THOUSANDS of people were left without TV signals after lightning struck the Emley Moor mast.
Services were restored after about 30 minutes.
A direct strike hit the mast at about 7pm.
It came amid localised thunder and hail in the Emley area.
Switchboards at the BBC and ITV were inundated with complaints.
The blackout came just as Emmerdale started on ITV1.
