The UK’s deadliest soap has been confirmed – and surprisingly it’s not Emmerdale

A compilation image of the Rovers Return, Woolpack and the Albert Square sign with a grim reaper in front
The deadliest soap location has been revealed (Picture: BBC/Michael Adams/Metro)

Emmerdale killer John Sugden (Oliver Farnworth) is still escaping justice for the murder of Nate Robinson (Jurell Carter), but it turns out the Dales is not the deadliest place to live in Soapland.

New research has revealed the most dangerous TV soap settings – and let’s just say you might want to think twice before moving to a certain fictional London postcode.

Yep, as of data collected in February, Albert Square is officially the deadliest soap destination, as there have been 229 deaths in EastEnders’ 40-year history.

This works out at a stonking 5.73 deaths per year occurring in Walford.

The BBC soap doesn’t have the highest overall death count, however – that title goes to Coronation Street.

The cobbles has seen 242 deaths, but given it has been running for just over 64 years, deaths per year work out at the lowest average of 3.77.

Martin screams in pain in the rubble of the Queen Vic in EastEnders
Poor Martin Fowler learned exactly how deadly it is to live in Walford (Picture: BBC)
Amy lies dead in hospital in Emmerdale
Amy Barton was just one character who died in the Emmerdale bloodbath (Picture: ITV)

Emmerdale has a higher death rate, however, with the data from QR Code Generator revealing that with 200 deaths over its 52 years, the ITV soap says a deathly goodbye to an average of 3.82 characters a year.

Both EastEnders and Emmerdale have lived up to their reputations already this year, with both soaps serving up a character bloodbath.

Over in Walford, an explosion that tore through the Queen Vic pub ended up killing off beloved legacy character Martin Fowler (James Bye) during the serial’s 40th anniversary live episode.

In the same week, killer Reiss Colwell (Jonny Freeman) suffered one of the show’s most comical deaths ever when a bathtub fell through the ceiling and crushed him.

Joe is unconscious and on the floor after being pushed through a window in Emmerdale
Joe fell from a window! (Picture: ITV)

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Meanwhile, up in Yorkshire, a deadly limo crash saw the vehicle plunge into an icy lake, with the stunt claiming the lives of Suzy Merton (Martelle Edinborough), Leyla Harding (Roxy Shahidi) and Amy Barton (Natalie Ann Jamieson).

In more recent scenes, wicked Joe Tate (Ned Porteous) plunged from a first floor window.

As it stands, Joe is in a coma after suffering a bleed on his brain. The detective leading the investigation told everyone in the pub that someone will be arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, and matters will of course get much worse if Joe ends up dying.

It seems that Emmerdale is trying to catch up!

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