Emmerdale baby plot for Belle, Coronation Street legend leaves, EastEnders newcomers

It’s been a week of soaps news that we won’t forget in a hurry, with Coronation Street announcing that legendary character Gail will be leaving at the end of the year.

Casting news has dominated the headlines for other soaps too, with a new EastEnders family being announced and another Hollyoaks exit being confirmed.

Elsewhere, Emmerdale shared details of the next chapter for Belle and Tom’s dark storyline.

Did you miss any gossip this week? If so, here’s our guide to the biggest soaps news that dropped over the past seven days.

Emmerdale baby plot for Belle

Emmerdale confirmed a pregnancy storyline for Belle earlier this week, which begins in Monday’s episode of the ITV soap (June 10).

Belle’s discovery that she’s expecting a baby follows weeks of pressure from her abusive husband Tom, who has been obsessive in his desire to start a family.

Although Belle initially hopes to keep her news a secret while she considers her options, she later blurts out the truth to Tom in a terrifying moment when he threatens to become violent again.

Tom’s demeanour immediately changes as he promises to be a better man for the sake of Belle and the baby. Belle is once again left hopeful over their future, with Tom’s sly manipulation still keeping her under his control.

It sounds like this could remain the case for some time yet, with show bosses keen to tell the story over a realistic timeframe.

Discussing the slow nature of the story this week, Eden Taylor-Draper – who plays Belle – explained: “James [Chase, who plays Tom] and I had a meeting with our researchers and producers and then representatives from charities. It was eye opening.

“It gave me reassurance why we are doing this story and how important it is to portray this over such a long time span. This sort of behaviour is often slow-building and we are all so passionate about portraying it correctly.”

Gail’s goodbye in Coronation Street

It’s doubtful that anyone missed this story this week, with news of a Coronation Street legend’s departure making headlines outside of the usual soap bubble and even receiving coverage on TV news shows.

The ITV soap is facing the end of an era later this year, as Helen Worth bows out from Corrie after celebrating her golden anniversary in the role of Gail.

Helen has made the decision to bow out after an incredible 50-year run. She’ll begin filming her final storyline next month, but will remain on screen until the end of the year.

Could this mean a ratings-winning Christmas exit plot? And will Gail get a happy ending or a heartbreaking one? For now, all we know is that Helen will be sorely missed both on screen and off, with castmates queueing up to pay tribute this week.

Speaking this week, Helen explained: “I made the decision at the start of the year and spoke to the producers who were very kind and understanding.

“I have been truly blessed to have been given the most incredible scripts week in week out, and to have worked with fantastic actors, directors and a brilliant crew.

“The past 50 years have flown by and I don’t think the fact that I am leaving has quite sunk in yet.”

New Mitchells for EastEnders

After a quieter few weeks for EastEnders news, the BBC soap announced a new era for the Mitchell family this week as three new characters arrive.

Billy Mitchell is about to have his whole world turned upside-down as he discovers that his dad Stevie has been hiding a secret family.

In scenes airing later this month, Stevie’s son Teddy Mitchell will turn up on the Square alongside his sons Harry and Barney.

How will familiar faces like Billy and Phil get along with a branch of the Mitchells they never knew existed? There’s sure to be drama, and exciting times for fans as Roland Manookian (Teddy), Elijah Holloway (Harry) and Lewis Bridgeman (Barney) settle into the cast.