Inside Soap UK 2 - 2017

Was there ever a more outrageous soap death than Ronnie and Roxy’s New Year plunge? Well yes, there probably was –being squashed to a cube by a car crusher is pretty far out, as Fatboy would certainly confirm (well, he would if he had lived to tell the tale!). Love it or loathe it, Ronnie and Roxy’s deaths have certainly had a big impact on viewers – you have your say on our Soapbox column over on p94. It continues to cause shock waves in Walford this week, as Jack buries the sisters, and tries to look to the future with little Amy and Ricky (who surely have already bagged the award for this year’s cutest soap kids, and it’s only January). Let’s hope Corrie’s Eileen stays away from the…

“SO FAR, PHELAN HAS SEEN ANDY AS SOMEONE HE CAN USE TO HIS ADVANTAGE” Terrified Andy faces the murderous rage of Pat Phelan this week, when he bungles an arson plot and finds evidence of the wicked builder’s crimes. Ever since he put Phelan in hospital after bashing him over the head, Andy has been blackmailed into doing Pat’s evil bidding. Phelan’s latest request is for Andy to burn down Kevin Webster’s garage – to destroy proof contained on the garage owner’s laptop of him and Todd talking about the development scam. It’s a horrendous task for Andy, who is doing what Pat says for fear that he’ll hurt innocent Steph if not. But when Phelan discovers that his victim rescued Kev’s laptop from the flames, he sees red. “Andy…

Clueless Eileen makes the biggest mistake of her life this week – as she prepares to marry Phelan. Little does she realise that while she’s waiting at the register office, her groom is poised to commit murder. So is Eileen making the biggest mistake of her life becoming Mrs Phelan? We grilled star Sue Cleaver to find out… Hi Sue, is Eileen bonkers? Why has she become so intent on marrying Pat? Well, she nearly lost him, didn’t she? Seeing him in the hospital like that made her realise that he has looked after her more than anyone else in her life – he’s ideal. So the development debacle hasn’t rung alarm bells? No, because she believes that Phelan hasn’t done anything wrong! Vinny did the dirty on him and…

“KASIM THROWS A PUNCH, AND AARON LAYS INTO HIM - HE CAN’T STOP!” The boys in blue come to visit Aaron this week, after he violently attacks Kasim – and the debacle puts a strain on Aaron and Robert’s already faltering relationship. Tensions are high as Aaron’s jealousy over Robert and Rebecca threatens to wreck their happiness. Aaron can’t help but see the troublemaking minx as serious competition for his fiancé’s affections – and with Robert growing sick of his attitude, it looks as though their wedding might be off. Then the cops come to quiz Aaron about an incident with Kasim… “Bad things always happen in Aaron’s life!” shares Danny Miller, who plays the tortured lad. “Unfortunately, Kasim is caught in the crossfire when Aaron wants to let out…

Finn’s hopes of winning back Kasim are brutally crushed this week – as his ex-lover delivers a devastating blow. It all kicks off when Kasim discovers that Finn’s new man, Nathan, is a male escort who has been paid to be part of their bizarre love triangle. What he doesn’t realise is that poor Finn had no idea that pal Tracy had hired Nathan’s services to help him get over Kasim. It’s humiliating for Finn as he catches Tracy paying Nathan and realises that the whole relationship was a lie, but while his pride is hurt, his heart isn’t. He still cares for Kasim and wants to reunite with him – however, an ill-judged decision to hire Nathan himself to try to make Kasim jealous backfires. It doesn’t take long…

“JACK IS HAVING A HARD TIME - LOSING RONNIE HAS RIPPED OUT HIS HEART” Walford finds itself under a dark cloud this week, as the residents bid a final farewell to Ronnie and Roxy. But as their squabbling relatives fail to see eye to eye – and Ronnie’s husband Jack struggles to cope – will the fallen Mitchell sisters get the send-off they deserve? “Jack’s having a really hard time, so it’s a question of whether he’ll actually be able to go to the funeral,” reveals actor Scott Maslen, who plays the grieving widower. “Losing Ronnie has ripped out his heart and turned his world upside down. Just when they both thought their happy ever after had finally come, it was snatched away from them.” Tragedy struck on Jack and…