Inside Soap UK 47 - 2021

“Who’ll polish Roy’s precious Woody?” There’s a legend warning that, should the last raven leave the Tower of London, “the kingdom will crumble into dust”. Something similar is surely true for Weatherfield, but instead of old birds, it’s Roy Cropper holding the place together; with strong tea, sticky buns and kindly wisdom. He always has an encouraging word –be it mumbled after closing time in his café, or bellowed down a freshly opened sinkhole. Should Roy ever leave the Street, those left behind will surely kill each other within days. What’s that you say? Roy is leaving for good this week? No! But who’ll keep Weatherfield from crumbing to dust? Who’ll butter the baps? Who’ll polish his precious Woody? A Street without Roy is unthinkable. Apparently, they clip the wings…

There are heartbreaking scenes on the cobbles this week, as the guilt that Roy feels over recent events becomes too much – and he tells Nina that he plans to leave Weatherfield and never come back! It’s after new evidence in Natasha’s murder investigation comes to light, and Roy is once again forced to lie to the authorities, that he makes his decision to quit his job and home before his shame swallows him up. But when Nina finds out that her uncle has signed all of his assets over to her, she fears the worst… “At first, Nina is very confused,” reveals Mollie Gallagher, who plays her. “She has all these ideas about what is happening after she keeps hearing a number of things about Roy. She thinks this…

In a shocking twist of fate, Kelly finds herself the victim of an unprovoked attack this week – and Nina is the only person on hand to save her. Homeless Kelly turns to drugs to numb her pain. But as she staggers around in a barely conscious state, Kelly is set upon by a group of drunken teenagers! When Nina happens upon the scene, will she wade in to save the girl who set off the tragic chain of events that led to Seb’s death? “This is a massive trigger for Nina, it reminds her what she went through,” shares Mollie. “Plus it happens just as she is trying to put on a brave face for the Roy situation. Nina thinks, ‘What would Roy do?’” It’s already been a tough…

Horrified Ben finds himself locked in a battle for survival with killer Meena this week, after he stumbles upon the footage of her trying to drown Victoria. He doesn’t realise exactly what he’s found until Meena hotfoots it to HOP to snatch back the incriminating evidence, and shows her hand. In that frightening moment, the penny drops that Meena is a dangerous psycho and Ben is in grave danger. But a shock twist changes everything… “The only way out for Ben is to fight!” reveals Simon Lennon, who plays the rattled lad. “They end up in a scuffle over the evidence and Ben gets away, but Meena gives chase. As they’re in pursuit of one another, Meena falls and hits the floor really hard. At that moment, Ben is left…

Hi Simon, there’s some big Liv drama this week. Does that shake Aaron and Ben’s relationship? Ben has been a champion of Liv, but it’s getting to the point where she consistently wants to prevent his and Aaron’s happiness. They have been through so much together, and they are finally at a point where there is a life beyond all this conflict. That bonds them together, with the hope there’s happiness on the horizon for them. It’s been a while since Aaron was serious about someone, but it looks as if they are in it for the long haul now… Yeah, love is finally starting to blossom between Aaron and Ben. There’s some beautiful stuff between them coming up, and it’s lovely to play those moments with Danny Miller. It’s…

Con man Rocky collapses with a massive heart attack this week, after writing a full confession to his ‘daughter’ Sonia. The pressure is on as Dotty’s drug addict mum Sandy returns and recognises her brother-in-law Tom, prompting ‘Rocky’ – which is how Tom is known to the rest of Walford – to flee. However, before he can leg it, Rocky is treated to a surprise 60th by Sonia and his girlfriend Kathy, and he decides to come clean. But after writing a letter telling them the truth about his con, Rocky falls to the floor, leaving his co-conspirator Dotty in a state of high anxiety… “When Dotty sees the ambulance, she’s worried Rocky has told Sonia he was fleecing her, and she’s attacked him!” says Milly Zero, who plays the…