It’s been a dramatic start to 2025 in Soapland. Stunts have changed lives forever, and other storylines have been brought to a natural conclusion. But for many more characters, the drama is only just beginning.
From obligatory cheating plots, to murderers and manipulators, and those quieter, more sensitive secrets also set to turn lives upside down, let’s count down the biggest ticking timebombs waiting to go off in 2025.
15. Mick is the mystery van man (Coronation Street)
It’s not the most thrilling of soap timebombs, but we can’t leave out the mystery van man who’s been tormenting Chesney – revealed to viewers as new neighbour from hell, Mick.
Mick seems intent on causing mischief while Ches is still unaware of his true identity, but surely the penny must drop any time now?
14. Dawn and Joe’s affair – and Joe’s dark secret (Emmerdale)
Dawn can’t resist the charming, scheming Joe, but her stepmother Kim is about to rumble their passion. We’re also waiting to find out Joe’s intentions for half-brother Noah, who he is responsible for spiking.
It seems that Joe is seriously ill, but what does this mean for Noah? Kim will likely protect Dawn, but if Joe’s twisted plot is blown wide open, could he tell all about their liaisons, destroying her family unit with husband Billy?
13. Julie’s cancer (Coronation Street)
Julie made Todd promise not to tell his mum, her half-sister Eileen, that she has stage 4 sarcoma. Star Sue Cleaver is due to depart the cobbles, and Katy Cavanagh returned as Julie to tie in with her exit.
So will Eileen learn Julie’s tragic, terminal diagnosis in the coming weeks? This is surely one secret that won’t be kept for long, but just how will Eileen’s farewell play out?
12. Suzy wasn’t committed to Vanessa (Emmerdale)
Moments before her demise in the recent crash, Suzy seemed unsettled. Close friend Mary is feeling guilty as she comforts Suzy’s distraught girlfriend Vanessa, and we know Mary had strong feelings for Suzy.
We’re about to find out what Mary is hiding in a telling flashback, but it seems Suzy wasn’t as committed to Vanessa as the latter believed. Was she secretly seeing Mary, and will Vanessa find out?
11. Zack is Barney’s dad (EastEnders)
Zack will discover that his affair with Nicola some 16 years ago resulted in the birth of her son Barney, but can she keep Zack in check?
We highly doubt that EastEnders would give Zack a long lost son unless there was a long-term plan here. But poor assumed-father Teddy could soon have two separate, heartbreaking bombshells thrown at him…
10. Sharon slept with Grant behind Teddy and Phil’s backs (EastEnders)
The spark was well and truly reignited between ex-spouses Grant and Sharon when they turned to each other for comfort. But Sharon is currently dating Grant’s cousin Teddy, and her attempts to come clean will be thwarted.
Let’s face it, though, Sharon and Teddy are hardly a match made in heaven, so does it really matter if their romance fizzles out? Sharon knows that Phil would be far more hurt over her fling with Grant!
9. Rex’s evil agenda for Dillon and Frankie (Hollyoaks)
Teens Dillon and Frankie have been thrown into the criminal world as Hollyoaks explores sexual exploitation – and Rex is pulling all the strings as he lures them into this, and drug dealing, using glamorous perks.
Although this storyline is only just beginning, will Donny, police detective and partner to Dillon’s aunt Misbah, be able to bring Rex down?
8. Stacey reunited with Martin before his death (EastEnders)
As Ruby mourns the loss of partner Martin, she has no idea that he spent his final moments proposing to Stacey and planning a future with her in the wreckage of The Queen Vic.
Stacey’s daughter Lily blurted out the truth, but Stacey claimed Martin only loved Ruby, who was apparently convinced. With Louisa Lytton’s EastEnders return billed as short-term, will Ruby realise the truth about Martin, and move on from Walford once and for all?
7. Anthony’s murder (Emmerdale)
It’s one of the worst kept soap secrets, as the number of characters in the know keeps increasing. Alongside this and Ruby’s fragile state of mind, her killing of abusive father Anthony is constantly at risk of being exposed.
John has finally told the group where he hid Anthony’s body, but can he really be trusted? Or will this harrowing crime become public knowledge some other way?
6. Arlo is bullying Ro (Hollyoaks)
Although he recently opened up to mum Diane about bully Arlo’s campaign of abuse, Ro found himself silenced by Arlo’s menacing presence.
With Ro facing possible legal consequences in a female facility after Oscar was caught in the crossfire, will Ro publicly expose Arlo? This long-running arc deserves a satisfying outcome sooner rather than later.
5. Jez is a serial killer (Hollyoaks)
Just as we were wrapping our heads around Jeremy Sheffield’s shock Hollyoaks comeback as his late alter ego Patrick’s twin brother, said character Jez was unveiled as a serial killer, bumping off niece Dilly and strangling evil Abe.
With Ste suspecting Jez of foul play, they’re set for a showdown when he searches for proof. Will Ste become Jez’s next victim, or will Jez’s crimes be laid bare at the allotment he uses to bury his victims?
4. Kathy attacked Cindy (EastEnders)
Ian opted to pay Cindy off, and currently thinks he’s kept her quiet over Kathy’s actions at Christmas by using Cindy’s own recent misdemeanours against her (see below).
But Cindy is merely biding her time, and this can only mean one thing – Cindy is plotting payback! But will this involve reporting Kathy to the police, or might Cindy come up with another, twisted way to get revenge?
3. Fallon is plotting against Krista and Leo (Neighbours)
Viewers will be hoping for a happy ever after ahead of Neighbours’ second untimely finale. But with the 40th anniversary centring on Krista’s wedding to Leo, all eyes are on her vengeful half-sister Fallon.
Fallon will claim that she slept with Leo, leading Krista to have a fling with Sebastian before even confirming Leo’s alleged infidelity. Will Fallon’s nasty intentions ruin Krista’s life in Erinsborough, or will the manipulator be exiled before she can get what she wants?
2. Nate is dead (Emmerdale)
Fans were suspicious of Nate’s low-key exit, wondering if he had been killed off-screen. And they were right on the money, as poor Amy was faced with Nate’s dead body when she fell into the ice-cold lake hours before her death.
Amy tried to tell husband Matty, but Matty couldn’t understand her. With Nate’s ex-wife Tracy unable to reach him, and their daughter Frankie receiving birthday presents in his name, who is the mystery murderer and how long will Emmerdale keep us waiting over poor Nate?
1. Cindy caused the explosion (EastEnders)
Learning of Kathy’s attack on her life led to Cindy shooting Ian, before pushing him into the path of villain Reiss’s car, which swerved and ploughed into The Vic – ultimately killing Ian’s cousin Martin.
If Cindy takes action over Kathy, will Ian keep his promise and out her for causing the explosion?
With Martin’s untimely demise affecting the whole community – from Ruby, Stacey and Sonia to Sharon and Zack – and Martin’s daughter Bex and niece Vicki returning, this is the timebomb we’re most invested in. Justice for Martin!
