Inside Soap UK 43 - 2017

“I love a good soap whodunnit” In the whole crazy world of soap, what is better than a big, juicy ‘whodunnit?’ storyline? (Well, other than anything involving Liz McDonald and two bottles of Lambrusco.) I love a good ‘whodunnit?’, although on one condition – and it’s absolutely non-negotiable. My only rule is that the killer has to be one of the suspects offered up by the soap right at the start of the mystery. So, if they take a fancy photograph of all the possible cuprits lined up against a wall – or sat in a church, say – then my only demand is that, when the story is told, the guilty party will be someone in that photograph. Breaking this rule is why the reveal of Lucy Beale’s killer…

Emmerdale’s big ‘whodunnit?’ sees even more shocking twists and turns this week, as the police ramp up their investigation into Emma Barton’s murder. As detectives begin to take a special interest in Adam’s car – and the fact that he had his tyres changed on the day that Emma died – the heat is very much on Moira’s son. But is he the real culprit, or is someone else to blame? The big twist comes when shock new evidence reveals that Laurel has been lying about her whereabouts on the day of Emma’s death. And that’s why we’re naming Laurel as our prime suspect… PRIME SUSPECT LAUREL THOMAS MOTIVE… Laurel and Emma have been enemies for a long time now – as the whole village knows… ON THE…

“Tina and Janet are set on a collision course…” Distraught parents Billy and Honey face the Halloween from hell this week, after their daughter Janet is mowed down by Tina’s speeding car! Their nightmare unfolds during what should be a night of fun and games for the local children, who are gathered at Jack’s house for a spooky-themed party. But after little terrors Janet, Amy and Riley quietly sneak out without any of the adults realising, disaster strikes. “Honey leaves Janet in Jack and Ingrid’s care – so you can imagine her horror when she returns to the party and realises that her daughter is missing,” sympathises our Walford spy. “It’s dark and cold outside on the eeriest night of the year – so all manner of scenarios enter her…

“Tina feels sick to her stomach when the penny drops” Tina is the oblivious hit-and-run driver in Janet’s accident this week, after failing to realise that she’s knocked over a child. But as news of what’s happened spreads, it dawns on the horrified woman that she’s the reason Billy and Honey’s daughter has ended up in hospital… “When the penny finally drops, Tina feels sick to her stomach,” says our Walford insider. “If she had known that she’d hit Janet, then she would have stopped her car and called for an ambulance straight away. She’s not the sort of terrible person who would leave anyone – let alone a little girl – in that situation.” The trouble is, Tina isn’t thinking straight when she collides with Janet. Earlier in the…

Weatherfield bosses are lining up a perilous Christmas for the residents of the cobbles, judging by the latest sneaky snaps to emerge from the soap’s set. Several members of the cast were spotted filming on location recently, among them actress Sue Cleaver, who plays Eileen. Phelan’s missus is sporting a nasty cut above her badly bruised left eye – but what, or who, has caused her injury? “Eileen could be set to find out the hard way just what sort of man she’s married to,” suggests our Corrie mole. “Or perhaps one of Phelan’s many enemies will succeed in taking their revenge on him by hurting Eileen…” The pair suffered a close call recently, when one of Vinny Ashford’s hired thugs broke into their house and attacked Phelan. After fending…

As Phelan’s story enters an explosive new chapter, the thought of bumping into him down a dark alley is enough to give us the shivers! However, Inside Soap can vouch for the fact that star Connor McIntyre is one of the nicest blokes in the business – and that he genuinely hopes his screen antics aren’t keeping viewers awake at night. “The reaction I usually get from viewers is, ‘You’re so horrible, we really hate you – but we don’t want them to kill you yet!’” grins the 56-year-old actor. “The only time the public response gets disturbing for me is when it’s older people whose memory isn’t quite what it was. They see my face and know that it doesn’t have good associations. That’s when I rush over to…