Inside Soap UK 49 - 2018

Ooh, I do love a good soap twist, so I really do have to commend EastEnders on holding its nerve with the Stuart/Linda/ Mick storyline. “Ooh, I do love a good soap twist!” As soon as Linda started saying Mick was guilty, before cutting ties with him all those weeks ago, I thought ‘Nah, she’s making this up, it’s all a big plan to win Stuart’s trust. She’d never do this to Mick’. But while time went on and the plot continued, I slowly became convinced that Linda actually had lost faith in her husband. As star Kellie Bright tells us in our chat on p40, she “had no idea Linda was such a good actress!” Well, the plot reaches crunch point with a two-hander episode this week, when we’ll…

Linda proves this week that she’s prepared to do whatever it takes to save jailed husband Mick – even if that means succumbing to the sickening charms of vile Stuart! The determined Queen Vic landlady has been playing a long game with her family’s tormentor, pretending to have disowned Mick in a bid to earn Stuart’s trust. However, with time running out for her beloved hubby, Linda is left with no choice but to accelerate her plan by doing the unthinkable – sharing a kiss with Stuart… “Linda knows that prison could kill Mick essentially, so she has this crazy idea that she is the only person who can get to the truth of Stuart framing him,” explains actress Kellie Bright, who plays her. “She realises how clever Stuart is…

For the past four years, the Carters have welcomed youngsters to the pub from across the land, or perhaps just those from across the road, to meet Father Christmas. Family man Mick has played the role with pride – however, the time-honoured tradition is trampled on this week, when evil Stuart slips on the red suit instead. Is it not enough that he’s already pinched Mick’s signature waistcoat? Regardless of whether Linda succeeds with her mission, something tells us that the Carter family’s cruel Yule is only just beginning……

Sinead’s pals come up with a lunatic scheme this week, staging a robbery to raise the funds to pay for her cancer treatment! Beth, Chesney and Kirk devise their dangerous heist after Sinead is told that her cancer has spread and she needs to start her chemo as soon as possible. Determined to do whatever she can to help her niece, Beth manages to locate a specialist cancer clinic in Germany, which would be perfect to provide Sinead with the treatment that she needs. However, the bill will cost thousands of pounds! “Beth is doing what most of us would to help a loved one,” reasons our Coronation Street insider. “But there’s no way on Earth she can get hold of that money – at least, not legally! That’s the…

Having discovered that his wife has been dodging her chemo sessions, Daniel angrily blames Sinead’s pal Steff this week, for putting stupid ideas in her head. However, he’s chastened when Sinead tells him that cancer-stricken Steff only has days left to live. Later, after hearing the sad news that Steff has passed away, Sinead tells her hubby that she’s sorry for being dishonest with him. Filled with remorse, Sinead resumes her chemo sessions – but even if she survives her illness, can she and Daniel repair the damage to their marriage caused by her lies?…

Guilty Daz tries to make a run for it after knocking down Graham – until he spots Kerry in grave danger. Following the horrifying accident, in which drunk Daz hit Graham with his car and fled the scene, this week the terrified fella sees no option but to go abroad. Having booked a flight, Daz secretly packs up his stuff and catches a bus to the airport. However, moments into his journey, he sees Kerry collapsed by the side of the road! “For a split-second, Daz wonders if he could forget what he’s seen and let Kerry be somebody else’s problem,” suggests our Emmerdale insider. “But he genuinely adores Kerry – she’s been his rock throughout every bad thing that’s happened, and he owes her big time. Kerry is a…