Inside Soap UK 4 - 2016

We can spend hours at Inside Soap deciding what to put on the cover, debating which story or characters we care about more than others, and if one shock news story is hotter than the next. But this week, the debate lasted all of, oh, two seconds – because, ladies and gentlemen, the Mitchells are back in EastEnders, and it’s going to be amazing, dramatic and totally heartbreaking! There’s almost too much – we could probably have got four covers out of this! Walford legend Peggy is going to breathe her last. Grant is returning for a tragic goodbye. And there are even whispers that errant daughter Sam will be coming home – well, there are two of her, so they’ve got double the chance, I suppose! Check out pp12-14…

“SHABNAMHAS BEEN PUSHED RIGHT TO THE EDGE - SHE JUST WANTS TO RUN AWAY” Devastated Shabnam makes a heartbreaking decision this week, as she informs her husband Kush that their marriage is over. But it isn’t just her fella that Shabs vows to turn her back on, as the crushed woman opts to swap Walford for Pakistan… “This is a classic Shabnam reflex,” reckons actress Rakhee Thakrar, who plays her. “She’s been pushed right to the edge, and wants to run away from the sorry mess as fast as possible.” At the start of the week, Shabnam’s emotions are all over the place as she struggles to cope following recent events. Stunned by the knowledge that Kush is the father of her best friend Stacey’s son, Arthur, poor Shabs has…

Sparks continue to fly between smitten couple Masood and Carmel this week, as the pair agree that they are more than just friends with benefits! However, their romance quickly runs into trouble when Masood learns the truth behind Shabnam’s planned departure… After Masood finds out that Shabnam intends on fleeing Walford for a new life in Pakistan, guilt-ridden Carmel is forced to reveal the reason why – and tells her lover that Kush is Arthur’s biological dad. To say the news doesn’t go down well is an understatement, as betrayed Masood blasts Carmel for lying to him. And when Kush appears on the scene, raging Mas lets rip and thumps his son-in-law! As furious Masood reels from the news, is it the end for his love affair with Carmel?…

This is the heartwarming moment Stacey is finally able to hold her baby son, Arthur, again. The devastated mum was separated from her little boy after doctors deemed that she was mentally unstable, and took the decision to section her. But could it be that Stacey is beginning to show signs of improvement? “There’s still a long way to go before she’s back on an even keel,” warns our EastEnders insider. “Stacey had completely lost her grip on reality when the hospital’s psychiatrists admitted her.” It was through her partner Martin’s perseverance that Stacey was able to eventually receive professional help. After convincing her that the hospital was the safest place for her and little Arthur to be, concerned Martin had no choice but to stand back and watch the…

“IF JENNYHAD ONLY OPENED UP TO KEVIN, THINGS COULD’VE BEENDIFFERENT” History repeats itself for Kevin this week, when his young son Jack disappears – and Kev finds him in the arms of hysterical Jenny Bradley! Kevin’s distraught when Jack wanders off from the garage, and after he, Sophie and Tyrone desperately search for the little lad, they are stunned at the situation they find him in… “Kevin did not want Jenny back in town after everything that happened,” says Michael Le Vell, who plays him. “It was a shock for him to see her again, and he’s not happy with Rita for letting her stay. So when Jack goes missing, Kevin’s first thought is that this is the reason Jenny has returned – his first instinct is to blame her.”…

While Kevin is distracted by the Jenny drama this week, he fails to see the real drama that is unfolding elsewhere on the cobbles – Anna’s terrible history with wicked Phelan. “I want Anna and Kevin’s relationship to work out, so I’m really hoping she’ll tell Kev the truth about Phelan, and that Phelan will move on to someone else,” shares Michael. “Anna should have told Kevin everything ages ago – he’d have dealt with it and been supportive. He wouldn’t have blamed Anna at all! They have a lot of hurdles to get over, but hopefully they can get there…”…