Eastenders may be celebrating its 20th anniversary on 19th of this month, but it is the residents of Emmerdale who are the real soap opera winners. House prices in Emmerdale have increased by 714% over the last 20 years outperforming the UK average of 445%, according to new research from Halifax Estate Agents.

Located in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, house prices in Emmerdale have actually increased by 4,290% from £4,689 when Emmerdale was first broadcast on 16th October 1972 to £205,847 in 2004.

Coming in second place is Brookside, where house prices have increased by 394% over the past 20 years. It seems that even dead bodies being buried under the patio on Brookside Close have not prevented house prices rising in the area.

The worst soap opera performers over the last 20 years include Coronation Street's Weatherfield and Eastenders' Walford.

With seven working class, terraced houses sandwiched between The Rover's Return and the Corner Shop, house prices on Coronation Street have increased by 335% over the last 20 years from £27,215 in 1985 to £118,383 in 2004.

The worst performing soap opera location was Eastenders' Walford. Following the reputation and muscle of the Mitchell's reign, the attempted takeover by Andy Hunter and the arrival of the troublesome Miller and Moon families, house prices in Eastenders' Walford only increased by 317%, from £49,184 when it started on 19th February 1985 to £204,876 in 2004.

Colin Kemp, Managing Director, Halifax Estate Agents, said: "This light hearted look at soap operas shows that Emmerdale's proximity to Hotton, Leeds and the Yorkshire Dales have fuelled the increase in Emmerdale's house prices. Local amenities, such as the Woolpack, the village shop, Post Office and tea room have helped to make it an attractive place to live."

House prices since soap operas began

House prices in Coronation Street have increased by 4,500% from £2,530 when it was first broadcast on 9th December 1960.

So, forget soap operas' hotshot entrepreneurs - Dev Alahan, Danny and Mike Baldwin, Tom King, Zoe Tate, Andy Hunter, Den Watts, Ian Beale, Tony Hutchinson, Mandy Richardson and Jacqui and Max Farnham with house prices increases of 4,500%, the most prudent investor in soap opera history appears to be Weatherfield's Ken Barlow.

As Coronation Street's longest running resident, Ken Barlow made an excellent investment when he bought number nine Coronation Street for £2,950 in 1962 with his wife Valerie Barlow. Born on Coronation Street, Ken Barlow has had 21 screen lovers and has lived at eight different addresses on the street, including one of the newly built maisonettes. This week we will even see Ken Barlow propose to long time love Deidre Rachid, apparently not for love, but to sort out his long term financial plans!!

Colin Kemp said: "Weatherfield's excellent taxi and tram links and proximity to Manchester, the Peak district and the Pennines have fuelled the increase in house prices. Even though local amenities, such as the Rover's Return pub, Roy's Rolls, the Kabin and The Red Rec have helped to make it an attractive place to live, Weatherfield remains affordable for first-time buyers."

House prices in Emmerdale have increased by 4,290% since it was first broadcast, followed by Brookside at 377% and Eastenders at 317%. The worst performing soap opera was Hollyoaks where house prices have only increased by 198%. However, with house prices increasing from £64,991 since it was first broadcast on 23rd October 1995 to £193,609 in 2004 - it seems that Max Cunningham, who inherited a share in his dad's house, is an eligible bachelor after all.

The rural village of Emmerdale had the highest annual average growth since the start of the series at 13%. This was followed by Coronation Street and Eastenders at 9% and Brookside and Hollyoaks at 8%.