This week there are fireworks in the Dales as a massive explosion in the scrapyard sends a helicopter crashing through the roof at Pete Barton and Debbie Dingle’s wedding.

It’s certainly not the first big storyline to shake things up in soapland this year.

Here are some of the biggest events in soap of 2015.

EastEnders – Who killed Lucy Beale?

Lucy Beale
Lucy Beale’s killer was revealed during a live episode to celebrate the soap’s anniversary (BBC)

EastEnders celebrated its 30th anniversary earlier this year with a week of live episodes in which the identity of Lucy Beale’s murders was finally revealed, almost a year after her death.

There was a long list of suspects and viewers turned sleuths and had a flutter at the bookies as speculation mounted about exactly who did killy Lucy.

But Jo Joyner stole the spotlight during live week when her character Tanya Branning returned to Albert Square for pal Jane Beale’s wedding to her ex Ian Beale, and Jo accidentally called Ian by the name of the actor who plays him – Adam Woodyatt.

Coronation Street – Deirdre Barlow’s funeral

(Jon Super/AP)
Anne Kirkbride who played Deirdre Barlow for 42 years, died in January this year (Jon Super/AP)

The nation mourned when Anne Kirkbride died in January. The soap star had played Deirdre Barlow in Corrie for 42 years and no one knew how life in Weatherfield could go on without her.

Liz McDonald and Ken Barlow carry Deirdre's coffin
Deirdre Barlow’s loved ones bid her farewell on screen (ITV)

Six months on Corrie bosses paid tribute to Anne in soapland as well, by killing off Deirdre and giving her a fitting send off. Her moving funeral was watched by eight million people.

Emmerdale – The helicopter crash

The explosion in the scrapyard is heard all over Emmerdale
Emmerdale’s dramatic explosion scenes (ITV)

We all knew Debbie and Pete’s marriage was doomed – she has been having an affair with his brother Ross and clearly loves him more. But their wedding disaster is set to effect the whole village, partly thanks to Chrissie Sugden.

Bride and groom Debbie and Pete are hit by the debris in the Emmerdale helicopter crash
Bride and groom Debbie and Pete are hit by the debris in the Emmerdale helicopter crash (ITV)

Chrissie sets fire to husband Robert’s car as revenge for his affair, the fire spreads and explodes a gas canister in the scrapyard and the explosion hits the helicopter Pete had booked to surprise his bride on their big day. The helicopter crashes through the roof of the village hall and the celebrations turn to turmoil. At least one Emmerdale character will die – but who will it be?

Hollyoaks – The Gloved Hand killer

The Hollyoaks Gloved Hand Killer
Who is the Gloved Hande Killer? (Lime Pictures)

All year the Gloved Hand Killer has been roaming the corridors of Hollyoaks’ hospital, using lethal injections to bump off their victims.

Little clues to their identity have been dropped over the months. They must have medical training, they are female and known to their victims as their gloved hand looms ominously over the helpless sick patients in their beds.

The storyline has been building for months now and Hollyoaks promises to reveal the identity of the Gloved Hand Killer at the end of the summer.