We take a look at this year’s Christmas offerings from EastEnders, Coronation Street, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks
Christmas soapland weddings never run smooth with two this season ending in double tragedy and a killer confession
CHRISTMAS is the most wonderful time of the year – unless you live in Soapland.
In which case you’ll get cheated on, killed off or deafened by the rattle of skeletons clattering out of your cupboard.
This holiday season our favourite soap characters won’t just be unwrapping presents, they’ll be uncovering secrets galore.
Max Branning (EastEnders) and Toyah Battersby (Coronation Street) make sensational returns and there are some dramatic departures too.
There are two very different festive weddings — one ends in a double tragedy while the other is rocked by a killer confession.
The path of true love rarely runs smooth but in soaps the rocky terrain becomes especially perilous at Christmas.
Expect trouble for solid Corrie couples while Walford newlyweds head for heartbreak.
As if that wasn’t enough of a jingle hell, there is villainy afoot.
Pat Phelan’s sinister shadow looms large over Weatherfield, Hollyoaks’ murderous Cameron is pushed to the limit, and Emmerdale’s unhinged Emma Barton is busy plotting revenge.
Here’s our look at Soapland’s far-from-festive offerings . . .
Coronation Street
AFTER 13 years away from the cobbles – even though she has just been down the road in Liverpool – our Toyah returns to be reunited with her step-sister Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson).
Toyah, played by Georgia Taylor, left the Street in 2003 after starting an affair with her university tutor only for him to cheat on her with Maria Connor.
Pregnant Leanne is delighted to see her sister, who arrives in tears.
Toyah is nursing a broken heart and hiding a big secret but she won’t be the only problem on Leanne’s overfilled plate.
Not only is she struggling to keep schtum about Steve McDonald being the real father of her unborn baby, but fiancé Nick’s brain injury is making him increasingly volatile.
As Nick’s paranoia about former love rival Peter Barlow spirals out of control the pair start brawling – in scenes reminiscent of the legendary fights between Peter’s dad Ken and his arch-nemesis Mike Baldwin.
And as usual, young Simon Barlow sees something he shouldn’t.
With the possibility of jail looming over Maria’s head, she’s determined to give son Liam a perfect Christmas.
But things get complicated as Aidan Connor is torn between his growing feelings for the crimper and his love for girlfriend Eva Price.
Despite the tinsel, things are all doom and gloom over at the Platts.
Widower David and his children are mourning the loss of Kylie while Gail is grieving her latest late husband, Michael Rodwell – lamenting that only one of her five husbands has survived her.
Even Sarah’s fledgling romance with Gary Windass seems doomed as her teenage temptress daughter Bethany steps up her designs on her mum’s boyfriend – with disastrous results.
EastEnders
BAD boy Max Branning is back in Walford and he’s gunning for Ian Beale – no wonder, after he was framed, convicted and banged up for killing Ian’s daughter Lucy.
What makes things worse is that his daughter Lauren is dating Ian’s step-son Steven.
However, Max (Jake Wood) is not just back to settle old scores with Ian (Adam Woodyatt), he also pitches back up for brother Jack’s disastrous second wedding to Ronnie Mitchell.
The last time Ronnie (Samantha Womack) got married her waters broke during the wedding and she ended up in a car crash on the way to hospital, which nearly claimed her life and left her in a coma.
If you thought that was bad, this time things are much worse.
When Ronnie sees the body of sister Roxy (Rita Simons) floating in water she jumps off the bridge they had both been sitting on in an attempt to save her.
But the weight of her wedding gown pulls her under too.
The double tragedy hits former copper Jack hard – he has lost not only his bride Ronnie but also Roxy, the mother of his daughter Amy.
Meanwhile, alcoholic Phil Mitchell has declared he would rather die than have a liver transplant because all his kids are grown up.
However, when he discovers that Denise Fox is pregnant with his baby it could be enough to change his mind.
Newlywed Lee Carter’s depression woes worsen as he is dogged by money and work troubles and the actor who plays him, Danny-Boy Hatchard, prepares to quit the soap.
Mum Linda Carter will also be leaving Walford this Christmas, because actress Kellie Bright has started her maternity leave.
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Emmerdale
KEEP the tissues handy because the emotional scenes of vicar Ashley’s ongoing battle with vascular dementia means there won’t be a dry eye in the house.
Laurel struggles to cope with her husband’s illness and Ashley (John Middleton) becomes frightened, violent and disorientated in what could be his last Christmas.
Every Emmerdale fan has the reunion of Zak and Lisa Dingle high on their Christmas wish list but has Santa been listening?
After a year of being with Zak and a happy wedding day, Joanie’s heart could be broken this Christmas.
And Cupid hasn’t finished with the Dingles just yet.
Paddy Kirk reignites his spark with old flame Chas Dingle, leaving viewers wondering if they’ll finally get back together.
Up at Home Farm, soap superbitch Rebecca White (Emily Head) continues to plot to oust Chrissie and Lachlan from the family pile.
But getting them out isn’t Rebecca’s only goal.
She sets out to seduce Robert Sugden (Ryan Hawley) and is determined to get him into bed and see off his fiancé Aaron for good.
Lawrence White, meanwhile, finally comes to terms with his sexuality.
Elsewhere, unhinged Emma Barton’s dangerous scheming against her love rival Moira come to a head.
Hollyoaks
THIS year’s Christmas drama centres on pregnant Leela Lomax’s wedding to killer Cameron Campbell.
Things start going wrong at the hen do, when Tegan spices things up by booking Zack as a stripper.
Not a good idea when the groom is a jealous psychopath.
After he punches Zack, things go rapidly downhill for angry Cameron (Cameron Moore) as his lies start to unravel. Then Leela finds his confession note.
Fans will be left wondering if the wedding will go ahead, how much Leela knows about Lockie’s murder and the fatal fire that caused Nico’s death.
Meanwhile Sienna’s revenge plot against Warren heats up, but when he rumbles what she is up to it’s her life that is in danger.
There is man trouble over at the McQueens when Scott is asked to stay for Christmas dinner but ends up flirting with John Paul – leaving James Nightingale seething with jealousy.
At the Cunninghams, Cindy is looking forward to spending a dream Christmas with Alfie.
She isn’t best pleased when she finds Holly and Nick in a compromising position.
And there are saucy shocks when maneater Mercedes McQueen (Jennifer Metcalfe) gets a hunky man in her Christmas stocking – she ends up in bed with Ryan Knight (Duncan James).