Nothing says Happy 18th Birthday like a mass soap killing, apparently, so Hollyoaks bosses have decided to celebrate the show's coming of age (yes, it has been around for that long) by killing of no less than 5 of the show's main characters.

In a series of dramatic episodes due to hit your TV screens next week, Sinead (aka yer wan who was in BBC's Over The Rainbow but didn't get picked to be Andrew Lloyd Webber's Dorothy) will accidentally bring a bomb to Ste and Doug's leaving party (leaving, eh? hint hint). There's a totally rational explanation for the explosives though: Clare's brought it to the village after escaping from prison, and plans to use it to blow up The Loft at Mercedes' birthday party. Jack Bauer will be parachuting in any moment now...

Anyway, we hear that Mercedes, Carmel, John Paul, Theresa, Clare, Trevor, Ste, Doug, Sinead, Leanne, Dennis and Darren are all at risk, with Ash, Dodger and Will's fate also being decided when the bomb blast affects the nearby Kane residence too.

However, just when you thought you had it all sussed out, Hollyoaks bosses have  revealed that all 5 deaths may not be connected to the explosion, with some characters expected to die in very different circumstances.

Oh, and as if they hadn't given Game of Thrones George RR Martin enough of a run for his money already, they'll be killing a further two people off on Hollyoaks Later to boot.

Sounds like a REALLY Happy Birthday all right....