Table of contents for 2015-09 in Inside Soap UK

Every year the soaps’ big bosses – the producers – take the time to chat with Inside Soap. It’s always fascinating to learn how our favourite plots were developed – as well as hearing sneaky hints about what’s coming up, of course! This week, we kick off our annual set of interviews with Corrie’s Stuart Blackburn, who reveals all about their impending live episode. Look out for more soap bosses in the coming weeks – and do send us any questions you have for them via email, or leave them on our Facebook page. Elsewhere this week, we welcome Lauren back to EastEnders, together with a new baby Branning-Beale to boot (see p12). Over in Emmerdale, bad boy Ross takes a terrible revenge on his brother Pete (p8), while Hollyoaks…

Playing Lauren’s labour scenes wouldn’t have been tricky for actress Jacqueline Jossa, as she gave birth to her baby daughter Ella earlier this year. And she’s already planning a sibling for the adorable youngster! Ella is Jacqueline’s first child, and the second for her fiancé Dan Osborne. The duo have been on a high since welcoming their little girl into the world, posting pictures of their family on social media – and Dan then popped the question while they were on holiday. Now, as they excitedly plan their big day, Jacqueline has lifted the lid on plans for expanding their brood… “I’d like to have a boy,” she said. “So if we have another girl, I’d be up for one more baby after that. I have a feeling that I…

HELLO, MUM! Ian will be haunted by his mother’s ghost this Halloween, when he’s finally reunited with ‘dead’ Kathy. “Ian is surprised, dazed, emotional, angry, upset and tearful!” reveals actor Adam Woodyatt, who plays him. “We’ve literally just filmed their first meeting in the last two weeks.” KATHY VS JANE! The battle lines will be drawn between the two women in Ian’s life as Jane and Kathy immediately take against one another! “Ian has married a woman just like his mum, and they’re not going to get on,” says EastEnders’ executive producer, Dominic Treadwell-Collins. BREAKING BAD! However, Jane will be the least of Kathy’s worries as her wicked husband, Gavin, scares the Square. “Paul Nicholas [who plays him] has created the most manipulative and dangerous villain we’ve ever had,” teases…

Kat’s heroic attempts to help troubled Billie end in horror this week – as the cop winds up dangling perilously over the side of a cliff! The drama kicks off after burns victim Billie does a runner from hospital, leaving her loved ones concerned for her well-being. The locals head up a search party – and when Kat finds Billie teetering on the brink of the headland, she fears what she’ll do next… “Billie feels that she’s lost her brother Ash, so there’s no reason for her to stick around,” explains Tessa De Josselin, who plays her. “Plus, the whole town is against her, so it’s easier for her to just run away.” Given Billie’s recent unstable behaviour, it’s no wonder Kat’s worried she could jump. So, approaching her carefully,…

FAIR CITY Rachel uncovers Paul’s lies this week, and tells him that she’s leaving Carrigstown with Pierce. Paul tries to make amends, but the stress triggers a heart attack! Elsewhere, the Carrigstown Condors gear up for their first match, but Shane is nowhere to be seen. It’s up to Robbie to step in – but will he deliver the points? Also, Hughie is disappointed that McCoy’s is no longer up for sale. RIVER CITY Stevie considers buying the Tall Ship this week, and asks Eileen to lend him money. Later, some news from Stella makes Stevie even more determined to secure a better future for them… Meanwhile, Liz falls out with Eileen over the cost of Malcolm’s care, and drowns her sorrows with Molly! Also, Ellie puts her relationship with…

Good guy Jason has been to hell and back lately, but finally some good news is heading his way – in the form of ex-love Eva, who returns to the Street from France this week. And just as Eva is happy to be back on the cobbles, Catherine Tyldesley – who plays her – felt the same when she returned from maternity leave to film Eva’s homecoming… “Corrie is my second home, so it’s been really nice to see everybody and to get stuck back in,” grins the actress, who welcomed her son Alfie – her first child with fiancé Tom Pitfield – in March. “The fact there has been a Corrie baby boom is great, and very reassuring. Alfie has met up with Paula Lane’s [Kylie] boy Arthur and…

“MY FAVOURITE SCENE so far was when Ross and Aaron broke into Home Farm. Getting manhandled by Danny Miller [Aaron] and Michael Parr [Ross] was a lot of fun, as you can imagine!” “I LOVE WORKING WITH JOHN BOWE [Lawrence], Thomas Atkinson [Lachlan] and Ryan Hawley [Robert], and being a part of the White family. We all started at the same time, so we have a real bond.” “FILMING ON THE WOOLPACK SET is so much fun, especially if Adam Thomas [Adam] is in the scene. I love spending time on the Home Farm set, too – it’s fabulous there because of all the space.” “I RECENTLY GOT UPSET rewatching the storyline where the baby Laurel and Ashley thought was their son Daniel suffered a cot death. Charlotte Bellamy and…

Why did you join the Dream Bingo site? I joined because of the variety of games on offer and the general look of the site. What do you like about it? There’s always something going on or new games to try, and you get lots of updates on what’s happening. How would you describe Dream Bingo? Fun, lively, full of friendly people and lots of opportunities to win. What is your favourite slot on the site? I like best the one with 243 ways to win, so something like ‘Cool Wolf’ or ‘Mystic Dreams’. How did you find out you’d won your luxury family vacation, and how did it feel? I had two missed calls and a text message on my phone from [Dream Bingo team member] Claire asking me…

How do you feel about your mum [Carla Bonner, who plays Steph Scully] returning to Neighbours ? …asks Maria from Thetford I’m fine about it! It’s a funny one, because when I started on Neighbours it felt like Mum’s workplace. Now it feels like my workplace, but she’s back – so it’s a weird dynamic. It’s fun and a bit bizarre. Do I feel like I have to be on my best behaviour? No, I think she feels that she has to be on her best behaviour in front of me! What was your audition for Neighbours like? …asks James, via email It was a scene with Amber – I didn’t actually do it with Jenna Rosenow, who plays her, I did it…

I’m a big BBC4 fan – that’s always the first channel I check on the iPlayer! I love a documentary, and I like it when they have quite arty things on there. I absolutely adored All Aboard! The Canal Trip, that two-hour documentary with the narrowboat – it was mesmerising! I’ve finally sorted myself out with Netflix – it took me ages to do that, I don’t know why! So I’ve just finished Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, which I enjoyed, and now I’ve started on Wet Hot American Summer. It’s great for stand-up as well – I was catching up on Louis CK the other night. I love Child Genius – I watched the whole series when I had a day off! It’s all about the dynamics within…

[ SHATTERED] SHABNAM Has there ever been an episode of a soap more powerful and poignant than last week’s instalment of EastEnders , which saw Shabnam and Kush say goodbye to their child? Letters of praise flooded in to Inside Soap … ‘Miscarriage’ is such a deceptive word – it makes it sound like a simple mistake, or an easy slip. Of course, that couldn’t be further from the truth, and EastEnders showed how it’s a tragedy that can rip whole families apart. Shabnam’s loss was heartbreaking, but it was important to see how that also affected the baby’s father and the grandparents. Margery, Leith Rakhee Thakrar deserves to win every award going for her performance as Shabnam recently. I cried my heart out…

ARIES 21 MARCH - 20 APRIL  The new season almost here, and your thoughts will be turning to what you’ve achieved so far this year. If there are plans that you still wish to move forward with, now is the right time to pursue them. TAURUS 21 APRIL - 21 MAY  While we’re all hoping for an Indian summer, your mind will be on romance! Whether you are looking for a new flame or want to rekindle the spark that’s been lost in a relationship, it’s going to get hot… GEMINI 22 MAY - 21 JUNE  Projects that you’re passionate about will take priority this week. Throw yourself into your personal pursuits, but don’t neglect work. Take each day as it comes - it will soon be the end of…

BULLSEYE! There are few characters who can confess to selling newborn babies… and still be welcomed back into the bosom of their family within the same episode! But Annette Badland is so fantastic as Aunt Babe, we’ll forgive the conniving old bat almost anything. It’s great to have her back! Now the ‘Fake Gavin’ story is over, poor Andy hangs around like a glorified extra. Please, Corrie bosses, give him a plot. He’s so very handsome! It’s a big ask to expect a four-year-old to act out a cancer story, but the twins who play little Hope are both doing an amazing job. Dear EastEnders. Will you please remove the picture from the wall of the café? It’s very distracting. The doubleentendre of the week came from the always reliable…

IT’S ALL FUN AND GAMES UNTIL SOMEONE IS BURIED ALIVE… Anyone would be absolutely terrified of being put in a grave – even if they were as tough as Sienna! So it comes as no surprise that poor Anna was unnerved when it came to filming the scenes… “I was in somebody’s actual grave – they were going in later that weekend!” cries the actress. “It was a long way down and properly scary to film. When it came to it, it really gave me the willies because there were definitely people buried either side of me! Luckily, the lovely cameraman got into the grave with me, so I wasn’t on my own thinking about zombies!”…

Freddie finds himself in the doghouse with Lindsey this week – so the drunk and miserable fella tries to snog Mercedes! After a huge row with his wife, angry Freddie runs into Mercedes, who is bemoaning the fact that she’s single and pregnant. Feeling down in the dumps, the pair seek sweet solace in each other’s company – and after a few too many drinks, Freddie makes a move on the mother of his brother’s child… The situation with Lindsey kicks off when her husband fails to post her application for a new position based in Manchester – and she’s furious when she finds out that Freddie has blown her chances. However, that’s just the first of his epic fails! Doting mum Lindsey has to get to work, so she…

There’s relief all round for the Rebecchi clan this week, when Toadie is released from hospital – but joy turns to horror when he puts his young daughter Nell in serious danger! While Sonya is delighted to have her hubby back by her side, the strain of having to look after someone who is wheelchair bound soon takes its toll. She’s reluctant to leave Toadie to look after Nell while she pops to the bakery, but he eventually persuades her to go. However, while she’s out, Toadie fails to notice Nell slip out the front door! When Toadie does eventually realise that she’s gone, his rescue effort is hindered by his wheelchair. Meanwhile, Sonya returns home in her car, and doesn’t see Nell playing in the driveway! Will she spot…

As the dust settles in the wake of arrests made as part of the Treehouse investigation this week, police officer Rob is concerned for his job. Believing that his boss Noakes has already blown the whistle on the fact that he and wife Karen harboured paedophile Andy in a bid to lure other members of the ring lout into the open, Rob reckons his career is on the line. So when Noakes turns up at the house to speak to him, fuming Rob slams the door in his face, assuming the worst! But what does Noakes have to tell him? Also this week… Zara decides that she wants to be a stay-at-home mum, and Mrs Tembe gets caught up in a ruckus at the local Women’s Institute.…

From the moment the Willis and Turner families moved into Ramsay Street, it’s been clear that there’s still a spark of attraction between former flames Brad and Lauren. And after it transpired that they’d had a secret child, and their long-lost daughter Paige rocked up in Erinsborough, we knew it would only be a matter of time before the exes fell back into each other’s arms! The moment we’ve all been waiting for arrives this week, as Brad turns to Lauren after a huge argument with Terese – and the pair are soon snogging like teenagers! As we sit down for a chat with actor Kip Gamblin about Brad’s dramatic love triangle, he tells us that he’s been anticipating this development for quite some time… “The very first scene I…

FORGET ABOUT MEDDLING Todd. There’s someone in Weatherfield who Eva is going to have a far bigger problem with – Jason’s ex-wife, Sarah. While Eva’s been away, Sarah has returned, taken the barmaid’s job at the Rovers, and has Jason acting as her knight in shining armour. None of that is going to go down well with jealous Eva. “I don’t think they’ll get on well at all!” chuckles Catherine. “I think Eva will see Sarah as competition. There could be some really fiery scenes between them.” We can’t wait – but it would be even more fun if Eva is behind the bar, too… “I adore working in the Rovers, and I think it’s the right place for Eva,” insists Catherine. “She’s ideal barmaid fodder with her feistiness, and…

It’s been a huge year on the cobbles, with Tracy’s killer arson antics, Carla’s breakdown, Steve’s depression, and the death of the legendary Deirdre. Now, as the Corrie team prepare to go live with a plot that will change the Platt family forever, head honcho Stuart Blackburn tells us why he’s determined to make this an episode viewers will never forget… How far in advance do you plan your stories? I’m now reading first draft storylines for February, so Christmas is long gone for us behind the scenes at Corrie! We tend to plan our stories about six months in advance, so I know where all the chess pieces are going to be early next year. In some cases, I know where they’ll be next May!…

Shayne Ward, aka the cobbles’ Aidan, wowed the crowds at Manchester’s recent Pride weekend in his sexy maritime gear! He warmed up with co-stars Daniel Brocklebank (Billy), Hayley Tamaddon (Andrea) and Kym Marsh (Michelle) before hopping on a Street-themed float to be part of the popular parade. Turn over to find out who else joined the party of the year… Also starring...…

EMMERDALE’SALICIA This week’s style page is an ode to the fantastic Natalie! We’ll miss your gorgeous, flawless style, girl! Who knew denim could look so chic? This camel coat has got our Christmas list twitching – the fabric of a trench, but the relaxed fit of a duster! We love the stark contrast of a black shoe against a coloured ensemble – and these gorgeous caged heels make the perfect statement. Now this is a humdinger of a watch! When it comes to wristwear, we say the more sparkle, the better. The blue shirt is no longer just something to cart your kids off to school in! As Natalie proves, they can look lovely on grown ups. Nat’s denim pencil skirt is a corker, but the A-line shape of this…

GHOST OF A CHANCE Rafe Spall has landed the lead in new one-off ITV drama Harry Price: Ghost Hunter. Set in 1920s London, the film follows one of the most famous paranormal investigators in British history. ARMY DAYS BBC2 has commissioned a single drama about the making of Dad’s Army. Paul Ritter and Richard Dormer will play creators Jimmy Perry and David Croft, with Shane Richie as actor Bill Pertwee. CASH STRAPPED? A new prime-time BBC1 series about financial management is looking for people to take part. If you and your family want help with savvy spending, call 0117 970 7656 or email shopwell@rdftelevision.com…

SHE’S GOT A PLAN WITH MARCUS TO SAVE MAX… Whatever happens in court as a result of Abi’s testimony, it appears that Max’s crooked barrister Marcus Christie has one more ace up his sleeve. With Jane feeling incredibly guilty over the fact that it was actually her son Bobby who killed Lucy, the desperate woman seeks out Marcus and offers to help out in any way she can with Max’s case. Jane obviously doesn’t go as far as telling Marcus the whole truth, but the pair do come up with a scheme to ensure that his client doesn’t go down for Lucy’s murder. Just what exactly are Jane and Marcus planning – and will they manage to pull it off?…

SNEAK PREVIEW! There’s a new top dog on his way to Walford – but the likes of Phil and Vincent needn’t be worried! EastEnders bosses have released this unbelievably cute picture of soon-to-return Robbie Jackson and his new pet pooch – who is the spitting image of the fella’s dearly departed pal… “Robbie and Wellard were inseparable, so it’s only right that there is a Wellard 2,” grins actor Dean Gaffney, who is already back filming at the EastEnders set in Borehamwood. “I think the viewers are going to love him!” The Butcher family were devastated in 2008 when the original Wellard went to the great kennel in the sky. And poor Robbie – who left his cuddly canine companion in the care of his relatives before moving to India…

The moment when Kathy Sullivan emerged from that black cab during EastEnders’ 30th anniversary celebrations was one of the most exciting twists in soap history. The decision to kill her off-screen back in 2006 had always felt wrong – this was a lady with so many connections to Walford, and who was such an integral part of the show’s early magic, that it was really sad to think she was gone for good. Meanwhile, actress Gillian Taylforth thought the EastEnders door was closed forever. So imagine her surprise when executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins flung it wide open again… “When they said I was dead all those years ago, I believed them!” laughs the actress, who found some time in her hectic filming schedule to chat with Inside Soap. “They’d done…

1 “I’ve learned a lot from working with Ryan Moloney [Toadie]. We film six episodes a week at Neighbours [to get ahead for the Christmas break], and the way Ryan manages his time and deals with people is admirable. He knows how to make it all work.” 2 “Meyne Wyatt, who plays Nate, is a very funny guy. He’s actually a great impersonator, so he does really good impressions of people between takes. That often keeps me entertained while I’m on set.” 3 “I spend a lot of time flying back to Sydney to see my wife and kids, but if I’m going to socialise with anyone outside of work, it will be Tim Phillipps [Daniel]. He’s generally a very witty guy, and we get along well.” 4 “I loved…

Is Mary going to finally find true love? …asks Jane from Norwich She will invest a lot of love and pent-up passion in a new character called Brendan. But there is a big question over his suitability. A lot of people around her doubt him – but she says they can bog off, she is finally happy! However, the possibility of heartbreak is very real. I know Carla is leaving – will she get a happy ending after all she’s been through? …asks Yvonne, via email We haven’t nailed her exit yet – it’s not until well into next year – but the pieces are in place. There is masses more story to come for Carla, and the door will be left open for actress Alison King. She has said…

“I RIPPED SOMEONE’S DRESS THAT THEY WORE TO THE NTAS, BUT CELEBRITIES ONLY WEAR THINGS ONCE.” Keith Lemon on why the odd wardrobe malfunction doesn’t matter on his show Through The Keyhole “THE JUDGES ENDED UP IN A FIGHT - NOT FISTICUFFS A FIGHT WITH ICE CREAM. SIMON STARTED IT.” A tasty bit of exclusive backstage gossip from The Xtra Factor, courtesy of Rochelle Humes “PHIL TOOK ME OUT OVER THE SUMMER AND WE HAD MARGARITAS. I’VE NEVER FELT SO ILL IN MY LIFE.” This Morning host Holly Willoughby can’t quite keep up with Phillip Schofield… “INSTEAD OF ‘HARD MAN ACTOR’, I’D LIKE ‘HANDSOME ACTOR’. ‘ADONIS WINSTONE ACTOR, RAY ’!” The Trials Of Jimmy Rose star Ray Winstone experiments with some potential new labels.…

1 SATURDAY DVD THE TRIALS OF JIMMY ROSE Armed robber Jimmy (Ray Winstone) is keen to bond with his family after 12 years in prison – only to discover that his wife (Amanda Redman) and children have moved on with their lives. The temptations of crime are hard to resist, but can he leave his past behind and win back his family? WIN! For the chance to win a copy, tell us who Ray Meagher plays in Home and Away: A) Kyle, B) Alf, or C) John. Text ISPRIZE1, a space, then A, B, or C and your name & address to 87080 (50p). Or see below for postal entries. 2 SUNDAYDVD EMPIRE - THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON Academy Award nominees Terrence Howard and Taraji P Henson star in…

BERNED BY LOVE? In a recent Emmerdale episode, Bernice said that her first husband was gay. I don’t remember this at all! Scott, Dartford Bernice’s first marriage had actually ended before she came to the village. She was left heartbroken after she found her hubby, Tony Binns, in bed with another man, and moved to Emmerdale to start a new life. But we never saw Tony on screen. BY THE SEASIDE EastEnders claimed to be set in Ramsgate this week, but I definitely recognised Morelli’s ice cream parlour in Broadstairs from childhood holidays. What’s going on? Sylvia, Ashford The Carters went to see Aunt Babe in Ramsgate, but were then vague about where they went to next. They certainly stopped for coffee at the famous Morelli’s in Broadstairs, and then…