Leader in soap opera (4)
I believe the answer is:
pope
'leader' is the definition.
(pope is a kind of leader)
'in soap opera' is the wordplay.
'in' indicates a hidden word.
'POPE' is hidden in the letters of 'soap opera'.
(Other definitions for pope that I've seen before include "St Peter was the first" , "Bishop of Rome" , "Pontiff" , "Catholic leader" , "fisherman's successor" .)