Will it be a Happy Christmas in soap world? We've rounded up some of the biggest and best soap spoilers for EastEnders, Coronation Street and Emmerdale to see what's in store over the next few weeks.
EastEnders
Max returns to Walford
© Photo: BBCIt has been well over a year since Max Branning (Jake Wood) was last in Albert Square, but show bosses have revealed that he will be making his anticipated return over the festive season. Will he be welcomed with open arms? Or could he be looking for revenge for the way he was treated when he was framed for Lucy Beale's murder? We can't wait to find out.
A calm Christmas?
EastEnders is known for its explosive Christmas storylines, but one cast member recently suggested that things could be a little different this year. Jamie Borthwick, who plays Jay Brown, told Radio Times: "It's not how it usually is this Christmas. Expect a bit of a shock. It's a mixture of happy and low-key."
Farewell to the Mitchell sisters
It may be an unexpectedly "low-key" Christmas, but it looks like there could be a dramatic start to the New Year with sisters Ronnie and Roxy Mitchell making their exit from the soap. It has been reported that the pair will meet a tragic end as Ronnie tries to save her sister's life after she falls into a swimming pool. However with multiple endings believed to have been filmed, we'll have to wait until the New Year to find out how the Mitchell sisters meet their fate.
Emmerdale
Ashley's last Christmas
Ashley's heart-breaking dementia storyline continues, with Emmerdale boss Iain MacLeod recently suggesting that it will be a key focus over Christmas. As the vicar is expected to leave the soap in spring 2017 it's almost certainly his last Christmas with his family, so we can only hope that it will be a happy occasion for the Thomas clan.
A "Christmassy Christmas"
Iain MacLeod recently told Digital Spy that he wanted Christmas to be a "slightly fluffier" affair this year.
"Christmas is very Christmassy this year. We wanted it to be slightly fluffier. That is not to say it won't have its own dramatic twists and turns," he said. "Emma's story continues – it is really brilliant and huge. The Ashley story is a large component at the back of the year, which is really brilliant and huge, heartbreaking and truthful."
Coronation Street
Toyah Battersby's back
© Photo: ITVIt has been 13 years since Toyah Battersby was last seen on the Coronation Street cobbles, but that is all set to change when she makes her return on Christmas Day. However rather than coming to visit her sister Leanne, show producer Kate Oates hinted that she's there for "reasons all of her own" and said that Toyah's arrival will "put the cat amongst the Coronation Street pigeons".
Bethany's secret threatens to "spiral out of control"
Bethany Platt is one to watch over Christmas, as the teenager has developed secret feelings for Gary Windass which will reportedly "threaten to spiral out of control". We'll have to wait and see whether she decides to make a move, but producer Kate Oates has previously suggested that there could be "quite scary consequences" to her forbidden crush.
Maria's miserable Christmas
Maria Connor is understandably lacking in festive cheer as she continues to have her life made difficult by Caz Hammond. While it looks like the long-serving character could receive an early release from prison after being framed for Caz's murder, it has been reported that she could still spend Christmas behind bars after receiving a 12-month sentence for her sham marriage.
