Inside Soap UK 26 - 2017

“There’s a bonus for avid readers!” Hollyoaks will always have a special place in Inside Soap’s heart. After all, it’s a soap we witnessed being born and have known its whole life – it really does feel like our baby! So, there was no way those treasures from Chester weren’t getting an invite to the Inside Soap birthday party. And we went straight to the daddy of Hollyoaks – Nick Pickard – who introduced us to his very modern family! But there’s also a special bonus in store for people who were avid readers of Inside Soap in the 90s. Star Alex Fletcher, who those with longer memories will remember as Jacqui Dixon, takes a stroll down memory lane – or should that be memory Close?! – while we remember Scouse…

Chesney is left seriously injured this week – after he’s caught in the crossfire as a violent scene breaks out between Robert and his drug dealer ex-pal Rich. Disaster strikes when crazed Rich smashes a wine bottle and threatens Robert with it. As the villain spins around, innocent Chesney walks through the door, and is slashed with the lethal weapon… “Chesney is in the wrong place at the wrong time,” sighs Sam Aston, who plays him. “He goes to the Bistro to speak to Daniel and clear the air about Sinead – nothing confrontational, he just wants to make sure there are no hard feelings. But as he enters with all of his good intentions, he’s caught up in Robert and Rich’s fight.” HERO OF THE HOUR! Prior to these…

Rich and Robert’s devastating showdown breaks out after Rich turns up at the Bistro to blackmail Robert into laundering his dodgy money through the restaurant. Determined to make Robert pay, Rich has more than enough damning material with which to manipulate him, as he threatens to spill the beans to his partner Michelle if the Bistro boss refuses to play ball. However, the terrible incident involving Chesney prompts Robert to come clean himself. What will Michelle make of what Robert has to tell her about his past – and will their relationship survive the consequences?…

“Steven may wish that he had left things well alone…” Steven’s obsession with Lauren gets even creepier this week, when he plants a hidden camera on her! The insecure fella has already triggered an app on his girlfriend’s phone that enables him to track her every move. But when Lauren’s sister Abi inadvertently gives him the idea to take his surveillance to the next level, sinister Steven puts a chilling plan into action… “Steven already had his doubts about Lauren and their relationship – but Abi has come along and put all sorts of terrible ideas in his head,” our Square source reminds us. “Of course Steven’s behaviour is outrageous, but it’s only because he loves Lauren. He’s terrified of losing her.” However, Abi’s meddling is another matter entirely given…

LOOKS A natural beauty (and also a previous winner of Inside Soap’s Sexiest Female Award!). Any man would be lucky to have a girl as gorgeous as Lauren. 5/5 We’ve watched sweet Abi grow into a beautiful though not-so-innocent young woman – but perhaps her more mature sister has the edge in style and poise. 4/5 PERSONALITY She’s kind and passionate about everything she does – but sometimes she doesn’t think of those around her, which can leave them out in the cold. 4/5 She’s fun, quirky and has an amusing dry sense of humour. But when Abi’s pushed, she has a definite dark side that can be deadly… 3/5 RELATIONSHIPS Lauren has possibly the worst track record with men, ever! From kissing her cousin Joey to a disastrous fling with married…

Lawrence uses a sledgehammer to crack a nut!” Lawrence tries to destroy Chrissie’s attempts to connect with her biological dad this week – by threatening her uncle, Tim. But he soon finds himself staring down the barrel of a shotgun! As Chrissie closes in on the truth about her parentage, Lawrence is on a mission to stop her, convinced that he is the only one she needs. He’s terrified that if Chrissie meets her father, he’ll lose her – but Lawrence’s twisted actions can only lead to trouble… “The problem with Lawrence is that he’s always doing the wrong thing for the right reasons,” insists John Bowe, who plays the determined patriarch. “He’s trying to protect his family and his relationship with Chrissie. He managed to intercept a letter from…