Inside Soap UK 48 - 2019

Some characters come and go from a soap, and after a few months –or maybe a couple of years – you never give them a second thought. But others stay forever-bound with their show, however long they’ve been away from our screens. “Liz will always be part of the Street’s DNA…” I’m sure that’s how it will be with Corrie’s Liz McDonald, despite actress Beverley Callard confirming her departure from the show (see p92). No matter how long Liz may be gone for (and I reckon she’ll be back at some point in the future, Bev loves the Street too much to stay away for good), Liz will always be part of the Street’s DNA, and with her son and grandchildren still causing a ruckus on the cobbles, she’ll never…

The moment that Michelle has been meticulously plotting for weeks finally arrives on her wedding day, as she successfully steals the Bistro away from Robert – while still planning to expose him as a lying, cheating scumbag! However, before the pair make it as far as the altar, a furious argument between Robert and Vicky ends with his pregnant other woman disappearing without trace – prompting Tyler to accuse Robert of murdering his mum… “Robert has been spinning all these plates for so many months and, on what he hopes will be the happiest day of his life, they all come crashing down around him,” gossips our Corrie insider. “After Michelle appeared to forgive him for his relationship with Vicky – and Vicky threw him out – Robert was looking…

Hi, Tristan! Really, how long did Robert think he could get away with his double life? The way that I have had to rationalise it is that Robert was never thinking that far into the future! He knew at some stage that the baby would be born, and that Michelle and Vicky would have to find out about each other – although he could only manage that on a day-to-day basis. Deranged as it was, he managed to function pretty well in the face of the deception he was living through! Why do you think he was able to tell lie upon lie? Usually it has been out of love for Michelle and wanting to be a better person – from taking steroids to be stronger and fitter, or gambling…

Pregnant teenager Louise is forced to face motherhood sooner than anticipated this week, when she goes into early labour! With her baby not due for at least another month, mum-to-be Lou thought she had much more time to prepare before the little one made a grand entrance into the world. However, when Louise’s waters break unexpectedly, she puts in an urgent call to her fiancé Keanu – who drops everything to be by her side… “It’s scary enough for any expectant mum to start contractions early, let alone one as young as Louise,” points out our Walford insider. “She’s been through so much in the past few weeks – her godmother Mel died in a tragic accident just days after Louise’s 18th birthday. That’s enough to send anyone into premature…

Despite Sharon’s assurances that Lisa’s paternity claims are nonsense, Phil just can’t shake the feeling that he might not be the father of his wife’s unborn child. So when he spots Sharon having an intimate conversation with her ex-fiancé Jack, he jumps to the conclusion that Jack’s the daddy! Given that Sharon and Jack made it as far as the altar back in 2013 – where Jack jilted Sharon for his former love, Ronnie Mitchell – it’s little wonder that Phil becomes suspicious when he spots the pair deep in conversation. However, as his misgivings about Sharon and Jack grow, will Phil confront his missus about what he thinks he knows? And just how much longer can Sharon keep the real identity of her baby’s father under wraps, now that…

Mum-to-be Victoria fears she’s going into labour early this week – and the only person around to help her is Wendy, her rapist’s mum! It’s terrifying enough for Vic to think that her baby could be on his way weeks before he’s due to make an appearance. But worse still is the thought that it may be Lee’s mum Wendy who ends up being her unwanted birthing partner… “I’m not a mother, but I assume that when you start having contractions, you must feel so vulnerable,” muses Dales star Isabel Hodgins, who plays Victoria. “This is Vic’s first baby, and she’s wanted to be a mum for so long. It’s the worst way for it to happen, though – having her rapist’s mother be the one to help her. She…