Table of contents for December 5, 2015 in Inside Soap UK

The ghost of Christmas past comes back to haunt Tracy Barlow this fortnight, when her jailed ex-fiancé Rob Donovan sends her a prison visiting order. Tracy may be loved up with former hubby Robert now, but after she spots him getting into a cab with Leanne, her jealousy flares – and in a moment of madness, she decides to visit Rob! What does the convicted murderer want from her? “Rob feels he’s been hard done by, and wants a little bit of payback,” reveals actor Marc Baylis, who reprises his role as Rob this fortnight. “He’s had a lot of time to think about everything that’s happened, and ponder why he ended up where he is. He’s a bit colder than before, and there’s a nasty side to him. Rob’s…

Ste is certainly full of festive spirit this fortnight, as he falls off the wagon and hits the booze again! The single dad has been battling an addiction to drugs and alcohol for over a year, but has managed to keep himself clean for the past couple of months. However, yet another bust-up with his on-off lover Harry tips him over the edge once more. Soon, he’s drowning his sorrows in the bottom of a bottle – before making his true feelings clear to Harry in the most public way possible… “Just when you think Ste has finally turned his life around, he goes back on the booze again!” splutters our Hollyoaks insider. “He and Harry have been on again and off again so many times that the rest of…

As Ashley keeps his dementia diagnosis from partner Harriet this fortnight, he has no idea she’s secretly planning on asking him to marry her! The proposal is prompted by a series of heart-to-hearts with Ashley’s ex-wife Laurel – cosy chats which leave Laurel wondering about the extent of her own romantic feelings for her former husband. But as Harriet prepares to get down on one knee, will popping the question finally convince ailing Ashley to come clean about the state of his health? “Harriet has no idea what Ashley is going through, since he’s still sneaking away to hospital appointments with confidant Bob in tow,” says our Emmerdale source. “And just before she proposes, poor Ashley is struck down by a mini-stroke in the middle of Bob’s birthday treasure hunt.…

The Fox-Hubbard clan gather for Vincent’s birthday this fortnight – but it’s Denise who has a reason to celebrate when her daughter, Libby, makes an unexpected return to Walford! It’s been some months since we last saw the university student, as she made a brief return to the Square to celebrate her birthday. However, Libby’s latest visit stems from an anxious phone call she receives from Patrick, who is worried about Denise’s relationship with Kim. It’s clear that Denise is concerned for her sister’s welfare now that she’s living with Vincent. So when Libby arrives at his birthday bash and confesses that she’s come to talk about Kim, frustrated Denise isn’t a happy bunny. However, it does mean that the pair get to spend some mother-daughter time together – and…

Eva is looking for festive romance this fortnight – and sets her sights on new Weatherfield hunk Aidan! Now that she’s back on the Street, Eva has decided it’s time to move on from her nasty split with Jason. At Carla and Nick’s engagement party, she jumps at the chance to flirt with Aidan – only to be disappointed when her boss plays hard to get. Not one to be deterred, Eva plots to up the ante at their next meeting. She rocks up to the Underworld Christmas do in a stunning lace gown, and smitten Aidan can’t take his eyes off her. As sparks fly between them, Eva is thrilled that she’s making progress – but when Aidan makes a hasty exit, she’s left out in the cold again.…

Jesse is keen to prove his worth as a surgeon this fortnight, and hopes to impress Hanssen by assisting him in theatre. But when a patient, Caroline, is admitted to Holby after being involved in a bike accident, it’s revealed that Jesse operated on her sister 20 years ago – only for the lady to tragically lose her life. So when Caroline’s mother realises that Jesse is to perform surgery on her daughter, she demands that he be taken off the case. Can Jesse convince her that he’s the man for the job – and is he actually up to the task? Also this fortnight… Fletch and Raf play Cupid for Cara, and Fran and Jac clash over a patient.…

Christmas is an expensive time of year for everyone – but two village residents will be driven to desperate measures in order to provide their nearest and dearest with the perfect gift. Keen to impress Debbie’s kids, her new boyfriend Ross is ready to go all out in his reckless bid to give them all fancy presents. His unlikely partner in Christmas crime is Aaron, who hopes to treat his troubled mum Chas to something she really needs. But as the pair join forces in the hope of earning a fast buck, they’re about to make a mistake which will cost them dearly. With star Charley Webb due to take maternity leave, could it be this latest bad behaviour from Ross that causes Debbie to depart the village? SPIRIT AND…

Who says winter can’t be colourful? These soap stars prove it can be by going all-out glam in sequins, metallics, jewel colours and backless numbers, and showing there’s no such thing as too much glitz. Well, if you can’t sparkle at Christmas… Dazzling like the star she is in her gold high-neck sequinned frock is Walford comeback queen Gillian Taylforth (Kathy), who attended the Children with Cancer Ball. Now that’s a red-carpet comeback outfit. ’Tis the season to be jolly - and boy does Corrie’s Alan Halsall (Tyrone) look it, pictured at the Gem Appeal Winter Ball. And it’s hardly surprising when he has stunning wife - and ex-Street star - Lucy-Jo Hudson (Katy Harris) on his arm. Looking festive and ready for the party season were Hollyoaks ladies Sophie…

It has been nearly two-and-a-half years since we last saw DCI John Luther on our screens. He walked off into the (metaphorical) sunset with Alice Morgan, the sociopathic killer who’d helped him clear his name after he was wrongly accused of the murder of his colleague DS Justin Ripley… “Two years is a long time for a TV show to be off the air,” admits Idris Elba, who plays Luther. “I think we have an audience that’s very loyal, and I don’t think they were satisfied with the ending of the last one. I don’t think Neil [Cross, creator of Luther] and I were either – it felt like there were some unanswered questions.” For those wondering where Luther was heading off to, this two-part update reveals that he’s been…

I really enjoyed From Darkness – I’ve been watching a lot of BBC drama. I did that classic thing of going to watch Doctor Foster on iPlayer and the first episode had already dropped off! But I started watching episode two even though I’d missed the first one, and it was fantastic – it was almost like Hitchcock! I’m watching a show called The League on Netflix. It’s an American comedy, and I’ve got into it quite late because there are seven series. It’s about a fantasy American football team, though that’s not really the basis of the show. It’s just about four guys and a girl! My favourite kind of TV is the good character-based stuff. I like Friday Night Lights –…

Double agent Vincent continues with his mission to crush the Mitchells this fortnight – putting pressure on Ronnie to help stitch up Phil! It was recently revealed that Vincent has been working as a police informant – feeding the Organised Crime Unit with information to bring down Phil’s clan. Ronnie discovered what he was up to when Vincent used his connections to delay her being officially arrested for Carl White’s murder. So as he continues to remind her this fortnight that she owes him big-time, it looks as if Ronnie has no choice but to help him put her cousin behind bars… “It wasn’t part of the plan to get Ronnie involved, but Vincent’s gone a bit renegade!” explains our EastEnders insider. “He’s desperate to get Phil, but conflicted over…

Killer Bobby stuns his grandma Kathy with a shocking confession this fortnight, when he admits to pushing Jane down the stairs! An almighty row is set to kick off at the Beales’, as Kathy returns home to find a worried-looking Bobby, who admits that Jane is hurt. But nothing can prepare Kathy for what she sees next, as she turns around to find Jane’s bruised and battered body lying motionless on the floor… “Jane survives the fall, but her nightmare is far from over,” warns our EastEnders insider. “For Bobby to again turn on a member of his own family – just like he did with Lucy – is absolutely appalling and a very frightening situation. Just how many more people need to get hurt before the Beales realise how…

There’s a nasty blast from the past for Paige this fortnight, when crook Dennis Dimato’s shady girlfriend, Michelle, rocks up at Lassiters! Paige goes straight to her cop boyfriend Mark with the information, and he’s hopeful that Michelle will lead them to Dimato so that he can finally make an arrest. But Paige has reservations about his dangerous plan – and it seems she’s right to be worried… “Michelle tells Paige that she’s trying to get away from Dimato, but there is definitely more to the story,” explains Olympia Valance, who plays Paige. “And Paige doesn’t believe her at first, because she’s been badly burned by Michelle in the past.” However, Paige soon starts to soften towards Michelle after the bad girl turns up at her house, claiming that she…

Firestarter Piper looks set to cause another blaze this fortnight, as she waves a lighter around at school! The teenager found herself in a whole heap of trouble recently, after she and pal Ben confessed to accidentally starting the inferno at Erinsborough High. So when the time comes for Piper to return to class and face her peers, she’s understandably nervous about what their reaction will be. She confesses her fears to neighbour Tyler, who assures her that everything will be okay – in fact, she’ll probably be labelled a hero! Buoyed by his words, she dons her uniform and sets off. But when she arrives to be greeted with mixed messages – some applauding her pyrotechnics, while others cower in fear – she swiftly retreats home. Tyler comes to…

The Met Office claims there’s only a one-in-three chance of snow on Christmas Day this year. One resident of Weatherfield doesn’t like those odds, however, and is determined to do everything in his power to make certain that 2015 is a white Christmas. Can Tyrone give poorly Hope the magical day he’s rashly promised? And will he pull off the very special surprise he has planned for Hope’s exhausted mum, Fiz? Five-year-old Hope is a very sick little girl, bravely enduring the toxic chemotherapy that is her only chance of beating her cancer. The little girl dreams of visiting Lapland, but is simply too ill to travel, and so Tyrone is determined to bring her dream to the cobbles. And as the snow settles on Coronation Street, Tyrone also plans…

Forget presents and parties – what Christmas is really all about is being with the ones you love the most. And this year is an extra-special Yuletide for one Hollyoaks clan, as it’s the first one they’ve spent together as a family in over 15 years. Simone and Louis Loveday are overjoyed to finally have their missing daughter Lisa back home – completely unaware that the girl they’ve welcomed into their brood is actually an impostor! With her actual sister Jade living on the other side of the village, Lisa – who’s really called Sonia – is struggling to keep her secret under wraps. Worse still, she’s only gone and fallen in love with her ‘brother’ Zack… As Christmas arrives, Lisa finds it increasingly hard to stand by and watch…

When This Morning was first broadcast on ITV in 1988, Liz Earle was part of the show’s on-air team alongside Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan. Liz has since gone on to found a successful beauty and wellbeing business, but she’s recently returned to the show to offer advice to help us endure these harsh winter months – and she’s very happy to be back… “It’s like I was never away!” Liz tells Inside TV. “I couldn’t believe it was 27 years ago that I was first on – I was 24 when I started, and now I’ve got a daughter who’s 24! But it’s lovely – it’s like going back to my family, because you’ve got Denise Robertson and Dr Chris Steele, and a lot of…

Pregnant Megan plans to make an escape from the village – and former hubby Jai – this fortnight. But when her friend Sam steps in to help her, it looks as if he’s gone too far after a fight breaks out between him and Jai, and the usually placid Sam takes his unconscious foe hostage… “Megan has no idea how far Sam will go out of loyalty to her,” explains Gaynor Faye, who plays her. “She wouldn’t want him to get into trouble on her behalf, and she’ll be annoyed by the risks he’s taken when she finds out. But at the same time, she’s eternally grateful that he wants to help her.” At the start of the fortnight, the pressure on Megan grows after Brenda works out that she’s…

Ross is struggling to juggle his new life with Debbie this fortnight – as her daughter Sarah plots to sabotage their relationship! Since Ross moved into Mulberry Cottage, his partner has been determined to see him and Sarah forge a proper bond. But when Debbie suggests the family bake cupcakes together, both the Barton bad boy and the girl are less than enthused. After Debbie makes her excuses and leaves them alone, Ross then steps up to the plate – eager to make amends with Sarah and Jack. However, the lass soon manipulates Ross into going out for more icing, and deliberately turns up the oven… “Ross understands that it’s difficult for Sarah seeing another man trying to play dad,” reveals our Dales insider. “Pete was a natural with Debbie’s…

Mick pulls out all the stops this fortnight, intent on giving Walford the best Christmas it’s ever seen – and if it distracts his mother-in-law Elaine from interfering with his wedding, all the better! Linda’s overbearing mum has been a pain in the backside these past few weeks, sticking her nose in where it’s not wanted. And it’s not just the Carters whom she manages to offend – Square stalwart Dot takes umbrage at Elaine’s ideas for the Walford Nativity play… “Dot prides herself on always bringing the community together at Christmas time, and doesn’t like to stray far from tradition,” explains our EastEnders insider. “So when Elaine rolls in like a bulldozer and tries to put a glitzy spin on Dot’s show, she’s horrified!” Mortified Dot asks Ian to…

Connie and Jacob at last get down to the serious business of playing doctors and nurses this fortnight – with a steamy tryst in her office! The flirty pair have been dancing round their feelings for weeks, with department boss Connie determined to resist the hunky nurse. But when they’re thrown together to treat a patient in the back of a crashed ambulance, they can no longer deny the animal attraction between them… “It’s a very highly charged situation, which leads to an intimate moment for the two of them,” grins Charles Venn, who plays Jacob. “Even now, when I think about that episode I feel very emotional, because Jacob is so invested in the situation with this patient. It was a tough episode to shoot.” The ambulance falls foul…

Shaken Sarah finds an unlikely ally this fortnight, when Kylie uncovers the truth about her pregnancy. Since returning to the Street, Sarah has been grappling with the devastating realisation that she’s carrying Callum’s child. But while she’s still torn over whether to follow through with the pregnancy, her behaviour hasn’t gone unnoticed. Suspecting that something is wrong, Kylie goes digging in Sarah’s handbag – and is knocked for six when she finds the address of a clinic… “Kylie is shocked, as it never crossed her mind that Sarah might be pregnant,” explains Paula Lane, who plays Sarah’s stunned sister-in-law. “She knew something wasn’t quite right, but initially thought that Sarah might be speaking with the police about Callum’s death. Her pregnancy is another hurdle for the Platts to overcome, and…

Pushy Nessa worms her way into Ken’s bed this fortnight – despite Audrey’s best efforts! Audrey’s feelings for longtime friend Ken have had her seething with jealousy as she’s watched Nessa make a play for the Weatherfield widower. But as Audrey maintains a dignified silence, Nessa isn’t so shy… As the week begins, Nessa is already driving Ken crazy by cajoling him into wearing a garish pair of designer jeans. And after Nessa ignores Ken’s evident discomfort, Cathy wades in and chastises her sister for trying to change him. Worried that she’s driven him away, Nessa tracks down Ken in the Rovers – where the feisty madam offers to spend the night with him! And heartbroken Audrey is on hand to overhear her proposition… “Ken hasn’t got over Deirdre yet,…

Maxine gets a nasty surprise at the village’s Christmas grotto this fortnight, when policeman Jason arrives and takes her to the station – to investigate claims that she’s been neglecting her ailing ex, Patrick! Viewers are aware that twisted Patrick is already plotting to frame his kind-hearted wife for his murder, and has successfully managed to arouse the suspicions of concerned copper Jason, who believes Maxine may be up to no good. Already worried that Patrick – who suffers from debilitating motor neurone disease – isn’t receiving the care he needs, Jason grows ever more certain something is wrong when he leaves Holly’s flat and hears ‘poor’ Patrick wailing Maxine’s name. The policeman is determined to get to the bottom of Patrick’s supposed distress – but the scheming fella keeps…

New receptionist Jack Diamond bowls into the ED this fortnight, determined to make a good first impression on his colleagues. But the fact that he can’t stand the sight of blood and refuses to get his hands dirty doesn’t exactly stand him in good stead! Senior receptionist Noel takes against him, and tries every trick in the book to get rid of his annoying new assistant. But when Jack takes it upon himself to cheer up the dreary ED with some sparkling Christmas decorations, will his new work pals finally warm to him? Also this fortnight… Cal wants to find his mum, and Lofty applies for a promotion.…

Birthday boy Bob is in for a treat this fortnight, as the two ladies in his life plan a celebration he’ll never forget! However, while his daughter Carly wants to indulge her father’s passion for treasure hunts, Brenda is planning an extravaganza celebrating her husband’s literary favourites, the Brontë sisters. After Carly and Brenda butt heads over what’s best, they eventually reach an unusual compromise – a Brontëthemed treasure hunt with a prize for the lucky winner! Can the warring women put their differences aside for the sake of Bob’s big day – or does disaster still lie in store? Also this fortnight… Delighted Joanie lands a job at the factory, and Rodney helps David search for Val’s engagement ring.…

Hell will freeze over before the Beale family gets a happy Christmas – as Bobby’s bad behaviour spirals seriously out of control! Events take a dark turn for Ian and Jane as they struggle to deal with the young killer. Will Bobby strike again as this story blazes to its dramatic climax? And might the troubled lad finally discover that he was responsible for Lucy’s death? WAR ISN’T OVER As an icy chill cuts through the already frosty air at the Beale house, the Mitchells aren’t exactly roasting chestnuts by an open fire, either. The family is wrapped up in a festive feud with Vincent as his plot to ruin Phil has terrible consequences. Star Ellen Thomas, who plays Vincent’s mother Claudette, has hinted that the rivalry between the Hubbards…

MASOOD & DENISE EASTENDERS Of course, what we all want is for Masood to get together with Kush’s mum Carmel, but where would the fun be if that happened too easily? We reckon a fling with feisty Denise – a character really in need of a storyline – would be great fun for Masood this Christmas. Plus, we get the fun of Denise and Carmel going head-to-head for their man when the inevitable does happen, which would be quite frankly a-mazing! MARLON & CARLY EMMERDALE We reckon Emmerdale’s April is an angel in so many ways – so she’ll be the one to bring joy back into Marlon’s life by pulling the lanky chef together with her auntie, Carly. We know Carly can be a bit on the dodgy side…

Rare gems! The Inside Soap Collection Your favourite soap mag has produced a whole host of T-shirts, mugs and other fun stuff for the soap fan in your life – or yourself! Grab a Queen Vic hoody, or go retro with a Scott and Charlene mug. More designs are available at www.moretvicar.com/collections/inside-soap/ Beloved treasure! Deirdre: A Life On Coronation Street Remind yourself of all of Deirdre Barlow’s finest moments with this special tribute to the queen of the cobbles. RRP £16.99 Perfect panto! They’re behind you! Soap faves tread the boards this Christmas… Walford’s Steve McFadden (Phil) stars in Jack And The Beanstalk at Crawley’s The Hawth theatre, while cast mate Ricky Norwood (Fatboy) appears in Robin Hood And The Babes In The Wood at The Woodville Auditorium in Gravesend.…