Emmerdale’s stalker horror

Next week in Soapland, a mystery stalker strikes, a shock pregnancy rocks lives, and a newcomer puts the cat among the pigeons…

Emmerdale

She may be off the hook for Carl’s murder, but Chas’s problems aren’t over yet. Following her release from prison, the delectable Ms Dingle is determined to rebuild her life. But there are plenty of folk who’ve got it in for her – and, with the villagers steering well clear of The Woolpack, it isn’t long before she’s starting to feel about as welcome as a dose of diarrhoea.

Chas clashes with customers at The Woolpack

Worse is to come when Chas falls victim to a mystery stalker, who bombards her with prank phone calls, watches from the shadows as she visits Carl’s grave with Jimmy, and sends her a photo of herself with the eyes scratched out.

Who’s watching Chas at the graveyard?

Already close to breaking point, Chas is chilled to the core when she receives a voicemail, purporting to be from dear, departed Carl (yikes, somebody call Scooby Doo!). Convinced that Cain is behind the spooky goings-on, Chas heads off to confront him, only to discover she’s barking up the wrong tree. Luckily for her, the real stalker is about to be exposed…

The Sharmas turn on Jai

Elsewhere, Jai returns to work – but it isn’t long before Rishi and Nikhil have forced him out of the factory, accusing him of making mistakes and claiming he’s unfit to be a director.

It’s the day of reckoning for Jai and Charity

Later in the week, there’s more bad news for the confectionery king when Charity tells him their marriage is over. Will Jai be able to talk his moody missus round over a box of jellied fruits? Yeah, ’course he will!

Dan’s idiocy reaches new (Wuthering) heights

In other news, it’s Bronte night at the Woolpack and Dan’s impression of Heathcliff is set to turn heads – or should that be stomachs?

Coronation Street

Weatherfield watchers nearly choked on their mince pies when Kylie cheated on husband David with his brother Nick on Christmas Day. But there’s an even bigger shock in store when Kylie discovers she’s pregnant – and, quelle surprise, she doesn’t have the faintest idea who the daddy is.

Kylie experiences a pregnant pause

When she breaks the news to a horrified Nick, he begs her to have an abortion, telling her they can’t run the risk of the baby being his and not David’s. Caught in a nightmare and not knowing what to do for the best, Kylie turns to an unlikely confidante in the shape of canoe-mouthed barmaid Eva.

Nick has a smashing time at the bistro

Meanwhile, in the wake of his wedding day debacle, Nick’s wondering if he and Leanne still have a future together. And when love rival Peter winds him up, telling him he’ll always be second best, the raging restaurateur locks himself in the bistro and takes out his fury on the tableware.

Sophie and Jenna reach a new level of intimacy

Elsewhere, Sophie decides it’s high time she got on a more intimate footing with physiotherapist Jenna. The action begins when Sophie has her back brace removed and Jenna explains that her treatment’s nearly over. Distraught at the thought of being parted from her girl crush, Sophie tells Jenna how she feels, before moving in for a kiss.

Kevin rages at a sulky Sophie

The good news is that Jenna responds enthusiastically. The bad is that Sophie’s dad walks in and catches the pair red-handed. As a furious Kevin threatens to report Jenna to her boss for abusing his daughter’s trust, the young physio realises she might just have made the biggest mistake of her professional life.

Karl makes himself at home on Stella’s sofa

In other news, Sunita is beginning to regret inviting Karl into her home, where he spends his days plonked on her sofa, earning nothing and refusing to get involved with the kids. And when he drunkenly spends the night at ex-love Stella’s, Sunita decides it’s time she administered some tough love.

EastEnders

The Branning clan have had more ups and downs than Oblivion at Alton Towers – and the ride looks set to continue when new boy Dexter arrives in Albert Square. The teenager immediately makes a good impression on Abi when he hands her some money he says she dropped in the street.

Dexter works his charms on Abi…

But when a jealous Jay finds the pair getting better acquainted over one of the caff’s artery-hardening bacon baps, he can’t help feeling Dexter has an ulterior motive – and it seems he has good reason to be suspicious.

…But Jay’s not impressed

After bonding with Dexter in record time, Abi takes him back to the Brannings for a family dinner. But there’s a big shock in store when Tanya’s long-lost sister Ava arrives unexpectedly – and reveals that Dexter just happens to be her son. Oooh, bet none of ’em saw that coming…

Ava drops a bombshell on the Brannings

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Square, fur is flying at the Fox’s when Kim finds out about the sneaky kiss big sis Denise shared with Ray. Outraged by the discovery, Kim confronts Denise in the Vic and, after warning her to stay away from her fella, slaps her round the chops.

Kim lets Denise know exactly what she thinks of her

Forced out of the B&B, Denise accepts Ian’s uncharacteristically generous offer of a place to stay (let’s just hope she remembers to lock her bedroom door at night!). But it isn’t long before she’s missing her sister and heads back home, hoping for a reconciliation.

Ian offers tea and sympathy to a grateful Denise

Fortunately, Kim’s in a forgiving mood and welcomes her sibling back with open arms. But their reunion is cut short when Ray rocks up to deliver the shock news that he and Kim are history. Will Denise be in Ray’s bed faster than a rat up a drainpipe? She’d be mad not to…

Happy New Year! What do you think of the first soap stories of the year? Let us know below.