Home And Away: Sudden deaths that will make you shiver

Soap spoilers follow.

Note: The following article contains discussion of themes including suicide.

There was a running theme to the biggest soap news this week, with no fewer than four soaps all sharing details of dramatic death plots.

Coronation Street and EastEnders‘ examples both revolve around two of the soap world’s biggest villains of the year, while Home and Away is bidding farewell to a fan favourite and Emmerdale has an unexpected farmyard tragedy ahead.

Did you miss any big news this week? Don’t worry if so, as we’re on hand with our regular Sunday round-up of the major stories from the past seven days.

ITV

Joel Deering’s reign of terror on the cobbles appears to be reaching an end, as DS Swain announces the evil villain’s death next week.

Following Joel’s recent decision not to attend his court hearing, he goes missing in Monday’s episode (September 30) and the police uncover some unsettling clues while searching for him.

Swain listens to a strange voice message that Joel left for Dee-Dee and points out that it could be interpreted as a suicide note. When Joel’s car is then found abandoned on a bridge, with a note left inside, Swain confirms that the police are now searching for his body.

Dee-Dee is highly sceptical and voices a very different theory, wondering whether Joel has gone on the run to escape justice. Swain refuses to hear it and urges her to accept that Joel is dead – but after Joel’s strange behaviour in Friday’s episode, what’s the truth?

BBC

EastEnders airs the shocking outcome of Pastor Clayton and Yolande’s story next week.

The predatory pastor makes some final appearances early next week, as he responds to the news that more women have come forward to report him to the police for sexual assault.

Pastor Clayton pays a sinister visit to Yolande and puts pressure on her to withdraw her complaint, but she bravely stands up to him and refuses to agree.

Later, word reaches Yolande that Pastor Clayton has died by suicide. How will she react to the shocking news?

ITV

Emmerdale airs a death plot of a different kind next week, as Moira’s ongoing health troubles start to affect her capabilities at work.

Moira is determined to keep going at the farm following her brain tumour diagnosis, but Mack and Matty are both growing increasingly concerned over how much her symptoms are affecting her day-to-day behaviour.

Tragedy strikes when Moira makes a mistake on the farm, which leads to the deaths of several sheep, as well as others being left seriously ill.

Moira is devastated when she can’t remember how it happened and she makes the difficult decision to step away from work for a while.