Inside Soap UK 36 - 2019

“Sinead’s death will go down in soap history” Poor Sinead. Just as we thought she was out of the woods, she and Daniel are dealt a devastating blow this week, as they learn she has only months to live. Life can be cruel, and sometimes the soaps have to reflect that, no matter how hard a watch it may be in the coming months. The tragic departure of Sinead – someone so young, so kind and with so much to live for – will go down in soap history. Not only due to the talents of Katie McGlynn, who’s been a revelation as Sinead in the past year or so, but also because of all the other characters involved in the emotional plot – who will be left to pick…

Beautiful bride Sinead surprises true love Daniel with a wedding this week – but her romantic dreams are shattered when she finds a lump in her neck just hours before she walks down the aisle. The horrible discovery blights this happiest of days, and the young couple are forced to face their fears that Sinead’s cancer has returned – as they promise each other they’ll be together ‘until death do us part’… “When she discovers the lump, it’s as if Sinead has been shot – everything stops,” explains Katie McGlynn, who plays the brave mum. “It’s the worst feeling in the world, because she knows what that means. I think Sinead was always anticipating it and that makes it worse. She always thought it was going to come back, and…

“Sinead still wants to feel the romance of the day!” KATIE Hi, Rob. You’ve been working with charity Mummy’s Star on this storyline. How has the founder, Pete Wallroth, helped you with telling Daniel’s story? I can’t explain how much of a privilege it’s been. Pete and I had such an open and honest conversation about his experience of losing his wife [Mair] to cancer at a young age, shortly after the birth of their child. His story and honesty allowed me to be more attentive to the details and emotions that will be present throughout all the hurt and sadness. Is it hard for Daniel to accept that he can’t do anything to help Sinead? Yes, because Daniel’s not particularly strong emotionally or mentally, so there will be an…

Troubled Jessie makes the mother of all mistakes this week – when she snogs her ex-husband, Al! The former head teacher is in a right state after losing her job, and with her marriage to Marlon hanging by a thread. The crisis then deepens when manipulative Al stirs the pot between the bickering couple and makes things 10 times worse. However, matters grow serious when Al kisses Jessie not once, but twice... “The first time, Jessie gets drawn in and doesn’t pull away immediately when Al kisses her,” explains Sandra Marvin, who plays her. “Yet soon after she’s like, ‘What the hell are you doing?’ and is fuming and confused. It’s just a reflection of how low she is, and how things between her and Marlon have gone wrong. The…

When Mandy catches Jessie and Al in the act, it’s not the first time the woman has made a grand entrance at an important moment in Jessie’s life! “Mandy’s always bursting in, isn’t she? She burst in on Jessie and Marlon’s wedding, and now she’s bursting in while Jessie and Al are having shenanigans!” laughs Sandra. “She’s always in the wrong place – or the right place maybe!” While Jessie is afronted by Mandy’s arrival, it couldn’t be any more different for Sandra… “It was fun seeing Lisa [Riley, who plays Mandy] again,” she says. “It’s quite raucous having her back – it’s going to be good to watch.” For more on Mandy’s return to Emmerdale, see our chat with Lisa Riley on p42.…

All hell breaks loose at No 45 Albert Square this week, as killer Bobby takes drastic action to put his violent past behind him once and for all. Since returning to Walford having served three years in a young offenders institution, for grievous bodily harm and the unlawful killing of his sister, Lucy, remorseful Bobby has sought comfort from Islam in his mission to heal. However, as Ian’s son continues to be haunted by visions of Lucy – while also learning a sordid secret with regards to his father’s history with Rainie – desperate Bobby makes a decision that threatens to derail his road to recovery… “Viewers are about to find out just how tortured Bobby’s soul really is,” warns our Walford insider. “He’s working so hard to find peace…