Inside Soap UK 14 - 2018

“The soaps know how to surprise!” You have to give it to the soaps – they certainly know how to take you completely by surprise. No, I’m not talking about the shock of Corrie’s Phelan being alive and well (sorry for the spoiler if you’ve been watching on catch-up). We’ve all been enjoying soaps for a long time, so we knew there had to be another chapter in the twisted tale of Pat Phelan (see our news story on p12 for more on that!). No, what I’m talking about are the genuine ‘What the blazes just happened?!’ kind of surprises, like the one on p17. Ladies and gents, Inside Soap proudly presents Roy Cropper wrestling Nigel Havers to the ground in a pavement brawl, while delighted Gail Rodwell quite literally…

Luke Britton’s memorial boxing match almost ends in another death this week – as David unleashes his pent-up anger on his opponent Gary. Having contained his agony following his rape by abuser Josh, David is wound up like coiled spring. So when Tyrone pulls out of his match with Gary, David is quick to step in, despite GP Ali’s medical advice that his epilepsy rules him out – and fight co-ordinator Josh has no choice but to watch as the consequences of his evil attack are played out in the ring. “Josh doesn’t want David to be anywhere near this event,” explains Ryan Clayton, who plays him. “So when Tyrone withdraws from the bout, it’s the first time people at work see a different side to him. “The calm, jovial…

Ali learns some shocking information regarding what really happened at the boxing match this week – and confronts David about what he knows! The local GP is prompted to take troubled David to one side after Zeedan finds a used needle at the venue. Following investigation, Ali concludes that the needle was used to take steroids – and that’s why David went berserk when he and Gary started their match. “David agrees to meet Ali at the Rovers, where he’s invited to open up about what’s troubling him,” says our Weatherfield insider. “But with David reluctant to confide in the doctor, Ali decides to ask him straight out if he has taken steroids. David is quick to make it clear that he’s not touched the drug in his life, though,…

“What Charity has to say is a real ‘Oh my God’ moment” Charity reveals a shocking secret about her past this week – and it’s going to leave viewers gobsmacked! The truth about her dark history comes to light as she supports fellow villager Tracy through the sentencing of vile sex-pest Phil. But the experience leaves Charity very shaken indeed – prompting her to open up to Vanessa about her own ordeal… “Charity’s past comes back to haunt her via Tracy,” reveals Emma Atkins, who plays Charity. “She went through some kind of serious abuse when she was 14. It involves the character of DC Bails – there’s an ominous history between them which I don’t know if viewers will remember. But it explains a lot about why Charity behaves…

What is Tracy hoping to get from Phil’s sentencing? She wants justice, and she wants to make sure that he’s not able to do that to anyone else. When it comes out that there’s another woman who’s stepped forward to say he did the same thing, it gives Tracy the strength to forge ahead with the court case. She gets quite passionate about protecting vulnerable women. Is Tracy surprised when Charity offers her some support? Yeah, I think she’s quite shocked. At the time she doesn’t know anything about Charity’s past, so it does seem odd that she’s so emotional. But I don’t think Tracy is suspicious or anything – she’s moved by how supportive Charity is being. How are things between Tracy and David at the moment? It’s a…

“Hunter pursuing Lou has been like history repeating itself...” Phil is on the warpath this week, furious that Hunter slept with Louise just to get at him. But will it pave the way for his own romantic faux pas? All hell breaks loose as the raging Mitchell man cuts down everyone in his path to find the wicked teen, prompting Hunter’s worried mother Mel to step in and do whatever is necessary to save her son. It’s a charm offensive Phil doesn’t see coming. Mel plays on their history and flirts up a storm with her former flame, goading him into making a move on her – which he does… “Mel is as gorgeous as ever, and Phil has always been infatuated by her,” our Walford insider reminds us. “He…