Table of contents for 28 - 2018 in Inside Soap UK

“I find the soap theme tunes very comforting!” You know what? For all the fact that the theme tunes of our favourite soaps are there to herald the drama and excitement of the latest episode, I always find them rather comforting. I suppose it’s because these familiar melodies tell your brain that it’s time to forget your own worries for half an hour and lose yourself in someone else’s problems instead. This is quite surprising, considering that one of the most famous – the EastEnders theme – kicks in with a drum beat that’s more likely to make you jump out of your skin than relax into your sofa, if it catches you unexpectedly! We catch up with the man who wrote that famous theme some 30-odd years ago, composer…

Over the last couple of weeks we’ve brought you heartbreaking pictures of Sean sleeping rough, and the dangers he will face. However, none of those images come close to filling us with the dread that these latest snaps do, seeing as they show Sean cradling a bleeding homeless woman in his arms, after she appears to have been stabbed. News of the latest twist comes following star Antony Cotton’s candid admission that Sean’s story is very close to his heart, revealing that he recently helped a homeless man through tough times. “I randomly got a message from a lad that I had met a couple of times socially,” explains the actor. “It just said, ‘Can you help me? I’ve got nowhere else to turn, I’m homeless’.” Sean’s story is already…

“Neither Max and Rainie, or Cora are fit to be the parents of baby Abi. Toyah Battersby is desperate for a baby, so why not ship Abi over to Weatherfield?” …suggests reader Elaine from Kent “Instead of chasing Mel, who clearly isn’t interested, Ian should get together with Carmel. They are of similar age, both sadly lost a child and are both single. I think they would make a great couple.” …says reader Manisa from Harrow “ Aaron is stuck in Malta with chicken pox. I think this is so he can pop up in the village and save his beloved Robert and Liv from the clutches of evil Lachlan. I’m ready to cheer!” …plots reader Jenni “It’s about time Leah from Home and Away had…

“His idea of being faithful is only having one woman in his bed at a time. And I’m sure he’d make an exception there, given half the chance!” There’s no doubt that Tracy has David bang to rights! “I’m here for one of Audrey’s ‘special coffees’. I honestly don’t know why she sends me here when we’ve got a kettle at the salon. I get chatting to her about what I had for me tea last night, what I’m going to have for me tea tonight – and I see her eyes start to go and she just blurts out: ‘Emma, love! Nip over to Roy’s for one of my special coffees, will you?’ Third time this morning! She loves a special coffee, does Audrey!” At this rate, Audrey will…

Former drug addict Rainie once again finds it hard to resist temptation this week – when she comes face to face with her former dealer, Jez. Will her resolve be strong enough? After her problems with husband Max and their custody battle for baby Abi, Rainie almost succumbed to her old ways recently by attempting to buy drugs from Jez. However, she was saved when Phil witnessed what was going on and quickly sent the dealer on his way. But as Jez turns up in the Square again this week, Phil isn’t around to intervene. Fortunately, Rainie catches sight of Jez hanging about outside No 27 and angrily tells him to just leave her alone – stressing that she’s now clean, and leading a responsible life. Given her past form,…

“Being petrified is what I can recall more than anything!” confesses David Tag – aka Sylver – as we settle down for a natter and ask him about his first day at Hollyoaks. “I’ve done episodes here and there on different shows, but this was the first time I’ve been the centre of attention in a scene. It was the scariest thing I’ve ever done in my life!” Luckily, the actor – who made his Chester debut a couple of weeks back – has his on-screen sister Goldie, played by Chelsee Healey, to calm his nerves. “I get on with her like I do my own sister,” he tells us. “We have a laugh and take the mick out of each other – it’s great!” “Sylver will do whatever it…

Not every episode of EastEnders ends with a doof doof. Sometimes, when it’s a more emotional ending, a stripped-back piano version is used, called Julia’s Theme. “That was a ‘thank you’ to Julia Smith,” reveals Simon. “Whenever an important member of the cast left the show, that was the cue for Julia’s Theme to start. One of the luckiest ones was when Barbara Windsor [Peggy Mitchell] left in 2010. The director asked me to write a special piece for Barbara – Peggy’s Theme. I didn’t want the emotions to be disrupted by the contemporary drums coming in, and the producer said that it worked a treat! “It was a challenge to decide when to start the music when Pat Butcher died [in 2012]. I wanted it to start earlier, but…

We’ve always thought they were first-class people, but Corrie’s Catherine Tyldesley (Eva) and former Emmerdale star Tom Lister (Carl King) proved it recently – when they proudly received an honorary fellowship from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, where the pair studied. Catherine, who has just finished filming her final scenes on the cobbles, was sporting a new look – with Eva’s blonde locks replaced by a sophisticated new dark hue. And while the duo were full of praise for their old college, and the training they had there, Tom had one particular piece of advice for anyone who may want to follow in their footsteps. “Be nice,” grinned the actor. “It costs nothing, and makes you a lot easier to work with!”…

Peter Kay’s Car Share is my favourite comedy at the moment. I love that they finally got together, it’s so obvious that they were madly in love! I love Ricky Gervais too. It’s really sad that he isn’t hosting the Golden Globes now. I thought A Very English Scandal was just genius. Ben Whishaw is one of our great actors, I love him in anything he does, and Hugh Grant blew my mind. It was brilliant writing, directing and acting – it was so shocking, but really funny at the same time. I’m a massive Coronation Street fan – it’s the only soap worthy of viewership in my honest opinion! I think that they handle the storylines brilliantly. Pat Phelan went on…

In case you hadn’t spotted the heavy dollop of irony in this show’s title, things aren’t wholly great for DI Harry Clayton as the third series of the hit drama begins this week. Following the suicide of fellow charmed bracelet-holder Isabella, Harry is wanted in connection with her death and is now on the run from his police force colleagues… “Harry is much more isolated,” reveals James Nesbitt, who plays him. “He started off as a policeman, but he becomes someone on the run. Because Isabella turned the gun on herself, it looks as if someone is trying to make it seem as though Harry is responsible for her murder.” After a terrified Eve leaves London and flees to Hong Kong, Harry and Suri are sent to apprehend her. The…

CASUALTY Connie Beauchamp......... Amanda Mealing Gemma Dean...................... Rebecca Ryan Iain Dean...................... Michael Stevenson Lisa ‘Duffy’ Duffin................ Cathy Shipton Charlie Fairhead.............. Derek Thompson Noel Garcia........................... Tony Marshall Elle Gardner.......................... Jaye Griffiths Ethan Hardy.................... George Rainsford David Hide................................ Jason Durr Jan Jennings............................ Di Botcher Dylan Keogh.......................... William Beck Bea Kinsella........................... Michelle Fox Jacob Masters....................... Charles Venn Rash Masum........................... Neet Mohan Eddie McAllister................... Joe Gaminara Robyn Miller................ Amanda Henderson Alicia Munroe................ Chelsea Halfpenny Sam Nicholls........................ Charlotte Salt Ruby Sparks.............................. Maddy Hill Louise Tyler........................... Azuka Oforka CORONATION STREET Dev Alahan....................... Jimmi Harkishin Angie Appleton................. Victoria Ekanoye Jude Appleton..................... Paddy Wallace Adam Barlow...................... Sam Robertson Amy Barlow.......................... Elle Mulvaney Ken Barlow......................... William Roache Peter Barlow....................... Chris Gascoyne Simon Barlow.............................. Alex Bain Tracy Barlow............................... Kate Ford Leanne Battersby................... Jane Danson Toyah Battersby................... Georgia Taylor Chesney Brown.........................…

BULLSEYE! It would have been so easy for Emmerdale to put Tracy and David back together while they’re both at a loose end, but her decision to kick the vain scumbag to the kerb – even though it killed her – was absolutely the right decision. Good on you, girl! That said, if the stick doesn’t turn blue for Tracy after that cheeky afternoon romp they shared recently, we’ll eat our hats! EastEnders would have us believe that Big Mo, Kat, Jean, Stacey, Martin, Hayley, Whitney, Tiffany, Lily, Arthur and baby Hope are all living under the same roof. How? Do the children sleep in the bath? Does Mo hang upside-down from the rafters? Props to the Corrie props department for Steve McDonald’s Board Of Failed…

How are you finding playing a serial killer? Fantastic! It’s been great. It’s not something you get to play very often – and in a way I hope it’s not the last time, because it’s been a lot of fun trying to cover up all these crimes. The scripts have been absolutely brilliant, so I’ve really enjoyed it. What reaction have you had from viewers? There’s been hate, mostly! But that doesn’t surprise me, because I’d hate my character if I was a viewer. And there’s nothing wrong with that, as every show needs a villain, doesn’t it? It doesn’t bother me if people don’t like me. Are you looking forward to Lachlan finally getting his comeuppance? I think it would be great to see him get caught, because it’s…

Just as Mel looks to have found happiness with smitten Jack Branning, their romance will be derailed by the arrival of her former husband, Ray! EastEnders insiders are tipping the arrival of Mel’s former fella – who is the brother of gangster Ciara Maguire – as the catalyst for one of the show’s biggest storylines this autumn… “Mel’s son Hunter will make contact with Ray, and it brings him to Albert Square – just as everything seems to be going well for her,” reveals a show insider. “Ray has charm and charisma, but given his family ties to Ciara, he is not to be messed with! “Ray will have a massive impact on Jack, Mel, Hunter and others in Walford,” adds the source. “It’ll be interesting to see…

There’s a feud breaking out in the Street this week, over who’ll get to open Weatherfield’s newest retail establishment. Having got a bit tired of working at the kebab shop, Cathy lets slip to her partner Brian that she’d like a new challenge. While the couple discuss their options, they hit upon the perfect idea – to open a new hardware shop. And when there happens to be the perfect spot in one of the Victoria Street units, the happy pair are very excited. Unfortunately for Cathy and Brian, they are not the only ones to see the retail potential of the space – as Sinead eyes it up, too! She’s been thinking of opening a vintage clothing shop and, encouraged by fiancé Daniel, starts dreaming up ideas of what…

Tegan is determined to spoil Dee Dee this week, leading to an angry showdown with Diane. Fed up with the constant arguing, the poorly little girl claims she wishes that Tegan was her mum, unaware she actually is her biological mother! And this latest bombshell only piles the pressure on Diane and Tony’s already strained relationship. So when they later discover that a new – but potentially life-threatening – treatment might be available for Dee Dee, will it prove too much for the couple to cope with?…

JACK’S FIGHT FOR LIFE The Webster family suffered one of the most harrowing weeks of their lives, after little Jack developed sepsis and ended up in hospital on life support. And sadly, Jack’s misery is far from over… I had never even heard of sepsis before watching this week’s Corrie – it’s scary how something as small as a graze or cut can suddenly turn into a life-threatening condition. It’s great that the soaps have these stories so people know what signs to look out for. Karlie My heart went out to Sophie as she blamed herself for what had happened to Jack. It’s only natural to feel a sense of guilt when something like that happens to a child while they are in your care, but there’s no way…

She has… BET LYNCH’S TOUGHNESS Punters never dared cross formidable Bet, as she’d happily give them a pint of truth and then launch them out through the Rovers’ doors if they caused trouble. After years spent in the Dog & Gun, our Gemma would know just how to handle a big fight in the bar. She has… VERA DUCKWORTH’S AMBITION Like Gemma, Vera was never taken seriously enough to be considered a landlady. But when inheritance helped make her dream come true, Vera proved everyone wrong. She was never prouder than when she and Jack showed their neighbours that they were all class behind the bar. She has… LIZ McDONALD’S STYLE If you want to be a memorable landlady, you have to make a big impression, like…

“I caught an episode of EastEnders the other day, and it was brilliant,” reveals 28-year-old Maddy, who played the lead in Imogen at London’s Globe Theatre after leaving Walford. “Mick had some great scenes with Stuart – they were simple and raw. There was also some amazing stuff between Kat and Hayley. I recognised Katie Jarvis [Hayley] from her role in the film Fish Tank – she was wicked. “I’m sure Nancy’s having a lovely time on her travels, in between the car accidents and mishaps,” laughs the star. “But of course, I still miss the Carters. I’ll be seeing them all on Sunday, though. We’re having a bit of a get-together!”…

“I’d love to work with Gregory Finnegan, who plays James. He’s very good at what he does, and I’d really like to do some scenes with him – that would be great!” “The cast member who makes me laugh the most is definitely Chelsee! She’s always on point as well – as soon as the camera goes on to her, she’s just there. She’s brilliant.” “If I ever need to vent, I moan to Stuart Manning, who plays Russ. We get on really well, and have become quite good friends actually. He’d be my go-to guy!” “I was in awe of Jennifer Metcalfe [aka Mercedes]. The first scene I did with her, I was as nervous as when I did my first ever scene on the show! The fact that…

Megan is one of the most unflappable people in Emmerdale village! But will actress Gaynor remain so calm and collected as she faces your questions? “Who’s better for Megan – Frank or Graham?” “Who do you think Megan is better suited to – Frank or Graham?” They both have things going for them. Graham’s intriguing – he’s a man of mystery, and Megan finds him enigmatic. She loves the danger and the excitement of being around him. Whereas Frank is the loveable rogue who comes with a ready-made family, he’s fun and easy to be with, and he really loves Eliza. So they’re at opposite ends of the spectrum, but there’s something about them both she finds attractive. “What type of wedding would you like Megan and Frank to have?”…

Lottie London Festival Gems Go full-on glam with face jewels, such as ‘Unicorn Tales’ and ‘Off-Duty Mermaid’ that will take festival fever to a new level. Kitsch Daisy Darling Hair Ties Switch up your do every day with these sweet and sparkly festival-inspired hair ties. Barry M Pick ‘n’ Glitz Available in four colours, our favourites have to be the tropical blue of ‘Slay’ and the vibrant pink of ‘Sass’, for their bold, bright and fun hues. Models Own Glitter Mix Eyeshadow Palette Create a vibrant look with this pressed glitter palette of 10 multifaceted shades for added style and shimmer.…

CLOCK WATCHING Joe Lycett will host Saturday night quiz The Time It Takes on BBC1. The contestants won’t be up against a standard timer – they’ll have however long it takes to unwrap a bag of sweets, or deflate an airbed… SINGING STARS Rob Beckett and Geri Horner’s BBC1 singalong show All Together Now, will return with a celebrity edition. Stars will be hoping to get The 100 out of their seats and joining in for a one-off special later this year. BALL SKILLS And Joe’s not the only one launching a new quiz – Paddy McGuinness will be presenting BBC1’s Catch Zone, which tests brain power and dexterity as contestants will have to answer trivia questions and catch balls which drop from the ceiling.…

IN DEBRA LAWRANCE (Liz Conway, Neighbours ) It’s official! After weeks of rumours, it’s been confirmed that the Home and Away legend – who played supermum Pippa Ross will be joining the cast of rival soap Neighbours, for an extended guest stint as Susan Kennedy’s sister. Liz turns up in Ramsay Street to be reunited with her two daughters, Elly and Bea, after their ordeal with evil Finn Kelly. “Liz is very different from her sister,” reveals Debra. “She’s ego-centric, selfish, and quite flighty. She has a lot of issues!” Well, Liz doesn’t sound at all like the Bay’s lovely Pippa! July JONNY McPHERSON (Liam Cavanagh, Emmerdale ) IN  He’s been seen on and off in the Dales ever since 2014, but the local…

While Liz battles her feelings for Johnny, it won’t be long before her jailbird ex Jim reappears on the cobbles. And with a high-voltage storyline planned to mark his return, Johnny’s problems will likely end up the least of Liz’s worries! Jim has been languishing behind bars since robbing a building society in 2011, in a foolish plot to help Liz buy the Rovers. In 2014, Liz and their son Steve cut all ties with Jim, after finding out he’d been blackmailing inmate Peter Barlow in a bid to persuade his family to visit him. But actress Beverley can’t wait to have her former co-star Charles Lawson, aka Jim, back on set. “I’m so excited about working with Charlie again!” she beams. “Liz and Jim have such a complex relationship,…

As temperatures soar in the UK, Hollyoaks is preparing to turn up the heat with a week of episodes set in sunny Spain! After the fun and frolics of the soap’s summer jaunt to Ibiza last year, it’s the McQueens’ turn to head abroad and hit the party town of Magaluf in Majorca, where Mercedes will reunite with her old flame, Russ Owen… “I couldn’t have asked for a better return,” says actress Jennifer Metcalfe, who plays Mercedes. “I feel so fortunate that the bosses have invested so much in Mercy’s comeback with the #MagalufOaks special, which is ram-packed with lots of shenanigans. It’s a must-watch!” Long time Hollyoaks fans will remember Russ – played by returning star Stuart Manning – as Mercedes’ first husband, who…

A story close to home  Acclaimed actor Jason Watkins has praised Corrie for Jack Webster’s story, after revealing that he sadly lost his two-year-old daughter to sepsis. “Follow the unfolding drama, learn more about the condition and how to spot it,” he insists. Take that! Dales star James Moore – who plays Charity’s son Ryan – has hit back at comments from people that have made unkind remarks about his hairstyle. “Acting isn t a beauty contest, he rightly points out. Thirty love! Home and Away’s most popular stars – including Dannii Minogue, Dieter Brummer and Melissa George – are reuniting for a special one-off documentary to celebrate 30 years of the Aussie soap. Catch it on 5STAR on 17 July at 7pm.…

Sonya finally tracks down con woman Andrea this week – only to find that she’s been admitted to a psychiatric hospital! The Rebecchis have been attempting to locate Andrea for months, desperate to claim back the thousands of dollars she scammed out of them when she was in Erinsborough. But after Sonya gets a lead on Andrea’s whereabouts from Paul, she keeps the info from Toadie – and confronts her alone… “Toadie is a good person, but he’s also a fixer,” explains Eve Morey, who plays Sonya. “She knows that when he finds out Andrea is in hospital, his instinct will be to help her. Sonya wants to get the lay of the land, and find out what’s going on before she tells Toadie and he goes to help Andrea.”…

Ash prepares to leave the Bay this week, after deciding to go and stay with VJ and Luc in Cyprus. When Justin hears Ash’s news, he steels himself to tell Tori, knowing how devastated she will be. And as predicted, Tori doesn’t react well, refusing to believe that Ash could be leaving town for good. So, as the locals throw a farewell party for Ash, can Tori bring herself to say one final goodbye to the man she loves? Or will everything she feels be left unsaid?…

FAIR CITY Renee and Farrah are far from pleased about Tessa’s presence in Carrigstown this week, as she drags up more issues from the past – resulting in Jake and Emmet locking horns in the pub! Meanwhile, Darragh’s attempts to assist Sharon go awry, and Orla chastises Wayne. RIVER CITY Ellie turns unlikely sleuth this week, as she investigates who could be harassing Caitlin. Will she learn the truth? Elsewhere, Alex has a dastardly revenge plot in mind – and Lydia is his unwitting target. Plus, Bob plays peacemaker between warring Angus and Frankie. THE ARCHERS The Aldridge clan continues to reel from recent events, and their secrets look set to become public knowledge. Across the village, mediation turns into a battle of wits and words for Alistair and Shula.…

STYLE JEAN In EastEnders recently, Jean was wearing a cool top that looked like it had some kind of fruit on – maybe pineapples? Do you know where it’s from, please? | Charlie It’s actually lemons, not pineapples! The top is from Red Herring at Debenhams, and it’s in the sale for £5. Even the Slaters can afford that… MAALIK MYSTERY I am so confused about the Maalik storyline in Hollyoaks! I thought James knew it was their dad he framed for fraud – wasn’t there a whole episode revealing the truth? | Claire, Swindon Sami told his family that James was the one who framed their dad Kashif for fraud, which led to him taking his own life in jail. However, Misbah didn’t agree with Sami’s revenge plan, and…

“When my new scripts came through the door, I saw that I had scenes in the Queen Vic and went, ‘Oh my God!’” confesses former S Club 7 singer Hannah Spearritt, when she joins Inside Soap to chat about her return to Walford as Karen Taylor’s sister, Kandice. “I used to watch EastEnders obsessively when I was younger, so it’s a great feeling and so exciting to be part of something you’ve known since you were a kid. Kandice is so much fun to play – for me, she resembles all of those shallow traits no one ever wants to admit to!” Hannah made her Albert Square debut over the festive period last year, when Karen was forced to ask prissy Kandice for a hand-out. The sisters are polar opposites,…

1 Luisa Bradshaw-White was born on 9 December 1974, and grew up in Eastcote on the outskirts of London. Although she never went to drama school, from 1991 to 1994 she played the role of pupil Maria Watts in children’s drama Grange Hill, before going on to make guest appearances in The Bill, The Brittas Empire and A Touch Of Frost. But it was in 1996 that she made a big impact, alongside Jack Davenport, Andrew Lincoln and others in This Life – BBC2’s acclaimed drama about a group of house-sharing law graduates. 2 Luisa made her debut as Walford’s Tina Carter in November 2013, introduced as the younger sister of Shirley, and mother of Zsa Zsa. Tina had been mentioned on multiple occasions before we actually met her, but…

“I WROTE THE EASTENDERS THEME TUNE AS A KIND OF ANTIDOTE TO DARKNESS…” If you mention EastEnders to pretty much anyone – even if they don’t watch it – they’ll be able to perform a decent rendition of the theme tune, complete with the so-called ‘doof doof’ drums which open every episode, and signal every cliffhanger. The famous music was composed by British musician Simon May back in 1984, and has now been heard on BBC1 more than 11,000 times. “I was invited to meet the show’s two creators Tony Holland and Julia Smith at the BBC,” Simon tells us. “The show was called East 8 at that point. We had a delightful conversation. I picked up the vibe of it being an edgy, dark show.…

I’d love more interaction with Sam Giles and Laura Norton [Bernice and Kerry]. Take A Vow and Beauty & Bernice are right next to each other, we have a door in between our working space, so there’s potential there – especially when Leyla comes back. I’d love the four of them to team up and run hen parties together, or open a wine bar upstairs in the salon! Every week, we put your questions to a star of the soaps. Look out for requests on our Facebook page, or email your questions to youask@insidesoap.co.uk, putting the actor’s name in the subject line. Our favourite question each week will win a £20 prize!…

The first series of The Voice Kids was a delightful surprise. We feared it might be treacly and patronising, but it turned out to be warm, compassionate and feelgood TV. It returns this week with one big difference – it’s now an event series, running across the whole week, and coaches will.i.am, Danny Jones and Pixie Lott are thrilled to be back in those iconic chairs. “The kids aren’t jaded by anything in the industry, they’re just singing because they love it – it’s for all the right reasons,” enthuses Will. “They’re not like ‘This is my big shot to get rich!’ – there’s none of that.” We caught up with the coaches after they had filmed the first day of blind auditions, and they were…

JONNY ENGAGED Former EastEnders star Jonny Labey, who played tragic Paul Coker in 2015 and 2016, has popped the question to his model girlfriend Chrissy Brooke! Jonny broke the news to his social media followers with a snap of himself and his fiancée and the message, ‘She said YES… a while back! It was obvious from the moment we met.’ Aww! RITA CALLS BARBARA Rita Simons – EastEnders’ Roxy – recently phoned her on-screen aunt, Barbara Windsor (Peggy), who’s been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Rita, who’s been on touring with Legally Blonde, said: “Every now and then I will call her if I’m in a famous theatre, because she likes to talk about the old theatres and she’s good if it’s a subject she has fond memories of.” ISLAND CHALLENGE The…