Inside Soap UK 47 - 2018

“There’s still so much to enjoy this year…” This week, I’ve had quite a problem working out what to talk to you about. You see, I’m already really excited about 2019 in the soaps – especially the amazing news that Mandy Dingle is heading back to Emmerdale (see p14) – but that makes me get ahead of myself, which I really shouldn’t do, because there’s still soooo much to enjoy in this year’s soaps. We’ve got EastEnders’ baby secret primed to explode, with this week’s return of Alfie to Albert Square (see p4) bringing the anticipation to fever pitch! Meanwhile, Corrie sees poor Sal discover her fate as the trial drama comes to a head (see p18). Over in Emmerdale, Graham is well and truly on the edge – and…

Kat is responsible for a disastrous road smash in Albert Square this week, as she careers her motorbike into an elderly gentleman – leaving him lying in a crumpled heap and Kat herself unconscious! The calamitous collision occurs after Kat resumes her challenge of trying to learn ‘the Knowledge’, so that she can memorise the roads of London and begin a new job of driving her dad’s old cab. Feeling the pressure of committing so much information to memory, Kat gets on her moped and visits Charlie’s former cabbie tea hut, hoping to be struck by inspiration. However, she ultimately ends up striking a pedestrian instead… “While at the tea hut, Kat encounters an ex-cabbie, Tony,” explains our Walford informant. “After she initially gets off on the wrong foot with…

Hayley has a birthday party this week – despite the fact that she’d rather her family just ignored it! While Kat has her own troubles, Hayley is struggling with bringing up her baby daughter. So despite all the tensions at No 31, Jean tries to lighten the mood. But will she regret it? “Hayley doesn’t react well to the card that Jean presents her with, but the older woman isn’t deterred,” says our sneak. “She arranges a surprise party to lift not only Hayley’s spirits, but everyone else’s too…” Having got Kat to help her and Ian to bake a cake, Jean’s plan is coming together – but once the time comes to spring her big surprise, Hayley is horrified to see what’s waiting for her! “After taking one glance…

Tortured Graham goes on a drinking spree this week, culminating in him taking Noah to Butlers Farm and implicating Cain in Joe’s disappearance! But with Debbie there too, are secrets about to be spilled? Consumed by guilt, Graham drowns his sorrows and starts acting up all over Emmerdale, even trying to seduce former lover, Megan. But nothing can shift Graham’s torment, and it looks as if he might confess to Joe’s murder. Will he admit he killed his surrogate son? “Graham is on the brink of exploding – he’s full of booze and finding it very difficult to keep it all inside,” admits Andrew Scarborough, who plays the Dales killer. “He was almost about to tell Debbie everything last week, but then shied away from it. Yet because he’s drunk,…

It was Graham’s boss – and lover – Kim who ordered him to kill Joe, and going through with it has destroyed him. So how will Graham feel when Kim returns to the village next year? “Oh, that relationship has changed because of what Kim asked of him – there’s a lot of tension,” muses Andrew. “They both have something over each other now!” But could there be another twist in the tale? Fans reckon Graham didn’t go through with it, which would put a whole new spin on things… “That’d be wonderful!” enthuses Andrew. “After all, Graham knew Joe like a son, and I don’t think Graham would kill his own son. Viewers don’t trust me at all any more – not that I think they trusted Graham before.…

Jenny’s jealousy ends up getting the better of her this week – as she suspects that her hubby Johnny is still up to no good with his floozy, Liz McDonald! Despite the fact that Johnny has assured his missus that his night with Liz was a one-off, Jenny is utterly consumed with paranoia while she watches the two of them work closely together behind the bar of the Rovers. And her growing feeling of unease is about to push her to do something very sneaky indeed… “You can hardly blame Jenny for being suspicious – her husband’s bit on the side is there all day, every day,” mutters our Coronation Street insider. “Talk about rubbing it in her face! Now that Johnny has confessed all, and Jenny’s given him another…