Inside Soap UK

Have you ever watched the soaps and pondered who your ‘identification’ character might be? By that I mean: with which resident of soapland do you have the most in common? Are you a long-suffering mum, just doing the best you can for your crazy kids; like Gail Platt, Stacey Slater or Eileen Grimshaw? Or a brassy broad, like Kat Slater or Mandy Dingle, who’s loved and lost and loved again, but doesn’t suffer fools gladly? (Does anyone suffer fools gladly?) Or perhaps it’s for others to say. While I base my own management style at Inside Soap on that of Carla Connor (“Less griping, more typing!”), I fear that, in reality, I’m seen more like Brian Packham at the Kabin – pompously shuffling magazines while wearing knitwear a size too small. “I…

First with the week’s HOTTEST headlines This is the terrifying moment that Carla causes carnage on the cobbles when she ploughs into Paul with the Underworld van – after Stephen spikes her drink with LSD! It’s only once Carla demotes him at the factory that Stephen puts his wicked scheme into action, drugging Carla in a bid to make her look incompetent. But his devious plot has grave consequences… “Stephen doesn’t really know what this drug can do, so he is playing a very dangerous game here,” warns Todd Boyce, the star behind the character. “You see him putting a few drops into her drink – then he slips in a bit more for good luck when he thinks about how angry he is with her. It’s pretty ingenious; she has annoyed him so…

Hi, Todd! Stephen has killed twice now – is he having sleepless nights? It doesn’t seem that way! As time goes on, he seems to be less and less uncomfortable about what he has done. He’s had moments when it looked as though he wanted to confess, but that was only because he was certain he was going to be found out. How does he rationalise what he’s done? His circumstances forced him into those initial actions, but now he seems to have got a taste for it. There was panic with Leo, then with Teddy he calculatedly got rid of the body – and even roped in other people to help without them knowing it! Now he is doing this to Carla in plain sight and is feeling invincible – he’s really…

Lily’s teen pregnancy sparks a brand-new nightmare for Stacey this week – after the girl’s father, Ryan Malloy, gets wind of the scandal and makes a beeline for Albert Square! Prior to his arrival, Stacey had wanted to break the news to Ryan about their daughter’s situation in her own time. However, when his sister Whitney takes matters into her own hands, it’s not long before Stacey receives a visit from her irate ex… “You can imagine Ryan’s reaction when he finds out his 12-year-old daughter is now expecting a baby,” sympathises our Walford insider. “He and Stacey have always been pretty amicable, but for her to keep such a huge secret from him about Lily is outrageous – and Ryan is not shy about making his feelings known!” Of course, Stacey hadn’t intended…

Angry Cain lashes out at Will this week, as he struggles to accept he’s not allowed to see his son. The distraught dad is desperate to spend time with Kyle, and ignores his bail conditions that demand he stays away from the little lad. But could Cain’s actions lead to him losing any hope of ever having access to his son? “Cain has a short fuse and acts on impulse” “Cain feels guilty about the whole situation, and wants to support Kyle ahead of the upcoming hearing,” reveals Jeff Hordley, who plays Cain. “The courts have said he can’t see his son so it’s really difficult, and Cain feels as if Amy is revelling in this. She’s actually just trying to do the best by Kyle, but Cain doesn’t see it like that.” Will…

Caleb is the one who manages to convince incandescent Cain to cool it this week, yet viewers have seen the workings of his brother’s secret plan – proving that Caleb does indeed have a hidden agenda! Meanwhile, Cain remains in the dark. Does he truly trust his estranged sibling after weeks of suspicion and animosity? “They’re definitely working together more now, although I wouldn’t say Cain is relying on Caleb to get him out of trouble,” observes star Jeff. “I think it’s good Cain is starting to get on with his brother, as they could be a formidable duo.” Viewers have seen Caleb make secret calls to an unknown ally, confirming they have Cain on the ropes. Is the long-lost Dingle playing a long game of revenge against his big brother?…