Inside Soap UK 10 - 2017

“Do we know what we want from our soaps?” Often I wonder if we really know what we want from our soaps. Of course, we like terrific characters we believe in, gripping stories that surprise us, and a good balance of warmth and sadness – all the things that make a great soap. But do we realise what we want in order to get that? Take this week, shall we? We’re screaming for Emmerdale’s Robert not to kiss Rebecca – after all, he’s only just had his happy day with Aaron. But would we enjoy seeing Robron so boringly happy? Probably not, because this pair are all about the drama, plus Danny Miller (Aaron) is the king of angsty acting, so it’d be a crime to waste that on…

“After plying Nick with wine, Michelle invites him to hers…” Michelle lands upon a new way to get back at cheating hubby Steve this week – by setting out to seduce Leanne’s fiancé, Nick! It’s not just Michelle who’s heartbroken over Steve’s revelation that he’s Oliver’s biological father. Although Nick has always known the truth, he’s furious that Steve has gone back on his word and revealed the secret to the whole of Weatherfield. So as Michelle’s hurt deepens and her revenge plan steps up a gear, it’s no wonder she has Nick in her sights… “What better way for Michelle to get back at both Steve and Leanne than by bedding Nick?” muses our Corrie spy. “Yes, he was complicit in covering up the baby lie, but Michelle can…

Hi Simon! How is Steve coping without Michelle? He’s still living in hope that they are going to get back together! He’s blissfully unaware of how serious it is. Because of the sort of relationship they’ve always had, he thinks this is another blip he can overcome – he’s not grasped the enormity of this betrayal, and how it has affected Michelle. Do you think he regrets coming clean about being baby Oliver’s dad? He only regrets it because of what has happened in the aftermath. Deep down he feels he has done the right thing. He couldn’t live with the guilt any more – he just wanted to be honest, and not have any more lies. Does Steve think that he can sort out an access agreement with Leanne?…

“If Michelle is having Preston’s baby, it will be a huge scandal” Troubled Michelle pays a visit to the doctor this week – but just why is she feeling so under the weather? She has certainly been on edge since returning to Walford from the United States, and more so after her secret schoolboy lover Preston followed her to the Square. With Preston seducing her young niece Bex in order to make Michelle jealous, the twisted situation has got right out of hand – and that was before young Dennis witnessed the pair’s most recent bout of passion! With all this going on, it’s no wonder Michelle isn’t at her best. But could there be another explanation for the way she’s been feeling? Despite trying to break it off with…

It’s full steam ahead for the Fowlers this week, as they get the all-clear to try for another baby. Although Martin would love to have a child of his own with his wife, he’s been worried about Stacey’s mental health and the effect that pregnancy might have on her. When she gave birth to baby Arthur, Stacey became dangerously ill with postpartum psychosis, putting herself and her son in danger. The time she spent in hospital after being sectioned looms large in Martin’s mind, and he’s been fretting about putting Stacey through that ordeal again. However, Stacey is approaching the situation sensibly. She goes to her psychiatrist to ask how best to manage a pregnancy, and whether she’s in a suitable condition to have another baby – and having received…

Heartbroken Robert gets dangerously close to old flame Rebecca this week, when he learns the horrifying truth about his partner Aaron’s drug abuse. Robert can’t believe his ears when Liv reveals that Aaron has been using in prison, and he goes to confront his fella for the true story. After seeing Aaron, he marches off in disgust to drown his sorrows. And that’s when he texts flirty former lover Rebecca… “Robert desperately misses Aaron, and he’s struggled to care for Liv while Chas is in Prague,” explains actor Ryan Hawley, who plays him. “He’s out of his depth, and when the prison visit is initially cancelled, he’s worried Aaron may have got into trouble and jeopardised his appeal. After Liv tells him drugs are the issue, Robert is in disbelief.…