Coronation Street has aired a secret shout-out to Emmerdale as the special crossover episode draws closer. Set for release next month, Corriedale will see characters from the Dales and Weatherfield collide in a major storyline that will have a lasting impact on both ITV soaps.
While Emmerdale’s Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller) and Corrie’s Lisa Swain (Vicky Myers) were already confirmed for the episode, which will also include an interactive audience vote, some more names have now been shared. David Platt (Jack P Shepherd) and Tracy Barlow (Kate Ford) from Coronation Street and Liam Cavanagh (Johnny McPherson) from Emmerdale will be joining the Corriedale action.
We’ve also seen many hints to the crossover on screen. In last week’s episodes, Sam and Belle Dingle tried to come up with the money to repair Wishing Well cottage by deciding to sell Christmas trees behind Joe and Kim Tate’s backs.
During one of their discussions about a crisis, Belle said: “I’ve got a bridezilla in Manchester demanding that a choir sing at her wedding, that’s a crisis.”
It seemed likely that Belle was referring to Corrie’s Debbie Webster, who is currently planning her wedding to Ronnie Bailey.
ITV
Related: Best streaming services
After the Christmas tree scheme blew up in their faces, Belle offered Joe another opportunity, saying: “Me and Dawn, we’ve got this client down in Manchester, she’s got a hotel, and I think she could use the trees. So if she agrees to take them, you’re not going to be out of pocket, are you?”
In tonight’s episodes of Emmerdale and Corrie, both soaps appeared to mention each other again, with Debbie finally saying something about her wedding planner.
Speaking to the girls at her Women in Business event, Debbie said: “I’ve just booked myself a trendy young wedding planner. A bit wet around the gills, but I’m hoping with youth comes erm, you know, funky ideas.” Debbie then later confirmed to Carl that she had set a date of March 5 for her wedding.
ITV
Related: Coronation Street’s worrying new Theo lie points to trouble for Todd
In Emmerdale, Belle made another mention of her demanding client from Manchester, saying to Lydia: “I’ve just had an email from a client in Manchester. She’s set a date for the wedding.”
Explaining how she has a lot going on at the moment, Belle told Lydia she was worried that she would be “stretched a bit thin” with the wedding preparations.
Earlier today, the ITV soaps dropped the first trailer for Corriedale, teasing a catastrophic crash, with the logline saying: “Life in Emmerdale and Weatherfield will never be the same again!”
Coronation Street airs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV1 and streams on ITVX.
Read more Coronation Street spoilers on our dedicated homepage
Emmerdale airs on weeknights at 7.30pm on ITV1, and streams on ITVX.
Read more Emmerdale spoilers on our dedicated homepage
The new edition of Living Legends is here! Buy Ariana & Witches in newsagents or online, priced at just £8.99.