Table of contents for 9 - 2016 in Inside Soap UK

Mother’s Day, eh? That wonderful time where we spoil our mums and make them feel oh-so-special. Unless you’re a soap mum, of course, in which case you usually receive the gift of heartache and agony. Take this week in Albert Square – Claudette’s special day ends in a murderous drama, Denise finds herself risking all for her stepson, and poor Linda must deal with warring kids and a terrible accident. Corrie’s mums fare no better, as Kylie’s happy time is destroyed when she’s confronted with a big reminder of Max’s dad. Mind you, if Emmerdale’s Charity gets no gifts, she’s brought it on herself – fresh out of prison, she decides there are more important things to do than see her own sons! Luckily, we’re sure that soap’s real-life mums…

1 Claudette claims that Vincent’s dad Henry was killed by Phil’s dad Eric Mitchell, but the Mitchells insist that Eric was no killer. Is Claudette trying to cover up the fact she murdered her own husband? 2 Is Henry still alive? Did he cheat on Claudette and leave Walford with another woman? Has Claudette told Vincent that his dad is dead because she doesn’t want to admit her own shame? 3 Perhaps Henry wasn’t the only man in Claudette’s life. Might Vincent’s dad be someone else entirely? And does Gavin know the truth?…

DREAM TEAM! EastEnders’ Shane Richie and Jessie Wallace (Alfie and Kat Moon) have signed up to appear on stage together again. Currently touring in play The Perfect Murder, the pair will star opposite each other in panto this Christmas as Robin Hood and Maid Marian. SQUARE REVAMP Back in Albert Square, meanwhile, BBC bosses are planning a new EastEnders set - and rumour has it they want to build a mosque. “The new set will better reflect the East End of London on screen, as well as increase the potential for future storylines,” says a spokesperson. DEADLY DUO! A new Hollyoaks trailer has teased that ‘Gloved Hand Killer’ Lindsey will join forces with former Chester serial killer Silas Blissett! “They could be teaming up - there could be some aggression!”…

While we’d not wish wicked Phelan on any woman, star Les reckons that Michael and Eileen’s split might be for the best after all… “If I was Michael’s friend, I would tell him to fight for what he wants,” the actor tells us. “However, the problem is, that Michael doesn’t know if he wants Eileen or Gail! “Michael needs someone who is a little more settled and nurturing than Eileen,” adds Les. “With Eileen, he has that dynamic where they shout at each other and it’s exciting. Although with Gail, he’s totally looked after. And given his heart condition, maybe that’s exactly what he needs!”…

“MARIA HAS BEEN A BUSY GIRL AT THE DONKEY SANCTUARY IN CYPRUS!” Weatherfield’s Maria Connor is due back from Cyprus next month – and it seems she’ll be bringing home a hot new fella as a souvenir! From the looks of our snaps, Maria’s boyfriend Luke will greet her with flowers – only to find his girlfriend with another bloke… “Maria has been a busy girl while she’s been at the donkey sanctuary in Cyprus!” shares actress Samia Ghadie. “It’s not long before everyone learns of her surprise news. The scripts made me laugh out loud.” The identity of her mystery man is being kept under wraps, but it sounds as if Maria will have a lot of explaining to do! The intriguing scenes marked Samia’s first day back filming…

“MEGAN IS FINDING IT VERY DIFFICULT - LET’S HOPE SHE CAN GET THROUGH THIS” Jai and Megan begin to put their fractured past behind them this week, as their new baby daughter brings them closer together again. With Jai having rushed her to hospital after she went into labour in the woods, Megan is starting to soften towards the ex who broke her heart. So might their love for their little girl lead to a reunion for the pair? “It’s not that long ago that Megan was desperate to get as far away from Jai as she could,” sighs our Emmerdale insider. “And no wonder, since Jai’s behaviour was atrocious at the time. Megan was heartbroken after she caught him cheating with her business partner Leyla – so when she…

FAIR CITY Eoghan is shocked when Deegan arrests him this week, and he later reveals to Tommy that he has a court date. Tommy urges Eoghan to tell his family before somebody else does. Elsewhere, Charlotte feels guilty when Charlie suspects the break-in was personal, and plans to sell the house. Also, Carol asks Paul to be a silent partner in her business. RIVER CITY Alex seeks answers about his family this week, and visits his half-sister Amber, who is in prison for murder. Amber says she wants nothing more to do with the Murdochs, but she later considers returning to Shieldinch after her release. Meanwhile, Caitlin attempts to build bridges with Patrick by asking for his help. Also, Bob stuns Ellie with the truth about his fertility. THE ARCHERS…

CHARITY SHARED HISTORY Charity started out as Cain’s teen lover, and has been driving him mad in the decades since! Bonded forever by daughter Debbie, Charity and Cain have repeatedly hooked up while seeing other people – yet when they tried to be together properly, it all went to hell. She should have just married him in 2010. MADE FOR LOVE? You can’t accuse Charity of not giving romance a go! She’s been married three times – to Chris, Jai and Declan – and engaged just as often. There have also been flings with Ross, Marlon, Zoe Tate and many more. The trouble is, her scheming always seems to screw up her life – as well as everyone else’s! PLAYING DIRTY Hard nut Charity has no fear and will do…

What’s the best thing about being in Home and Away ? …asks Sally from Kidderminster Well, I have to say the people I work with – everyone is so enthusiastic and loves what they do. But a close second to that is shooting at Palm Beach [north of Sydney]. Even though you can be bleary-eyed at 5am, when you get there and see the sun come up, it’s pretty special. Everyone here knows how lucky we are; we may never get another job as good as Home and Away! Are you in the market for a girlfriend, and if so, where can I apply? …asks Charlotte, via email Ha ha! I do have a girlfriend who I’ve been with for two years, so I’m not currently taking…

Be bold and beautiful in blue with Closet’s V-neck wrap dress. Jazzed up or dressed down, it’s pure perfection. If you’re really looking to impress on Mother’s Day, this high-neck beauty from Yumi won’t leave you disappointed. Embrace the lace with Joy’s intricate and super-flattering design. Look as if you’ve walked right off the catwalk! Mums can look every inch the siren by embracing power-dressing with a hot maternity wardrobe. Give winter weather the cold shoulder with this pretty shoulder-less dress from River Island.…

THE FIRST SERIES of Happy Valley was fantastic, gripping TV that seemed to tell a self-contained story, so we were a little concerned when we heard it was coming back. We needn’t have worried, as writer Sally Wainwright has struck gold again. She’s found dramatic mileage in exploring the repercussions of Catherine’s actions from the first series, as well as adding new characters and plots that still fit the overall tone of the show. And we really cannot say enough times just how brilliant Sarah Lancashire is as Catherine - etch her name on the Best Actress Bafta now……

“OREGONCOULD DOSOMANY DIFFERENTTHINGS. SHE’S SO MOTIVATED, BUT ALSO SO MISGUIDED AND DELUSIONAL.” Charlotte Ritchie ponders the future for her Fresh Meat character “I TRIED TO MEET SOME ROPERS, BUT IT WAS FORBIDDEN BYTHE PRODUCTION’S LAWYERSIN CASETHEYSUED.” Hugh Laurie researched some real arms dealers for his role as Richard Roper in The Night Manager “YOU CAN’T BE IN THE WATER FOR LONG WITHTHESHARK PRESENCEAROUND THATCOASTLINE.” One of the many reassuring quotes from Bear Grylls about filming Mission Survive in southern Africa “EVERY ACTOR LIKES A CLOSE-UP,AND FOREVERYSHOT TO BE A CLOSE-UP WASGREAT!” Peter Bowles on the appeal of the unique filming style of BBC2’s Murder…

EastEnders’ Martin has been nothing short of a superhero in the way he’s held things together while Stacey is in hospital. So we all really felt for him when he leaned the truth about Arthur’s paternity… After everything Martin has been through in the past few weeks, to find out that he’s not even Arthur’s dad must have been devastating. Not only that, but his best mate Kush is the dad. Talk about kicking a guy when he’s down! Ben, via email It’s taken me a while to warm to Martin in his present form – as it often does when characters change faces – but I have to say that he’s fast become one of my favourite people in Walford. The way he’s been there for Stacey…

Izzy’s decision to take cannabis for pain relief may come back to bite her! Our sneaky snaps show the troubled lass having a word with some uniformed cops after she winds up down the local nick… “Izzy is a good girl, so she’ll feel wretched about breaking the law,” reckons our Street mole. “She only started taking the drug because she was in an unbelievable amount of pain. It was pure desperation.” Erica got hold of the weed for Izzy initially, while more recently her ex-boyfriend Gary offered to help. But do they risk landing themselves in a whole heap of trouble if Izzy is collared by the law? “If she’s moved to make a confession, the question is whether Izzy will take her friends down with her,” ponders our…

Chrissie wonders if her friendship with Andy could lead to something more this week – but is the Sugden stud feeling the same way? While Andy was perturbed when he realised he’d been a pawn in a honeytrap that Chrissie set up, he still stepped in after she confided in him her concerns that Lawrence might not be her biological father. Chrissie was understandably distraught to discover that Lawrence and her late mother had the same open marriage agreement that he and Bernice share. And when Chrissie started to question whether Lawrence is actually her biological father, Andy offered his take on the situation. Having been brought up by his adoptive father Jack, Andy insisted that she shouldn’t carry out a DNA test – warning her of the heartbreak it…

Valerie is left stunned when her old friend Barry gets down on one knee to propose this week. Certain her latest round of chemotherapy hasn’t worked, Valerie is at a particularly low ebb. But determined to lift her spirits, loyal Barry seizes the moment by asking her to marry him – leaving Valerie speechless. After she accepts his proposal, Valerie’s friends and colleagues are shocked by the news, afraid that this might be too big a commitment for the pair while Valerie’s cancer treatment continues. But will Valerie decide life’s too short to choose the sensible option? Also this week… Ex-Emmerdale actress Alicya Eyo (Ruby Haswell) stars as nuisance neighbour Gina.…

“DIEGO WANTS TO HAVE EMOTIONAL STABILITY IN HIS RELATIONSHIP” Call us cynics, but when Myra first returned with toy boy Diego, we couldn’t help being suspicious. But after the handsome foreigner weathered the revelation that his lover wasn’t actually a countess – bless him for believing! – he certainly proved us wrong. Of course, Myra is still not being totally honest with her young beau – which may become a problem when he reveals he’d like to have a baby with her! That leaves Myra understandably horrified, as Juan Pablo Yepez, who plays Diego, explains… “Basically, Diego’s not exactly sure how old Myra is!” laughs the Venezuelan-born actor. “He just thinks, ‘That’s one of the normal progressions for a steady relationship, right?’. He wants to reassure Myra that he’s here…

"Beau has been a smashing baby - he's very laid-back!" Tina O’Brien Plays Corrie’s Sarah Age 32 Kids Scarlett Jacqueline (7) and Beau Lee (17 months old). Splits can often make life complicated when kids are involved, but Tina O’Brien and Scarlett’s dad, Ryan Thomas (Corrie’s Jason), ensure Scarlett has the best of both worlds… “We are a very modern family,” shares the actress. “We spent Christmas morning all together last year for the first time. It was lovely. When I was approached to come back to Corrie, Ryan assured me we’d make the childcare work for Scarlett. I was very lucky that it was never an issue.” Always on hand is Tina’s partner, Adam Crofts. The pair met in 2010 when Scarlett started chatting to Adam in a…

Drop these cute bath bombs into the tub and revive your senses after a long day. Perfect for any super-mum needing a recharge! Enjoy a little luxury every day by lifting the lid on this selection of signature favourites from Sanctuary Spa. It’s a box of indulgent delights! No one deserves pampering more than an expectant mum, so receive a little love from nature with Burt’s Bees’ extra-special pampering kit. Be treated to the aroma of violet and jasmine petals plus vanilla infusion, all bottled up in the prettiest packaging. No mum will be able to resist it!…

Most of us are guilty of occasionally buying things that we don’t really need, and in this new series BBC Breakfast business presenter Steph McGovern and The One Show’s Alex Jones are helping families to lower their spending without compromising on quality. Even if that does involve some slightly sneaky tactics… “In each episode, we’ll follow a family in their usual shopping routine,” Steph tells Inside TV. “It’s not food shopping, but everything else – clothes, gadgets, beauty and kitchen products, things like that. We spy on them shopping, and then we take all their stuff out of their house, put it in a pop-up shop, and show them how much they’ve spent in different areas.” The families featured are shocked to…

1 SATURDAY DVD THE LAST WITCH HUNTER Get ready for big swords, big battles and big drama as Vin Diesel stars alongside Michael Caine, Elijah Wood and Rose Leslie in this action-packed fantasy adventure. Having once slayed the Queen Witch, valiant warrior Kaulder has to battle her again when she’s resurrected… WIN! For the chance to win a copy, tell us who Michael Stevenson plays in Casualty: A) Jack, B) Iain, or C) Max. Text ISWIN1, a space, then A, B, or C and your name & address to 87080 (50p). Or see below for postal entries. 2 SUNDAY DVD THE LADY IN THE VAN Based on a true story, this is the tale of Miss Shepherd (Maggie Smith), who ‘temporarily’ parks her van on Alan Bennett’s (Alex…

WIFE AND TIMES I’m sure I recognise the lady in Emmerdale who is playing Aaron’s stepmum, Sandra. What has she been in? Marge, via email Actress Joanne Mitchell, who plays Sandra, is the wife of fellow Dales star Dominic Brunt (Paddy)! She’s been in Emmerdale before briefly, as well as Corrie , Casualty and Holby City among other shows. OFF THE RAILS? In EastEnders, Abi recalled a time as a kid that she got her head stuck in the railings in the Square. I don’t remember that. Did we ever see it on TV? Gabrielle, Kettering We did! The incident took place back in 2006, as 10-year-old Abi tried to impress pal Ben with her…

BULLSEYE! Rhona is doing a bang-up job of making Paddy suffer for his fling with Tess – but why waste the energy on a man who’d clearly rather be anywhere than at home saving his marriage? Get shot of him, love! While you still have some dignity. We’d love to know how Gavin had Claudette’s number stored in his phone after all these years. Didn’t he leave Walford before mobiles were even invented? Chas has made peace with killer Robert through their shared hatred for vile Gordon. Emmerdale knows how to redeem its most popular villains: give them an enemy who’s even worse! Will Phil and Sharon’s divorce be finalised just in time for Grant’s return? She’s doomed to be endlessly traded between the brothers, like a dog-eared Pokémon card.…

Hello, Richard. What does Vincent have planned for Mother’s Day? He’s hoping to have a nice day with all his family around him – Kim, Pearl and Claudette. Vincent is expecting a very peaceful Mother’s Day, but living on Albert Square, he should know a lot better! Vincent walks in on this terrible scene between Gavin and Claudette – is it a shock to him? Well, it’s clear that Vincent has been here before with his mum – you can tell by his reaction that they have visited this level of darkness previously. Claudette is keeping a secret from him, but tries to explain what’s happened. Does he believe her? Well, even though other people can look at Claudette and see there is more to her than meets the eye,…

Heartbroken Denise is faced with a stark choice this week – help Jordan break Lucas out of prison, or lose the young lad forever! Denise has been unaware of Lucas’ manipulation of Jordan, convincing his son to help him escape and start a new life abroad. But when it looks as if Libby has rumbled Jordan, the boy realises he can’t do it alone and is finally honest with Denise. What will she do next? “Don’t forget that Lucas has messed with Denise’s head as well,” our EastEnders insider reminds us. “He has tapped into her loneliness, her difficult feelings for him and her love for Jordan. There is no doubt in Jordan’s mind that Denise cares for Lucas, and he thinks they could all be happy abroad. His belief…

First there was Ben’s daughter Carly, then there was Nico’s grandad Patrick – and now poor Theresa and Sienna could be the next victims! And the rest of Chester’s unknowing residents should be quaking in their boots as well, because Persephone reckons her character’s killing spree is far from over… “I think Nico considers murder as an option every time a problem presents itself,” says the actress. “She’s so aware that she’s a murderer now, and it’s completely changed how she sees herself, because she knows that she’s capable of killing if the situation requires it. I think Nico will eventually go down in history as one of Hollyoaks’ biggest serial killers!”…

“The first person I told about getting the role was my sister, and she was so excited for me. She lives in London, and I’d informed her all about the auditions. She used to help me tape myself when I had to audition for US TV shows!” “My first day at Hollyoaks was hectic, but in a nice way! I had to go to the production office, casting, costume… I was rushing around. There were so many people – for the first week, I said ‘hello’ to everyone because I didn’t know if I’d already met them!” “I first met Nicole [Barber-Lane, who plays Myra] at the auditions – so when I started, she was very welcoming. She took me by the hand and showed me how everything worked in…

When it comes to fatherhood, the cobbles’ Simon Gregson (Steve) has taken the plunge, bringing up three cute lads! The 41-year-old star was pictured taking his sons – Alfie, eight, six-year-old Harry and baby Henry – for a swim recently. Posing in the water with the littlest of the three in his arms, Simon looked every inch the proud dad. He’s clearly making the most of his daddy time before he heads back to the Corrie set later this spring – and his wife Emma has certainly enjoyed having her hubby around, tweeting: ‘Henry’s 1st swim!!! My four beautiful boys!’ Aw… Also starring...…

SHAYNE’S GOAL Shayne Ward (Corrie’s Aidan) has revealed that settling down is his main aim – while letting slip that he’s dating someone new after splitting from actress Faye McKeever in 2014. The cobbles hunk enthused that he’d like a big family one day – yet kept quiet on the new lady in his life, simply stating “it’s early days”. FIT FOR A KING The Street’s Claire King, aka Erica, has revealed that she likes to unwind in the continental sun. “I’ve got a place in Spain, and I go there whenever I get a break. I can hop on a plane on Friday and come back on a Sunday evening.” Oh, how the other half live! JORGIE’S NEW ROLE Hollyoaks’ Jorgie Porter (Theresa) is trying her hand at…

BACK TO BANKS ITV’s detective drama DCI Banks has started filming a new series. Regulars Stephen Tompkinson, Andrea Lowe and Caroline Catz will be joined by newbies Samuel Anderson and Shaun Dingwall. CROWN JEWELS Harry Enfield is to play Prince Charles in Channel 4’s comedy soap The Windsors. The sitcom, from the creators of celebrity spoof Star Stories, will also feature W1A’s Hugh Skinner as Prince William and Haydn Gwynne as the Duchess of Cornwall. LOVE CONNECTION Channel 4’s social experiment Married At First Sight is looking for singles for a new series. If you’re interested in having a panel of experts find your perfect love match for you, email marriedatfirstsight@cplproductions.co.uk for info.…

WHAT A CONNOR! What has happened to Corrie’s Carla? She used to be feisty, now she’s cowering from Tracy like a quivering wreck. It must be due to her relationship with Nick, the most boring man in Manchester. There’s as much chemistry between them as two bananas. Who cares if he finds out about her and Robert? She would be better off on her own. A Gavin, via email Let’s hope Carla is back to her brilliant best soon! VIVA ERINSBOROUGH! So Lassiters hotel is building a new tower in Neighbours. Who would have thought that Erinsborough was so popular with visitors? Could the Lassiters complex be about to become the new Las Vegas? Isabella, Caerphilly Whatever next? Dr Karl doing a Vegas-style residency? SO BAD SHE’S GOOD! If any…

ARIES 21 MARCH - 20 APRIL  You may be aware of your own heartbeat this week, and your mind will turn to romantic matters. If you’ve met someone new, make sure you strike while the iron is hot, and plan that Friday night date. TAURUS 21 APRIL - 21 MAY  You may receive some sobering news about or from a pal this week. Don’t let it get you down they’re relying on you to support them, just as you always have done. With your help, the dark clouds will lift. GEMINI 22 MAY - 21 JUNE  You’ll be living life on the edge this week! You’re usually quite reserved and wary of stepping too far outside the norm, but something will take over you and you’ll roar like a lion!…