If you’re a soap character then life is never going to be a bed of roses. One minute you’re being whisked off your feet by the love of your life, and the next you find out he’s run off with your mum.
But some people in soap land have had it harder than others this year. Here’s a look at some of those whose soap bubble has been full of trouble in 2014
Coronation Street
Tina McIntyre
Red-blooded Corrie fans all over the country were in mourning this year when six-time winner of the Soap’s Sexiest Female award Michelle Keegan said goodbye to the cobbles.
Her character, barmaid Tina, had never been very lucky in love. But after starting an affair with Peter Barlow, who never intended leaving fiancee Carla Connor, she then ended up getting bumped off by bad boy Rob Donovan.
He pushed her off a roof and then finished her off by bashing her head in with a piece of lead piping, in a Cluedo-meets-Corrie killing.
Peter Barlow
Even though Tina was just a bit on the side for Peter Barlow (Chris Gascoyne) he was still pretty cut up about her death. But things took a turn for the worse when he ended up being framed for her murder.
Stuck in prison awaiting trial, alcoholic Peter fell off the wagon – and ended up fighting for his life after downing a stash of illegal home brew cooked up by fellow inmate Jim McDonald.
And even though Peter’s name has been cleared and he’s a free man again, Carla won’t take him back.
Steve McDonald
Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson) has been in Coronation Street for nearly 25 years, since he was 15.
And though his character started out as a bad lad, for most of his adult life he has become very much a comedy character on the cobbles. From mishaps and banter at work at his minicab firm or in the pub, to hilarious banter and barnies with the women in his life.
But after starting to feel down in the dumps Steve’s GP has diagnosed him with depression, and he’s finding that news even harder to handle.
Steve has withdrawn from girlfriend Michelle Connor because he’s ashamed to admit he had a problem – and so she has broken things off.
It’s not going to be a Happy Christmas for Steve.
Roy and Hayley Cropper
There was not a dry eye in the house in January this year when Julie Hesmondhalgh bowed out of Corrie after 16 years playing transgender character Hayley Cropper.
After being told her pancreatic cancer was terminal Hayley decided to take her own life.
The “right to die” storyline was hailed by critics, as was Julie and David Neilson’s performance as Hayley and Roy said their last goodbye.
EastEnders
Ian Beale
Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) has always had a pretty miserable time of it.
But this year Ian was left grief-stricken when his teenage daughter Lucy was killed off in a massive who-dunnit storyline.
You know you’ve hit rock bottom when you find yourself weeping in the arms of your arch enemy – Phil Mitchell.
Linda Carter
Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) burst onto Albert Square last Christmas with husband Mick all bubbly and upbeat.
But when Dean Wicks developed an unhealthy obsession with her, Linda didn’t know what to do.
And things got really nasty when Dean raped Linda while she was frozen with fear.
Now pregnant, Linda doesn’t know if the baby is Dean’s or her husband Mick’s, and she is too ashamed and scared to tell Mick what has happened.
Dot Cotton
Poor Dot Cotton (June Brown) has had nothing but trouble from her villainous son Nick over the years. He’s lead a life of crime, drug addiction and, at one stage, he was on the verge of trying to poison her.
Then in March Dot had word he had died of a heroin overdose and despite all he’d done, she grieved for her boy.
But it turns out Nasty Nick faked his death – and he’s back to wreak havoc in Dot’s life once more.
Carol Jackson
It’s been a tough old year for Carol (Lindsey Coulson). Not only has she been battling breast cancer but her cheating ex David Wicks has been giving her the run around – again.
David was there for Carol when she was first diagnosed and asked her to marry him. But then he disappeared on the day of the wedding and she thought she’d been jilted.
It turned out David had had a heart attack, but even after Carol learned the truth, she decided she could never trust him and they parted ways for good.
Emmerdale
Val Pollard
Val Pollard (Charlie Hardwick) has really had a run of bad luck this year. Feeling like marriage to Eric was on the rocks, she cheated on him with a holiday romance in Portugal.
Being a woman of a certain age, Val didn’t have to worry about getting pregnant. But she learned the hard way why safe sex is so important.
Val has been diagnosed HIV positive – but she’s actually been taking it really well and has been campaigning for HIV awareness and charities. And it’s brought her and Eric back together.
Declan Macey
Hiding dead bodies, burning his house for the insurance and framing an innocent man – villain Declan Macey had to get his comeuppance eventually.
So when Declan (Jason Merrells) took wife Charity out into the woods to kill her, it seemed only fair that she bash him over the head and leave him for dead.
But Declan survived and is still on the run. So he may be back to cause bad luck for others in the Dales…
Belle Dingle
Belle Dingle has always been the sweet little daughter of the Dingle family.
But she has blossomed into a fiery teenager and she and best friend Gemma Andrews ended up falling for the same guy.
Plenty of girls have had cat fights over a man. But it was really bad luck for Belle that when she pushed Gemma over, she suffered a severe head injury and died.
Now Belle has served time behind bars for manslaughter and will always feel guilty. So it’s no surprise she’s returned to the village a dark and gloomy goth.
Donna Windsor
Policewoman Donna Windsor (Verity Rushworth) hadn’t been seen in the Dales for five years. So when she returned this year with little April – who she introduced to Marlon Dingle as his daughter – everything seemed to be going quite well for her.
But what Donna didn’t reveal right away was she was dying of cancer, and wanted to make sure April would be left in safe care.
And things turned even darker for Donna when she had a fling with bad boy Ross Barton and was persuaded to abuse her position as a policewoman to turn to a life of crime. Donna thought she was leaving a legacy for April, and had nothing to lose.
But after getting caught up with gangster Gary North, Donna ended up jumping to her death in a bid to protect April.
Hollyoaks
Maxine Minniver
It seemed like things couldn’t really get any worse for Maxine Minniver (Nikki Sanderson).
She started the year trapped in a violent relationship with Patrick Blake, who had cut her off from all her friends and family, and left her a virtual prisoner in her own home.
But just when it seemed she would be able to run away with his son Dodger Savage – the man she really loved – Maxine found out she was pregnant – and Patrick is the father.
Maxine was on the run when she went into labour, and Patrick caught up with her and delivered the baby himself. Before running off and leaving her haemorrhaging, and telling everyone she was dead so he could bring up the baby by himself.
Dodger Savage
Dodger Savage (Danny Mac) really is in a pickle.
Dodger is in love with Maxine Minniver, who has just given birth to a baby with his father Patrick Blake, while Dodger has a baby with Theresa McQueen. And unbeknown to Dodger he is also father to teenage daughter Nico Blake with his twin sister Sienna Blake.
Sienna is determined to convince Dodger that they can live with Nico as one happy family. And her way of proving it is to kidnap him.
It’s all getting too twisted – and with Danny Mac leaving Hollyoaks in the new year, a happy ending doesn’t look likely.
The McQueen family
The McQueen family’s life is always full of drama. Last year it seemed like they had lost their Myra McQueen when she was shot by Dr Paul Browning. But Myra had faked her death and gone on the run, only to return to Hollyoaks earlier this year.
But after a dramatic train crash at Porsche McQueen’s wedding, Carmel (Gemma Merna) died in the wreckage.
Just a week later her sister Mercedes was murdered by Freddie Roscoe.
Neighbours
Kate Ramsay
The fairytale events in Kate Ramsay’s life this year all seemed to good to be true. And they were.
Kate (Ashleigh Brewer) had finally got back with boyfriend Mark Brennan (Scott McGregor) and he proposed on her birthday.
But just moments later she was shot and died in his arms.
Paul Robinson
After Kate’s death, Neighbours villain Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis) just wasn’t the man he used to be.
Paul blamed himself for Kate’s death and became depressed. He even started volunteering in Sonya Mitchell’s garden nursery to try to make himself feel better.
Oh, and then Ramsay Street was hit by a hurricane and Paul had to brave the storm to rescue nephew Daniel.
Luckily Paul’s back to his old scheming self again now.
Home and Away
The Braxton brothers
The Braxton bros’ luck really went down hill this year when their characters were forced to swap sunny Summer Bay to visit the rainy UK.
And then Home and Away went all 24 when a bomb was planted in Summer Bay.
Strewth!
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