If soaps are your thing, you’ll love this guide to next week’s episodes – add in our great pictures of all the action and it is simply unmissable.
In EastEnders Linda is the victim of poison pen letters, Emmerdale sees a new member of a classic clan arrive and Coronation Street’s Lauren is in agony as she waits to see if her baby boy will pull through…
Coronation Street
1. Agony for Lauren
Lauren keeps a vigil over her baby son, who is in an incubator, hoping and praying that he’ll pull through. DS Swain arrives at the hospital to ask Lauren some questions, but will Lauren continue to cover for Joel now that her baby is here and her priorities have changed?
2. Hope hopes for love
Hope tells Fiz and Tyrone that she has dumped Sam. However, the pair are left concerned when she reveals that she is more interested in Kevin’s son, Jack. Later, Hope heads to Dr Gaddas and asks to go on the pill. Should Fiz and Tyrone be worried about how far their daughter could go to nab her man?
3. Beth’s fashion disaster
Beth is relieved to have intercepted the delivery of counterfeit t-shirts that went astray. She secretly delivers them to her contact, Sid, but as he hands over the cash in the ginnel, Kit and Craig appear and catch her red-handed. They demand to know what’s going on, can Beth talk her way out of this one?
4. Betsy turns the screws
Betsy reminds Joel that he owes her after he threw her out of his car in the middle of a rough estate. Later, Joel feels the pressure when Dee-Dee suggests they book their honeymoon, despite him having suggested they keep a close eye on their wedding costs. When Betsy demands £100 from Joel or she’ll report him for picking up young girls, Joel loses his temper and drags her into the ginnel. Is he set to silence her for good?
5. Fiz’s blast from the past
An ordinary visit to Freshco leaves Fiz reeling when she runs into Alina in the car park. Tyrone’s ex explains that she is only back from Romania as she’s been called as a witness in the trial of the people traffickers she was a victim of. With Alina explaining she’ll leave as soon as the trial is over, will Fiz tell Tyrone that she is back in town?
6. Mason in the firing line
With Stu concerned about Mason’s welfare, he offers him a job as a pot washer at Speed Daal to give him a leg up. However, the decision proves to be unpopular with the locals, especially when Gary arrives and realises Liam’s bully is working at the restaurant. Later, Sean storms in and confronts Yasmeen and Stu over their support of Mason.
7. Cassie kidnaps Alina
Cassie spots Alina’s name on a cab booking and taking Steve’s car she arrives at Alina’s hotel. After helping her into the cab, rather than taking her to the airport, Cassie drives Alina straight to Coronation Street to see Tyrone. Alina is furious at her interference, but how will Ty feel to come face-to-face with his ex?
8. Max offers Lauren support
Max visits an emotional Lauren at the hospital. Seeing she needs a break, Max insists on taking her to lunch and the pair head to Speed Daal. Will Lauren open up to her friend about what is really going on?
9. Love for Steve and Cassie?
Steve and Cassie head off together to watch the Weatherfield County game and it’s clear that they are enjoying each other’s company. When Tim enquires over Demi, the woman Steve was dating recently, he’s dismissive about her. Is there a new love blossoming on the Street?
Emmerdale
1. Ruby faces the music
Kim takes great delight in filling in Caleb about Ruby’s plotting. Meanwhile, Ruby is worried about how her hubby is going to react. She grows increasingly concerned when a wordless Caleb takes her for a drive. As they arrive at a mysterious depot and get out of the car, Ruby is mystified about what Caleb has in store for her.
2. Samson arrested
Samson finally finds the bravery to stand up to Josh. Later, Lydia and Sam are shocked when Samson is arrested for assaulting the bad lad. When Moira can’t hide her glee at what’s happened, Cain becomes convinced that it was Moira who reported Samson. Later, Lydia arrives in the Woolpack with news from Samson’s plea hearing.
3. Vic learns the truth
Having learned about Pollard’s plot to have Vic sacked from The Hide, Brenda forces him to make amends and he offers Victoria a job at the shop. However, when he later comes clean about his part in her sacking, Vic explodes at him, berating him for the scheming which left her penniless. Pollard tries to explain himself, but Vic is too hurt and angry to listen. Later, however, Aaron suggest that she turn the situation to her advantage.
4. Mandy tries to rip off a pal
With her honeymoon to pay for, Mandy’s financial worries are reaching crisis point. She secretly tries to add a surcharge to the cost of Tracy’s nail appointment, but Tracy catches her out. Mandy admits to her friend that she is in serious debt, but she can’t come clean to Paddy about it.
5. Kim does a runner
With Kim and Will both seemingly suspicious of each other over Rose’s disappearance, relations are strained between the pair. They work together to send a text from Rose’s phone after Dawn suggests they hire a private investigator to find her mum. The text does the trick, even if it does break Dawn to think her mum has abandoned her all over again. Just as it looks like Will is about to open up about something, Kim heads off on a business trip to Dubai, desperate to escape her crumbling marriage.
6. Rodney drives Jimmy to the edge
Rodney is pleased to land a job driving for the haulage firm, but Jimmy hopes he doesn’t regret his decision to employ his father-in-law. Later, Jimmy discovers that Rodney’s arrived with the delivery, but there were several items missing. Jimmy is quick to blame Rodney for the trouble – but could there be more to it?
7. Vic’s family reunion
With Pollard’s car is out of action, Victoria offers to give him a lift to a funeral he’s attending. When they arrive, Vic ends up putting her foot in it with the bereaved son. However, her embarrassment turns to shock when the man reveals that his name is John Sugden.
8. Pollard’s history lesson
With Victoria curious about the man she has just met being a Sugden, Pollard fills her in on her dad Jack’s history with the woman whose funeral they are attending. Vic is left reeling when Pollard awkwardly admits that it’s quite likely this man is her half-brother.
9. Mandy takes charge!
Determined to sort out her money troubles, Mandy has the idea to become a financial dominatrix, which would see her bossing men online into giving her cash. Tracy tries to discourage her, but Mandy pays no heed to her words. Soon, Mandy’s new alter-ego Madame Diamante Dales is open for business.
10. John causes a stir
When Pollard and Victoria return to the village, they are shocked to see John there. His campervan has broken down and Mack’s rescued him, taking the van into the garage for repairs. Vic’s pleased to see John again, who now is forced to stay in the village while his van is out of action. However, Vic’s new-found brother is soon ruffling a few feathers with the locals.
EastEnders
1. Reiss feels the heat
The pressure is on killer Reiss as he frets about Debbie’s post-mortem results. Sonia’s reassurances don’t alleviate his worries. Later, Reiss is cornered by Phil, who demands a return on the fake investment scheme within 24 hours. As Reiss looks at Debbie’s wedding ring, he’s soon telling another lie to Sonia…
2. Linda is made an offer
Linda is shocked when she’s accosted in The Vic by Fraser, a contact of Dean’s who is there to offer her a deal on Dean’s behalf. Elaine sees him off, but it’s clear Linda is tempted by the offer. While Elaine tries to talk her out of it, conflicted Linda soon turns to the bottle.
3. Suki’s blast from the past
Suki is left reeling when Nish brings a guest to the Square, Ayesha, the widow of the neighbour Nish killed 20 years ago. Suki and Ayesha head to The Vic for a drink, where Nish drops poison into Eve’s ear about how close Suki and Ayesha once were, leaving Eve worried.
4. Bobby in at the deep end
Cindy and Junior arrange an afternoon liaison, but their plans are scuppered when Peter isn’t available to manage Beale’s Ells. Cindy ropes in Bobby to help, promoting him to manager in her desperation. While it’s soon clear he’s not up to the job, the restaurant is the last thing on Cindy’s mind as she and Junior spend the afternoon together.
5. Linda’s mood decays
Linda is hungover and forgets about Annie’s dentist appointment, then gets defensive when Elaine offers to help and rushes to the appointment. There, Linda shocked to learn that Annie dental care leaves a lot to be desired, and she is left wracked with guilt.
6. Eve’s big proposal
Eve spots Reiss with Debbie’s ring. Later, after confiding in Stacey about her worries over Ayesha, Eve realises how much Nish is manipulating things. A run in with Nish sees Eve make a big decision and she heads to The Vic, proposing to Suki in front of the assembled locals.
7. Hate mail for Linda
Linda asks Jack for advice on the trial as she struggles to figure out what to do . Later, when bottling up, she makes a shocking discovery. Revealing to Johnny that she has received a blackmail letter, the pair try and work out who could have sent it.
8. Freddie goes for Mo
Mo is down following Stevie’s departure, so Freddie decides to take matters into his own hands to try and cheer her up. Grabbing an opportunity with Teddy, Freddie quizzes him for information on his dad’s whereabouts, but will Teddy be able to help?
9. Love birds on the Square
Continuing his mission to cheer up Mo, Freddie takes her birdwatching in the Square. He also ropes Anna in after she is stood up by Bobby, and Mo can’t help but notice the spark between the pair. Later, Mo chats to Anna and gives her some food for thought.
10. Showdown in The Vic
Johnny summons Denise and Sharon to discuss the blackmail letter. When a second letter arrives, Linda loses control and makes a scene as she starts accusing various people in the Vic, before Johnny manages to get her upstairs. Later, we see the person who has been sending the letters visiting Dean…
