How Emmerdale is morphing into Hollyoaks…from dream sequences and random one-night stands to ‘gay-beating’ spats
Viewers have spotted strange parallels between the two shows since the Yorkshire-based soap changed producers
IT was a dramatic end to the year in Emmerdale, with characters being bumped off left, right and centre.
Since new boss Iain MacLeod took the reins from Kate Oates in early 2016, the show has certainly seen some changes – and scooped the top gongs at the British Soap Awards.
But many fans have suggested the former Hollyoaks producer is having a negative impact on the Yorkshire-based soap.
During last night's episode, RobRon came to blows after Aaron Dingle discovered Robert Sugden had snuck off to help former flame Rebecca White clinch a deal.
As the couple argued Robert lashed out, branding his fiancé a “jealous queen” - and fans weren't happy.
One tweeted: "So soaps are into gay beating now pfft whatever next ex #Hollyoaks producer? #Emmerdale".
The viewer may well be referring to the harrowing Hollyoaks storyline which saw John Paul McQueen subjected to a vile male rape by student Finn O’Connor.
Several fans have gone so far as to suggest Emmerdale is morphing into Hollyoaks.
There are certainly parallels that can be drawn – the introduction of more music in scenes and increasingly more frequent creative, abstract camera angles, showcased in the episode dedicated to Ashley Thomas' dementia late last year.
There's also been an increase in the number of 'casual sex' hook-ups - Ross Barton and Rebecca White's recent seedy session in the Woolpack toilets being a prime example.
Here we take a look at some of the times Emmerdale appeared to take inspiration from Hollyoaks.
Characters being bumped off left, right and centre
In October we revealed Hollyoaks is the soap with the highest body count - by a considerable margin.
Over the course of a year, the soap's Gloved Hand Killer, Lindsey Roscoe murdered seven people - before she too met her maker at the hands of Silas Blisset.
So perhaps it's no surprise that since Iain has been in charge, several Dales favourites have met sticky ends.
Poor Moira Barton had only just buried daughter Holly, whose shock sudden death mirrored that of Chester's Ziggy Roscoe last year, when her brother-in-law and former lover James Barton was dramatically killed off weeks later.
'All cheating, sex and lies'
Hollyoaks is renowned for its promiscuous characters and rampant bed-hopping.
Back in 2014, Ste Hay did the dirty on lover John Paul with best friend Sinead - a bizarre hook-up given Ste is gay.
These nonsensical liaisons appear to be creeping into Emmerdale with Kerry Wyatt recently bedding Sam Dingle despite still holding a torch for Dan Spencer.
Fans found the one-night stand, which followed on from her cheating on Dan with Ross Barton and getting pregnant, hard to believe.
Joni Kille tweeted: "WTF is going on with @emmerdale it's all cheating, sex & lies. it's turning into Hollyoaks - that is NOT good. Sort it out writers!"
Crashed and burned
In October, Emmerdale viewers watched in awe as the soap pulled off its biggest ever stunt, where multiple village favourites were seriously injured in a huge 14-car pile up.
The catalyst turned out to be James Barton, who in a desperate attempt to escape from his deranged ex-wife Emma, ended up toppling onto the road, landing on a car driven by dementia-suffering former vicar Ashley.
The week-long series of episodes were packed with drama - though several fans couldn't help but notice similarities to a train crash stunt in Hollyoaks in 2014.
Even the promotional shots looked uncannily alike.
Murderous brides
Towards the end of last year, Emma Barton became increasingly psychotic, even holding husband-to-be James captive in a storyline viewers compared to that of the film Misery.
The plot culminated in Emma donning her wedding dress and killing chickens, before pushing James off a bridge onto a busy road.
Emma became (more) mentally unstable after discovering husband James had cheated with close pal Moira.
The storyline harked back to an old Hollyoaks plot, where Louise Summers found out her fiance Warren Fox was having an affair with her best friend Mandy Richardson, and held him at gun point on their wedding day.
Though when it came to bumping off their husbands-to-be, Emma was more successful.
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Abusive boyfriends
In 2014 Hollyoaks overtook EastEnders as Britain's most violent soap, according to research by Ofcom.
Emmerdale can't be far behind these days, with punch-ups in the Woolpack and increasing instances of domestic violence.
Recently Cain Dingle raised a hand to his little boy Kyle, after he began playing up having witnessed his dad thump colleague Dan Spencer in the garage.
Pierce Harris has also become increasingly abusive and violent towards girlfriend Rhona Goskirk.
Their turbulent relationship is turning sour in a similar way to that of Patrick Blake and Maxine Minniver on Hollyoaks.
Familiar faces
If you were a fan of Hollyoaks back in the early noughties, you'll remember actresses Katherine Dow Blyton and Gemma Atkinson played mum and daughter Sally and Lisa.
These days, the pair are both on Emmerdale - though they're unrelated.
Katherine plays vicar Harriet Finch while Gemma plays Carly Hope.
However, Carly's half brother Jamie Hope was played by Alex Carter, who ALSO played her Hollyoaks brother Lee Hunter.
