Inside Soap UK 11 - 2018

“Old Corrie is like a nice, warm cuddle!” As psychic Rosemary channels the spirits of some dearly departed Street folk this week, I feel I’ve been given my own conduit to Corrie characters of old – not via some scatterbrained clairvoyant, but through the repeats of 80s Coronation Street episodes that are currently airing on ITV3. It’s been a real treat to look back at the likes of Jack and Vera Duckworth, Mike Baldwin and Deirdre Barlow in their heyday. There’s also the terrific fun of seeing the younger versions of Jenny, Sally and Kev, and even a baby Sarah in her pushchair – just for the haircuts alone! Now, we know even the most dedicated Inside Soap reader can’t watch everything (there’s two episodes a day of old Corrie!),…

David Platt wakes up to a real-life nightmare this week – as he comes to the realisation that his pal Josh drugged and raped him. Poor David feels sick to the stomach, and what happens next may be hard for viewers to watch as the traumatised fella struggles to face his ordeal alone. We talked to Corrie actor Jack P Shepherd to find out how his alter ego copes in the aftermath of his harrowing attack… What was your initial reaction when you found out what David would be going through? I haven’t wanted to know what was going to happen to David in the past – I prefer to just let things unfold in the scripts. But on this occasion, Kate [Oates, Corrie’s series producer] insisted on discussing it…

In an attempt to run and hide from his attack, David decides to head off to Liverpool to see his dad Martin at the end of this week. And the scenes herald the return of actor Sean Wilson, who was last seen in Coronation Street in 2005… “Even before I stepped back into the building, I thought that the scripts were ace,” grins Sean, as we catch up with him on the Corrie set. “David is in one of the biggest predicaments of his life – and he’s been in a few! Martin definitely knows there’s something wrong, but it could be girlfriend trouble or anything. Martin’s not silly, though, and he has a medical background – so as time goes on, he starts to get…

“How will the locals feel when Kat comes back from the dead?” Stacey is in a state this week, in the wake of Mo’s announcement that Kat has died – but how will she react when she finds out that her relative is in fact alive and well? In an effort to get the money to pay for a fitting send-off for Kat, Mo and Stacey rally their neighbours and set up a fund-raiser. But as the event gets under way, no amount of cash could buy the looks on the locals’ faces when the bash is crashed by Kat herself! “What on earth is going on here?” splutters our Walford spy. “Poor Stacey has been heartbroken by Mo’s news, and no wonder. It’s a huge shock for all those…

Stacey and Martin haven’t been the best of friends lately – but as Stacey falls apart, Martin can’t stand by and watch his estranged wife suffer. When he waves the white flag and reaches out to Stacey, it’s clear his support and understanding is just what she needs as her family crumbles. There’s no doubting the former couple still care for one another – however, with Stacey’s fling with Max still hanging over them, as well as Martin’s burgeoning friendship with Hayley, is it too late for them to try again?…

“If Joe wants something, he goes to great lengths to get it” Debbie is forced to go along with Joe’s wishes this week, now that he knows she was behind the acid attack on Ross. But he also makes an enemy of Debbie’s dad Cain – who realises what’s going on and decides to do something about it… With Joe aware of Debbie’s dreadful secret, he’s using the information to control her and blackmail her into pretending they are a couple once again. The bizarre turn of events has left the Dingle family and Ross stunned – but is wicked Joe just toying with Debbie, or does he feel something real for her? “Joe and Debbie both need something from the other, and that’s all I can say!” teases Ned…