Is EastEnders’ Jay about to put Ben in the frame for Heather’s murder?

Next week in Soapland, there’s a grisly discovery, a birthday bust-up, a courtroom climax, and two brothers go off their trolley…

EastEnders

Jay and Ben are all smiles at the stock car race

Ever since he fatally dented Heather’s skull with a photo frame, Ben has been struggling to come to terms with what he did (although strangely, his face remains marginally less expressive than the average piece of furniture). And when Shirley reveals that Heather’s fiancé Andrew has been cleared of all charges relating to her death, Ben’s unease only deepens.

In a bid to lift his friend’s spirits, Jay persuades Ben to have one last race in the stock car before Phil forces him to get rid of it. Ben’s thrilled when he wins – and his self-esteem receives another boost when he sells the car and ends up making a huge profit.

Phil divides the spoils

Back at home, Phil splits the cash between the lads and, as Jay goes to stash his share upstairs, he drops it on the floor. When he goes to pick it up, he happens to glance under the bed and is horrified to spot the photo frame that killed Heather. Realising Ben has lied to him yet again, the teenager is thrown into turmoil.

It all goes down at the garage

After tossing and turning all night, Jay takes the photo frame and leaves for work early. Later, Ben visits his pal at the garage, excited about spending their money from the sale of the car. His jaw drops to the floor when Jay produces the murder weapon and demands to know why Ben has it in his possession. As Ben tries to makes excuses, a disgusted Jay walks out, heading for the police station. Is he about to turn Ben in? Quite frankly, it’s high time the young Mitchell got his just deserts…

Masood and AJ flee the scene of the crime

In other news, Masood’s wayward (aren’t they always?) brother AJ rocks up in Albert Square, while Zainab’s away at a thrilling-sounding Minute Mart ‘brand event’. Before long, the siblings are reliving their childhood as they hijack a shopping trolley and accidentally crash it into Derek’s car, before doing a runner.

Zainab’s less than happy with her new house guest

On Zainab’s return, it becomes clear there’s no love lost between her and AJ. However, it doesn’t look as if she’s going to get rid of him any time soon, as he reveals the real reason he’s in Walford: his wife has kicked him out and he has nowhere to go.

Coronation Street

Peter and Nick lock horns yet again

After losing custody of son Simon to estranged wife Leanne, Peter has been struggling to hold it together. Next week, the recovering alcoholic hits an all-time low by throwing a hissy fit at Simon’s birthday party, then falling off the wagon with the force of two planets colliding.

The drama begins when Leanne and Nick host a birthday bash for Simon at the Bistro. When Nick hands the little ’un a surprise present of a laptop, Peter erupts in fury and accuses his love rival of trying to upstage him. Tired of the constant tension between the two men, Leanne tells Peter she’s planning to move away with Nick and take Simon with them.

Leanne drops a bombshell

Enraged by Leanne’s news, Peter goes running to Carla, but the businesswoman has got her hands full at Gussetworld and tells him she’s too busy to talk. Her words push Peter even further over the edge and he verbally launches into his stunned girlfriend, accusing her of putting work before Simon.

Has Peter met his match in Rob?

As the troubled bookie continues to vent his anger, a mystery man enters the factory and pins a startled Peter up against the wall, ordering him to lay off Carla. There’s an even bigger shock in store when the newcomer reveals he’s none other than Carla’s ex-jailbird brother Rob.

Leanne and Ken receive a nasty shock

Feeling that the whole world is turning its back on him, Peter turns to his best friend, Mr Smirnoff (sigh) and then goes AWOL. After a frantic search for him proves fruitless, Ken and Leanne report Peter missing – and when the police reveal that a body matching his description has been pulled from the canal, they can’t help fearing the worst.

Ex-copper Kirsty – you wouldn’t like her when she’s angry…

Meanwhile, on the other side of Weatherfield, Kirsty turns into a raging lady-hulk when she discovers Tyrone tended to old flame Fiz’s pipework when her boiler broke down. Tyrone’s attempts to make the peace by preparing a delicious home-cooked tea are in vain, as Kirsty flings the meal against the wall. A vicious row ensues and is heard by Eileen and Sean next door. Will the former WPC’s high-decibel rant alert Tyrone’s neighbours to his suffering? I do hope so…

Emmerdale

David wishes he hadn’t put a ring on it after all…

First, the good news: Alicia has bagged her dream man! The bad news? Her marriage is about to fall apart at the seams. Things start unraveling when Alicia finally tells new hubby David the truth, admitting that Justin has backed down from the custody battle over Jacob and she only went ahead with the ‘sham’ wedding because she’s genuinely in love with David.

A shocked David freaks out and makes it clear he doesn’t feel the same way, leaving Alicia heartbroken. As the day of her court case dawns, Alicia doesn’t have the strength to put up a fight and looks utterly helpless as she accepts her sentence from the judge.

Life’s a trial for Alicia

When Jacob discovers his mummy’s going on a little holiday to HMP Hotten, he takes his frustration out on Alicia’s accuser Val, chucking a glass of orange juice over her. Way to go, Jakey!

Val gets a cold shower

In other news, Zak has another run-in with those pesky loan sharks, following his release from hospital. Running out of options, the Dingle patriarch swallows his pride and turns to son Cain. Unfortunately, Cain hasn’t quite forgiven his dad for viciously attacking him and leaving him to die (well, you wouldn’t, would you?).

It seems blood isn’t thicker than water after all…

His refusal help prompts Zak to take desperate measures, and by the end of the week he and his young daughter Belle find themselves in very grave danger indeed…

Ashley gets a lucky break at last

Elsewhere, there’s a glimmer of sunshine on the horizon for homeless vicar Ashley, when his old love rival Marlon offers him a place to stay. Talk about an unlikely saviour…

What do you think of next week’s soap storylines? Let us know below.