Table of contents for 04 - 2021 in Inside Soap UK

“New blood is flowing into our favourite soaps” It’s nice to see some new faces freshening up our shows at the moment. Since returning to filming last year, it seemed the soaps were sticking to their core cast a bit more than usual – hardly surprising as everyone had to get used to the new filming techniques, which were very different from the normal. But with the shows having found their feet and gained confidence, new blood is flowing in. Emmerdale’s Charles and Ethan are an interesting new addition – and boy, they have their secrets! We catch up with the actors who play them on p44. Meanwhile, EastEnders has recently returned Chelsea causing no end of problems for Denise (see p8), while Corrie is set to expand one of…

Chelsea gives Denise an ultimatum this week, as she asks for Lucas to move back into the Fox household – but is there a darker reason behind her desire to unite her family? Chelsea appears to be plotting against her killer dad, after she took a mystery phone call telling someone else to stop meddling with her plan. And this week, Chelsea puts Denise on the spot and attempts to persuade her to let Lucas back home. Initially, Denise is adamant that there’s no way Lucas will be moving in given his past. However, Denise is knocked for six when Chelsea delivers her mum an ultimatum – if Denise doesn’t want anything to do with Lucas, then Chelsea doesn’t want anything to do with her! “Chelsea needs to keep an…

Desperate Harriet reaches the end of her rope this week, and finally quits the Church – but can Charles talk her round? Consumed by guilt and pain, the killer vicar feels she can no longer go on, and tells her colleague Charles that he must take over her job. She sees no way out of the nightmare and believes this is the only solution for the good of the Church. But Charles is determined to persuade her to stay… “Charles doesn’t want Harriet to resign, he knows she’s got so much still to offer!” explains Kevin Mathurin, who plays him. “He can see she’s troubled and he wants to gain her trust and work with her, not against her. He’s worried about her.” As things go from bad to worse,…

Viewers of Hollyoaks and Neighbours may be upset to learn that neither Kurt Benson nor Scott Robinson will be back on our screens anytime soon. Jeremy Edwards, who recently reprised the part of Kurt in the UK soap, has said that he’s “done” for the time being, having been trolled on social media. Mean! Meanwhile, Jason Donovan has shut down hopes that he could one day return to Neighbours to play Scott Robinson. “The publicity would be bigger than the moment itself,” insists the Aussie star. Boo!…

Sarah tells us that she was just as shocked as we were to find out that Ella would be the one to kill Jordan. But she reckons that the time is right for her young Hollyoaks co-star Erin Palmer, who plays Ella, to be at the heart of the action… “From a personal point of view, I think this storyline is amazing for little Erin,” grins Sarah. “She’s been with us a few years now, and this is her time to shine. It’s her first big storyline, and it’s a chance for her to really push herself, and show all these different sides to this little innocent character. So I’m thrilled for her. “I’m also seeing a very different side to Mandy as she gets more and more desperate,” she…

Peter finally admits he doesn’t want to die this week. But as his friends and family rally around, is it too late to save him? And what about his relationship with Carla? As the week begins, the Barlows fear they are fighting a losing battle, after Peter goes AWOL again. Ken sets about circulating a photo of his son to all the local pubs and shops, explaining that they are not to serve him alcohol. Yet when Peter arrives home, clearly very drunk, poor Ken reaches the peak of despair. Adam can’t bear to see his grandad so low, and suggests to Ken and Tracy that they take turns keeping an eye on Peter; if he goes out, then one of them will go with him. “Peter breaks down –…

Despite teaming up with Debbie to bring down Al, Priya’s heartbreak is obvious, and Fiona reveals her alter ego could be changed for good… “How many times can you go through something like this?” questions the actress. “When a man hasn’t done right by Priya before, she thought she would be on top of it next time. So the fact that she’s missed this has to make her wake up a bit. There’s much more to come, but you’ll definitely see a feisty Priya: not a personality change, but definitely hardened. “That said, Priya’s ideal will still be that Al turns around and says he’s made a huge mistake,” adds Fiona with a sigh. “She’s a romantic – she loved him and thought this was the real deal…”…

It looks as though Nina and Asha might be more than just good friends this week, when a romantic spark jumps between them. Nina has been instrumental in giving Asha the confidence to stand up to her horrible boyfriend Corey, and now the youngster is single again. When Dev bemoans that Asha’s schoolwork is suffering because of the split with Corey, Nina suggests she work at the café instead. There, it quickly becomes apparent that the two girls really like each other. Is this the start of something exciting between them?…

Ollie prepares to attend his first narcotics anonymous meeting this week, but unfortunately things don’t go as well as Luke and Cindy had hoped… Ollie is relieved when his ex-girlfriend Brooke agrees to go with him to the group, and with dad Luke also offering him support, life appears to be looking up for the teenager. However, things go awry when Imran arrives to take Brooke on a date after the meeting – sending heartbroken Ollie on the hunt for drugs again. Next morning, Ollie is horrified to realise what he’s done, and fears the ramifications once his dad finds out. Rather than punishing his son, however, Luke puts a loving arm around Ollie’s shoulder and suggests they go for a kickabout. Yet Ollie’s hope dwindles as Luke gets side-tracked…

GET THE LOCK! I really hate EastEnders’ Katy for what she did to Mick, and while I’d love to lock her up and throw away the key, I do like her padlock necklace. Do you know where I can get one? April, Edinburgh The padlock trend is really big right now. You can check out Claire’s or Accessorize for similar pieces, but we love the Gold Padlock Necklace from Opes Robur, which retails online for £45. CHANGING OFFICERS… In Coronation Street, has the police officer who’s looking into Adam’s attack been on the show before – I feel as though I know him from somewhere? Maddy, Doncaster You have a good eye, Maddy! James Quinn plays DS Keith Willets, and he’s had multiple parts on the show from 1989 to…

It looks as though Victoria’s happy life with Luke is about to be shattered – as Ethan’s sure that he’s gay. Despite Luke’s best efforts to shrug him off, Ethan has reason to believe that Vic’s boyfriend isn’t being honest with her. This week, Ethan confronts Luke, who insists that he’s not gay and Ethan’s got it wrong. However, given that he’s all about the truth, it seems that Ethan isn’t going to let it lie. “Luke isn’t an exception to Ethan’s rules!” warns Emile. “He thrives on exposing the truth and revealing people’s shortcomings in the hope they might be able to learn about themselves. It’s harsh, and there will be consequences in the case of Luke and Vic. It could do a lot of damage.” We don’t know…

Most of us would agree that 2021 hasn’t got off to a great start. However, spare a thought for poor Faith in Casualty, who kicked off the year by not only learning her husband Lev had cheated on her, but that it was with a man – meaning he could potentially have been lying to her about his sexuality for their entire 20-year marriage! And things are set to get worse for the nurse this week, when she’s involved in a devastating ambulance crash that leaves her fighting for her life… “We were initially supposed to film this episode last year, before the first lockdown happened,” explains Kirsty Mitchell, who plays Faith. “So there were certain things that we couldn’t now do within the two-metre rules, and we had to…

“I’m sorry that you guys had to wait so long for this series,” offers Anna Friel, joining Inside TV for a catch-up as a third season of her gripping crime drama kicks off. But as we find troubled detective Marcella working undercover in Belfast – with a new life, a new name (Keira), and a new look – it seems the wait has been worth it… “The arc of this is whether Marcella is liking being Keira a bit too much,” shares Anna. “It helps her to run away from Marcella and the life she no longer wants. As Keira, she’s involved with a family of not very nice people [the infamous Maguires], but Marcella has ended up really enjoying who Keira is; the lifestyle and the cars, and all…

BULLSEYE! The harrowing nature of Mick’s story has been made all the more compelling by the fierce, chilling performance given by Simone Lahbib as Katy. She’s such a compelling actress, part of us wishes EastEnders had brought her in to play a baddie with a little more longevity, so that we could enjoy her storyline as opposed to feeling utterly appalled by it. But hey, that’s Walford for you! Neither can we, Dev! We distinctly remember them being born in 2006. It’s a shame that Eva’s in France, and not here to celebrate Asha and Aadi’s 15th 16th birthday. After all, she helped deliver them! Daisy wafts around the Rovers as if she’s auditioning for a place on Love Island. Good luck to her! Gillian Wright’s range as an actress…

The fallout of Abi’s dangerous showdown with Ray raises two very big questions this week: Did she survive the confrontation? And why has Ray suddenly vanished? As the last person to witness the rotter alive, his co-conspirator Debbie has some explaining to do, as the Street’s property plot reaches its stunning conclusion… “Debbie was faced with a very stark dilemma, which was to rescue Abi from Ray, or save their empire by letting Ray’s taped bribery confession die with her,” explains our cobbles spy. “However, the fact that Ray is nowhere to be found implies that Kev’s sister has taken drastic action to solve both problems – and we know how ruthless she can be!” At the beginning of the week, Roy reveals that the chairperson of the planning committee…

Eagle eyes will have recognised Chelsea’s associate, newcomer Caleb. He’s played by Ben Freeman, known to soap fans as the Dales’ Scott Windsor, a role he played from 1998 to 2007. Scott was the eldest son of village shopkeeper Viv Winsdor. Over the years, Scott’s eye for the ladies and his dodgy dealing led to all sorts of trouble! An affair with his stepsister, Kelly Windsor, scandalised the village, as did the revelation that he’d fathered a baby with lesbian vet Zoe Tate! Later, Zoe tried to kill Scott, which ended in him taking her and several others (including his own daughter) hostage. Later, Scott dated Debbie – however, when their scheme to scam Rodney went awry, he quit the village. Since the Dales, Ben has enjoyed a career in…

Roll video tape! If you missed some of the classic EastEnders episodes that aired on BBC1 earlier this year – such as Walford Pride and ‘Sharongate’ – they are now available to binge, box-set style, on iPlayer. Comeback queen Ex-Hollyoaks actress Steph Davies (aka Sinead O’Connor) is returning to showbiz after overcoming her mental health issues. A clothing line and a new book are just the start of brighter things to come for the star. Kim vs Lucas! Denise’s sister will do battle with her killer ex in EastEnders, if Tameka Empson – who plays her – has her way! “Let Kim and Lucas get together for a two-hander episode, and see what happens,” grins the star.…

He may have vowed to fight for his future, but while his spirit is willing, has Peter already done too much harm to his body to make a full recovery? Despite his vow to kick the drink, Peter suffers a seizure, leaving his family terrified. At Weatherfield General, doctors inform Ken that they need to reduce his son’s booze intake gradually, or he will certainly die. Soon, Ken finds himself administering his son’s whisky in set measures. But can Peter stick to doctor’s orders? And is the damage already so severe that Peter’s body can never come back from this?…

What was it like to be back on Ramsay Street again, Paul? I really love the character of Des – he’s almost like an old friend, and I’m quite protective of him. So it was good to bring him out, shake off the cobwebs, and get back to the world of Erinsborough. I really enjoyed it. How was it working with your old pals Annie Jones (aka Jane) and Geoff Paine (who plays Clive) again? It was just great seeing them – and, of course, Stefan [Dennis, aka Paul] and Lucinda [Cowden, who’s soon to return as Melanie Pearson]. It’s just like playing with your friends. There was a great moment when I was in the green room learning my lines, and I looked over to see the four of…

Sid goes on a mission to help Juliet this week, and does so by double-crossing Victor – but will his plan pay off? When Ollie goes on the hunt for a dealer at Jordan’s funeral, his actions lead to Victor returning to the village. And when word reaches Sid that Victor is back, he decides to gather evidence to try to help imprisoned Juliet. However, on day one of Sid’s plan, Victor tells him to get into the boot of his car! Has Victor already worked out Sid’s devious plot?…

Debbie’s left deeply concerned about her daughter Sarah this week, as she’s convinced that the teenager is still seeing drug dealer Danny. After finding out that Sarah was involved with the former jailbird again, Debbie has been doing all she can to keep her daughter away from the troublemaker. But with Sarah refusing to listen to her mum, Debbie fears there’s nothing more she can do to protect her girl. However, after Charity offers to make a call to help, will the problem be solved?…

“As a teenager, I watched Hollyoaks religiously, so 16-year-old me is fangirling so much right now!” says actress Rhiannon Clements, as we chat to her for the first time since she joined the show in November to play Summer Ranger. “It’s been brilliant so far, I’m really enjoying myself. The cast, crew and fans have welcomed me with open arms, and I’m grateful to be working on the show.” Summer came to the village to visit her dad, Cormac, who was viciously attacked and put in a coma by Warren. Since then, Summer has stuck around and taken a shine to Brody – and this week, after talking to Grace, she sees an opportunity to split up Brody and Sienna for good… “Summer confides in Grace as she’s the first…

£9.99 Decathlon Rain is here for the foreseeable, so pop on these wild wellies for awesome winter dressing. £15 River Island Add a pop of colour to your look with this faux-fur pom-pom hat. £49.99 Bonprix You won’t get lost on your winter walks wearing this bold and bright coat. £40 Nike at Very Relax in style during lockdown wearing these illuminous joggers. £1.49 Shein If all-over lime is too much, add a hint of the hue with accessories. £35 Topshop at Asos Dress with a stylish spin during these winter months, with this floral-print frock.…

WEST END GIRL Sheridan Smith is to host a new one-off, celebrating the best of the West End. Musicals: The Greatest Show sees stars such as Michael Ball and Nicole Scherzinger perform songs from Chess, The Greatest Showman and more. It’s airing on BBC1 in February. DALGLIESH Channel 5 has commissioned a new detective drama based on PD James’ Adam Dalgliesh Mysteries best-selling series of novels. Bertie Carvel (Doctor Foster) has been cast in the lead role of Inspector Dalgliesh for the six-part series, which has already begun filming and will air later in the year. The drama starts in mid-70s England, and follows Dalgliesh through to the present day, as he solves some unusual murders… SATC REUNION After years of rumours, the return of Sex And The City has…

Here is your first look at the new Bailey family member set to bring chaos to the cobbles! Bosses confirmed at the start of the year that Ed’s brother, Ronnie, would upset the applecart in a big way, after he drops a huge family bombshell in the midst of Grace and Michael’s baby drama. And why is mum Aggie immediately on edge when Ronnie arrives? “In comes Ronnie with a hand grenade with the pin already out, at a time when it will do maximum damage,” teases Weatherfield head honcho Iain MacLeod. “He’s a jack-the-lad who will tip the Bailey clan’s cosy existence on its head.” Actor Vinta Morgan – who is best known for roles in television shows including Unforgotten, Ted Lasso and Grace Under Pressure – is to…

“So your serial killer ex says that your gangster babydaddy ex had him beaten up?” Try saying that five times fast. “Tim, I am not having a chair that heaven knows how many sweaty buttocks have sat on in my new house, or in my rental, for that matter.” Betty Swuttocks sounds like she might have been a Corrie character in the 60s – a friend of Ena’s. “Jean, if you meet yourself a Clooney, make sure he brings a mate. And remember, if they’re under five-foot-five, they can’t board this ride.” Since when did Big Mo get so picky? “We’re not as young as we once were, and if we keep this sexual tension up, one of us is going to have a stroke and die.” Well, there’s worse…

While Mick is in a quandary over whether to report Katy to the police, or whether to try to move on with his life, one person has no such doubts – actress Simone Lahbib, who plays the abuser… “I want it to happen!” she declares. “I really want to see Katy get her just desserts, and justice to be served. I hope it goes beyond Shirley beating her up, and that she goes to prison – but who knows!” The attack by Shirley was certainly a vicious punishment, but Simone reveals that off screen it was a more enjoyable affair. “When I read the script, I was glad to see it happening,” says the actress. “I could imagine the audience saying, ‘Yes! Go Shirley!’ with a real feeling of satisfaction…

Holby City Hospital comes under siege this week, after a crazed gunman opens fire on Darwin ward! All hell breaks loose as Jac is tasked with treating Kian’s drug-dealing pharmacist, Sarah Jane, who is transferred from prison back to Holby after she is attacked in jail. While Kian tries to keep his distance, or risk exposing his drug habit, Sarah Jane attempts to flee after a dodgy policeman named Remi pays her a visit. However, there’s no escaping the maniac cop, who later returns to the scene armed with a gun – just as Jac and her team are transferring Sarah Jane to theatre. Brave Jac questions whether Remi is carrying a real gun, only for a shot to ring out. But who is in the firing line – and…

The witness list for Colby’s trial is released this week, and the gang decides to have their final supper together before the proceedings begin… Knowing that discovering the identity of the eyewitness could be his last chance of freedom, Colby is distraught when he sees that the name has been redacted. Realising that prison is now inevitable, Colby and his friends have one last dinner as a group, and reflect on everything that they’ve been put through. It’s then that Colby finally admits to all he’s done wrong that has brought them to this terrible turning point……

FAIR CITY ● Anto encourages Sharon to go on a health kick this week, but Hayley worries that Sharon’s overdoing it – and later, Sharon has a hand tremor… Elsewhere, Darragh breaks into Orla’s home. And Doug needs Tommy’s help to decorate No 41! RIVER CITY ● Stevie reaches breaking point this week, after Amber tells him to make improvements to the Murdoch business! Meanwhile, Eve and Poppy are shaken after receiving a call from Poppy’s stalker. Plus, Levi overhears Bob and Angus gossiping… THE ARCHERS ● Elizabeth is on the warpath this week, when she discovers Shula’s recent actions – can Freddie ease relations between the sisters? Elsewhere, there’s more drama for Freddie when a visitor takes an interest in him. Finally, Pip arrives at a shocking decision! See…

JEAN’S NEW BATTLE? We were all emotional after watching EastEnders and seeing poor Jean back in hospital, convinced that her cancer had returned. And all of our readers are hoping for the best… I know it’s possible that Jean’s cancer has returned, but I really hope it doesn’t happen. However, although it’s very sad to see, Gillian Wright – who plays her – is absolutely amazing in such sad scenes. Caroline, Coventry Jean dancing at Dotty’s party was such a rare, happy moment. She really did look gorgeous – even with those over-the-top eyebrows, courtesy of Mo! Jean may have been putting her worries about finding a lump on the back burner, but it will be good when she finds the courage to have a biopsy, and hopefully all will…

After 23 years of playing Billy Mitchell, there are few EastEnders storylines that can shock actor Perry Fenwick. However, when the star learned that his character was in for a tough time – as the result of a controversial new romance between Honey and Jay – he couldn’t believe his ears. “Honestly, I was a bit like, ‘What?’” laughs Perry, as he joins Inside Soap for a catch-up. “I’ve done some things on this show in my time, but this plot was a real curveball! I thought: ‘How can Billy live in the same house as the bloke that he brought up as a son, who’s now getting together with the love of Billy’s life?’ It’s going to open up a huge can of worms!” Perry’s not kidding, as this…

WIT AND WISDOM “Life’s a battle, and I want to be Queen Boudicca” Sally “These are my favourite cushions, Dame Judi Dench has the same ones!” Sally “Oh, my God! Hey! Here! Hang on a minute!” Sal’s first line after being splashed by Kev’s van “Want some pomegranate juice? Nigella says it’s a superfood!” Sal social climbs at the dinner table “You’ll not change me,” Tim “I wouldn’t be so sure about that!” Sally THE KEY RELATIONSHIPS KEV It’s hard to imagine now, but Sal was from the wrong side of the tram tracks when Kev met her (well, his landlady Hilda Ogden certainly thought so anyway!). The pair have wed twice and have two kids together – and despite both moving on, they still seem to be in and…

1 Herbal Essences Dazzling Shine Shampoo & Conditioner Dazzle with this haircare range, scented with a refreshing lime fragrance for that extra zing. 2 Molton Brown Lime & Patchouli Fine Liquid Hand Wash Uplift your senses with this sparkling and enriching blend of lime, elemi and patchouli. 3 NEUTROGENA® Oil Balancing Facial Wash Remove dirt and oil, and obtain freshness, by using this enlivening lime and aloe vera facial cleanser. 4 L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream Protect and nourish hardworking hands with this invigorating and tangy cream, reminiscent of lime zest.…

CASUALTY Connie Beauchamp.......... Amanda Mealing Faith Cadogan...................... Kirsty Mitchell Leon Cook....................... Bobby Lockwood Charlie Fairhead.............. Derek Thompson Ethan Hardy.................... George Rainsford David Hide................................ Jason Durr Jan Jenning............................... Di Botcher Dylan Keogh........................... William Beck Fenisha Khatri........................ Olivia D’Lima Marty Kirkby................ Shaheen Jafargholi Jade Lovall.......................... Gabriella Leon Lev Malinovsky........................... Uriel Emil Rashid ‘Rash’ Masum............. Neet Mohan Jacob Masters....................... Charles Venn Robyn Miller................ Amanda Henderson CORONATION STREET Aadi Alahan...................... Zennon Ditchett Asha Alahan......................... Tanisha Gorey Dev Alahan........................ Jimmi Harkishin Aggie Bailey......................... Lorna Laidlaw Edison Bailey......... Trevor Michael Georges James Bailey..................... Nathan Graham Michael Bailey....................... Ryan Russell Adam Barlow................. Samuel Robertson Ken Barlow......................... William Roache Peter Barlow....................... Chris Gascoyne Sarah Barlow........................... Tina O’Brien Simon Barlow.............................. Alex Bain Leanne Battersby................... Jane Danson Toyah Battersby.................... Georgia Taylor Emma Brooker............... Alexandra Mardell Chesney Brown.......................... Sam Aston Carla…

EMMERDALE Moira’s rampage! BUT WHO, OR WHAT, HAS GOT THE FARMER SO WORKED UP? Moira and Mack finally put the past behind them next week, when they team up to wreak havoc on one family in the village! It’s clear the duo are a force to be reckoned with as they set out to ruin their enemies – and by the time their plan is done with, it appears they’re the ones with the upper hand. However, there’s another shock twist that leaves the siblings baying for blood, and more than one villager’s life is left in danger in the carnage that follows. But who will end up paying the price? HOME AND AWAY Colby on trial! The moment of truth arrives for Colby next week, as he stands trial…