Inside Soap UK 03 - 2023

The soaps are awash with challenging stories at the moment, especially if you’re a parent of teenage or pre-teen children. In Walford, 12-year-old Lily Slater is pregnant, and while this may be a responsible look at how such a crisis affects an ordinary family, it still makes your hair stand on end. “It makes your hair stand on end” Meanwhile, Corrie features the grooming of teenage boys into racist gangs through online propaganda, while Hollyoaks has taken a dive into misogynistic internet groups, delivering a run of powerful episodes just as questions are asked in Parliament about how schools can tackle this poisonous subculture. It’s enough to make you want to lock up your children and smash their iPads. We must take comfort from the thought that these difficult plots…

First with the week’s HOTTEST headlines Lola and Jay’s wedding day dawns this week – but when the terminally ill bride is forced to take a detour to the hospital on her way to the ceremony, is the couple’s happiness about to be shattered? There’s already a huge cloud hanging over the nuptials, with both the bride and groom well aware of how poignant the whole ‘till death do us part’ bit of their vows will be. But when Lola starts to experience worrying symptoms as she’s putting on her dress, she wonders if marrying Jay is the right thing to do… “In the morning when Lola is getting ready, Kim notices she has a nosebleed,” reveals Danielle Harold, who plays the blushing bride. “It really panics Lola and makes…

Billy’s determined to deliver the ultimate wedding present to his granddaughter this week – a heartfelt reunion with her estranged mother! After hearing Lola talking about Emma last week, Billy has decided to find her and invite her to her daughter’s big day. His search draws a blank at first, but Billy is hopeful when Phil offers to put some feelers out for him – and soon, Billy is handed Emma’s contact details. Turning up at Emma’s work, Billy introduces himself to her, and implores her to be there for Lola on the most important day of her life. Jay’s furious when he finds out what Billy’s up to, so also turns up at Emma’s work, where he lets rip at Billy for going behind Lola’s back. But as Emma…

This is the moment that suspicious Evelyn follows Tyrone to a hotel bar – and catches him cosying up to another woman! The idea that newlywed Tyrone would betray Fiz again after the agony that his affair with Alina caused seems totally ridiculous. Yet his strange behaviour this week points towards a fresh fling – and furious Evelyn isn’t about to let him get away with it… “Poor Fiz!” exclaims our Weatherfield insider. “The fact that she found it within her heart to forgive Ty for his adultery was nothing short of miraculous, so if he’s cheating again, there will be no going back this time.” As it happens, Fiz is already having concerns for her marriage as she confides in Sally that her sex life is in a bit…

ITV1 WEDNESDAY BERNIE? Tyrone once had a fling with Gemma, so why not her mum? Bernie loves a bit of afternoon delight. Or perhaps he’s seeing her doppelgänger, Fern! JENNY? Could Tyrone be the latest conquest of the lusty Rovers landlady? She’s been known to don a wig on occasion – perhaps she has a blonde one too? ISLA? Remember her? Tryone almost had a fling with Isla, the mum of one of Hope’s classmates – until Isla’s husband gave him a smack! LEANNE? Our money is on Leanne falling for the charms of dodgy Damon – however if she is at it with Tyrone, worra twist!…

There’s blood on the Street this week – and for once, killer Stephen is not the guilty party! Tragedy strikes after Beth and Kirk employ Hope to take care of their doggie Peanut while they’re on holiday. And before long, someone winds up dead… “It was always just a matter of time before troublemaker Hope found herself at the heart of a soap ‘whodunnit?’,” concludes our Corrie insider. “However, the perpetrator might not be who you think!” When Kirk reveals that he and Beth are getting away from Weatherfield and need a pet sitter, Fiz suggests that Hope would be willing to do it for a small fee. Kirk offers the canny youngster £5, but she manages to work him up to 10 quid! However, Beth and Kirk end up…