Another devastatingly good week for the soap genre, with big shock in store all across the land (Picture: BBC / Lime Pictures / ITV / Amazon Freevee / Getty)
A brand new week brings the beginning of a brand new era for one soap and death is the subject of discussion pretty much everywhere, with devastation lined up all across soapland.
Hollyoaks is preparing to blow us all away with one of its most exciting years to date with an unmissable hour-long stunt offering resetting the serial for this new chapter and, having seen it myself, you’re in for a treat.
EastEnders and Emmerdale, meanwhile, see loved ones laid to rest with emotions running high and conflict in the aftermath of the respective services, with some truly shocking scenes on the cards.
Over in Coronation Street, Damon Hay’s return continues to set the cat among the pigeons, with tense showdowns, cruel declarations and drama aplenty.
And poor Jane Harris gets the shock of her life in Neighbours, with a scene that is so very Ramsay Street you’ll need to see it yourself to believe it.
Start the week once again with my detailed look at what’s to come. It’s going to be good one, I promise.
Hollyoaks enters a new era with a deadly stunt that will change everything forever
Lives are changed forever as Hollyoaks comes back fighting with a bang (Picture: Lime Pictures)
With new bosses at the helm and a heap of exciting stories set to explode, Hollyoaks returns to its roots with an action-packed and totally unmissable hour-long episode that is, and I can’t stress this enough, not to be missed.
It’s the day of Mercedes and Felix’s wedding but, as was confirmed in the New Year trailer, the groom makes a discovery which leads to a tense car ride to the venue as he begins to question Mercedes on her affair.
Sienna Blake, meanwhile, is set to marry Earl of Dee Rafe Harcourt but his secret wife Dilly, who was initially thought to be his sister, has an evil plan in store as she attacks her hubby after he admits that Sienna is actually the one he wants to be with.
Elsewhere, Ste Hay races to rescue daughter Leah Barnes and the three storylines collide in an explosive way, with a devastating crash ensuing, leaving lives on the line and carnage everywhere – and a number of surprise returns coincide with the tragedy.
One to watch: Monday January 15 from 7:30pm on Channel 4 streaming or watch live on TV on Tuesday January 16 at 7pm on E4.
EastEnders airs Aunt Sal’s funeral
Harold, Aunt Sal’s husband, natives for the service (Picture: BBC /Jack Barnes / Kieron McCarron)
The Mitchell clan gather to pay their respects to Aunt Sal on the day of her funeral. Kat worries about Phil, with Alfie agreeing to attend the service in her place. Aunt Sal’s husband, Harold, makes a rare appearance and moves the congregation, including Phil, to tears with a touching eulogy.
Adam clashes with Sarah over Damon in Coronation Street
Adam is disappointed in Sarah, who decides to give things with Damon a go (Picture: ITV)
Sarah invites Damon to join her family for a drink, ready to reveal that they’re together. Damon goes to the prison to see Harvey, who makes a threat against Sarah, prompting a showdown between the siblings.
Adam finds out what happened at the prison and storms over to the bistro to spill the beans to Sarah, insisting that Damon is dangerous and he doesn’t want him anywhere near Harry. Sarah, however, cruelly reminds Adam that Harry isn’t his, leaving the lawyer with no choice but to arrange a meeting with Harvey for himself. But just what is he up to? And just how far will he go to protect Sarah?
Emmerdale says goodbye to Heath as Bob races to support Cathy
The day of Heath’s funeral proves incredibly emotional as the residents of the eponymous village gather to say goodbye to the teen (Picture: ITV)
Bob receives both barrels from Brenda, who berates him for avoiding Cathy as Heath’s funeral approaches. Consumed with grief, Bob refuses to attend the funeral.
Cathy is determined to do right by her brother but she breaks down at the sight of Heath’s coffin. Bob, however, turns up by her side, which she appreciates but tensions rise when, after the service, it becomes clear that Bob still doesn’t believe his daughter’s version of events.
Jane gets the shock of her life in Neighbours
Jane gets quite the shock (Picture: Amazon Freevee)
Aaron is offended when David offers to teach him a few cocktail flair moves for his job at The Waterhole, reminding David that he’s the one that taught him in the first place. The friendly banter over who’s the better mixologist results in an energetic cocktail-off and, by the contest’s end, David and Aaron are getting hot and heavy in the kitchen, only to be walked in on by a mortified Jane!
More: Trending
Sam takes shocking revenge on Phil in EastEnders
A family reunion at Aunt Sal’s funeral leads to conflict aplenty, with Sam finding out something very interesting about her brother (Picture: BBC / Jack Barnes / Kieron McCarron)
At the wake, Sam is stunned when Harold reveals that Sal left her, Grant and Phil £100,000, with Phil refusing to hand over her share. The nightclub owner, however, devises a cunning plan after she finds out from Alfie that Phil slept with Emma prior to his wedding with Kat and thus blackmails her brother for the money.
Phil refuses to budge but eventually he agrees to her demands but, despite this, Sam interrupts his and Kat’s birthday karaoke to drop the bombshell of Phil’s infidelity, leaving Kat reeling. Sam is met with contempt over what she did, with Jack ordering her to leave. But is there another exit on the cards for the Mitchell favourite?
Joseph collapses in Coronation Street
Joseph collapses on the sofa, leaving Chesney and Linda horrified (Picture: ITV)
Gemma worries about Joseph again but Chesney insists that he’s fine, refusing to listen to her fears. Linda, meanwhile, returns and is horrified to find out Gemma is being investigated by social services. Gemma worries that Chesney will take legal action and have the kids taken from her but their minds are soon elsewhere when Joseph collapses, with doctors suspecting that he’s contracted Lyme disease.
Charity lashes out at Moira as her struggles continue in Emmerdale
Charity struggles to cope in the wake of Harry’s death, lashing out at Moira, who realises just how much she’s struggling (Picture: ITV)
Charity and Mackenzie continue to struggle separately over what happened at Christmas but feel unable to confide in one another. Charity can’t seem to get any sleep and, exhausted, she snaps at Moses, who is later involved in a fight at school over rumours of Charity being a ‘murderer’.
Moira learns Isaac started the rumours and subsequently apologises to Charity, who reacts to a loud banging noise, pinning Moira to the wall.
Nish returns to the Square with big news in EastEnders
Nish returns to the Square with Priya’s assistance, which proves problematic for Suki (Picture: BBC / Jack Barnes / Kieron McCarron)
Nish is released from hospital and Suki is spooked when Priya reveals that the builders may have to re-lay the foundations of the cafe, prompting her to turn to her ex-husband, hoping to make him reconsider turning the establishment into flats. To her shock, he agrees, but Denise arrives to speak to Nish, leaving Suki dumbfounded.
Liam finds a lump in Chas’ breast in Emmerdale
Liam informs Chas about his discovery, which knocks her for six as she exits his home and breaks down in tears (Picture: ITV)
Chas is forced to hide at Liam’s when Paddy, Mandy and Eve walk into Tenant House unannounced. Later, Chas is shocked when Liam reveals he felt a lump in her breast.
Refusing to discuss it, she makes a swift exit before breaking down in tears, with Liam later urging her to get it checked out.
EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One. Coronation Street airs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV. Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7:30pm on ITV. Hollyoaks airs weeknights at 7pm on E4, with first look episodes on All4. Neighbours streams Mondays to Thursdays from 7:30am on Amazon Freevee.
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An in-depth and detailed look at what’s to come in soapland this week, including those moments you must not miss.