The first ever soap crossover storyline is coming: what we know so far

Just imagine the scenes if Phil Mitchell turned up for a drink at the Rovers Return

soap crossover coronation street eastenders emmerdale holby city hollyoaks doctors casualty

by Nathan Katnoria |
Updated on

Television history is about to be made as, for the first time EVER, the UK’s biggest soaps and continuing dramas are joining forces for a series of crossover storylines to highlight the issue of climate change.

Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale, Hollyoaks are all taking part in the landmark episodes, as are Doctors, Casualty and Holby City.

The scenes, which all reference the impact of climate change and will air next month, have already been filmed and will either involve a much-loved character making a cameo in a rival soap or a nod to other shows, such as a character reading about a different soap on social media.

soap crossover coronation street eastenders emmerdale holby city hollyoaks doctors casualty
©ITV

Emmerdale’s executive producer Jane Hudson came up with the idea and teased, “Never before have all five soaps and both continuing dramas come together and united in telling one story. And we certainly haven't seen characters pop up in other shows before. This is a real treat for our audience, whilst also allowing us to get across a very important message."

Which shows are taking part in the soap crossover?

The four most popular soaps - Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks - are taking part in the soap crossover alongside Doctors and continuing dramas Casualty and Holby City.

soap crossover coronation street eastenders emmerdale holby city hollyoaks doctors casualty
©BBC

Which characters are taking part in the soap crossover?

It hasn't yet been revealed exactly which characters will pop up on rival soaps, however, it's been reported that a much-loved Hollyoaks face will appear in Albert Square on EastEnders, while a Doctors character will rock up on the Corrie cobbles.

Meanwhile, Casualty will be discussed in the Woolpack when one an Emmerdale character reads something on social media and Holby City gets a mention in Hollyoaks.

More details about the exciting storylines will be revealed in due course.

CHECK OUT soap stars who rose from the dead

Gallery

CLOSER soap stars who rose from the dead slider

Nico Blake1 of 17
CREDIT: Lime Pictures

Nico Blake, Hollyoaks

After killing Trevor Doyle, Carly Bradley and her granddad Patrick Blake, attempting to murder Theresa McQueen and getting totally obsessed with Holly Cunningham and Peri Lomax we all thought Nico's evil reign had ended back in 2016. After all, she supposedly died in that horrific fire on Halloween... Fast forward a year and a half and she's back on our TV screens as her mum Sienna Blake's stalker.We have to had it to them, Hollyoaks bosses hide her return very well.

Dirty Den2 of 17
CREDIT: BBC

Dirty Den, EastEnders

Possibly one of the most iconic soap resuscitations, Dirty Den Watts' return from the dead was one of the most scandalous moments in British TV history. After originally being believed to have been shot and drowned in the canal by a gang member, Den's previously-unknown son Dennis Rickman turns up in Walford and, after doing some digging, reveals that Den survived the shooting and scarpered to Spain. His return was watched by more than 16 million viewers.

Coronation Street3 of 17
CREDIT: ITV

Pat Phelan, Coronation Street

We're STILL waiting for Phelan to get killed off, but Corrie viewers thought the moment had finally arrived when his wife Eileen finally saw him for what he was really was and kicked him off a cliff into the sea. But then he suddenly appeared at a B&B with a bloody leg! Kill him off already.

Kat4 of 17
CREDIT: BBC

Kat Moon, EastEnders

Big Mo's return to Walford in 2018 was centered around the fact that Kat Moon had apparently died. But little did we know that Mo was selling her family a big fat lie to raise money. Turns out that she'd lied to a man online to get her hands on his cash, only for his daughter to turn up in the Square, demanding the cash. Then Kat turned up, confused as to why they were holding a benefit night for her in the Vic. Awks.

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CREDIT: Shutterstock

Kim Tate, Emmerdale

One of soap's favourite villains, Kim Tate was the original "super-bitch." In 1997, Kim hired a lookalike so she can disappear from the village. But when the woman is found dead at the wheel of her car, Frank (Kim's husband) identifies the body as Kim. So when she turns up three months later, the shock causes Frank to have a heart attack, and she watches on as he dies. The classic scene then sees Kim check he's dead with her compact mirror before fixing her makeup and walking out. Shudder.

EastEnders6 of 17
CREDIT: BBC

Nick Cotton, EastEnders

Nasty Nick Cotton was the bane of everyone's life in Walford. After terrorising his poor mum Dot throughout his entire life, we finally though we were rid of him when he'd apparently died after a drugs overdose in March 2014 - but of course, he reappeared in October that year to try and extort money from his son Charlie.

Emmerdale7 of 17
CREDIT: Twitter/ Emmerdale

Ross Barton, Emmerdale

Emmerdale's incestuous love triangles all got a bit much back in 2015, after Pete Barton discovered his brother Ross was cheating with his fiancée, Debbie Dingle - whose mum Ross had just had a baby with. Pete couldn't control his anger and ended up beating his brother to death in the woods... Before Ross returned to the soap three weeks later in hospital.

EastEnders8 of 17
CREDIT: BBC

Kathy Beale, EastEnders

Poor Kathy had a tough life, and it was something of a relief when she was killed off-screen in a car accident in 2006 whilst living in South Africa. This was done to more easily introduce her son Ben Mitchell into the show, but she returned in 2015 after being hidden away by her ex-husband Phil Mitchell.

Hollyoaks9 of 17
CREDIT: Lime Pictures

Mercedes McQueen, Hollyoaks

When Mercedes McQueen was brutally stabbed multiple times in 2014 with her lifeless body being dragged away, Hollyoaks fans were heartbroken to see the death of one of their favourite characters. But when Joe Roscoe went on a little trip to France a few months later, viewers were stunned to see her answer the door.

EastEnders10 of 17
CREDIT: BBC

Denise Fox, EastEnders

Remember when Denise's ex, Lucas, came back into her life after their daughter Chelsea tracked him down? He turned out to be an absolute wrong'un. After they're married, Lucas drives Denise to a canalside and tells her she must submit to God, but when she refuses he strangles her - and viewers assumed he'd killed her. But then he killed a prostitute and used her body to be identified as Denise, convincing her family she'd killed herself. That was until we discovered that Lucas was keeping Denise prisoner in the house next door.

Coronation Street11 of 17
CREDIT: Shutterstock

Richard Hillman, Coronation Street

Ok, we'll admit it - we've cheated a bit with this one. Richard Hillman is well and truly dead, people. Well, so far anyway... After he tried to kill off the entire Platt family in Coronation Street in 2003, he only ended up killing himself. But when Rosemary the psychic arrived in the square, she convinced Gail that his spirit was haunting her... So, you know, a bit tenuous but there you go.

EastEnders12 of 17
CREDIT: BBC

Max Branning, EastEnders

It's got to be said, this is one of the weirdest storylines EastEnders ever went for. Max Branning was drugged by his wife Tanya as revenge for his terrible cheating behaviour, and she and her new boyfriend Sean Slater buried him alive in a coffin, based on a childhood trauma. Thankfully, Tanya changed her mind and went and dug him up.

EastEnders13 of 17
CREDIT: BBC

Claudette Hubbard, EastEnders

Vincent Hubbard took drastic action when he thought he killed his mum, Claudette. He mustn't have checked very thoroughly for a pulse, because he instantly set about burying her and covering her with concrete. HOWEVER - she was still breathing, and turned up at a hospital after being found at the side of the road.

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CREDIT: ITV

Vera Duckworth, Coronation Street

Another slightly tenuous one, but we couldn't leave out Vera Duckworth's return to Coronation Street to help her dying husband Jack through his own death. Jack was joined in his final moments by his one true love, Vera, who'd passed away two years before.

EastEnders15 of 17
CREDIT: BBC

Pat Butcher, EastEnders

In the same vein, the ghost of Pat Butcher returned to Walford in 2016 after her death four years earlier when her best friend/arch enemy Peggy was deciding to take her own life as her terminal cancer became too much for her.

Emmerdale16 of 17
CREDIT: ITV

James Barton, Emmerdale

Even Emmerdale have had a go at the old ghosty thing. When Evil Emma Barton was becoming even more unhinged than normal, she saw the ghost of her husband James, who she'd killed a year earlier.

Dallas17 of 17
CREDIT: CBS

Bobby Ewing, Dallas

And finally, one of the most well-known soap resurrections - Bobby Ewing in Dallas. The popular character was killed off, but after a dramatic ratings slump, he was brought back to life as his wife Pam woke up to find him in the shower. The entire previous series had been a dream of hers. WE KNOW.

soap crossover coronation street eastenders emmerdale holby city hollyoaks doctors casualty
©ITV Pictures

When does the soap crossover air?

The crossover begins on Monday 1 November, the same week that world leaders meet to discuss climate change at the COP26 conference.

It's thought that the crossover scenes will air throughout the week, although the exact schedule hasn't been revealed yet.

However, Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale, Hollyoaks, Holby City and Doctors all air on Mondays, so it's thought this could be when the biggest exchanges take place.

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How can I watch the soap crossover?

All of the programmes taking part will air on the same channels and at the same times they usually do, so just tune in to your TV when you would normally enjoy your fave soap.

If you miss a show, however, or just want to watch it again, the programmes will also be available on the usual streaming services like BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub or All4.

Why is the soap crossover taking place?

The crossover is the idea of soap bosses who want to help raise awareness of the impact of climate change.

Kate Oates, head of continuing drama for BBC Studios, said: "I'm thrilled that our soaps and serial dramas have all come together to help highlight the issue of climate change amongst our millions of viewers. We're grateful to the teams that made this happen, and hugely look forward to seeing the talent from our own shows popping up in other iconic programmes."

"It has been great to work together on an engaging way to, hopefully, inspire conversations about issues that are so important," added Hollyoaks executive producer Lucy Allan.

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