Inside Soap UK 44 - 2019

“I love the feeling of the soaps changing up a gear” What’s your favourite season? Some people love the spring – all those new shoots and fresh hopes. Others prefer the summer, just for the feeling of warmth on their cheeks, and on their face. For me, I like the autumn… Fallen leaves crunching underfoot! The chill, smoky air! And Halloween, with the timeless annual ritual of turning the lights off and pretending to be out… I love it all! Most of all, I love that feeling of the soaps revving their engines and changing up a gear in the approach to Christmas. You can feel the excitement building in EastEnders and Hollyoaks this week, where it’s not a good time to be a tragic heroine like Sharon or Mercedes.…

David and Shona’s wedding day looks doomed this week – as the groom faces a fight against the clock to get out of prison and to his bride’s side. At the start of the week, it seems unlikely that there will be a wedding at all, as David’s evil rapist Josh maintains his false allegation that traumatised David tried to kill him. Shona’s in despair, and Gail even cancels the wedding booking – so does David have any hope of pulling off a miracle, and making it down the aisle? “It doesn’t look that way,” admits Jack P Shepherd, who plays David. “Josh has come out and changed his statement, and said it was David who stabbed him. David is still protesting his innocence, but Josh has said it’s David…

Everyone has been leaning heavily on Shona, haven’t they? What will happen if David doesn’t manage to get out in time for the wedding? I know, Shona Big Shoulders! Who knows, it could drive Shona away from the Street because she is at breaking point. I don’t know how much more she can take. What goes through Shona’s mind when she hears that David may not be out of prison in time for the wedding? Shona is fully aware that the wedding ceremony might not go ahead – however, she can’t even begin to think about that outcome, because she has to stay positive. She’s on the edge right now. Shona is hanging on by a thread and that thread is the hope of David getting out of prison, and…

Pam Coker makes an unexpected return to Albert Square this week, and it’s initially a very pleasant surprise for Ben – but it ultimately proves to be an extremely emotional meeting… Ben has retained a close relationship with Pam, the grandmother of his first love Paul, who was murdered in a homophobic attack in 2016 – so Ben is delighted after Jay and Lola organise a surprise reunion for the pair. However, as he struggles to open up about his burgeoning new romance with Callum, Ben’s heartbreak at losing Paul resurfaces. “Ben blamed himself for Paul’s death, and was totally devastated by his loss,” our Walford sneak reminds us. “Paul was the first man who Ben fell head-over-heels in love with, and they looked set to live happily ever after…

It’s great to have you and Pam back in Walford, Lin! Ah, it’s been lovely for me, too – it always is. It’s like going home to see my other family. I’ve tried to keep up with watching the show, as I like to see what they’re all doing. I think it’s a great programme to watch. What was it like meeting Max Bowden, who’s taken on the role of Ben since you last returned? He’s a lovely young actor. Working with two new cast members in him and Tony [Clay, aka Callum] was great. And I also had a nice five minutes with Danny Dyer [Mick], as Pam goes to the Vic while she’s back – it was lovely to see him again. Does Pam suspect that something is…

Cain hammers the final nail in the coffin of his marriage to Moira this week, as he shamelessly seduces Kerry! Destroyed by the revelation that Moira was sleeping with Nate – who declared himself to be Cain’s son during the course of a violent showdown – the heartbroken bloke can barely see straight. However, even as the chemistry continues to crackle between him and Moira while she pleads with him not to leave her, steely Cain remains resolute – and Kerry is simply an unwitting pawn in his vengeful game… “Moira walks in on Cain and Kerry together – and Cain just doesn’t care,” admits star Jeff Hordley, who plays the scorned villager. “As Kerry says to him, the best thing about separating from someone is that you then have…