Inside Soap UK 23 - 2021

“Social distancing hasn’t stopped the drama…” How are you all finding getting back out in the world? I do hope you’re managing to get a bit of normality in your lives again. And hopefully soon, the soaps will be back to a more normal way of filming – although I must admit, I’ve got so used to socially distanced filming that I’ve stopped noticing it. I think because all of our interactions outside our own household have been held from either side of the pavement, or a few steps back from the front door, it doesn’t seem so odd when we see it on TV. In fact, I reckon that to see people actually properly in contact on our screens would look rather weird now, as we’ve all become accustomed…

Tormented Nina turns to booze to numb her pain this week, as her heart continues to break over Seb’s tragic death. The course of Nina’s life was changed forever on the night of that fateful hate crime attack, and she confides in best pal Asha that she blames herself for what happened to Seb. But as Nina hits the bottle in a bid to make all of her hurtful memories go away, is alcohol really the answer? “Nina is in a state of never-ending torture…” “Any rational person can see that what happened to Seb wasn’t Nina’s fault, but she doesn’t see it that way,” explains our Corrie insider. “She knows that the violent gang only set upon them because of the way she looked, so how can it not…

Although Nina feels that nobody else could possibly understand what she’s going through, she’s lucky to have her Uncle Roy in her life – after all, he knows exactly what it’s like to lose the person you love most in the world. And David Neilson, who plays the café owner, tells us that Roy will do everything in his power to help Nina through this… “When he was close to losing Nina, Roy realised what a terrible loss it would be because she is family,” shares the actor. “He’s moved on in a way to a real relationship where he’s her father figure, and he feels a responsibility to this person. Roy has a sense of duty and nurturing; it’s massively inconvenient, but that is life. “It’s not an enjoyable…

Disaster strikes for Callum this week, when his police colleague Fitzy is stabbed while the pair are on duty together! However, with tensions building between Callum and Ben over his job, Callum decides to keep the traumatic incident a secret from his new husband. “Callum ends up leaving Ben high and dry…” After learning about Callum’s undercover mission against Phil, Ben has asked Callum to quit his job in the force to help avoid any more problems. Despite promising Ben he’ll think about it, Callum is utterly torn. Back on shift, Callum and Fitzy interview Kat about her recent mugging, but Phil isn’t happy to see them in his house – and orders them to leave! But later, Callum and Fitzy happen to spot the attacker… “Fitzy and Callum give…

Phil has an important question to ask his girlfriend Kat this week – he wants to know if she’ll go into business with him! Things are clearly getting serious between the unlikely lovebirds, so much so that Phil reckons that it’s time they took their relationship to the next level. So, he suggests they take over the lease of the laundrette together… “Phil and Kat certainly know all about airing their dirty laundry in public!” quips our Albert Square source. “So in that sense, the laundrette would be the perfect business for them to run together! And while we can’t picture Phil getting his hands dirty and offering to do his neighbours’ service washes, he certainly knows a good money-spinner when he sees one.” While Phil reckons that this is…

Jimmy and Nicola look set to put the final nail in their relationship this week, after Jimmy admits his feelings for Mandy – and Nicola toys with the idea of bedding Mackenzie! The Kings have been at loggerheads for weeks, and the situation stands no chance of improving as both their heads are turned. Is this really the end for Jimmy and Nicola? “It’s reached the point for Jimmy where Nicola has become impossible to live with,” explains actor Nick Miles, as he talks us through his alter ego’s side of the story. “She has finagled behind his back; she’s entered into illegal activities with Mackenzie just as Jimmy is up in court – and frankly Nicola has become a liability. And, of course, the constant arguing between the two…