Inside Soap UK 21 - 2020

“Good news – the soaps are back in business!” Good news for us soap fans – just as this magazine is about to go to press, we’ve received news that the soaps are back in business! EastEnders has announced it is planning to resume filming, and it’s expected that the other soaps will follow suit soon (see p14). Of course, the health of cast and crew is paramount, so it might mean a few changes to how your favourite soaps look and feel for a while, with filming techniques altered and some special measures in place. We’re already investigating what post-lockdown soaps might be like, and will be reporting back in a future issue. But I think it could be interesting for our soaps to take a new direction for…

Shona finally returns to the Platt house this week, after several months away in a rehabilitation facility – but she makes it clear that she doesn’t want her hubby David to be there! Shona lost her memory following the tragic shooting incident at Christmas, and has no recollection of David at all. So far, she’s wanted nothing to do with the Platts – yet when Sarah visits her this week, and begs her to come home, Shona senses her desperation, and agrees to a visit… “Shona’s essence is still there – she is still a kind person” “Sarah comes to see her in the rehab centre and even without their history, Shona still connects to Sarah’s plight,” explains Julia Goulding, who plays Shona. “She can see how genuinely upset Sarah…

This week marks Julia’s first scenes since giving birth to her son Franklin at the end of November. And she tells us that she was delighted to return… What was it like to be back on set, Julia? Oh, I was gone for about five minutes, so everything was exactly the same as it was! I really enjoyed being back at work, and having this challenging storyline. Shona has been changed by her memory loss. How have you found playing her, when she’s so different? To approach it in that sense is really odd, because she is completely unrecognisable. When working with my colleagues, like Tina O’Brien [Sarah], Jack P Shepherd [David], Helen Worth [Gail] and David Neilson [Roy], it’s hard to not go back to the natural rhythm that…

Sharon makes a shock return to Walford this week, and while she wants Phil and the Vic back in her life, does she want baby Kayden too? The grieving mother fled Albert Square to take refuge with best friend Michelle in Australia, so Phil’s left stunned when she arrives back unannounced. While overseas, Sharon’s been thinking about what it is she wants, and it seems her vision for the future includes both estranged husband Phil and the Queen Vic. Yet the big question is, has Sharon changed her mind about handing over son Kayden to the Taylors? “Giving up her newborn baby is the most shocking thing Sharon has ever done,” whispers our EastEnders insider. “Kayden is innocent in this whole sorry mess – however, Sharon’s grief was so intense…

“Hey Phil, remember when you had a baby with Denise? I stood by you, didn’t I?” “Remind me what year it was that you hired thugs to break into the Albert so I would sell up – resulting in me being hospitalised? We got over that.” “For how many months did you swan off to Spain on ‘Mitchell business’ without giving me a second thought? Okay, I slept with Keanu, but we can all agree you started it!” “I’m trying to recall how many women you’ve cheated on me with – I’ve got Mel Owen, Shirley and Denise so far. Am I missing anyone?” “Oh, and do tell me again just how you got my one-truelove Dennis Rickman murdered?”…

Vinny is in for a huge shock this week, as he finds out that his new best mate – the mysterious ‘Alex’ – is actually his dad, Paul! Vinny is lost for words when he barges into the Dingles’ place to find Mandy and ‘Alex’ having a scrap. Despite Mandy’s desperate attempts to throw Vinny off the scent, Alex reveals his true identity – he’s actually Vinny’s father! “The gigantic can of worms is finally opened,” laughs Lisa Riley, who plays Mandy. “But Vinny is so hurt that Mandy has lied to him and now she has to prove the reason why. Mandy tries to explain, but Vinny storms out. Mandy is petrified that she’s lost her son for good!” Vinny has unknowingly been building a relationship with his dad…