Inside Soap UK 32 - 2016

It’s your final chance to vote in the Inside Soap Awards 2016, and we’ve got the EastEnders gang campaigning for your votes over on p42, with some amazing pics and sneak peeks of what’s coming up. But there’s tough competition out there from the other soaps. We chat to Corrie’s man of the moment – and Awards nominee – Simon Gregson about the uber-fertile Steve McDonald’s double baby trouble on p32, while Emmerdale’s Sexiest Female nominee Gemma Atkinson gives us the latest on Carly and Marlon’s ‘will-theywon’t-they-or-even-shouldthey?’ romance over on p36. Talking of should-they romances, Neighbours’ Olympia Valance tells all on Paige’s forbidden love over on p40, and reveals she’s already prepared for the Inside Soap Awards – she even has her frock sorted out! I’m a bit worried I…

“THIS IS A LOW POINT FOR BABE - SHE FEELS LIKE SHE HAS NOBODY” Aunt Babe’s wicked deeds come back to bite her this week, after one of her enemies decides that revenge is a dish best served cold! As the cook closes up the Vic kitchen for the night, a mystery assailant emerges from the shadows and subjects her to a chilling attack… “It doesn’t even cross Babe’s mind that this sort of thing could ever happen to her, or that she wouldn’t see it coming,” shares actress Annette Badland, who plays her. “It definitely takes her by surprise, despite there being lots of people with a motive for the assault!” As it happens, though, Babe kicks off the week trying to win friends and not enemies when she…

CLAUDETTE Murderous mum Claudette isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty, given she’s responsible for offing her old man, Henry! She wouldn’t think twice about doing in Aunt Babe. ODDS 2/1 LES The undertaker is surrounded by cold corpses every day and, if Babe snuffs it, he could certainly do with the extra business to help clear the debt she’s caused him. ODDS 10/1 WHITNEY Kind and caring Whitney wouldn’t hurt a fly, but Lee’s betrayal and Babe’s scheming has brought out the fire in her. She’s the dark horse to watch out for… ODDS 25/1 ABI Borderline psycho Abi revelled in the fact that she “battered” Lucy Beale, and she has the death of dog Tramp on her hands. She’s oozing with killer potential… ODDS 5/1 PAM Les’ desperate…

Belle’s life looks set to dangerously unravel – when she runs away from the village after her pregnancy lies are exposed. Our sneak peek pics show the troubled and exhausted girl living rough on the streets, while back in the Dales, her family are frantically trying to find her. Belle has fled the village on the orders of her imaginary friend Ellie, and with her mental state so fragile thanks to Ellie’s influence, she’s more vulnerable than ever… “Belle has totally lost herself,” admits Eden Taylor-Draper, who plays Belle. “She’s completely involved with Ellie and can’t see anything else – she’s been taken over by this girl. When Belle suffered psychosis before, it was dealt with quickly, but this time it’s so intense – Belle doesn’t know what to do…

Young actress Eden reckons that Belle’s traumatic journey hasn’t been easy to perform, but is nevertheless worthwhile. “It’s great that we’re portraying psychosis like Belle’s as not just a one-off thing,” muses the star. “It’s been a challenge, but speaking to people who’ve dealt with mental health issues, and also meeting with the mental health charity MIND, has given me some valuable insights. “I’ve not been going to work and being ‘happy Belle’, so I do hope she gets help. She’s been through a bad time, and needs to be with her loving family…”…

“EVA’S NOT STUPID - SHE KNOWS THAT SOMETHING ISN’T RIGHT WITH AIDAN” Aidan endures the double date from hell this week, when he and his girlfriend Eva have dinner with Luke and Maria – the woman he drunkenly slept with! But Aidan soon has bigger things to worry about after he spots Maria buying a pregnancy test in the corner shop. Could his tipsy mistake be set to cost him dear? “Aidan totally freaks out,” admits Shayne Ward, who plays the love cheat. “He sees Maria picking up the test and instantly thinks, ‘Oh my God, this cannot be happening – she’s pregnant!’. Aidan just doesn’t want to settle down, and he’s terrified of the fact that he cheated being revealed.” It’s fair to say that Aidan is feeling more…