ITV soap fans are convinced they have worked out a dark paternity twist connected to characters in Coronation Street and Emmerdale.

Will there be a baby swap on Corriedale this evening? (Image: ITV)

Emmerdale and Coronation Street have collided for an hour-long explosive instalment of Corriedale on ITV at 8pm this evening. Soap bosses have been teasing drama and destruction, and dropped a thriller trailer ahead of Christmas. In the build-up to the special episode, fans of both ITV soaps have been sharing their theories on what might happen. Some are suggesting Emmerdale’s Charity Dingle (played by Emma Atkins) swaps her newborn baby with Coronation Street’s Shona Platt (Julia Goulding).

Charity is currently pregnant with her ex, Ross Barton’s (Michael Parr) baby, when she’s supposed to be the surrogate for her grandchild, Sarah Sugden (Katie Hill), and her partner, Jacob Gallagher (Joe Warren Plant). Meanwhile, Shona recently discovered her unborn child with David Platt (Jack P Shepherd) has a cancerous tumour, and the only surgery which could help could prove fatal for Shona.

The episode is an hour-long and has been teased for months (Image: ITV)

According to ITV soap spoilers, Shona is involved in a road traffic accident in Corriedale, and pictures have been released of her bleeding on the side of a road while medical student Jacob checks her over.

Taking to X, one fan theorised: “Honestly, if they do a Corrie Emmerdale baby swap through this crossover and reveal it in like 10 years, I’ll be impressed.” Another added: “Omg Charity baby a girl, Shona a girl, anyone thinking baby swap on Corridale, either one good reason to swap.”

A third penned: “Charity will go into labour and will swap her baby for Shona’s at the hospital! Sarah is none the wiser, and the baby will have difficulties and Shona and David’s ‘baby’ will be fine, therefore Corrie & Emmerdale forever intertwined!”

Sharing their prediction, someone else wrote: “Baby swap with Charity and Shona’s babies.” Will the two women swap babies – and will their secret get exposed if they carry through with this dark paternity twist?

Shona actress Julia told The Mirror: “I don’t want to say it’s explosive as it’s a bit obvious. It’s phenomenal. I absolutely don’t think anyone is going to see what is coming in this episode; I really don’t.

“Which makes it all the more exciting and all the more exciting to be a part of.”

Corriedale airs tonight (Monday, January 5) at 8pm on ITVX and ITV.