Inside Soap UK 11-2023

Someone recently introduced me in a meeting as “the King of Soap”, which is so wonderfully inaccurate it made me laugh. While I’d like to imagine myself more an edgy Prince Harry figure, I’m really no more than a court jester at best. But if I was King of Soap, then my first edict would be unexpected… I would cut an episode from each show every week. It’s a funny thing for the editor of Inside Soap to say, but I really think that less would be more and fewer would be better. “I’m no more than a court jester at best” My second law would be to spilt those 60-minute Coronation Streets; which I think make even the finest stories feel mechanical and repetitive. Corrie should be closer to half-hour sitcom than…

First with the week’s HOTTEST headlines The mystery of which Corrie siren will embark on a steamy affair with bad boy Damon serves up a fresh twist this week – after married Sarah leads him up to a hotel room! Weatherfield bosses have made no secret that a woman on the cobbles will have her head turned by the dangerous drug dealer, setting up a sizzling summer of sex, lies and betrayal. But would Sarah really swap gorgeous Adam for reckless passion with Damon? “Sarah has a row with Adam, storms off and ends up going to a hotel that they’ve booked together on her own,” explains actress Tina O’Brien, who plays Sarah. “She heads straight for the bar, bumps into this guy and they end up chatting. “The guy is actually Damon, who…

Married life with Adam is pretty good, so Sarah’s not looking for an affair, is she? No, she’s quite happy in her marriage, so this thing with Damon is not something she’s set out to pursue. She’s well aware that it’s wrong! Adam and Sarah are struggling to agree over having a baby. Is that influencing her? There is a little bit of tension, but no more than in any standard marriage. I think they’re at cross purposes with the baby thing. Sarah understands that he wants one, though she’s in a difficult position because her career is going really well, and she wants to prioritise that. Are you enjoying the opportunity to play a naughtier side to Sarah? It’s interesting, I’ve been trying to find a moral reason as to why Sarah would behave…

Charity and Mackenzie have their stag and hen parties this week – but the big day itself is thrown into jeopardy by some shocking twists… Not only does Chloe return to the village, still pregnant by the groom-to-be, but Moira blabs a big secret to Charity about her fiancée that could mean the end of their relationship! “There’s only a few weeks until Mack marries Charity, and she still has no idea he’s got another woman up the duff!” exclaims our Dales insider. “Mack reckons his indiscretion is safely under wraps now his baby mama has moved to Scotland… that is until Chloe reappears, along with BFF Sarah, and Mack demands to know why she’s back!” Chloe calms the stressed Scotsman by explaining she’s just home for a pre-arranged medical appointment, and will…

While the misery piles up on Charity’s plate this week, her son Noah has yet another clash with his arch-enemy Samson. Amelia announces she might quit college as she’s struggling to balance childcare for baby Esther with her studies, so Noah and Dan vow to do what they can to help out. However, when scheming Samson hears about it, he spies an opportunity to cause trouble between Noah and Amelia – and blackmail his rival for more cash to stay away from Esther! Noah is narked when Samson starts interfering again, and the fellas almost come to blows. Will Noah end up looking like the bad guy once more?…

Jack and Denise are left horrified this week, when Chelsea rocks up to a family games night with Ravi on her arm! Scheming Ravi has managed to infiltrate Chelsea’s life in a bid to find out what dirt Jack has on him. And if that wasn’t enough, he ends the week by turning on Denise – leaving the copper’s wife quaking in her boots… “Ravi reveals his malicious, menacing, true colours to Denise,” reveals Aaron Thiara, who plays the character. “Ravi feels very scorned and really hurt after baring his soul to her. As a narcissist, he can’t deal with that level of emotion and hurt, so his default goes to, ‘Okay, well I’m going to defend myself and I’m going to make your life a misery’.” Having failed to blackmail Denise, Ravi…