Soap fans are in for a real treat later this year as plans have been announced for a Combined Soap Universe (CSU) to rival the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) created in the Marvel movies.
Rumours started about the CSU in April 2020 when the cast of Eastenders appeared, in character, on a virtual pub quiz on Zoom, and were joined by Corrie’s Liz McDonald. Liz argues with some of the Eastenders characters, before being told to “get out of my virtual pub” by host Linda Carter.
The show caused such excitement online that TV bosses all agreed creating the CSU was the best option going forward, with a special Eastenders and Coronation Street crossover to kick start the CSU later this year.
Few details are known yet, but it is believed actress Michelle Collins, who appeared on both Eastenders and Coronation Street, will be reprising her roles on both soaps before meeting herself in the crossover. Collins played Cindy Beale in Eastenders and Stella Price in Coronation Street. In Eastenders, Collins’ character died off screen during child birth, but it is believed soap bosses would have no trouble amending the history to bring her back.
The two characters played by Michelle Collins would be the catalyst that brings the CSU together.
Producer Kate Oates, who has worked on both Coronation Street and Eastenders, is to head up the team involved in the crossover episodes. She explained:
This is going to be huge. Imagine Ken Barlow coming to blows with Mick Carter in the Vic, Phil Mitchel falling off the wagon with Peter Barlow, and the absolute carnage David Platt would cause in Walford.
Once the Eastenders and Corrie crossover has happened, the plan is to draw further soaps into the CSU, with Emmerdale and Hollyoaks being the obvious choices. Oates believes it won’t stop there though, and will go fully international. She added:
It won’t be long before we see Kirk and Beth planning a holiday to Summer Bay, or Doctor Drake Ramoray from Days of our Lives appearing in the Rovers Return.
The first crossover episodes will be aired later this year, and will run for a whole week with the action taking place between each episode of Coronation Street and Eastenders.
