What a week it’s been in the land of soap.
You couldn’t switch on daytime TV without seeing an Emmerdale actor discussing the latest mind-blowing developments in the soap’s catastrophic Time Twist (#NoReturn) week.
And Coronation Street delivered an explosion right between the eyes that appeared to come from nowhere as homicidal and suicidal David ploughed his car into Gary and his own daughter Lily.
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The psychopathic actions of Emma Barton in the Dales and David Platt on the cobbles have resulted in one death – James in Emmerdale – and a horribly injured Anna in Corrie, who suffered terrible burns.
Both soaps – rightly – have won praise for the impressive stunts, believable performances and quality scripts.
But away from ITV, another soap was quietly earning itself plaudits for the denouement of a devastating story line of its own, timed to coincide with Stand Up To Cancer.
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Teenager Jade finally lost her battle with the illness on Channel 4’s Hollyoaks. The episode was stripped bare of gimmicks and high drama as, one by one, her nearest and dearest came to offer comfort and silently say their sad goodbyes.
The final scene saw the poorly girl drift into a dream sequence with her beloved sweetheart Alfie, who had only recently received the news he had been cured of the disease.
The instalment was all the more touching for its simplicity, more realistic for the characters’ quietness – subdued shock at what was inevitably to come.
When awards season comes around, Hollyoaks has certainly earned its place in the running with this gentle but hard-hitting triumph.