TV has been traumatic tonight ... - MailOnline

Emmerdale and Coronation Street viewers are left in floods of tears by two of the most dramatic episodes in soap history

Coronation Street and Emmerdale viewers were left stunned on Friday night when they watched two of the most dramatic episodes in soap history. 

Emmerdale fans were rocked when James Barton was killed off in hospital, while the Corrie faithful were overwhelmed when Anna Windass was set on fire by an enormous explosion on the cobbles of Weatherfield.

Viewers turned to Twitter to express their shock - with many left in floods of tears, unable to deal with the 'traumatic' storylines.

First up in ITV's Friday bonanza was Emmerdale.

James Barton - who was hospitalised after being kidnapped, drugged, and pushed off bridge by his deranged wife Emma - passed away in an action-packed episode. 

He was visited by his crazed wife in hospital, who tried to finish the job of killing him as he lay on life support after an operation to reduce the pressure in his brain and to fix his punctured lung and fractured spine.

'I just wanted you to love me, I loved you with everything I had,' she said as she sat next to his bed.

'I gave you three beautiful children. Why couldn't you just love me? And marry me and grow old with me and the boys?'

She then appeared to change her mind, saying: 'Please don't go. Please don't die. Please forgive me.'