Inside Soap UK 10 - 2020

“Ben’s story isn’t only about deafness…” We all know the soaps are cracking entertainment, and we might not take them too seriously. But there is another side to them worth highlighting – how they explore certain issues in a way that isn’t just black and white, or a big dump of info. Take this week, as we see EastEnders’ Ben adjust to his hearing-loss. This is not only about deafness, it’s a story of how a person – and importantly those around him – deals with such a huge life change. Similarly in Corrie, Gem and Ches discovered little Aled’s hearing-loss (in that weird soapie way where the same topic turns up in two places – who knew we’d be learning so much about cochelar implants?). This story is equally…

Doctor Ali bids farewell to Weatherfield with a heavy heart this week, after his battle with Gary over Maria spirals wildly out of control! Having learned from Adam that exes Maria and Ali recently slept together, furious Gary plots a sickening revenge that involves arranging his love rival’s drink to be spiked with diazepam – the same drug that addicted Ali has spent months trying to kick. To Gary’s horror, though, his plan to turn Maria against her ex-boyfriend goes too far when Ali collapses and is rushed to hospital! However, that’s just the start of the drama, as desperate Ali later kidnaps Maria in a twisted attempt to make her see Gary for the villain he truly is… “Ali knows Gary is a wrong’un, but he needs Maria to…

We can only assume that the longer hairstyle that Ali has been sporting on screen recently was all for his Corrie storyline – seeing as one of the first things that star James did after he had finished filming was to get it all chopped off! The 28-year-old actor, who is due to wed fiancée Sophie Coates – with whom he has a 11-month year-old daughter Betty – has just returned from Marbella. The pair have been scouting wedding venues, and James is excited for what life after the Street has in store… “I always said from the day I started at Corrie, ‘I won’t stay here forever,’” he says. “I think the goal is to get out to LA next year, and be there for pilot season. You’ve just…

Gray is struggling to hold it together this week, having been suspended from his law firm – and once again it’s his wife Chantelle who ends up in the firing line… Gray is seething when his office returns his belongings, after he is forced to pack up his desk for the time being. His suspension means he can no longer represent Whitney, and – with his practice having dropped her case entirely – Whit is now on her own. “Gray feels he’s let down Whit – and his ego is bruised” “Not only does Gray feel he’s let down Whitney, but his fragile ego is bruised – he insists Chantelle doesn’t tell her family what’s happened,” shares our Albert Square sneak. “Seeing everyone in the Vic, he soon retreats to…

On the few occasions that Chantelle and Kheerat have had a chance to chat and not be interrupted by Gray, it would seem that Kheerat has taken a shine to his neighbour. This week, he goes so far as to offer her a job working with him – however, Chantelle declines on the basis that she’ll soon return to work at the salon with Denise. But after Gray discourages the idea of Chantelle returning to work – and Denise admits that she no longer needs her on a full-time basis – Chantelle ends up accepting Kheerat’s offer. Is it possible that the Panesar businessman might become Chantelle’s knight in shining armour?…

Tracy’s plans of a surprise birthday party for her sister are destroyed this week, as Charity blurts out Vanessa’s cancer secret. It comes as a terrible shock for oblivious Tracy, who has been fighting with her sister’s fiancée over the impromptu celebration. She just can’t fathom why Charity is so against throwing a party, with Vanessa having been to hell and back at the hands of twisted Pierce. But as tensions mount, Charity can’t contain herself to Tracy. She ends up blurting out the horrifying truth that Vanessa has bowel cancer – a move which leaves devastated Vanessa feeling betrayed… “It’s a massive blow for Tracy – she’s not expecting this at all,” explains Amy Walsh, who plays her. “She can’t understand why Charity is putting a dampener on Vanessa’s…