ITV is set to kick off the new year with television history, as the first-ever crossover between Coronation Street and Emmerdale promises murder, mayhem, and a devastating multi-vehicle pile-up. Dubbed 'CorrieDale', the special episode, teased for a January 2026 release, will see characters from both soaps' worlds collide with catastrophic consequences.
The network's tagline, 'when Two Worlds collide', hints at the scale of the drama, which is slated to unfold just as the January Blues set in. The storyline centres on a horrific crash that will overwhelm Hotten General Hospital with casualties, changing both serials forever.
Who is in the Line of Fire?
The roster of characters caught up in the tragedy has expanded significantly from initial announcements. From the Emmerdale side, a host of fan favourites are confirmed to be in grave danger.
The Emmerdale contingent includes:
- Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley)
- Sarah Sugden (Katie Hill)
- Charity Dingle (Emma Atkins)
- Jacob Gallagher (Joe-Warren Plant)
- Robert Sugden (Ryan Hawley)
- Joe Tate (Ned Porteous)
- Dr. Liam Cavanagh (Jonny McPherson)
- Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller)
In a shocking return, devious killer John Sudgen (Oliver Farnworth) will also reappear, adding to the chaos. Furthermore, Mackenzie Boyd (Lawrence Robb) finds himself hurtling into disaster after learning the awful truth about Charity's baby.
High-Speed Drama and Deadly Intent
The collision is born from multiple high-stakes storylines converging at once. Aaron Dingle is seen in a car with John Sudgen, holding a gun to his head to force a drive to the police station. John, with nothing to lose, hits the accelerator instead, forcing Aaron into a catastrophic intervention.
Meanwhile, a distraught and betrayed Mack drives recklessly after discovering Charity's baby secret. His pursuit of Sarah and Jacob—who are being driven by Cain—ends abruptly when Cain slams on the brakes, sending Mack careening off the road.
From Weatherfield, Kit Green and Carla Connor are also driving at speed, chasing Becky Swain who has taken Lisa. They encounter the crash site and stop to help, racing against fire and mangled metal, before Kit peels off again to pursue an escaped John Sudgen.
Secrets, Lies, and a Mysterious Van
As traffic builds around the crash site, a mysterious van pulls up containing a woman with bound wrists and ankles, her identity and fate unclear. The aftermath shifts to Hotten General Hospital, where lives hang in the balance.
However, the danger is not solely from injuries. The episode promises that someone plots to kill, secrets will spill, and at least one character—possibly more—will die. Cast members have teased the scale of the event, with Emma Atkins calling it 'spectacular' and Ryan Hawley promising both soaps will be 'changed forever'.
With Lawrence Robb's future on the soap rumoured to be in doubt, could this monumental event provide his exit? Viewers will have to tune in to see which characters survive the night when CorrieDale airs in January 2026.
