IT was an amazing week in Emmerdale – personal drama, a wedding, a helicopter crash into the church hall, even a deadly Hall of Mirrors in a funfair.

The rural soap excelled itself in storylines and action night after night which was emotionally exhausting to watch, but fascinating.

It’s sad, though, to lose the character of feisty Val Pollard (consistently well-played by actress Charlie Hardwick), skewered in the Hall of Mirrors post-crash. She even made a ghostly visit to grieving husband Eric, which was very touching.

There’s no doubt that, currently, the soaps offer some of the best drama on TV.