EastEnders, Coronation Street and Emmerdale had some huge stories lined up in 1999.
Many of the scenes playing out 20 years ago this month, in July, set the premise for what was to come in each soap for the rest of the year.
From hospital dashes, stunts, and unexpected affairs, viewers were kept on the edge of their seats all summer.
But what went down in Walford, Weatherfield and the Dales, and how did it affect the soaps going forward? Here's a look back at some of the big moments in July 1999...
EastEnders
Over in Walford, one of the soap's biggest affairs ever was fully underway featuring villain Dan Sullivan and his stepdaughter Bianca Jackson.
Dan was engaged to Bianca's mother Carol the whole time, while she was with on/off lover Ricky Butcher.
The fling would be exposed in the most dramatic fashion later on in the year, but in July 1999 it was Dan doing the chasing and Bianca left super guilty - it didn't stop the affair going on for months though.
Also in Walford, Steve Owen and Matthew Rose had just been charged with the murder of Saskia Duncan leaving residents stunned.
Elsewhere, and a family feud erupted between Barry and Roy Evans after Barry learned of his dad's betrayal of his mother.
With Barry's partner Natalie tasked with trying to get them talking again, things didn't go quite to plan.
July also saw the return of Peggy Mitchell's daughter Sam Mitchell, the sister of Phil and Grant.
Her siblings were sure there was something she was hiding and were determined to know why she was really in Albert Square.
Coronation Street
Over in Weatherfield, and July 1999 brought the reveal of Mike Baldwin's affair with future wife Linda.
Alma and Mike had ended their marriage, but she didn't find out about his mystery woman until later on.
This wasn't the only marriage breakdown though, as Leanne and Nick Tilsley, who are together on the soap in present day, broke up and he fled the Street.
Leanne demanded money from his mum Gail Platt claiming it was what she was owed, leading to a tense feud between her and the family.
Elsewhere, and Jack Duckworth sparked concern after learning from a doctor that he needed a triple heart by-pass.
Just days later and the character suffered an attack, found by his horrified close friend Tyrone Dobbs.
He tried to keep the news from wife Vera but she soon found out, and begged him to go private for the operation fearing she was going to lose him, but he refused as he wanted Vera to have his savings if he passed away.
Emmerdale
Emmerdale saw the continuous cover-up of a murder in July 1999, as Graham continued to lie about killing Rachel, staging it as an accident.
He also continued to meddle in Kathy and Biff's relationship ahead of their wedding, with her realising she had feelings for him.
There was horror in the Dales too, as Emily got into a car accident with her strict father who disapproved of her romance with Butch Dingle.
After surviving the accident, Emily refused to stop seeing Butch and told her father he had to accept the relationship.
Tragically Butch would be killed off in a bus crash some time later, with him passing away in hospital moments after the pair got married.
