This week in soapland has been all about the EastEnders returns

– it’s getting difficult to keep up with all the exciting blasts

from the past at the moment, as the show gears up for a big anniversary.

Also, there have been announcements about upcoming special episodes of Emmerdale and Coronation Street dedicated to their most hard-hitting storylines, plus some indications of future returns, exits and endings.

It has been a big week for soap gossip, so if you’ve missed anything, don’t worry – here is our regular Sunday round-up of the biggest soap news from the past seven days.

Tom and Belle’s domestic abuse story currently has soap fans gripped, and with the storyline set to continue until the end of the year, there is much more to come. This week, Emmerdale have announced a new special episode that will air next week, focusing on the pair’s holiday in Wales.

Told through a series of flashbacks, the self-contained episode will see Tom exert his control over Belle in the remote cottage, while she is completely cut off from her loved ones.

Emmerdale producer Sophie Roper said: “When Tom takes Belle to Wales, Tom’s coercive and controlling behaviour will see Belle further isolated from her family. The behaviour Tom is exhibiting is typical of a coercive controlling relationship and at times will prove difficult and uncomfortable to watch.”

In March, Emmerdale’s Angelica King was sentenced to eight months in a Secure Children’s Home, when she admitted that she was driving during the car crash that caused Heath Hope’s death on New Year’s Eve.

It has therefore been a few months since Angelica has been on screen, but at the Radio Times Soap Awards, actor Rebecca Bakes shared an update as to when viewers might see the character again.

“It should be at the end of September,” she said, “so in a few months maybe! I don’t really know because we haven’t started filming anything yet.” For Jimmy and Nicola’s sake, we can only hope it is soon…

The big mystery in EastEnders for the last couple of weeks has been Ian Beale’s secret, and who he was speaking to on the phone. On Monday, Cindy’s suspicions led her to a cottage in the Cotswolds, where she found Ian with none other than his ex-wife Jane Beale.

Yes, Jane was by far the most popular theory amongst fans, so it wasn’t a huge surprise, but that didn’t make the delicious “Hello Cindy” reveal any less satisfying, and it was a complete joy to see Laurie Brett back on screen for the first time since 2017.

After a thrilling stand-off with Cindy and an emotional reunion with Bobby, it was also revealed to viewers that Jane was in a relationship with her former flame Masood Ahmed – could this hint at a future appearance from Nitin Ganatra?

Jane was left in the Cotswolds after a brief appearance, but it feels like we will see her again before long, and it has been suggested that she could be part of Bobby’s exit story, with Clay Milner Russell leaving the show this year.

Now, a return that EastEnders viewers definitely did not see coming is David Wicks, but this week it was announced that Michael French is to return to the show for a short stint later this year.

It has yet to be revealed what will bring David back to Albert Square, but as Ian’s half-brother and Cindy’s ex-boyfriend, he is bound to bring even more complications for the Beales (as if Cindy and Ian needed any more love triangles…).

With Jane’s on screen return this week, and future returns confirmed for the likes of David Wicks and Chrissie Watts, it is clear that EastEnders is well and truly gearing up for the show’s 40th anniversary which will take place in February. The soap is using the past not just for nostalgia’s sake, but to impact the lives of present characters, and there are bound to be many more surprises in the pipeline.

Coronation Street’s Paul and Billy ep

Undoubtedly one of the highlights of Corrie’s output over the last 18 months has been the storyline concerning Paul Foreman’s motor neurone disease. The devastating story affecting one of Weatherfield’s most-loved characters has been brought to the screen with care, patience and love, with an outstanding performance from Peter Ash.

As his condition is progressing, the show has announced a special episode to air next week, that will be told from Paul’s perspective. In the episode, Paul will find out that he shouldn’t leave home anymore, so Billy organises a special day for him to enjoy all his favourite things one last time.

Producer Verity MacLeod said: “Paul’s MND has been such an important, powerful story and this is one of the real pinnacle moments in Paul’s journey. Coronation Street has never done anything like this before, it is extraordinary, heartbreaking, funny and beautiful. Must-see television at its best!”

Corrie has released a new trailer for Paul and Billy’s special single-strand episode, which you can watch here:

Not to be outdone by EastEnders, Corrie reportedly has their own big return in the works – none other than Martin Platt. While this has not yet been confirmed by the soap itself, Martin is expected to make a comeback as part of Gail Platt’s upcoming exit storyline.

Advertisement – Continue Reading Below

Paddy Bever, who plays Max Turner – Martin’s adoptive grandson – was recently asked if he was looking forward to working with actor Sean Wilson, to which he said: “Absolutely yeah. I’ve not met him yet, but I’ve heard lots of lovely things.”

Meanwhile, there has been lots of speculation as to how the iconic Gail will leave the show this year. But don’t worry, executive producer Iain MacLeod has confirmed that she won’t have a tragic ending.

“Gail won’t die,” he said. “It didn’t feel like killing her off would be right. Gail’s exit is a brilliant story. I thought, ‘What do the viewers want to see?’

“Gail has had a hard life. She had a difficult childhood and disastrous marriages. So, we thought what viewers really want is a happy ending for her, so that’s what we’re doing.”

Elsewhere, Hollyoaks has been exploring the highly sensitive topic of sibling sexual abuse with JJ Osborne and his twin sister Frankie for the last few months. It has been a difficult yet important watch, grounded in some brilliant central performances, but viewers are wondering when JJ will be caught out.

Well, Jessica Fox, who plays Nancy Osborne, has revealed that the character could get his comeuppance soon – with bosses keen to resolve the storyline before the upcoming time jump in September.

Speaking at the Radio Times Soap Awards, she said: “It’s a really strong storyline. I think it’s one of the hardest-hitting storylines any soap has ever done. Both Isabelle [Smith, who plays Frankie] and Ryan [Mulvey, who plays JJ] have smashed it – what a find for Hollyoaks.

“So we’ve got the reveal of that coming up relatively soon – and then the fallout. In some ways [that’s] more interesting, because how do you as a family deal with that, react to that and then move forward in whatever way?”

Inside Soap awards nominations

leela lomax and joel dexter in hollyoaks
Lime Pictures

Advertisement – Continue Reading Below

This week, the nominations for this year’s Inside Soap Awards were revealed, with the biggest stories and best performances over the last 12 months being recognised.

In the Best Storyline category, the nominations include Tom and Belle’s coercive control story and Rhona’s court battle for Ivy in Emmerdale, and The Six drama and George Knight’s adoption discovery in EastEnders.

Also recognised are Paul’s MND and Lauren Bolton’s disappearance in Corrie, and Leela’s baby loss and JJ and Frankie’s abuse story in Hollyoaks.

Voting is open now and you can have your say here, with the 2024 ceremony taking place in London in September.