Inside Soap UK 26 - 2016

Hooray! Summer’s here. Well, you wouldn’t know it at the moment if you looked out my window at the rain belting down, plus there’s the fact that I’m rather tired today as I was awoken in the night by a thunderclap so almighty that I thought I must be caught in one of Emmerdale’s explosive village dramas! However, we’re British, so we will live in eternal hope that summer will be here soon – especially as it gives us here at Inside Soap the chance to bring you a big, fat summer preview! We’ve got all the sizzling secrets over on p12. There are big returns, shock affairs, secrets revealed and couples reunited. If we can be certain of one thing, it’s that it’s going to be a hot summer…

“SHARON KNOWS THAT SHE HAS TO STAND UP AND BE THE STRONG ONE” It’s a sad day in Walford this week, as the Mitchell clan gather to say a fond final farewell to their beloved matriarch Peggy. However, with Phil understandably crippled by grief – and his returned sister Sam causing trouble wherever she goes – it falls to Sharon to take charge of her late mother-in-law’s funeral. Will she be able to work her magic so that Peggy has the send-off she deserves? Or will it be a day that ends up haunting the family forever? “Peggy’s final scenes were so special that it’s only right her funeral is special, too – and it really is,” shares actress Letitia Dean, who plays Sharon. “It’s a proper East End affair…

The most obvious absentee from Peggy’s funeral is her other son, Grant – and that’s the best possible outcome for Sharon, who shared a tender moment with her ex the last time they were together. “When Sharon found out that Grant wasn’t planning to attend the funeral, I think she was relieved,” reckons Letitia. “When he was last in Walford, they shared a ‘moment’, and all the history and old feelings between them flared up unexpectedly. I think she’s pleased not to have the distraction.” Given the connection between them, though, can Sharon be certain that her future really lies with Phil and not his brother? “Yes!” declares the star. “Sharon and Phil have been through so much together, and if they’ve made it this far, they shouldn’t walk away…

“LISA’S FIRST THOUGHT IS SHEER TERROR AT LOSING HER DAUGHTER” Belle has a hell of a shock in store for Dr Bailey this week – as she announces that she’s expecting his child! Sacked from his job and knee-deep in scandal, the cheating medic is all set to leave the village far behind him when Belle drops the b-word, rocking him to the core. But as Bailey tries to come to terms with how this could have happened, is Belle being honest about her sudden pregnancy? “The whole thing comes as an enormous shock,” sighs Jane Cox, who plays Belle’s mortified mother Lisa. “Belle reckons she’s pregnant, and everyone stops in their tracks. Of course, Zak is furious and wants to kill Bailey – and Cain wants to get him,…

Belle’s misbehaviour has taken Lisa to hell and back – but Jane has nothing but praise for Eden Taylor-Draper, who plays her. “I really take my hat off to Eden,” enthuses Jane. “She has such a huge workload at the moment, but she gets on with it so professionally. She does her best with everything and I totally admire her – although I was a bit shocked when she started getting kissing scenes! “We have a cool relationship and can talk about anything. Eden is very mature. As her pretend mum, it’s been lovely to see her growing up, and I’m very proud of her.”…

“POOR DANIEL BROCKLEBANK WILL GET GRIEF FOR DOING THE DIRTY ON SEAN!” There’s misery for Sean this week, when Billy finally finds the courage to leave him for Todd. Sean and his fella have been trying to put their relationship back together again following their brief split, but Sean has no idea that Billy has fallen for bad boy Todd. When Todd finally admits to Billy that he’s falling for him too, it’s a huge shock – and there’s a decision to make. Sadly for Sean, it’s clear which man Billy should be with… “Sean is convinced Billy is ‘The One’, so whatever happens to them, he presumes they’re for keeps,” explains Antony Cotton, who plays the oblivious fella. “He’s bought into the story that their problems and Billy’s aloof…