Top 10 Evil Soap Villains

Top 10 Evil Soap Villains

From explosive confrontations to fatal altercations. Welcome to WatchMojo UK and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10 most evil soap villains.

For this list, we’ve gathered the worst of the worst from Britain’s finest soap operas. With killers in Corrie and hooligans in “Hollyoaks”, these everyday dramas are defined by their baddies - so here are the supreme sinners in soapland!

#10: Warren Fox
“Hollyoaks” (1995-)

When Warren arrived into “Hollyoaks” in 2006, it was clear he’d have a lasting impact. As well as his thuggish behaviour and drug dealing exploits, Warren also tried to blackmail Sean Kennedy into letting him sleep with his wife. The guy went on to terrorise the community for several years, intimidating local residents and becoming aggressive at any given moment. His most infamous crime is probably the murder of Dale Greer, before using Greer’s body to fake his own death in a house fire.

#9: Phil Mitchell
“EastEnders” (1985-)

As one of the longest standing characters in “EastEnders”, it would probably be easier to compile a list of morally reprehensible acts that Phil hasn’t committed. Peggy Mitchell’s son has progressed from tough-talking hard man to become the undisputed kingpin of Albert Square, orchestrating robberies, assaults and intimidation rackets. With a violently short temper and a past marred by substance abuse, Phil is also one of the soap’s most prolific love rats - even having an affair with his own brother’s wife. He just can’t control himself.

#8: Kim Tate
“Emmerdale” (1972-)

A real femme fatale, Kim Tate still stands as one of Emmerdale’s most infamous characters. After embarking on an affair with wealthy businessman Frank, while his own wife was dying of cancer, she planned to get her hands on his fortune. And as Kim and Frank’s marriage broke down, she ruthlessly silenced anyone who might jeopardise her bid to acquire the money. She cruelly stood and watched while Frank died of a heart attack, but Kim’s villainy didn’t end there. She also tried to murder Frank’s son, before exiting the show in spectacular fashion.

#7: Den Watts
“EastEnders” (1985-)

Few soap characters are regarded with more contempt than “Dirty” Den Watts. A hard-boiled east- end gangster, Den’s also a serial womanizer, having had numerous affairs behind the back of his long-suffering wife, Angie. This guy is virtually devoid of empathy, and always seemed able to spin a situation to his advantage - even managing to fake his own death, in one of the show’s more sensational twists. But when he finally did get this comeuppance, Den’s ultimate demise became a standout soap moment.

#6: Tracy Barlow
“Coronation Street” (1960-)

As one of the most self-centred characters on TV, the cobbles of Coronation Street have rarely seen a bigger bitch than Tracy Barlow. A conniving schemer who will stop at nothing to get her own way, a major storyline saw her seduce kindly old Roy Cropper in order to win a bet, before trying to blackmail him over the resulting pregnancy. Tracy further proved how unhinged she is when she falsely accused a cheating ex of abusing her, before brutally killing him with an ornament. She’s not one to cross.

#5: Trevor Morgan
“EastEnders” (1985-)

Soaps often serve as a platform to tackle important social issues, and the storyline surrounding Trevor Morgan and Little Mo proved a pivotal point in “EastEnders” history. Trevor was a sadistic and vicious man, who subjected his wife to years of emotional and physical abuse. And while he made sure to maintain a friendly façade to outsiders, he manipulated and guilt-tripped Little Mo throughout their relationship - until she almost killed him off on New Year’s Eve 2001.

#4: Pat Phelan
“Coronation Street” (1960-)

Staying with the Street, Pat’s a relative newcomer having debuted in 2013, but he has caused all manner of misery. The character is directly or indirectly involved with multiple murders, as well as ongoing scams and manipulative relationships. One of his most deplorable acts was his relentless terrorizing of Owen Armstrong, just so he could coerce Owen’s wife into bed. He also shot Luke before finishing him off in a deadly fireball. And in one of his most memorable scenes, he forced Andy to kill Vinny, before killing Andy himself.

#3: Nick Cotton
“EastEnders” (1985-)

He may be the son of kind and devout Dot Cotton, but he’s one of the nastiest pieces of work Walford has ever seen. A natural born hellraiser, Nick has intimidated his way around the Square, always leaving his poor mum to pick up the pieces. A character truly beyond redemption, he even tried to poison Dot in a desperate bid to inherit her money. And in his final act, Nick can’t help but hurt his mother again, as she decides to let him die, rather than risk inflicting any more pain onto anyone else.

#2: Janine Butcher
“EastEnders” (1985-)

Walford’s resident black widow, Janine’s a relentless villain who’s menaced the square for years. A self-absorbed and uncaring sort who will go to extreme lengths to get what she desires, she once faked an entire backstory and posed as a Jewish orphan to con an unsuspecting old man out of his inheritance money. But, the peak of Janine’s cruelty was dealt to her late husband, the affable Barry Evans. Janine only agreed to marry Barry because she believed he was terminally ill, and there was an inheritance in it for her. So, when he revealed otherwise, Janine took a more direct route, by pushing her husband off a cliff - wedded bliss, this definitely wasn’t!

#1: Richard Hillman
“Coronation Street” (1960-)

Our winner was trouble from the start, indulging in fraud and stealing from pensioners before he’d even settled on the Street. But, Richard’s relationship with Gail Platt exposed just how terrible he was. He murdered his ex-wife in cold blood, and his behaviour only worsened when he fell into financial hardship - and aimed to kill Audrey for her inheritance. But, when that plan was exposed, and in one final act of cruelty, he tried to kill himself and the entire Platt family by plunging his car into the canal - for one of Weatherfield’s most harrowing moments.