If there's one thing everybody loves about British television, it's our soaps. They're the best in the world. America may have their telenovellas, but our shows such as EastEnders and Coronation Street are leagues ahead of anything anywhere else on the planet.
Whether they're a guilty pleasure or you're proud of your soap-lovin', what many of us can't help but do every now and again is seek out spoilers for the coming weeks. We want to know what's going down on the cobbles of Weatherfield, or at Emmerdale's Woolpack, and we need that information before it's played out on the small screen.
So today at Female First, we're going to kickoff our round-up of soap spoilers for the month ahead! We're already three days into January, and a lot has happened, but there's still loads more drama to come! Here's the best of what to expect from the country's four biggest soaps...
EastEnders
Is quick revenge on the table for Ray Kelly?
Tonight (January 3, 2019) will see a double episode of EastEnders as the drama surrounding Mel and Ray's wedding comes to a head. We know somebody will be leaving the show in a box, but exactly who that may be remains to be seen.
Bailed following his arrest on suspicion of bigamy, viewers will see Ray on the loose, vowing to take revenge against all of the women who dobbed him into the authorities, and especially Mel. Will she lose her life, or is Ray's reign of terror about to come to a dramatic end?
Evie Steele has had enough of Bernadette Taylor
Evie continues to dig her claws into Tiffany and phase Bernie out as the month continues, deliberately kissing Tiff in front of her friend in a bid to see her off for good. This is just the start of the drama for the youngsters however, as a drug plan later in the month goes wrong.
Travelling on a train and acting as drug mules, it looks as if Bernie is going to be framed by one of Evie's friends, Rat, as the police approach her to search for contraband. There could be trouble ahead...
Rainie Branning's health takes a turn for the worst
Rainie is to suffer a shock collapse this month, but it's the reaction from her husband Max which will leave audiences the most shocked. Telling her that she is ruining baby Abi's first birthday, things get incredibly tense between the couple.
He will eventually begin to take her health seriously however, booking her in for an appointment at the doctors and hoping they'll be able to get to the bottom of what is happening. Whether or not his trust for her is going to return however, is a whole other kettle of fish...
Sharon Watts and Keanu Taylor's relationship continues
Boss Kate Oates has promised that Sharon and Keanu's affair is a storyline that's going to continue for some time, with the eventual reveal to Phil proving to be a tough pill to swallow.
Speaking as part of a Twitter Q&A, she explained: "We're going to make that a really, really big story next year. What I really like about it is I think Phil is going to find himself in a place where he is kind of pretty complacent about life. Things seem to be falling into place - he's in a really good place with Sharon... so he thinks. And actually, he becomes increasingly close to Keanu."
She added: "So, as the storyline gets more complicated and messier, I think what is interesting is realising how far Phil is building up this affection for his family and the guy [Keanu] who works for him. And then just realising how further he will have to fall when he finds out the truth."
Emmerdale
Lachlan creates drama from behind bars
Though he's currently in prison for a string of murders, Lachlan is still making his presence known in Emmerdale. Whilst Belle may be desperate to move on with her life, the murder of the Dingles's family pig Gloria will see her drawn back into the dangerous chaos drummed up by her former lover.
She'll visit Lachlan in prison where he denies any wrongdoing, but audiences will see him making orders on a hidden mobile phone to continue scheming and sending the Dingle family crazy. Exactly what else does he have planned?
Vanessa Woodfield is stabbed after confronting a hooded figure
The New Year doesn't get off to the best start for Vanessa, when she is stabbed in the stomach by a mysterious hooded figure she finds pouring petrol around the Woolpack. Left fighting for her life, the assailant will get away using her car, unaware that little Johnny is strapped into the back seat.
Whether or not Charity will be able to save her girlfriend after receiving a call remains to be seen. Could the hooded attacker be someone audiences know well, or is this a random attack on the village pub?
Mandy Dingle returns
Lisa Riley's return to Emmerdale as Mandy Dingle may not be the longest storyline of the month, but it's one that is sure to have a major effect on everybody she runs into.
Teasing the comeback, producer Kate Brooks said: "Iconic Mandy Dingle returns to the village carrying a secret that turns lives upside down. She's a character bursting with fun who certainly ruffles a few feathers during her short stint back in the village, and she clearly hasn't lost any of the joie de vivre that made Mandy so popular and enjoyable to watch."
Maya Stepney's grooming of Jacob Gallagher continues
It's the storyline that's making audiences hide behind their pillows in disgust, but unfortunately the grooming of children by adults is something way more prominent in society than it should ever be.
Maya will this month suggest to Jacob that he starts being tutored at home privately instead of going to school, volunteering herself for the job of teacher. Left overwhelmed by her offer, will he continue to steal secret kisses with his father's girlfriend, or will it all become too much for the youngster?
Coronation Street
Nicola Thorp's return as Pat Phelan's daughter Nicola Rubinstein
When Nicola left Corrie following the death of her serial killer father, many thought she'd be gone for good. It would seem the actress left a great impression on writers however, as they've invited her back; and she's accepted the offer.
Reports suggest she'll only be around for a few episodes, visiting Eileen following her traumatic 2018, but it'll be nice to see her back on screen and discover just what impact she'll be making on the street.
Billy Mayhew and Paul Forman's connection grows stronger
They may have started off on the wrong foot, but the arrival of Gemma's brother Paul to the cobbles will see a new opportunity for romance for Billy. Quickly realising their chemistry is above and beyond anything they've experienced before, they're going to start what could be one of the street's most endearing relationships.
Corrie boss Iain McLeod previously told The Sun Online: "He's [Paul] a real rough diamond and is sexually forward - as Billy will discover early on. They will go on to become a sexy, dynamic couple for us. The vicar and the bad boy! He will bring so much and trouble into Billy's life. Paul is like a male Gemma but with fewer of those rough edges smoothed off."
Audrey Roberts's money's been stolen, but by who?
Lewis Archer may be dead and gone, but that doesn't stop Weatherfield's residents from pointing the finger directly at him when it is revealed Audrey's cash has been stolen. Of course, there are a number of other people who could have made off with her money...
Sarah and David Platt are both viable options, but perhaps the most convincing is Nick Tilsley. He's a slippery character and recently, his financial advisor has been involved with Audrey following her windfall. Having defrauded his wife Elsa, could he have turned to someone else for an extra bit of coin?
Foundations being laid for one of the show's biggest ever villains
We're bending the rules a little here by looking ahead to March, when one of the soap's most-loved characters will be killed off in an Underworld factory fire, but of course the preparations for the show's next super-villain are going to be well underway throughout January.
Could it be the same person responsible for stealing Audrey's cash, or is someone even more devious plotting to take down the entire street? We'll find out in the coming weeks, in what are set to be some of Corrie's most thrilling scenes ever!
Hollyoaks
Luke Morgan returns for Buster Smith's trial
Though Gary Lucy is currently on a break from the show due to his work commitments touring as the lead in The Full Monty, the actor is making a string of guest appearances in Hollyoaks from next week (January 7, 2019).
As part of Buster Smith's trial, where he faces prison time if found guilty following his sexual abuse of Luke's son Ollie Morgan, Luke will return to support his child. Those who have been with the soap long enough will remember Luke's own struggles following a sexual assault that left him mentally tortured, as part of a groundbreaking storyline almost 20 years ago.
Harry Thompson and James Nightingale are becoming a proper couple
This week, we've seen Harry and James reunite following the former's return to the village after two months, and whilst the pair had quite the frosty reunion, it didn't take long for them to work out their differences and realise they were better together.
Expect sparks to continue flying this month as James invites his lover to move in on the condition he won't hurt him and go running back to former flame, Ste Hay. In the world of soap though, is anything ever that simple?
Tagged in Coronation Street Eastenders Emmerdale Hollyoaks