Death! Destruction! Whodunits with cliffhanger endings! From Trevor Royle to Fatboy to Kylie Platt, there's been a lot of murders in soapland lately.

We've taken the big five soaps and crunched the numbers to discover the deadliest (and also safest) places to live. How? By dividing the total number of murders by the show's years on air. We've been strict with the rules, so accidental killings don't count unless there was malicious intent.

We also don't allow murders that occur miles away from the main location, such as Paul Coker's recent murder (unless it was somehow started there, like the Neighbours plane bomb).

Yep, we know it's morbid, but it's grimly fascinating. So here are the soaps ranked by their murder rates:

5. Neighbours

Murders: 10 in 31 years (Click here for the full list)

Average murders per year: 0.32

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Even sunny Erinsborough can have the odd murder here and there, but not that many in comparison to other soap towns. In fact, it normally takes a crazed individual to see a spike in crime, such as Paul Robinson's evil son Robert who planted an actual bomb on a plane in 2005, killing three of the Bishop family in the process.

Erinsborough only had two murders up until 2004, but since Paul Robinson killed Gus Cleary during the Lassiters' fire there's been nearly one a year. Essentially, it's probably Paul's fault.

4. Coronation Street

Murders: 21 in 55 years (Click here for the full list)

Average murders per year: 0.38

Weatherfield may have had plenty of naughty sorts over the decades, but the murder rate has been surprisingly low. Having said that, it has shot up in recent years.

There had only been four murders by the end of the 1980s, so you can see how many maniacs have arrived in Salford since then. Richard Hillman shares the spoils with Karl Munro when it comes to the biggest villains. Tracy Barlow would have the highest amount if you count the fire that killed Kal and Maddie, but we'll let her off as she didn't (totally) mean it to happen.

3. Emmerdale

Murders: 24 in 43 years (Click here for the full list)

Average murders per year: 0.56

Like with Weatherfield, the Yorkshire Dales has seen a rapid rise in murders over the past decade or so. Emmerdale Farm was a lovely place for many years, with 'only' eight murders occurring up until the end of the 1990s.

Cut to 2016 and it's been tragedy after tragedy, and without even counting house fires and helicopter crashes, it's a very unsafe place to live in. Thankfully, Cameron Murray is no longer terrorising the town, but there's still been four killings since he popped his clogs.

2. EastEnders

Murders: 24 in 31 years (Click here for the full list)

Average murders per year: 0.77

Ever since the very first episode featured a murdered character at the hands of Nick Cotton, there has almost been one murder per year. Considering Walford has had plenty of gangs, nutters and well... Nick Cotton, it's surprising it isn't higher than that.

Again, the rise in murders in Albert Square has been swift. Steve Owen's killing of Saskia in his nightclub was only the third ever. Since then, we've had Lucas Johnson, Ben Mitchell and of course, Bobby Beale. Nick tops the list with four murders (we're counting Emma Summerhayes's death as he definitely meant to hurt someone in the crash).

1. Hollyoaks

Murders: 49 in 20 years (Click here for the full list)

Average murders per year: 2.45

Why on earth would anyone want to move to Chester? There has been at least TWO murders per year in the small town of Hollyoaks, including at least two serial killers.

There had only been three murders before the fire started by Sam Owen in 2006 that killed four people. Since then, it's just been carnage. Silas Blissett went on a rampage, Clare Devine caused the deaths of three people, Warren Fox killed his fiancée on their wedding day and the Gloved Hand Killer herself Lindsey Roscoe is the deadliest soap villain of all time with seven killings to her name.

In conclusion, murder rates in soap towns have massively risen over the past decade. Maybe it's something to do with all being cooped up in their own 'Hotel California'-style world where no-one ever leaves, or maybe it's just to bump up the ratings. Either way, stay well clear of Hollyoaks.