Inside Soap UK 02 - 2023

Time spent with family – as many of us have been blessed with recently – means an opportunity to watch the telly with a new audience. My Auntie Jessie is my favourite, as she has so little patience with what she likes to call “utter cobblers”. It’s not the far-fetched plots that set her off – the big stunts and gangster dramas – but when the soaps play fast and loose with the simple logic of life. “Who’s looking after the kids?” is her favourite cry, or: “How can they afford to drink during the day?” “It’s all too much for Auntie Jessie” There was steam coming out of poor Jessie’s ears recently when Linda Carter was driven 80 miles home by the police in the same wet dress she’d…

First with the week’s HOTTEST headlines Cobbles killer Stephen claims another victim this week, when he bumps off Leo’s dad, Teddy! The father confronted Stephen with his suspicions of foul play around his son’s disappearance, but was hit by a van before he could delve any deeper into the mystery. After waking up with amnesia, Teddy’s memory returns and he accuses Stephen of murdering Leo, before threatening to go to the police. Backed into a corner, Stephen whacks Teddy over the head to silence him – permanently! Corrie star Todd Boyce, who plays Stephen, spills the beans on his cruel character’s latest slay… Hi, Todd! Has Stephen been worried about Teddy remembering Leo never arrived in Canada? Very worried! Stephen brazenly decided to put lies in Teddy’s mouth about what…

TONY GORDON Tony and Carla became partners in business and romance when he bought Liam’s share of the factory in 2008, and they later married. But their union turned sour when Tony realised that Carla was in love with Liam – so he killed him! A fiery showdown saw Tony set the factory alight with him and Carla inside, though she managed to shoot him before escaping. Tony perished in the flames. FRANK FOSTER Carla got engaged to new Underworld partner Frank, despite Maria accusing him of trying to sexually assault her. But when Carla later ditched Frank, he raped her, before swindling her out of her shares in the factory! It was Frank’s mum Anne who did for him in the end – and the factory was returned to…

Grieving Linda returns to Walford this week – to a series of unsettling shocks. Not only does she discover that Alfie has taken over the Queen Vic without asking, but the police then pay her a visit – do they have news on missing Mick’s whereabouts? “The year has got off to a rotten start for the Carters – to say the least!” sighs our EastEnders insider. “Mick was declared lost at sea after the dramatic Christmas Day showdown with Janine, and Linda had the horrid job of visiting the kids to tell them their dad is most probably dead. With Shirley also gone, the Vic has been shut for weeks – however, a certain someone decides to reopen the pub to give the locals something to smile about. The…

Linda may not like the idea of someone else behind the bar, but she may not have a choice – as EastEnders boss Chris Clenshaw has hinted the iconic Queen Vic could soon be under new management following Mick’s explosive exit. “There’s a question mark over the future of the Vic at the moment,” teases the executive producer. “Kellie Bright, who plays Linda, knows what’s going to be happening with the pub and it’s very exciting. Linda is still very much at the heart of Albert Square, and there are big plans afoot!”…

Mum-to-be Chloe is plunged into a nightmare this week, as Sarah asks her if Mackenzie is the father of her baby! Sarah’s suspicions are raised when she chances upon a strange row between her pregnant friend and Charity’s fiancé. It’s evident that Mackenzie doesn’t want Chloe in their family home, and Sarah wonders what has inspired his vendetta against her. That’s when she puts two and two together – and confronts Chloe… “Chloe’s survival depends on keeping this secret!” shares Jessie Elland, who plays her. “When Sarah gets an inkling, it’s a nightmare because they are so close, and Chloe feels awful about what she’s done.” The girls have been tight ever since Sarah traced the family of her heart donor – and discovered that her life had been saved…