IF there’s one thing soaps do well, it’s a heart-wrenching death scene.
EastEnders has proved this by gearing up for Lola Pearce’s tear-jerking demise from brain cancer in upcoming episodes.
The character, played by Danielle Harold, returned to Albert Square from hospital to spend her final days with her loved ones - including partner Jay.
As he carried her back home, he said: “I'm carrying my wife over the threshold.”
The moment left Enders fans in tears, with one tweeting: “The fact Lola is now home to pass away just breaks my heart, so so sad.”
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But this is by no means the first time a soap death has had us reaching for our hankies - or gasping in shock.
From a shocking plane crash that claimed 147 lives to grisly murders, we look at soapland’s most devastating deaths.
Traffic Tiffany
In one of soap's most heart-breaking scenes, Tiffany Mitchell - played by Martine McCutcheon - was hit by a car driven by Frank Butcher as she tried to flee the square.
After husband Grant became increasingly abusive towards Tiff - even sleeping with her mum - Tiff demanded a divorce.
She decided to flee the country with baby Courtney and move to Spain - but Grant got word of her plan.
To Tiffany's horror he snatched Courtney - and as the desperate mum chased after them she ran into the path of Frank’s car.
In a Christmas week episode watched by 20 million, Tiff died on the square.
Ultimate betrayal
Enders’ Janine Butcher pushing Barry Evans to his untimely death will go down in soap history.
Evil Janine - played by Charlie Brooks - lured her trusting fiance to Scotland for a quickie marriage after learning he was dying.
Her plan to inherit Bary’s fortune was thwarted when Barry told her that the doctors had mixed up his medical files.
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Furious that she was no longer set for a windfall, she pushed Barry off a cliff after telling him their love was “fake”. Savage.
Fatal fall
In a live episode to mark 25 years of EastEnders, viewers were shocked when fan favourite Bradley Branning met his end.
Bradley was accused of killing Stacey Slater’s rapist Archie Mitchell - played by Larry Lamb - after he punched him twice on the night he died.
After getting a tip off he was about to be arrested, Bradley tried to escape Walford with Stacey but forgot their passport and had to return to the Square.
He was spotted by a police woman who chased him up a fire escape, but Bradley lost his balance and plunged to his death.
Fireball fate
Evil Corrie serial killer Pat Phelan brutally murdered Luke Britton after he discovered his murderous secrets.
Mechanic Luke found out Pat had murdered his mate Andy Carver and was on his way to the police.
But vicious Phelan shot Luke, revealing himself as Andy’s killer: "You say hello from me."
As a bloodied Luke tried to drive away, Phelan shot at his engine - then watched as he burned to death in a fireball.
Tragic Tina
The death of Tina McIntyre - played by Michelle Keegan - shocked Corrie fans with its grisly nature.
The character was having it away with Peter Barlow - despite him being married to Carla Connor.
After Peter announced Carla’s pregnancy at the Rovers Return, Tina threatened to tell all about their affair - but Carla's brother Rob Donovan (played by Marc Baylis) begged her not to.
During a confrontation she threatened Rob by saying she knew he and his girlfriend Tracy Barlow were selling dodgy merchandise - before running out onto a balcony.
As their row got physical, Tina lost her footing and fell - seemingly to her death.
Horrified Rob ran onto the cobbles - but Tina was still alive and told him she'd tell the police he pushed her.
Panicked, Rob brutally clobbered her over the head with a metal pipe. Tina later died of her injuries in hospital.
Plane catastrophe
The 1993 plane crash was a major shake up for the sleepy rural soap Emmerdale - and was watched by 18 million viewers.
Kim Tate’s stables were struck by the plummeting plane which killed 147, including nine villagers.
Mark Hughes was killed by a falling wall, Archie Brooks was burned by jet fuel, Elizabeth Pollard was killed by debris and newcomer Leonard Kempinski died in a car crash caused by the crash.
Five other non-recurring characters from the village also died.
The aftermath of the crash left homes ruined and the surrounding farmlands contaminated with jet fuel.
Burning barn
Emmerdale’s Sarah Sugden was accidentally killed in 2000, after getting caught up in adopted son Andy’s insurance swizz.
After the family got into financial problems, Andy - played by Kelvin Fletcher - decided to set fire to the barn to claim cash back.
Little did he realise Sarah was inside the barn, telling her boyfriend Richie Carter she wanted to get back with husband Jack.
While Richie managed to escape, Sarah was killed, leaving the whole family devastated.
Train disaster
Hollyoaks' Carmel McQueen died in shocking scenes when a party train crashed into a car in 2014 on her cousin Porsche's wedding day.
When the train crashed the McQueen clan managed to escape - with Carmel helping free her cousin Theresa from the debris and telling her to run.
Moments later the train exploded and the family rushed back to help Carmel, but she died in their arms, promising to be the family's guardian angel.
Parachute fail
Skydiving and a love triangle - what could possibly go wrong?
A lot - especially when you live in Hollyoaks.
Sarah Barnes’ girlfriend Lydia Hart became obsessively jealous of her ex-fling and best pal Zoe.
On a sky diving trip, green-eyed Lydia cut the ropes of Zoe’s parachute pack - but was horrified when the bags become jumbled.
Sarah took the tampered parachute - and plummeted to her death in harrowing scenes.
