Soapwatch: Claudia Connell’s ultimate insight into this week's soaps 

The sooner someone starts crushing up contraceptives and sprinkling them on the chips of everyone in soapland, the better. 

It’s a given that any illicit encounter or doomed relationship will result in a surprise pregnancy a few weeks later. 

And, of course, the bigger a secret the pregnancy is, the more likely it is that the positive test will be carelessly disposed of and discovered.

Coronation Street’s Chesney was only a teenager when his ex Katy gave birth to their son Joseph. 

Now he’s expecting another sprog by gobby Gemma, who will certainly sleep, eat and whinge more than any baby she produces.

Maya (pictured second from right alongside Tracy, Leyla, and Billy) is confronted by a trio of David's exes after she's spotted kissing Jacob in this week's Emmerdale

Maya (pictured second from right alongside Tracy, Leyla, and Billy) is confronted by a trio of David's exes after she's spotted kissing Jacob in this week's Emmerdale

In EastEnders, Louise is pregnant with Keanu’s baby. 

You’d have thought growing up with Karen as a mother, a woman with a brood of unruly children by various men, would be all the deterrent he’d need.

For their part, Emmerdale prefer to have long-lost children turn up in the village out of the blue. 

So why are Aaron and Robert paying a surrogate? A forgotten kid will surface if they wait long enough. 

EMMERDALE: FLASHBACK BOMBSHELLS

We all know no good ever comes from characters leaving the village – so when a whole load of them decamped for an evening, it was bound to lead to disaster. 

The aftermath of this big night out unfolds in a series of flashbacks told across the entire week.

Now that Ross has left the village, Billy and Elliot have taken the Bartons’ place as the warring brothers. 

So, was Billy responsible for stabbing Ellis?

After Priya spied Maya and Jacob’s kiss, we see David’s trio of exes confront Maya. 

Later her scarf is found, but there’s no sign of her. 

Did Tracy, Priya and Leyla do her in to protect young Jacob? Has Leyla forgotten that she abandoned Jacob as a child? But then, when has hypocrisy ever stopped anyone taking the moral high ground in soapland?

The identity of the man Rhona kissed is revealed but can Pete forgive her? It’s clear he still holds a candle for

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