Inside Soap UK 19 - 2022

“The soaps are being true to themselves” “This above all: to thine own self be true,” is some of Shakespeare’s better advice – and it’s good counsel followed by two soaps this issue. EastEnders is doubling-down on its essential EastEnderiness with the promise of some big ‘issue’ storylines. It’s heavy stuff – but has any soap done more to influence the national conversation on difficult subjects than EastEnders? It’s been a key part of the show’s DNA from the beginning, and it rarely misses the mark. Meanwhile, Emmerdale is rolling out one of its trademark tricksy weeks: a ‘flash-forward’ no less, which is a fancy way of teasing us with some clips from Friday on Monday, shot through a moody filter and set to sinister music. It’s all good fun,…

Brace yourselves for an explosive week in the Dales, as viewers are treated to a series of special flash-forward episodes – where some of the soap’s biggest storylines reach a thrilling climax! We’ll see a misty graveyard with an open grave; the slamming of an iron police-cell door; a gunshot ringing out in the woods, and the wreck of a car following a terrible accident. However, what does it all mean, and whose lives are on the line? Emmerdale’s series producer Laura Shaw tells us more… “You’ll feel as though you’re right in the middle of the action” “I think it’s always exciting when we do these weeks,” she grins. “We know that the audience loves it when we step out of our normal storytelling style. We’ll be beginning the…

Home Farm reverberates from the sound of a shotgun this week, after scared Gabby heads out into the woods to confront a mystery intruder – who she’s convinced is Jamie Tate! But which of them will end up taking a bullet? The teen mum has been living in fear ever since she discovered that her ‘dead’ babydaddy Jamie is actually still alive. She’s petrified that her ex is lurking near the village, intent on snatching their baby son, Thomas, away from her – so when Gabby spots a hooded figure on Home Farm’s CCTV, she’s scared for her life… “Gabby thinks that it has to be Jamie, because who else would be lurking around Home Farm and not showing their face?” reveals Rosie Bentham, who plays her. “She’s really panicking,…

The dark obsession consuming Noah Dingle turns extremlely dangerous this week, when Chloe finally realises that he’s been stalking her. She’s turned to Noah for support, believing that Jacob stole her keys and journal, and he’s delighted to play the hero. Chloe heads over to Noah’s place to hang out after reeling over Jacob’s ‘betrayal’ and more rejection from Nate. But when Chloe finds her lost keys down the back of the sofa, she’s chilled and sends Noah out to buy snacks so she can dig deeper. His laptop confirms he’s the creep behind the theft – and much, much more… “Once Noah gets back with the snacks, he’s oblivious at first, but things very quickly go downhill!” admits Jack Downham, who plays the troubled lad. “He doesn’t instantly assume…

Noah Dingle has officially turned villain this year, and Jack says it’s no surprise. He believes the Tate gene, inherited from his twisted dad Chris, is partly to blame… “I’ve enjoyed playing a different side to Noah – maybe more of the Tate side,” Jack tells us. “His dad has never really come through before, but Noah has the background for this, the motives for it – and we can see why these things have happened to him.” The big question is one of redemption. Is there a way back for Noah, or has he gone to the dark side for good? “I don’t think there’s any way back unless he receives some serious help and has serious conversations regarding his mindset about women,” muses Jack. “Noah hasn’t acted the…

Sworn enemies Cain and Al face off in their most dangerous altercation yet this week, leaving lives on the line. The bad blood between the two men has been ramped up by Cain’s meddling in Al’s romance with Kerry, and Belle’s new business venture with the slippery villager. Cain is furious that his attempts to rid the village of toxic Al have failed, while Al is raging that Cain has tampered with his car. So, as the two men square up against each other once again, Al throws Cain a dangerous challenge. “This is serious – their lives are in peril!” warns our Dales insider. “Al is totally convinced that Cain has messed with his car and made it dangerous to drive. Although Cain denies it, Al says there’s a…