Inside Soap UK 43 - 2018

Hello, I’m Vicky, the first editor of Inside Soap back in 1992 – and I’m delighted to be asked back to say a few words for this 1000th issue! “No one was sure the idea would work!” Amazing as it may seem, when the idea of a magazine devoted purely to soap was first mooted, I wasn’t too sure it would work. And when I started putting that first issue together, I discovered the soaps weren’t sure either! But we all agreed to give it a go – and thank heavens we did! One thing I was sure of, though, was our first cover stars. When I revealed to the bosses Grant and Sharon staring out of issue one, they were insistent we didn’t use them – they’d imagined some…

Daniel’s world falls apart around him this week, when he finds out that his new bride Sinead has cervical cancer. And the devastated fella has to face the prospect of not only losing her, but also their unborn child. The bombshell drops after Sinead passes out at the factory, and on seeing the commotion, Ken – the only other person to know about Sinead’s true condition – insists on accompanying her in the ambulance. “Daniel is shocked at first – it’s like a cold bath!” “Daniel is in his own little bubble, and completely unaware of what’s been happening,” sighs actor Rob Mallard, who plays Sinead’s doting husband. “Although Sinead has been doing everything she can to make sure he doesn’t find out, he’s making it very easy for her.…

Hi, Rob! This week sees a whole episode of Corrie devoted to Daniel finding out about Sinead’s cancer. How did you feel when you heard that? I was just delighted! It was a real vote of confidence – not only in us, but in the characters – that the bosses thought it could support a whole half-hour episode. Also, I love working with Chris [Gascoyne, who plays Peter], Bill [Roache, aka Ken] and Katie [McGlynn, who plays Sinead]. It was like doing a play! We had a read-through and rehearsals. The pressure was on, because in a normal episode they cut away to another storyline, but this one is all on us. We had a great time filming it. The scene between Peter and Daniel sees…

All hell breaks loose this week, as Charity and Robert discover that Ross and Rebecca plan to leave Emmerdale village with their children in tow. They go nuclear when they discover that the traumatised couple expect to take their sons Moses and Seb away, and a fight ensues. But while Ross is determined to go no matter what, Rebecca is torn. That leads to some tough decisions for them both. “It gets very complicated,” reveals Michael Parr, who plays the Barton brother. “Ross wants to have a fresh start with Rebecca, and he wants them to play happy families. It’s a massive opportunity for him to turn away from all this bad boy stuff and go straight from now on. He’d like to do that with the woman he loves.”…

For five years, Ross Barton has been one of the show’s best bad boys and a genuinely compelling anti-hero. But for actor Michael Parr, the time is right to try something new. How’s he feeling about saying goodbye to the show? “It’s a mixed bag of anxiety and happiness,” he tells us. “There are other avenues I want to explore, but I’m very sad. I feel like I’m breaking up with Emmerdale, yet it’s the right decision for me at this time in my life.” Michael’s immediate plan involves jetting Stateside and trying his luck in Hollywood. “I’m in LA with my friend Adam Fielding [aka Kirin Kotecha] – we’re going to try to live the American dream until the money runs out,” he laughs. “I’ve had the best five…

This is the moment when pregnant Hayley’s waters break – and it dawns on her that she’s about to have Alfie Moon’s baby! However, disaster strikes after the determined Slater woman makes the reckless decision to drive herself to the hospital alone – worried that cousin Kat will finally learn the truth about the father’s identity… “Let’s just say that no birthing plan in the world could have prepared Hayley for her nightmare journey to Walford General,” grimaces our Square insider. “Everything that can go wrong does. And as for that blimmin’ taxi she’s been so desperate to drive, well – she’ll never want to lay eyes on it again after this!” At the start of the week, Hayley’s fears mount as her due date looms closer, and she panics…