Inside Soap UK 07 - 2021

“It’s the end of an era – Max is leaving Walford!” It was fun for Inside Soap to catch up with Corrie’s Alex Bain this week. The last time we crossed paths properly was way back in 2009 at the Inside Soap Awards, where the then eight-year-old arrived to collect his award for Best Young Actor. Alex has rarely been far from our screens since, with the troubled Barlow family usually slap bang in the middle of the cobbles action. But as Alex tells us, growing up in the limelight hasn’t all been plain sailing. You can read what he has to say over on p48… Elsewhere in this issue, another soap old-timer (so to speak) is looking back on his time on his show. Yes, it’s truly the end…

After 15 years of sex, lies and that Stacey videotape, Max Branning walks away from his life in Walford for good this week. It’s taken a decade-and-a-half – and a lot of broken hearts and shattered dreams – for the serial love rat to finally succeed in burning all of his bridges in Albert Square. But after attempting to lure Linda away from Mick once again, and blackmailing Phil Mitchell, Max realises that there’s no going back… “Max has lost the plot in some ways,” reckons star Jake Wood, who first took on the role in June 2006. “He reckons that holding Phil to ransom will spark a chain of events that will get Linda back – though I think Max is deluded in terms of what he wants and…

There aren’t many soap characters who can lie and cheat as much as Max, yet still be No 1 in our hearts – and he has always left viewers wanting more… From a string of affairs, to brawling with brother Jack, and his doomed marriage to Tanya, Max seduced the audience in a way many wouldn’t dare admit – and Jake often topped polls as the UK’s ‘weirdest crush’! But the time has come to finally bid farewell in what is undoubtedly a big loss for EastEnders. So, is this really the last we’ve seen of Max? Congratulations, Jake, on the success of Max. What are you most proud of? I think all of it, from beginning to end. It’s not for me to judge what I’ve done at EastEnders…

Jake names Max’s soulmate… Linda might have been Max’s final fling in Walford, but was she the love of his life? Jake tells us who he thinks was the only woman for Max… “It’s obvious, innit?” says the star, with no hesitation. “It was most definitely Tanya! She understood him the most, out of all of them. “The most exciting relationship he had, though, was probably Stacey,” continues Jake. “I always thought she and Max might get back together, although it never happened. They are always going to have a connection, I think.”…

Mandy goes into fight mode this week, after gambling addict Paul is kidnapped by thug Connor – and she’s ready to do anything to save him for the sake of their son, Vinny. Mandy has no idea that Paul’s still up to his neck in debt, until masked kidnappers snatch him in front of her. Distraught son Vinny begs Mandy to find a way to meet the demand of £4,000 for Paul’s life. Can they gather the cash – or is there another way to save Paul’s skin? “Mandy’s petrified because she and all the Dingles are skint!” explains Lisa Riley, who plays her. “Connor sends her a photograph of Paul bound and gagged, and demands she gets the money together. Vinny then accuses Mandy of not caring about his…

Amid Mandy’s recent troubles, Lydia has provided her relative with lots of support – and Lisa tells us that she and cast mate Karen Blick (aka Lydia) have built a strong bond, too… “Lydia is Mandy’s confidante and new best friend, and the delicious Karen is my work best friend!” enthuses the actress. “We were doing a Mandy and Lydia scene when we’d just got back from the Christmas break, and we looked at each other and said, ‘Bloody love this!’ The team spirit here at Emmerdale is incredible.” Speaking of friendships, would Lisa have her alter ego Mandy as a mate in real life? “OMG, yes – I live vicariously through her,” she laughs. “I haven’t had a drink for five years, and Mandy’s constantly hungover! However, if you…