Massive pile-up, mystery man and screaming for help - Corriedale theories in overdrive after huge trailer drops

The Emmerdale and Coronation Street crossover episode is going to be explosive
Carena Crawford

ITV has dropped a huge trailer for Corriedale and speculation is now all over the place about what it means and what’s going to happen in the episode!

The teaser shows an explosive scene of a car pile-up with flames everywhere. There are several voices heard over the top confirming more characters involved.

This is going to be epic!

What do we know about Corriedale?

Some things have already been confirmed and others are seeming more and more likely…

DS Lisa Swain and Aaron Dingle are confirmed to be appearing in Corriedale (Credit: ITV)
DS Lisa Swain and Aaron Dingle are confirmed to be appearing in Corriedale (Credit: ITV)

1. Confirmed characters including Aaron Dingle, Lisa Swain and Liam Cavanagh

We already know that Aaron Dingle from Emmerdale and Lisa Swain from Coronation Street are in the crossover. And now we know three more names that will definitely appear.

In the trailer we can hear desperate voices calling for help. They are recongisable as Corrie’s David Platt, and Tracy Barlow, plus Emmerdale’s Liam Cavanagh.

Given the accident, it seems good news a doctor will be on hand! Though just how many lives he can save remains to be seen.

A huge crash with the emergency services on site will take place in Corriedale (Credit: ITV)
A huge crash with the emergency services on site will take place in Corriedale (Credit: ITV)

2. A massive accident and a fire in Corriedale

The trailer confirms for the first time that a multi-vehicle pile-up is at the centre of the drama. It’s a dark and stormy county road near Hotten when the crash happens and the aftermath is huge.

Why are the residents of Weatherfield in Yorkshire? And how has the crash come about?

Belle looks stressed in Emmerdale (Credit: ITV)
Belle is reluctantly planning Debbie Webster’s wedding (Credit: ITV)

3. A wedding?

It now seems certain that Belle Dingle is planning Debbie Webster’s wedding. Constant references have been made including Belle saying she was dealing with a bridezilla in Manchester and Debbie referring to her young wedding planner in Leeds.

How – or even whether – this event brings catastrophe, remains to be seen.

What do we think we know about Corriedale?

Theories are aplenty over what really happens in the special episode. Let’s take a look…

Kit Green in Coronation Street drinks tea next to John's wanted poster (Credit: ITV)
We are sure John will be back (Credit: ITV)

1. John Sugden returns in Corriedale

It seems more than likely at this point that John Sugden will be back. Several hints appear to have been dropped by the soap, including his ‘wanted’ poster  hanging in the police station in Coronation Street.

During a scene in the early moments of Wednesday night’s Corrie (November 26) police officer Kit Green was seen drinking tea, standing right next to the poster. The shot lingered for long enough that we were obviously meant to clock it.

It’s not the first time we’ve seen that in Corrie. Back in September John also appeared on a wanted poster in Weatherfield police station.

Corrie and Emmerdale both shared the freeze frame of the picture on their social media accounts, suggesting there is definitely something in it.

Is this Robert or Cain? (Credit: ITV)
Is this Robert or Cain? (Credit: ITV)

2. Robert in serious Corriedale danger

One shot in particular from the trailer shows a man in the midst of the fire. It’s hard to make out exactly who it is, but many fans are certain it is Robert Sugden. With his partner Aaron confirmed for a role in the episode, it seems likely Robert will be there too. But is he in danger?

Fans were quick to speculate: “I’m sure my mind plays tricks on me but this looks like Robert.” Another asked: “Does anyone else think this is Robert?”

“The posture definitely looks like Robert,” said a third. “That’s Robert! Him and Aaron better be alive after all this,” agreed a fourth.

3. Or is it Cain Dingle?

However other fans were sure the image is of Cain Dingle instead.

“If I really zoom in it could be Cain…” said one. “That profile is deffo Cain Dingle change my mind. idky but it’s just a mirror image,” agreed a second.

“Think it’s Cain,” stated a third.

Corrupt cop Becky Swain is the prime suspect in the Corriedale crash drama (Credit: ITV)
Corrupt cop Becky Swain is the prime suspect in the Corriedale crash drama (Credit: ITV)

4. Who is responsible for the crash in Corriedale?

That’s the big question: just who or what has caused this huge pile-up? Theories range from Carl Webster from Corrie to Coronation Street’s Becky Swain.

Fans of the soap know Becky has returned from the dead and come between Carla and Lisa. She is a corrupt cop doing shady dealings with DI Costello and we know it’s all going to come crashing down soon enough.

Some theories think Becky is working with Emmerdale’s Celia and Ray in the human trafficking and county lines plot. Could their worlds collide resulting in this huge crash?

Or is this all down to John Sugden and Kev Townsend? Or could those two stories be the cause?

One fan suggested: “I think for Corrie Lisa maybe rushing to save Carla who’s been kidnapped by Becky. While John/Kev would have teamed up or been chased by either Cain, Liam, Aaron, Robert, either Ross/Liam to the rescue.”

The Becky kidnap theory continued with other viewers: “Becky kidnaps Carla not realising Lisa has been following her. This results in a car chase and crash. The ultimate test of loyalty. Lisa has to choose whether to save Becky or Carla…”

Another wrote: “Becky’s in a getaway car, takes a bend too quickly and causes a crash.”

Carl Webster was also the subject of discussion. “Carl gets drunk, drives off with Debbie and causes a pile-up with a minibus full of wedding guests! Something happens to Shona and the baby. Aaron is trapped somewhere, Robert looking for him. Lisa will probably end up running the scene as first officer on sight. Billy dies!”

Charity's baby secret might come out
Charity’s baby secret might come out (Credit: ITV)

5. Baby drama

Two pregnant women – one in the Dales and one in Corrie – are expected to be involved. Fans are sure they can see Charity’s car in the promo and wonder if the baby she is carrying that she is pretending is Sarah and Jacob’s, but is actually hers and Ross Barton’s will die.

“So what if Charity has to have the baby early because of the accident and gives birth in the car?” asked one. 

“Not Charity’s car being at the crash site in the Corriedale trailer… What if she loses the baby or this changes the course of the paternity reveal?” said another.

Also pregnant is Shona in Corrie and as her husband David is confirmed to be involoved in Corriedale, it seems certain she will be too.

“Given David is involved I wonder if Shona is caught up in the car accident,” queried someone.

So many theories, but which, if any, are true?

Read more: Who’s leaving Emmerdale? All the cast exits, arrivals and returns