Inside Soap UK 20 - 2019

“Our big Summer Preview is hot stuff!” We’ve been working hard for you this week, using all of our powers to bring you as many secrets of the summer season as we can uncover. Our six-page Summer Preview on Corrie, Emmerdale and EastEnders is certainly hot stuff, but if you love the Aussie soaps, Hollyoaks and the medical dramas, don’t worry – we’ll have a sizzling platter of gossip from them next week! As for this week, well, it’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for in Emmerdale, as Maya finally feels the long arm of the law – but we have a strange sense that it’s not the end of this story. In Walford, Kat might regret her fun with Kush when matters turn to her family – what…

David puts a dramatic end to Maya’s grooming of teenage Jacob this week, as he ensures she’s hauled away from the village, and into police custody at last. While Jacob and Maya are preparing for another clandestine meeting, they’re oblivious that David is monitoring their every move, via secret spyware installed on Jacob’s laptop. So when Maya arrives at the cricket pavilion to meet with Jacob, it’s furious and determined David she comes face to face with instead… “David despises everything about Maya – and the police can throw away the key for all he cares,” reveals Matthew Wolfenden, who plays David. “What he’s done with Jacob’s computer is a bit naughty – he dupes tech geek Ryan into helping him – but he has absolutely done the right thing.…

You must be very proud of this storyline? Yeah, really proud. There’s been a love-hate relationship from the viewers, and there was always going to be, we knew that from the start. The storyline was never meant to be anything other than horrible, because how could it be anything else? Are you relieved that David has finally discovered what’s been going on? Very! For a year David’s been blind to it all, and there have been so many people on social media saying they can’t believe he hasn’t noticed. But this is the whole point of the storyline – that boys and girls are being groomed and abused, and parents and teachers don’t notice. It happens. It’s not been a comfortable watch, but this is what goes on. Has it…

There’s a battle on for David Platt this week – as cobbles newcomer Natalie tries to steal Shona’s man! It all kicks off when smitten Natalie attempts to get closer to her new boss, with David revelling in the attention he’s getting from the new stylist-in-training. So with David caught between two feisty women, it looks as though someone’s going to get hurt… “This isn’t an everyday occurrence for David, and he doesn’t dislike being seen as a sex symbol,” chuckles our Corrie insider. “Of course, his heart belongs to Shona, and she has nothing to fear, but that doesn’t stop her being jealous. The problem is that David can’t be rude to Natalie because, of course, he and Nick need to keep her sweet.” “David can’t be rude to…

Nick’s rattled this week, as the police continue to dig into his dealings. Having been forced to employ Natalie to buy her silence, he’s left reeling when the troublemaker admits she’s going on a date with a man – who just so happens to be a policeman! Scheming Natalie ensures that Nick is suitably uncomfortable as she enjoys some drinks with her new pal Andrew – while David is so spooked by her behaviour that he attempts to eavesdrop on the conversation between Natalie and her date at the Bistro. But when Andrew notices his interest, the situation becomes awkward… Given that she could easily bring down Nick, Natalie’s in a real position of power – and she intends to use it!…

Billy puts himself in the firing line this week, when he learns that Ben is plotting against Phil. But by telling Phil what he knows, Billy becomes Ben’s next target! Billy makes his discovery after an unexpected visit from his granddaughter Lola’s ex-fiancé, Ewan. Although Ben threatened to kill him should he ever try to contact Lola again, Ewan risks his neck by trying to persuade Lola and Lexi to come back to Newcastle with him. Sadly for him, neither Lola nor Billy are inclined to believe his story about Ben’s darker side… “They soon send Ewan packing with a flea in his ear,” reveals our Walford insider. “But when Lola tells Ben about the accusation, Ben’s violent reaction leaves her with no doubts that Ewan was telling the truth…