Inside Soap UK 1 - 2020

“It looks as if 2020 will be a classic!” How was your soap Christmas? Full of good cheer, I trust, but I hope you had time to indulge in some of the great soapie drama between revelries. And with the Christmas plots now unwrapped, 2019 draws to an end, so this issue sees us take a look back at the 12 months just passed. You tell us what you loved (or loathed!) in our Soapbox column over on p40, while we rake over the Hits and Misses of 2019 in our own inimitable style on p98. And with that, I declare the old year over, and we can let the new year begin! We bring you our huge preview of the big plots of 2020 over the page, including some…

The shock events of Christmas are still being felt on the Street as the new year dawns, with many residents blaming Gary for the shooting that took place on the cobbles! So what does this mean for his relationship with Maria as 2020 gets under way? Now she has a baby to think about, the hairdresser won’t want to face life as a single mum again – and Samia Longchambon, who plays her, says Maria is desperate to see the best in Gary… “She thinks Gary’s a hero,” confirms the star. “She reckons that everyone should be bowing down to him as he’s the reason they’re all still alive. Maria doesn’t realise he’s caused it…” And with Gary now public enemy number one in Weatherfield, the locals’ hatred of him…

Martin’s troubles will shift up a gear in 2020, as his actions over the festive period return to haunt him and Sonia. The pair fell into bed together on Boxing Day, and the old spark was reignited. But when the consequences of Martin’s hit-and-run drama come back to bite him, will Sonia regret hooking up with her spiralling ex-husband? Meanwhile, there is still the huge matter of Martin having slept with his estranged wife Stacey’s best mate, Ruby… “When Lacey Turner [who plays Stacey] comes back from maternity leave, things will get very juicy,” teases actress Louisa Lytton, aka Ruby. “There is a big storyline coming up in 2020.”…

New mum Victoria should be on cloud nine as she brings her baby son home from hospital. However, with Lee’s mum Wendy still hanging around the village, wanting to be part of her grandson’s life, will Vic ever get any peace? And how will these two navigate their tense relationship? “You never know – having a baby might make Victoria soften,” ponders Isabel Hodgins, who plays her. “Or she might end up going the other way by becoming ridiculously protective. “Something has to change, but how do you even begin to even fix this?” adds the actress. “It will be exciting to see…”…

Graham’s plan to leave the drama of Emmerdale behind and start a new life with Rhona comes to a grisly end in the new year – as he’s brutally slain by another villager! But who is the Dales local driven to do him in? The coming weeks will see Graham racking up a long list of enemies, and we’ll witness Graham’s final day from the perspective of several of them over an action-packed week. Each has a motive to kill – but who will do the deed? “Graham’s murder will form part of an unmissable week of drama, packed full of exciting twists and turns,” shares the show’s executive producer, Laura Shaw. “It’s always exciting to step outside of our usual storytelling style, and viewers will be on the edge…

CHARITY Graham’s bond with her son Noah has Charity raging. With her elder son Ryan also set to be lured into the man’s web, Charity might well see red… MARLON Having denied Rhona permission to take Leo away with her and Graham, just how violently will he react once he learns she’s set to do exactly that? KIM Kim and Graham were once a united force – but his bid to escape her control has riled Kim. And we know she’s a woman who hates to be crossed… ANDREA Andrea hoped her past with Graham was well and truly buried – but instead the spectre of their secret fling has come back to haunt her. So, how much more can Andrea take?…