Inside Soap UK 21 - 2016

Justice is blind, or so the saying goes. In which case we should count ourselves lucky to live in the real world because in soapland, justice is clearly also deaf, dumb and downright dim-witted. The big stories in this week’s issue are cautionary tales about what happens if you find yourself mixed up in a soap murder. The innocent are punished, and the guilty left to roam the streets and squares of England. In Weatherfield, childlike Jason Grimshaw is fitted up good and proper for the murder of Callum. In Walford, Max is already in the slammer, even though half the world knows that Bobby ‘Basher’ Beale did for Lucy. Luckily, Lauren is back from New Zealand and (finally!) on a quest to free her dad. But don’t judge the…

“KYLIE IS VERY PROTECTIVE OF DAVID - SHE’S READY TO HAND HERSELF IN” Killer Kylie is left in shock this week – when David tells the police that their hapless neighbour Jason might have murdered Callum! Ever since the gruesome discovery of a corpse beneath Gail’s annexe, the police have been questioning the Platts, with David their chief suspect for murder (see p36). However, when brazen David spots a chance to shift the blame away from him and his family, he seizes it. But can Kylie really stand and watch as poor Jason takes the rap for what she did? “Kylie doesn’t want an innocent man to go down for murder, but someone has to be framed, or else the truth will come out,” says Paula Lane, who plays her.…

As Jason becomes the prime suspect, there’s drama developing with traumatised Sarah – who confesses to her ex, Todd! Now his brother is being blamed, Todd is hell-bent on discovering as much as he can from Sarah, determined to get some dirt on David that he can take to the police. The trouble is, Sarah is so disturbed that she’s become convinced she can see the ghost of Callum, and her ramblings leave Todd fearful and baffled. Hoping for some insight, he turns to Billy and asks him if he knows what happened between Callum and Sarah, and what could be causing her to act so bizarrely. The worried vicar lets slip that Callum was violent towards Sarah, which leads Todd to suspect David killed him to protect his sister.…

“ WHAT BOBBY REVEALS COULD HAVE MASSIVE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE COPS” Bobby Beale finally has to answer for his crimes this week – as he’s questioned by the police. Walford detectives are determined to get to the truth of what happened, as injured Jane lies in a coma following Bobby’s vicious attack on her. The turn of events is a real blow for Ian, who alongside Jane has fought to keep his son’s killer secret. Can he find a way to minimise the damage Bobby did when he revealed to the entire Vic what happened on the night of Lucy’s murder? “Ian knows that Jane would want him to do whatever he can to protect Bobby,” shares our EastEnders insider. “But they have to face the fact that Bobby is…

“LAUREN PROMISED HERSELF THAT SHE’D RETURN TO CLEAR HER DAD’S NAME” Bobby’s vicious attack on Jane prompts the return of Lauren this week, and she has only one mission: to get her dad out of jail! Lauren has long known about Bobby’s role in his sister Lucy’s death, and we last saw her informing the police that the Beale lad was Lucy’s killer. But with Lauren’s claim coming right after Max’s sentencing, the police refused to believe it. So with Bobby now firmly in the frame for the offence, can Lauren free her father? “When Lauren left Walford, she promised herself that one day she’d return to clear her dad’s name,” our EastEnders source reminds us. “She was devastated when the police rubbished her statement, but she had to go…

Lorna, you must be glad to have Abi and Lauren back together again? Yes! I love working with Jacqueline [Jossa, aka Lauren], and I think Abi has needed her sister over the past few months, so I’m happy for Abi too. It’s been a bit strange without her and Jake [Wood, who plays Max] around because I was so used to working with the two of them. I’ve been busy, though, and have enjoyed being an honorary Mitchell. But now it’s as if Lauren never even left! Do you think that Lauren can convince Abi to help Max? I think having Lauren there will remind Abi of the family she wants so badly, which will help. But it’s much more complicated. Abi was prepared to never speak to her dad…