Table of contents for 46 - 2017 in Inside Soap UK

“I’m amazed by the talent on display!” Every year when the Inside Soap Awards come around, I always find myself amazed by the sheer talent that is on display. And I’m not just talking about the winners, who obviously are absolutely outstanding. It’s the fact that every one of the nominees is also outstanding. We have actors who can make you cry at a drop of a hat, such as the wonderful Lucy Fallon, aka Corrie’s Bethany – or make you laugh out loud with just one little look, like this year’s Funniest Male, Dominic Brunt (Emmerdale’s Paddy). I’m just glad I leave it up to you, our readers, to decide the final winners – I would find it far too hard a choice! And choose you did. You can…

LOOKS Tom Suave Tom is gorgeous and always dresses to impress. He’s also no stranger to the gym if those pecs are anything to go by. 5/5  Ross Ross has the sexy criminal look sorted. He’s rough around the edges, but that’s part of his charm. He’s also no slouch in the muscle department. 5/5 CAREER Tom We’re not entirely sure what Tom does, but he’s clearly doing something right. He has plenty of cash and seems very clued up about investments. 5/5 Ross Mechanic Ross would have got top marks for being good with motors, but he spoils it all by nicking them, too. His dodgy ways would cause bother for Debbie and her kids. 1/5 LOYALTY Tom He’s been dogged in his pursuit of Debbie, but we have…

The wait is almost over to find out who pushed Emma Barton to her death, with the culprit set to be unmasked as early as next month. However, Hotten police could have another murder to investigate before the year is out… “We’ll find out who did it before Christmas,” declares Emmerdale series producer Iain MacLeod. “But could the killer strike again? If you’ve already committed a murder, you’d go to any lengths to cover it up – and of course, that’s what got Emma into this whole terrible mess in the first place!” Over the next few weeks, flashbacks to the day that Emma died will continue to put the jigsaw together. Word has it that multiple endings were filmed in order to keep the killer’s identity a secret –…

“Things went wrong between us – there’s no denying that.” Talking to Kathy, old Wilmott-B wins the Understatement of the Year Award. Of the Century. Millennium. “Monkeys are very intelligent animals. Some of them used to be removal men, they did. It was on an advert – fully clothed!” If you think that’s impressive, Kirk, you should meet that family of Russian meerkats who’ve made millions selling insurance. “You okay?” “I’m extremely pregnant, and my baby is made of knives.” You have to admire Emmerdale – doing its bit to discourage unplanned pregnancies. “You cow, I loved that man!” “I’m not passing up a fortune just because you’ve grown a conscience. Which, from a woman who married a pensioner for his money, doesn't wash.” “Oh yeah, because a septuagenarian gay…

It’s been ages since her true love Andy Sugden went on the run, and poor Bernice hasn’t had much luck with romance since. It must be difficult for her to think about dating again – but Sam says she thinks it’s high time her lovelorn character had a flirtation… “A love interest would be nice,” she laughs. “I think Bernice should get someone new now, so watch this space!” Meanwhile, Sam has a clear idea of what Bernice should do if she keeps her illicit winnings. “She could buy herself somewhere to live,” muses the star. “With that sort of cash, you’d be able to get a little flat in a Yorkshire village. I think Bernice must be fed up living with her mum and Doug!”…

ROBERT’S HOME FARM HEIST! Crafty Robert has managed to wrap all the Whites around his little finger – particularly Lawrence, who believes Robert has feelings for him! Will he succeed in his Home Farm takeover? I much prefer watching Robert when he’s being conniving, and I can’t help but laugh at his scenes with Lawrence. How has Lawrence forgotten how much he hates this man? A fake one-night stand and a fake murder were all it took to convince him that Robert is the man of his dreams! Stella, Inverness The Whites are far from perfect, but I really don’t want to see them left with nothing. They’ll all be kicking themselves when they realise Lachlan was right after all! And how will Chrissie and Rebecca ever look at Lawrence…

While Inside Soap is dubious about whether Whitney and Woody will actually make it down the aisle, Shona is well up for her character getting hitched again. “I’d get to wear another dress – it would be brilliant,” exclaims the actress. “Whitney is a ring collector, that’s what I call her. She’s like Gollum from Lord Of The Rings! She has a few already – she was engaged to Tyler Moon before Lee and Woody – so I think she should wear all the rings on a necklace!”…

Gina really doesn’t want anyone to know about her bipolar It needs a special kind of bloke to take on the flamboyant force of nature that is Gina Seddon – and we were punching the air when our favourite Corrie womaniser, Dev Alahan, decided that he was man enough for the job. Flirty Gina has had the hots for Dev ever since she first laid eyes on him. And after being brave enough to make her move, the new couple engaged in some afternoon delight while Sally hosted a party downstairs! We can’t get enough of this exciting duo, and Connie Hyde is basking in the glory of her character’s fabulous love life… “I think they’re a brilliant pair,” grins the actress, who has played Gina since April. “He is…

Congrats, Dom – but we’re shocked that this is your first ever award! Yes! I’ve not won anything in 20 years – not a single thing. I’m over the moon! I can’t believe it – I’m genuinely touched and gleeful. I love it at Emmerdale and I’m so happy to be employed in one of the best jobs in the world. What do you reckon is the secret of Paddy’s success? Well, I thought everyone would hate him when he tried to take Leo to New Zealand – and then he had an affair! But nobody can be a saint all the time, and luckily everybody still loves Paddy. He has his faults, yet he’s a good person at heart. So is your one and only prize set to have…

Ashley’s tragic death had people up and down the nation in tears. It was the end of one of the most heralded storylines in Emmerdale history – and it has earned actor John our Best Exit Award… How does it feel to have won? Oh, it’s fantastic! Of course, the other person who should be here to collect this Award with me is Charlotte Bellamy [Laurel], because she was there for Ashley’s exit, too. But I couldn’t ask for a better way to leave the show – it was terrific. How much does it mean to you that this was voted for by the readers of Inside Soap ? It means so much. The reaction from the Emmerdale audience has been astonishing. It’s…

My favourite programmes right now include The Great British Bake Off , which I think has landed so perfectly on Channel 4! I’m a big fan of Apprentice, too – but this year’s intake don’t appear to be the smartest collection of business partners! The big one for me is Stranger Things . Season two is amazing – I binged all nine episodes in one weekend! It’s addictive, dramatic, scary, sad, thrilling. It’s got everything! And it pushes that nostalgia button of when we were kids, going out on our Choppers after school… My favourite film is The Shawshank Redemption – it gets me every time. It’s so beautifully played and narrated by Morgan Freeman. The relationship between him and Tim…

MOVING ON Jack Dee’s sitcom Bad Move has been given a second series by ITV. The first run earlier this year averaged over four million viewers each week, so Steve and Nicky will be enduring more country hardships next year. WANDERFUL LIFE Toni Collette and Steven Mackintosh will star in new BBC1 drama Wanderlust . The six-part series follows therapist Joy as she reassesses her relationship with her husband following a cycling accident. LOOKING TASTY Here’s a first look at the second series of Sky One drama Delicious starring Dawn French and Emilia Fox. Gina and Sam’s business goes from strength to strength, but the return of Gina’s estranged father causes problems……

SHOW BIG FISH THE MUSICAL Kelsey Grammer appears on the London stage for the first time in this new show. Directed by former EastEnder Nigel Harman (Dennis Rickman), Big Fish The Musical is a love story that journeys deeps into what it means to be human. It’s on at The Other Palace theatre till 31 December – for tickets, visit www.theotherpalace.co.uk DVD OUR GIRL: THE NEPAL TOUR Former Corrie star Michelle Keegan (Tina McIntyre) is back as Georgie Lane in the third series of the BBC’s hit Army drama. Providing support in Nepal, Georgie and her team end up stumbling across a case of child trafficking. win!  For the chance to win a copy, tell us who played soldier Caz Hammond in Coronation Street: A) Rhea Bailey or B) Melissa…

If you’ve watched Corrie recently and thought you spotted a flicker of flirtation between Steve and Tracy, your eyes weren’t deceiving you! The pair – who’ve been more on and off than the beer pumps at the Rovers – are set for an unexpected reunion this winter, confirms Street boss Kate Oates. “I really like Steve and Tracy,” shares the Street’s producer. “You can see what sort of things have drawn them back together. They’ve both been around the block so many times that, in a way, maybe they should be brought together again for a while.” We imagine that Tracy will feel as though all her Christmases have come at once, seeing as she’s always had a soft spot for Steve – even when they’ve…

“It’s clear from the Inside Soap Awards that I’m not the only person who loves Mrs Tembe in Doctors . It’s time she had her own show, The Mrs Tembe Mysteries – where she lives on a barge on the Grand Union canal and solves murders in Dudley and Walsall!” …requests reader Gary “I know Emmerdale is pairing Lydia with Sam , but I think she should be with Rishi . She’d really bring out his silly side – and I love it when Rishi is silly.” …suggests reader Louisa from Newcastle “ Anna was there right at the start of Phelan’s story, when he basically raped her. If she isn’t fully involved in his…

Mary is mortified this week, after learning that her daughter-in-law Angie doesn’t have an alcohol problem – and actually suffers from post-natal depression. Angie and her husband Jude fell out spectacularly with Mary when she called the police on Angie and accused her of driving while over the limit. But after Mary realises that she’s misjudged Angie completely, she begs forgiveness and offers the couple her unqualified support. Will Angie accept her mother-in-law’s apology?…

Daniel stuns Zara when he returns to work unexpectedly this week, while still recuperating from his recent injuries. Despite his fragile state, Daniel makes his presence felt at the partners’ meeting, where the tension between him and Zara is palpable. After snapping at Mrs Tembe, he insists that it’s time extended practice hours were discussed – and he’ll brook no arguments! Can the tetchy medic convince his colleagues that it’s the right move to make?…

FAMOUS FAMILY Joseph is back in Corrie, but is he being played by the same actor as before? Sheryn Joseph was recast before he returned, and is now played by William Flanagan. William is the brother of Isabella Flanagan – who plays Hope Stape in Corrie – and Amelia Flanagan, aka Emmerdale’s April! BABY BLUES EastEnders’ Billy recently told Honey that she didn’t accept Janet when she was born, but I don’t remember much of that. What happened there? Joel, Kidderminster Honey rejected Janet after delivering her – even changing her name from Janet (after Honey’s mum) to Petal. Honey admitted she wanted to put her daughter up for adoption – and later even considered smothering her with a pillow. But when…

All our winners are thrilled to bits when they arrive to collect their Inside Soap trophies, but star Julia is so giddy to have been crowned your Best Newcomer, you’d think she’d just won the lottery! “I can’t stop smiling!” beams the actress, who has been playing Weatherfield’s Shona since December last year. “I’ve been a massive fan of Coronation Street my whole life, so to get a job on the show and then be named Inside Soap’s Best Newcomer… I’m just pinching myself!” After hitting it off with David, plucky Shona was revealed to be the mother of killer Clayton Hibbs – who murdered David’s wife, Kylie. So Julia tells us that she’s even more amazed that you have taken her character into your hearts. “I really want to…

As if murdering James wasn’t bad enough, deranged Emma Barton then moved on to further twisted activities – which included terrorising a child, stealing a baby and shooting her own son! Although Emma met her maker when she was pushed to her death, we’re delighted to have actress Gillian with us to pick up her Best Bad Girl Award… Congratulations on the win, Gillian! How does it feel knowing Emma is so popular? I’m so grateful, and it means a lot knowing that readers enjoyed what I did with Emma. Obviously her actions were a bit dodgy, but there was a lot of love in her. Anyone who has the capacity to love is going to be more watchable, and you’ve got to have some sympathy for someone like that.…

It’s the first time you’ve won an Inside Soap Award – you must be chuffed! It’s wonderful, and it feels great. Everybody in the category is really talented, so there was stiff competition from all the soaps. Thank you to everybody who voted – I’m glad you’re enjoying Gemma on screen, and hopefully I can stick around for some more laughs! Gemma’s had a jam-packed year, but it hasn’t all been about the laughs, has it? She’s been on quite a roller-coaster ride! It was nice to see the flip side as Gemma looked after Rita, rather than the other way round. I was really happy with how the Rita story played out, and the fans were very caring about it, which was great. Which other…

Mrs Tembe has been lighting up our lunchtimes since 2011, so it’s about bloomin’ time that actress Lorna, who plays the much-loved practice manager, was honoured with a prize! And she’s tickled pink to have picked it up… So this is Doctors’ first Inside Soap Award! What a fabulous achievement. It’s a bit of a shock. When they told me, I did have to say, ‘What?!’. What’s most incredible is that it’s a reader-voted prize, and that’s amazing. Inside Soap has been so fantastic to us, and this Award is for the entire team. It’s a massive achievement. There’s a lot of love for Mrs Tembe! She really has grabbed people, it’s amazing. And the age range of viewers who tune into…

ONE OF THE BRILLIANT THINGS ABOUT THIS SERIES is that despite focusing on a family trying to do the best for their autistic son, it doesn’t feel worthy or heavy-handed . The slightly dysfunctional Hughes family all come across as rounded characters with their own needs and eccentricities (particularly grandad Maurice, played by Christopher Eccleston), so Joe’s autism doesn’t define the family – it just changes things for them . We’re also incredibly impressed with young star Max Vento (aka Joe), who isn’t remotely overshadowed in this cast of very accomplished actors.…

Around 2,200 men are diagnosed with testicular cancer each year in the United Kingdom. It is one of the less common cancers, and tends to mostly affect men between 15 and 49 years of age. The most common symptom is a painless swelling or lump in one of the testicles. Other signs can include a dull ache or feeling of heaviness in the scrotum. Treatment almost always includes the surgical removal of the affected testicle, which doesn’t usually affect fertility or the ability to have sex. In some cases, chemotherapy or radiotherapy may be used. Testicular cancer is one of the most treatable types of cancer, and the outlook is one of the best. In England and Wales, 98 per cent of men survive for five years or more after…

“To give Tom a chance involved a huge leap of faith for Debbie” There’s a nightmare for Debbie this week – when Sarah gets hurt in a quad bike accident while out with Tom. It all kicks off after the rich fella takes out the youngster so they can get to know each other better, and Sarah crashes and is knocked unconscious. Horrified Debbie rushes to her daughter’s side, and Tom feels terrible about putting Sarah in harm’s way. Is the incident enough to destroy the burgeoning relationship between Debbie and Tom? “It’s still early days for this romance, and she’s never sure whether to trust him or not,” shares our Emmerdale insider. “Debbie is always nervous about introducing people into her circle, especially since she’s had such bad experiences.…

Christmas in Walford is shaping up to be a real cracker, with insiders and stars of the show teasing some of the most explosive scenes EastEnders has ever seen. We already know that Branning sisters Lauren and Abi are set to bow out of the soap in dramatic fashion – and reports have since emerged that their father Max could be about to bump off Ian Beale! “Max becomes obsessed with revenge, and that means wanting rid of Ian – but this time for good,” a source revealed to a tabloid paper recently. “In the run-up to Christmas, Max is a man on the edge, and will take matters into his own hands. How he will try to finish Ian off is not clear yet, but the episodes are set…

Paul leaves his fake fiancée Courtney stunned this week – when he suggests they elope! Although the pair are engaged, it’s all a ruse cooked up by Paul to make Terese jealous. But when he finds out that Terese has reunited with Gary, Paul impulsively suggests that he and Courtney get hitched the very next day… “Rationally Paul knows that marrying Courtney is ridiculous, but emotionally he’s being drawn in,” explains Stefan Dennis, who plays the bad boy. “He has genuinely grown fond of Courtney, and there’ve been a few moments where he’s actually thought that this could become serious. But he wants things to happen quickly – he knows that if he thinks about it for too long, he’ll change his mind!” Courtney has grown quite fond of Paul…

FAIR CITY Robbie prepares to welcome Karen into the family this week, as they wait for his DNA results. But is he really her father? Elsewhere, Niamh is stunned when Marcus returns to town and makes a surprising offer… Also, Doug declares war on Miriam! RIVER CITY Caitlin reaches out to her Uncle John as a donor for Maggie this week – but will he agree? Meanwhile, Lenny disapproves of Amber and Gabriel’s flirting, and Stevie is soon stirring up trouble between them! Also, Shelley attempts to fix her failed relationship with sister Jules… THE ARCHERS Lilian confides in Peggy this week, who is horrified by what she hears. And as Justin struggles with being prime suspect in the hit-and-run, can they handle the stress? Elsewhere, Lynda’s reservations about the…

Whit finds Woody quite needy – she doesn’t like that at all “To be honest, I always preferred Westlife to Blue!” giggles EastEnders star Shona McGarty, aka Whitney, when we quiz her on what it’s like to have pop star Lee Ryan – who plays Woody – as an on-screen love interest. “Lee wasn’t best pleased when I told him that! But it’s been great fun working with him – he’s always singing on set and has been known to belt out All Rise! Sometimes I’ll join in and we’ll do a little duet.” It may be fun and games behind the scenes, but life is no bed of roses for Whitney and Woody this week – after Moose, an old pal of Whit’s soon-to-be-ex-hubby Lee, turns up and causes…

Here at Inside Soap, we’re still struggling to come to terms with Frankie’s shock death – so spare a thought for poor Jimmy McKenna, who plays her grieving husband Jack. “I was so upset when I found out Helen Pearson [Frankie] was leaving,” the star tells us. “We’ve been working together for over 15 years now. The whole Osborne family was close on set, so we’re all missing Helen very much.” Poor Jack hasn’t been coping well since his wife’s sudden death from a stroke – so when it comes to organising her funeral, he struggles to keep it together. However, after his clan makes a mess of the arrangements, Jack is forced to step in again. “He doesn’t like the flowers they pick and he doesn’t like the music,”…

Bethany’s harrowing sexual grooming story has been one of the most talked-about soap plots this year. And all of leading lady Lucy’s hard work has paid off, as our readers have rewarded the actress with her very first Inside Soap Award… Congratulations, Lucy! Did you ever expect to be an award winner when you started the job? It’s such a big jump from starting at Corrie almost three years ago, to winning Best Actress now! I was surprised to even be nominated, and it’s crazy that I’ve actually won. I was in a category with a lot of amazing women, so I feel very proud of myself. What has been your favourite moment while playing Bethany this year? It was so much fun getting to smash…

Soaps wouldn’t be half as much fun to watch without their steamy love scenes – and the recipients of this year’s Sexiest Male and Female trophies have had plenty of those between them! EastEnders star Davood has set screens alight with his character Kush’s romance with Denise, while the Dales’ Natalie J Robb has had so much on-screen action this year that Moira didn’t know who the father of her baby was! It’s no wonder our readers voted for this duo as their hot favourites… “I’m chuffed to win this Award, I’m not going to lie!” grins Natalie. “I’m 43 in a few weeks, and I’ve won Sexiest Female! My mum will be really happy, too – she’s been saying to me for ages, ‘I don’t understand why you’re not…

This year marked the end of Casualty’s 30th anniversary celebrations – and what better way to top off the milestone than with two Inside Soap Awards? The cast were over the moon to nab Best Drama Storyline for last August’s big helicopter crash… “I think we deserve it, because we did such an extraordinary thing,” reckons star Jaye Griffiths, aka Elle. “Although I knew what was going to happen, the episode still took my breath away when I tuned in!” “There was definitely a buzz after we’d finished filming,” agrees Crystal Yu, who played Lily until recently. “It just feels like Casualty is constantly pushing boundaries – and being part of this show is something I’ll always be very proud of.” And that wasn’t the only thing the cast had…

“THERE ARE SOME GREAT PARALLELS BETWEEN TOMMY AND LUCA ” We only got the faintest glimpse of him in last week’s opening episode, but it was more than enough to know that the arrival of Luca Changretta can’t mean anything good for Tommy Shelby and the Peaky Blinders. It’s definitely good news for viewers, though, as he’s played by Oscar-winning Hollywood star Adrien Brody – and you don’t hire an actor of that calibre if the character isn’t going to make some waves. But when Inside TV spoke to Adrien about making his UK television debut in the series, he was keeping coy about the exact nature of Luca’s plans… “You won’t get any spoilers from me!” he…

It’s Strictly’s annual trip to Blackpool this weekend, and the chance to dance with a professional in the Tower Ballroom is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the contestants – as proud northern lass Gemma Atkinson knows very well. This series has already served up a shock, with presumed frontrunner Aston Merrygold making a surprise exit, but Gemma was still in the competition as we went to press. Inside TV got on the phone to her after a day’s hard training, to ask about her journey so far and her pre-performance rituals – and why dancing in Blackpool would mean everything to her… Hi Gemma! How are you finding the Strictly experience? It’s one of the most amazing things I’ve ever done, but it’s…

BULLSEYE! The Willmott-Brown/Max/revenge/property plot is the strangest, most-difficult-to-relate-to soap storyline in years, but all kudos to Gillian Taylforth for rising above the confusion. In a moving performance, she forced old W-B to relive every minute of the night he raped her. (Though we were hoping she’d also find the strength to knee him right in the goolies.) Not sure that Kathy or her family would have kept a cheery picture of her rapist in the family photo album for 30 years. In Hollyoaks, Brody is very sad that Neeta is dead. So sad, in fact, that he can’t be bothered to put a shirt or trousers on. We pray for a long and painful grieving process. “Oh Billy … I’ve the strangest feeling… It’s almost like… EastEnders has no idea…