{"id":731086,"date":"2026-01-30T15:22:27","date_gmt":"2026-01-30T15:22:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/731086\/"},"modified":"2026-01-30T15:22:27","modified_gmt":"2026-01-30T15:22:27","slug":"not-again-soap-fans-have-truly-had-enough-of-this-trend-in-their-favourite-shows-soaps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/731086\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Not again!’ Soap fans have truly had enough of this trend in their favourite shows | Soaps"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\"A
\n\t\tToo many resurrections? (Picture: BBC\/ITV\/Lime Pictures<\/p>\n

Death is huge. Not to get all \u2018existential\u2019, but it really is a big deal, isn\u2019t it? Unless you live in Soapland, of course, where death is quite often shown to be temporary, and the bosses of Coronation Street<\/a>, Emmerdale<\/a>, EastEnders<\/a> and Hollyoaks<\/a>\u00a0have all practiced a spot of necromancy over the years. <\/p>\n

One executive producer can decide to permanently axe a character, sending them to the soap graveyard, while their successor can quickly reverse that decision with a skilful (or not) plot twist that can completely undo their demise.<\/p>\n

Recent years have seen a plethora of corpse-reanimation. The originators of the \u2018back from the dead twist\u2019, EastEnders, have given Ian Beale<\/a>\u00a0(Adam Woodyatt<\/a>) both his mum and his ex-wife back from the afterlife. He\u2019s probably half-expecting to bump into his dead daughter, Lucy<\/a>\u00a0(Hetti Bywater<\/a>), at some point.<\/p>\n

With all of the soaps practicing resurrection over this past year, some comebacks have been welcomed. Clare Devine<\/a>\u00a0(Gemma Bissix<\/a>), long-heralded as Hollyoaks\u2019 ultimate villain, re-wrote history with her return and proved to be just as magnificent as she ever was. Their second bite of the cherry with James Nightingale<\/a> (Gregory Finnegan<\/a>), however, made little sense to viewers.<\/p>\n

In a unique case, the Corrie comeback of Becky Swain<\/a> (Amy Cudden<\/a>), a character we\u2019d never actually seen before, was heralded initially as a brilliant obstacle in the tumultuous path of Swarla, Lisa Swain<\/a>\u00a0(Vicky Myers<\/a>)\u00a0and Carla Connor<\/a>\u00a0(Alison King<\/a>), though, by the end of the confusing plot involving unseen gangsters, firebombs and airing cupboards, fans were scratching their heads.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Jake
\n\t\tJake Moon\u2019s second return has proved confusing (Picture: BBC\/Jack Barnes\/Kieron McCarron)<\/p>\n

With the news that Jake Moon (Joel Beckett) is returning to EastEnders<\/a> for another stint, Metro <\/strong>readers were a little confused. His initial stint that ended in 2006, saw him presumed murdered after a gangland mix-up, though he returned, very much not executed, in 2024 to coincide with the exit of long-time love, Chrissie Watts (Tracy-Ann Oberman)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Rose Turner said: \u2018I don\u2019t know who\u2019s who anymore, if they\u2019re dead, pretending to be dead or alive\u2019, clearly perplexed at the complicated timelines, while Erika Louise Fry added: \u2018How many people are they bringing back from the dead?\u2019.<\/p>\n

Glyn Lavender pointed out the frequency with which soaps are bringing back dead characters: \u2018Emmerdale has brought back Graham, Corrie brought back Lisa\u2019s wife now we have a trio\u2019.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Graham
\n\t\tJake\u2019s return has mirrored Graham\u2019s (Picture: ITV\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n

Clare Langdon was equally confused: \u2018Why are all these soaps being people back the dead?\u2019 while Alan Labinjo added: \u2018Give it a rest! Who\u2019s next, Dot Cotton and Eccles? Give it up\u2019. Wendy Spence thinks the same: \u2018Not again\u00a0Can\u2019t they think of something else?\u2019<\/p>\n

Of course, with the current flood of dead returnees, fans are hoping their own favourites might reappear. <\/p>\n

\u2018If hope its either Martin Fowler, Steve Owen or Dennis Watts\u2019 said Brian Smith in response to our tease of a \u2018returning\u2019 dead character. Helz Gardner hoped for three other dead \u2018Enders: \u2018Mick? Fat boi? Vincent?\u2019. Synz Gill echoed this sentiment: \u2018Another dead story?! If they\u2019re bringing back people from the grave then bring back Vincent!\u2019<\/p>\n

With this reaction, we got to thinking about just how many characters have been resurrected in the past few years\u2026<\/p>\n

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Back from the dead
\nGraham Foster<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Graham
\n\t\tSinister Graham survived his murder with help from his SAS training\u2026 (Picture: ITV)<\/p>\n

The most recent and (arguably) the most successful resurrection in recent memory is everyone\u2019s favourite gravel-voiced ghoul, Graham Foster<\/a>\u00a0(Andrew Scarborough<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Graham was the subject of his own whodunnit<\/a>, seemingly being murdered by rapist Pierce Harris<\/a>\u00a0(Jonathan Wrather<\/a>). Graham was (and is, we suppose) a deeply intriguing, dark and gothic character who\u2019s arch-camp presentation could feel jarring in the overall context of Emmerdale.<\/p>\n

Andrew\u2019s performance, though, captivated audiences and it always seemed a huge waste to kill him when they did.<\/p>\n

Returning as a surprise during the much-hyped Corriedale<\/a> event, fans accepted the (admittedly convoluted) story retcon, simply delighted to have the sinister SAS agent back.<\/p>\n

James Nightingale<\/p>\n

\t\t\"James
\n\t\tJames\u2019 death was recently reversed (Picture: Lime Pictures)<\/p>\n

James was a victim of Hollyoaks\u2019 controversial restructure<\/a>, with their output being slashed from five, half-hour episodes a week to three 20 minute offerings, meaning reductions in staff both behind the scenes and cast.<\/p>\n

He perished in a car bombing prior to the time jump that ushered in the shows new era and that seemingly was the end of that.<\/p>\n

As the show aired its 30th anniversary celebration, it transpired that James had actually survived the blast; the mechanics of which have yet to be fully explored, with Gregory\u2019s return being a late addition<\/a> to the anniversary eps.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tHave you had enough of dead characters coming back?<\/p>\n