Inside Soap UK 16-2023

The Inside Soap office is in uproar – uproar, I tell you! – over Hollyoaks’ decision to kill one of its heritage characters off screen. It’s poor old Justin Burton – of ‘Justin and Becca’s schoolroom scandal’ infamy – who’s been cruelly dispatched, and just as viewers dared to hope for a surprise return. Brutal stuff! Of course, killing long-departed but otherwise still breathing characters to suit a passing plot point, or the whim of a production team, is always a risk. Back in 2006, EastEnders disposed of Kathy Beale in a car crash in South Africa, just so Ben Mitchell could be brought back to Walford; a death the show came to regret, then reverse. Similarly, Cindy Beale was also killed off-screen; and you can bet there’s since been a…

First with the week’s HOTTEST headlines A my hits the bottle this week, as she tries to forget her rape ordeal – and ends up fighting for her life in hospital! The traumatised teen hoped she could bury her torment and move on, but a public showdown with Aaron triggers terrifying memories, causing her to lash out – with dangerous consequences… “Amy’s emotions are simmering away, and it’s only a matter of time before she reaches boiling point,” reveals our Corrie insider. “Aaron still denies that Amy didn’t consent to them having sex when they were drunk, and the police have dropped the case as there’s not enough evidence. Apart from her parents and Summer, Amy thinks no one believes her and feels forced to carry on as though nothing happened – but…

Hi, James! Is Aaron surprised by Amy’s behaviour at Nina’s party? Yes, he doesn’t know that’s how she still feels and her reasons for taking her claims back. It comes out of nowhere for Aaron, he still cares about Amy and didn’t expect her to lash out and get violent. He’s angry at the situation, but not at her. Does he start to think back and wonder if Amy is right? Definitely. Everyone sees how Amy reacts, and if others start to see what she sees in him, they’ll also believe it – and that’s obviously very worrying. Part of him starts to think back, and the guilt of what it’s doing to her is starting to eat him up. How does Aaron react when Amy collapses? He can see how much this is physically…

Caleb tries to pull Nicky into line this week, after his son’s reckless actions end in a violent altercation with Cain! However, as Nicky continues to make rash decisions, is Caleb’s carefully constructed plan about to come tumbling down? “It’s been clear that Nicky took some persuading to be part of Caleb’s scheme in the first place – now, as they push forward, the pressure is on and cracks are starting to show,” says our Emmerdale insider. “Nicky has been wavering, but Caleb has confided in him that he has money troubles, and they need their plan to go off without a hitch so Caleb can continue to support Nicky’s mum. However, it seems his words have worked a little too well…” This whole situation doesn’t end well for anyone…” Hoping to help Caleb…

Caleb isn’t the first long-lost son of Frank Tate to rock up in Emmerdale looking to right old wrongs. Back in 1999, two years after Frank’s death, Liam Hammond started work at Tate Haulage, but he had a secret. Liam was Frank’s illegitimate son, and wanted revenge for Frank walking out on Liam’s mother when she was pregnant – leaving her in poverty while Frank became a millionaire and his other kids, Chris and Zoe, led a life of luxury. Liam kidnapped Chris and held him hostage in a cellar. The plot came to a shocking climax when Zoe was forced to shoot Liam dead. The killing left Zoe with PTSD, and was a contributing factor in her mental breakdown in 2002.…

Billy is left bereft this week, when granddaughter Lola breaks the devastating news that she only has months left to live. Lo’s beloved Pops has been away on Mitchell family business in Portugal and can’t wait to catch up with his clan. But little does Billy know there’s a heartbreaking bombshell waiting for him as he returns… “He’s only been gone a few weeks – yet a lot can happen in that time, as poor old Billy is about to find out,” begins our EastEnders insider. “Lola is still processing her recent prognosis that her cancerous brain tumour is growing again, and there is sadly nothing more doctors can do. It was hard enough explaining it to Lexi, Jay and Ben – while her estranged mum Emma couldn’t hack it and left.…