Inside Soap UK 30 - 2018

“There’s a new trophy this year!” It’s that time of year again where we ask you to nominate your soap favourites so we can show them just how much you love them by presenting them with a big, shiny award! There’s a new trophy to fight over this year, as we launch the Inside Soap Awards Soap Superstar. Through the pages of this mag, and their TV appearances and social media profiles, we’re closer to our favourite stars than ever before. So we want to know, who is your off-screen Superstar from the world of soap? It might be because you like their attitude, you may think they dress stylishly, you may agree with their views, or you may just think that they’re really hot –we’re more than happy to…

Sam sets in motion a horrifying series of events this week, when he decides that the time is right for son Samson to know the upsetting truth about his mother Alice’s passing. Samson is appalled to learn that his dad helped his cancer-stricken mum to die with dignity – and after Sam’s concerned fiancée Lydia tries to calm the situation later on, the furious lad shoves her down the stairs! But as she’s rushed to hospital and doctors deliver their diagnosis, it seems that this shocking incident is set to be the least of Lydia’s worries. So with Lydia acting suspiciously, and Samson full of resentment, how much worse can Sam’s problems get? “Sam decides to tell Samson the truth about Alice after he announces he wants to organise a…

After Sam and Lydia’s comedy scenes, how do you feel about doing more dramatic stuff ? James It’s another opportunity for our on-screen relationship to grow and change direction – although it’s great to play that lighter side. The amount of things that happen in this village, you do need a bit of light and laughs to counterbalance the doom and gloom and death – and helicopters crashing! You both play quirky characters on screen, but is it easier or harder to play people so far removed from yourselves? Karen I usually play character roles, so Lydia is a gift of a part. I put the costume on, grab Lydia’s handbag, and then I get away with saying all sorts of things [laughs]. James Personally I think it’s easier to…

Sam’s involvement in his beloved wife Alice’s death came about in 2006, shortly after she’d given birth to their son Samson. Terminal cancer had left Alice too weak to hold her newborn, and she asked Sam to help her end her life. Having secured a lethal dose of morphine, bereft Sam carried out Alice’s request. When suspicions were raised, the police launched a murder investigation. But after the entire Dingle family claimed they were to blame for Alice s death, all enquiries were scuppered. However, kindly Cain ended up taking the blame, fearing social services would remove Samson from Sam’s care if he were to confess.…

“Billy has got Josh beaten up so badly that he’s near death!” Evil Josh is left fighting for his life this week – after the truth about his rape of David is revealed by vicar Billy. Shona enlists good friend Billy to keep an eye on her boyfriend, who has started to act strangely and secretively. She’s deeply worried that her traumatised other half is ramping up a revenge plan against Josh, and wants Billy to stop him doing anything stupid. But when Billy finds out what’s really going on, he inadvertently ends up putting Josh in grave danger. “Billy always seems to do the wrong thing while trying to do the right thing – he just can’t resist sticking his nose in,” says Daniel Brocklebank, who plays the clergyman.…

He’s had some big drama playing Billy, but Daniel reckons this latest story gifted him with something entirely new – the chance to be an action hero. “Never in my 25 years of doing this for a living did I think I would be doing a car chase around the streets of Manchester, dressed as a vicar!” he laughs. “It was very exciting, and we got to do all our own driving, which is really cool. We shut off the streets and had proper wheel-spinning and screeching moments – it was brilliant!” Daniel is also having an absolute ball as one half of a new Coronation Street double-act. “I love the partnership between David and Billy, and I love Jack P Shepherd,” he grins. “Jack is hilarious, and in real…