Who remembers watching with their jaws on the floor as soap villain Richard Hillman drove Gail, Sarah and David Platt into the canal during a thrilling edition of Coronation Street?
Or when Pat Phelan terrorised the residents of the cobbles over a decade later, leaving a pile of dead bodies in his wake?
Then of course there was Nick Cotton, who frequented Albert Square for the best part of 30 years, causing trouble for his dear old ma, not to mention every other mentionable EastEnders favourite.
But what do these three have in common?
Why, they’re among the finest soap villains of all time, of course!
If you have fond memories of being kept awake at night by the aforementioned terrifying trio, then perhaps you’d best look away now, as what follows is the stuff of nightmares.
Richard Hillman, Nick Cotton and Pat Phelan have united.
Well, kind of!
‘Bad boys united,’ wrote actor John Altman, who portrayed Nick Cotton, alongside a picture of himself with fellow soap legends Brian Capron (Richard Hillman), and Connor McIntyre (Pat Phelan).
‘”Wonder Birds ” Duchess Theatre last night,’ he continued, describing when and where the photo took place.
In the picture, John posed alongside Brian and Connor, the latter who had his arms around his fellow actors.
What a moment.
Nick’s work as Dot’s troubled son Nick is nothing short of iconic, and he is remembered as one of soap’s greatest ever antagonists, making his first appearance in EastEnders’ very first episode.
He made regular appearances between 1985 and 1991, popping up frequently, usually to torment his mum when he was in need of cash, or was desperate for drugs.
He made sporadic appearances throughout the ’90s and the ’00s, before returning for more regular stints in 2008 and 2014. Nick was killed off in 2015, in scenes reminiscent of the soap’s very first episode, to commemorate the 30th anniversary.
Brian, meanwhile, portrayed Richard Hillman in Corrie between 2001 and 2003, and was at the centre of some of the ITV soap’s most iconic moments, such as his attempt to murder the Platt clan, as well as killing mainstay Maxine Peacock.
Connor is fondly remembered for his work on the ITV serial drama also, portraying terrifying Pat Phelan between 2013 and 2018.
The character claimed many lives, and was thought to have died, when Eileen Grimshaw confronted him on a cliffside, and he fell into the water.
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However, it was later revealed that Phelan had survived the fall, and he returned to terrorise the residents of the cobbles in one last stand during a series of special late-night episodes, taking Michelle Connor hostage during her wedding!
The twisted killer would then meet his demise at the hands of Anna Windass, who came to Michelle’s rescue, as she stabbed him in the Bistro kitchen.
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