It’s October, which can only mean one thing to a soap journalist – it’s time to start spoiling Christmas.
Sorry, I mean previewing – always get those two mixed up.
The cast and crew are currently wearing thick coats, hats and scarves despite autumn being unseasonably warm and, by the time those Christmas specials air, the mince pies and Bailey’s (the drink, not the family) will be a distant memory to the residents of Coronation Street, who will no doubt be plunged into some 2027 tragedy.
Already, some hints have started seeping through from cast interviews through to behind the scenes shoots.
Let’s see what we know so far…
Over on Jack P Shepherd, Colson Smith and Ben Price’s podcast On The Sofa, the lads discussed the upcoming festive celebrations on the cobbles.
Jack and Ben confirmed that the Platts will spend Christmas at the Bistro. Typically, the clan gather with the intention of having a lovely family lunch but chaos always unfolds. Will history repeat itself this year?
Ben teased: ‘Normally Nick closes it, gets in the kitchen himself. Toyah’s on cooking, I’m on decs and table layout. So that’s how we split it. And it’s who’s there, that’s a classic, isn’t it? We can’t reveal who’s there.’
Jack added: ‘There’s always some drama on Christmas Day…’.
Ryan Mulvey, the kind soul that he is, took to TikTok with an edit showing some iconic cast members frolicking in the fake snow.
Yep, despite a white Christmas being extremely rare in the UK, Corrie are sticking to the trope of a flurry on the cobbles.
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I’m here for it to be honest – especially when I see the likes of Sue Devaney, Sally Carman, Alison King and the King of Weatherfield himself, David Neilson.
There were a number of characters spotted in the night shoot scenes, which could suggest some sort of community celebration as the snow falls, undoubtedly to a backdrop of Merry Christmas, Everyone.
It writes itself.
But, it’s a soap so don’t expect it to be all fun and games, particularly after a miserable old year in Corrie with more arrests than a cardiac ward.
Jodie Ramsey is still around and likely to be causing as much trouble as ever.
Actress Olivia Frances-Brown has hinted at a dramatic peak in the story which may see a comeuppance of sort for her alter-ego.
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‘It’s gonna be a bleak Christmas for Jodie, that’s all I’m going to say,’ she teased cryptically to Metro, adding that she thinks viewers will enjoy it.
However, it won’t be a final end for Jodie, as Olivia has signed a year’s contract to remain on the Street.
So could her Christmas downfall be the start of a much-needed redemption arc?
Or is she destined to get worse, bringing a longer reign of terror to everyone?
Also, it’s going to be a bittersweet time for the Websters, with Debbie Webster (Sue Devaney) determined to be full of joy for what is going to be her last Christmas.
It’s no secret that we are going to controversially lose one of the show’s best characters in years in 2027 but seeing her happy and full of humour over the festive season will be both heartwarming and heartbreaking all at the same time.
I will need a stiff Christmas brandy to get through it. I was going to have one anyway, to be fair, but this is a good excuse.
Actor Jonathan Howard – aka Debbie’s son Carl – said to the Sun after confirming sad times next year as her dementia ‘ramps up’: ‘We’ve just got the latest scripts for the Christmas storyline. Carl is turning 40 just before Christmas and I think everyone is aware that it’s potentially Debbie’s last Christmas.
‘You don’t know how long with dementia someone’s going to survive, but there is a feeling this is the last Christmas that she is herself.’
But what else could happen?
Well, the divine Jodie Prenger recently told us there could be a romantic storyline ahead for Glenda Shuttleworth – perhaps that might be underway by then?
There is also the explosive secret that Bethany Platt (Lucy Fallon) has slept with Kit Green (Jacob Roberts), that feels like a very Christmassy bombshell to explode over the turkey and trimmings.
Of course, fans are hoping for a more pleasant Swarla Christmas than she-who-must-be-named’s temporary destruction of everyone’s favourite couple.
While we hope for some joy for the pair, will Carla (Alison King) still be locked in her upcoming business feud with Idris Nazir (Junade Khan).
The only other guarantee is slow motion, heaps of incidental music and perhaps a flashforward or two.
Well, it IS 2026 on ITV soaps – what else could there be!?
So long as we aren’t robbed of Rita’s annual sing-song around the tinkling piano, I will forgive anything…