Inside Soap UK 37 - 2016

If I lived in a soap – and I practically do in my job – I would never make plans for my wedding. I’d have no church, no outfit, no slap-up catering. Nothing. Why? Because it will almost certainly be a total waste! When does a soap wedding ever go to plan? I’d grab my beloved, get as far away as possible, and happily marry disaster free in a register office somewhere. Take this week’s Emmerdale. David has proposed to Tracy 287 times (or something like that), the church and reception are ready to go – David’s even beaten actual cancer, for Heaven’s sake! So where’s the bride? Yep, covered in mud and stranded in the middle of nowhere. Told you! They should have gone down Hotten register, then popped…

“FRANK DOESN’T HOLD A GUN TO TRACY’S HEAD - HE DRAGS HER INTO HIS CAR!” Tracy’s wedding is anything but the best day of her life this week, after she’s kidnapped by her father Frank just hours before the ceremony! Tracy and David are having a ball at their doctors-and-nurses themed stag and hen party – until Frank gatecrashes. Determined to make her see that she’s as important to him as her sister Vanessa, Frank bundles drunken Tracy into a car – and drives her off into the middle of nowhere… “He doesn’t hold a gun to her head or anything, so don’t worry!” laughs Amy Walsh, who plays the bride-to-be. “Frank just wants to prove to Tracy that he’s good enough for her to have in her life. But…

While Tracy has an unhappy hen do, David is partying on cloud nine, having just found out from the hospital that he’s finally cancer-free! Delighted David goes to town when it comes to his stag do – and certainly creates a stir with his sexy nurse’s get-up! But will he be in such good spirits as the wedding day unfolds? “It’s such a massive relief when David finds out his cancer’s gone,” shares Amy. “They have a bit of a hiccup just before the results come through, when David tells Tracy that he won’t be able to marry her if he doesn’t get the all-clear, as he doesn’t want to leave her a widow. “Tracy can’t believe that, as she’s always been concentrating on the positive,” continues the star. “She…

“TRACY’S WEDDING DRESS IS A LOT MORE DEMURE THAN I EVER IMAGINED!” We’re standing in a patch of shaded woodland next to a river, some distance from Emmerdale village – it’s a tranquil scene. Well, except for the the 20-odd people clutching a selection of clipboards, cameras, walkie-talkies, make-up bags and scripts. Oh, and it’s starting to rain! Today’s the day that stars Amy Walsh (who plays Tracy), Michael Praed (Frank) and Michelle Hardwick (aka Vanessa) are filming the scenes leading up to Tracy’s wedding, where her father throws the whole day into jeopardy with his rash actions. Inside Soap was invited to watch the team in action – and rain or no rain, they got the job done… In rehearsals, Amy kept warm with the aid of a pink-and-white…

“PAM AND LES GO TO THE HEARING IN THE HOPE OF FINDING SOME CLOSURE” Fired-up Les is prepared for a showdown this week, as he vows to confront the wicked men who killed his grandson, Paul. The grief-stricken funeral boss is determined to give the four evildoers a piece of his mind, as they appear in front of a magistrate charged with their horrendous hate crime. But as Les’ wife Pam crumbles in the face of her husband’s fury, will this be the final nail in the coffin of their ailing marriage? “Les has been doing his best to hold everything together since Paul died,” our EastEnders source reminds us. “But when he finally claps eyes on these merciless human beings who robbed him of his grandson, the red mist…

As Pam opens up to Claudette about her marriage troubles this week, Les finds an ally in the form of Vic landlady Linda. After his showdown with Pam, the heartbroken undertaker storms off and bumps into Mick’s missus. But can she help him through his predicament? “Don’t forget that Linda knows all about Christine and Les,” our mole reminds us. “The truth came out when Claudette told her and Mick about Babe’s plot to blackmail the Cokers.” While her initial attempt to help Les backfires, Linda perseveres when she sees him suffering from chest pains. She finally gets her anguished neighbour to sit down and discuss Paul’s tragic death – but will their chat help Les find the closure he needs?…