Inside Soap UK 53 - 2020

What a sad day for Inside Soap Friday 11 December was, with the news that Dame Barbara Windsor had left us. We pay tribute to the screen legend starting on p36, and as we compiled those pages, it became clearer than ever what a very special lady our ‘Bar’ was, and how much she will be missed by everyone. “What a very special lady our ‘Bar’ was…” Barbara’s passing certainly brought a downbeat end to what has already been a trying year, and gives us all the more reason to hope 2021 will bring brighter things for all of us. We know last issue we promised you that this week we’d unveil our New Year preview of all the upcoming plots, but we’ve held that over until next issue to…

Teenager Simon is left terrified this week, when he arrives home to find his mum Leanne unconscious on the sofa, with a bottle of sleeping pills next to her! It’s a truly shocking scene, and poor Simon fears that his grieving mum has taken an overdose. But as he calls an ambulance, can he get his mum help before it’s too late? “Simon truly believes his mum has taken an overdose…” “It’s no secret that Leanne has been in a really dark place following the death of her young son Oliver,” our Weatherfield insider reminds us. “Her loved ones believe she’s been in France with her mother Stella for the past few weeks, when in reality, Leanne’s been holed up in her flat alone, mourning her loss. It’s not beyond…

Prior to finding Leanne in such a terrible state, Simon is actually having quite a good week – as he has a big date to look forward to! When he bumps into school pal Kelly – who is hysterical, and trying to break into Gary’s shop – Simon manages to calm her down and stop her from doing anything stupid. As the pair chat, and bond over the trouble they’ve both had with their parents, it’s clear they have a lot in common, and they arrange to meet up later for a date. Simon’s pretty pumped up about taking out Kelly, but after the drama with Leanne unfolds, he completely forgets about the arrangement – and stands up Kelly! Will she forgive him?…

The Slater family faces a race against time to track down missing Kush this week, as fears mount that he’s bought himself and young Arthur two one-way tickets out of Walford! After agreeing to take the rap for Kat and Phil’s car heist, Kush was preparing to do time in prison – until an opportunity to start a new life abroad proves too tempting to resist. But will Kush really go so far as to rob Arthur’s mum, Stacey, of her little boy forever? “This is Kush we’re talking about, and he’s a good guy, so in her head Stacey is trying not to worry,” reasons actress Lacey Turner, who plays her. “She also has Martin telling her that it’ll all be fine, too. However, after Kush has been gone…

Kush’s actions curiously leave a very shifty-looking Ruby with a little bit of explaining to do this week – but just what is her involvement? Martin’s growing bond with Stacey has his wife so worried that she’s prepared to do anything to keep hold of her man – including making a snap decision that could be a game-changer in the love triangle. Meanwhile, Martin can’t help but admire Stacey’s strength as she worries for Arthur. Is he leaning back towards his ex-missus again? And how will Ruby’s latest curveball sway his feelings?…

Liv suffers another seizure this week, leaving Aaron, her family and her friends deeply concerned. But there’s some comfort when doctors finally put a name to her condition with an official diagnosis of epilepsy. After months of seizures and not knowing the cause, Liv is relieved to finally know what’s wrong. But while she’s prepared to deal with it as best she can, and move on with her life, Aaron is understandably beside himself with worry. “Aaron and Liv couldn’t have more opposing reactions to the news,” explains our Dales sneak. “Liv knows that she’s going to have epilepsy forever, and now it’s just a matter of managing it. She’s prepared to own it and move forward. However, Aaron sees it as a life sentence, and he’s very worried about…