Coronation Street is bracing for a shocking demise as we can reveal that a pivotal character will meet their end in the new year.

This dramatic event will unfold during the soap’s crossover episode with Emmerdale.

Executive producer Iain MacLeod shared: “The soap gods demand a sacrifice when you have an event of this kind.

“Sometimes the biggest and best exits are for characters that you care the most about.

“It’s going to be shocking. There will be lots of trauma, lots of drama and lots of twists,” reports the Daily Star.

The death is so startling that it has ignited disputes among Corrie’s producers.

Iain further added: “There’s always that equation where you think, ‘If they were to go, the viewers will really care, but what damage will it do to the landscape of the show in terms of the ability to tell stories?

“It’s a big responsibility, so we do agonise about it quite a lot and argue about it. Our story conferences are fiery places at times and this period of the show is no different.”

Corrie bosses are going all out to ensure the crossover episode is one of the most memorable in the soap’s history.

It will mark the culmination of several major storylines.

Iain revealed: “It’s going to get bigger and bigger. Things will peak in a big way.

“There will be fairly shocking twists. We are putting our foot to the floor with momentum for the show.”

The crossover episode with Emmerdale is anticipated to draw in record-breaking ratings.

An ITV spokesperson revealed: “The distinctive worlds of Emmerdale and Coronation Street will merge for one night only in a ‘mash-up’ of our two favourite communities.

“The producers, scriptwriters and production teams have conceived an ingenious way of linking the two universes, but with characters then returning to the soaps they are renowned for inhabiting in Manchester and Yorkshire.”

Coronation Street airs Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX