmes he likes, he said he tends to watch cookery programmes.

“But I think he recognises the role that Emmerdale is playing in the local economy and the number of apprentices that they employ and the importance of the creative industries. That’s certainly what he is a fan of.”