THE SOAPS are giving fans a treat this year with all three bringing back major characters this Christmas lead by legendary Coronation Street villain Richard Hillman.
The serial killer makes a shock comeback today no doubt leaving viewers stunned as he appears soaking wet to his wife Gail Platt.
Eerie scenes at the end of today’s episode see Brian Capron reprise his iconic role as he returns to the cobbles 21 years after the character seemingly died in a canal.
As Gail wakes from a nap on her sofa she finds a man searching through her sideboard and initially thinks it’s husband to be Jessie.
“Try again,” the man says, adding: “I see you’ve changed the carpet in here.”
A horrified Gail says: “Who are you? What do you want?”
Richard then makes himself known as reveals himself to his wife saying: “Hello Gail.”
The creepy scenes aren’t the only return this Christmas with sister soap Emmerdale also revealing a bombshell return.
Actor Ned Porteous has officially reprised his role as scheming Joe Tate as he is unmasked as the villain looking to destroy grandmother Kim Tate.
Setting up a Christmas Day clash, he says in today’s episode: “I think it’s time we paid Kim a little visit. No better time than Christmas for a family reunion.”
And EastEnders has also delivered a blast from the past with Nigel Bates making a shock Christmas Eve comeback in today’s episode.
Actor Paul Bradley has returned to play the iconic character but from today’s episode it appears his life has changed significantly.
Nigel was last seen in 1998 when he left Walford for a new life in Scotland with wife Julie, daughter Clare and stepson Josh.
But now back in Walford Nigel was seen looking homeless as he came into contact with Yolande Trueman at the community centre’s soup kitchen.
The Sun’s Soaps editor Carl Greenwood says the soaps have played a blinder with these returns
COMEBACKS are bread and butter in soapland but it’s rare that all three soaps pull off the same trick at the exact same time.
But today and this Christmas, bosses at Coronation Street, Emmerdale and EastEnders have pulled it off.
And best of all – they were all brilliant in their own way.
Corrie welcomed back iconic killer Richard Hillman for a truly creepy comeback.
Dripping wet, fresh from the canal he drowned in 21 years ago, Richard said hello to his horrified wife Gail on the eve of her (counts) seventh wedding.
The big shock, the dripping killer and the “hello Gail” all combined to be the perfect moment to pay homage to Gail’s biggest ever storyline.
Meanwhile over on Emmerdale the identity of the man behind the revenge plot against Kim Tate was revealed.
And as some fans had guessed – despite Kim’s long-list of enemies – Joe Tate made his comeback after seven years.
He’s back for good and the War of the Tates is going to set ultimate soap villain Kim against her one-time mentee – and the man she tried to have killed.
It perfectly sets up next year and puts Kim back where she belongs at the centre of the show – and finally gives her a decent foil.
The build-up to Joe’s return was a classic soap return, while EastEnders pulled off a blinder as Nigel Bates made a shock comeback in a blink and you’ll miss it scene.
He appeared in Albert Square, 26 years after his last appearance there, but this time seemingly homeless.
Fans have a lot of questions and so the surprise scene has done its job – just like the other returns did theirs.
If Christmas in soapland is anything like these returns, we’re all in for a treat.
Asked about why he was in Walford, Nigel told Yolande: “Memories.”
He wished her a merry Christmas and they toasted before he enjoyed his meal.
