Table of contents for 29 - 2021 in Inside Soap UK

Now here’s a sight you don’t see every day – Street staples Dev and Kev channelling their inner next top model! They’ve both been signed up by Curtis for his charity calendar, which aims to raise the final £4,000 that Steve needs to take his late son Oliver’s fund up to £100,000. However, stripping for the camera isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, so how will the fellas fare when the time comes to take their clothes off? “It’s the moment of truth, and the models are either going to rise to the challenge – or wither under the pressure!” exclaims our Corrie insider. “Brian’s been tasked with snapping the money shots, yet once he sets up at the garage for Kevin’s moment in the spotlight, things don’t go to plan…”…

Devastated Billy hands in his resignation to the bishop this week, leaving horrified Todd with a terrible secret to bear. If Todd thought stealing the valuable heat pump from Ed’s yard was a victimless crime, he’s sorely mistaken. With everyone pointing the finger at Paul, Todd can just about live with himself for being such a snake. However, when Billy finds out that the insurance won’t pay out to cover the cost, he takes responsibility for what happened! “Billy is an honourable man, and he’s distraught that this has happened on his watch,” shares our spy. “He believes that what took place is proof he’s not cut out to become archdeacon. Billy thinks that he can begin to repent for wasting the church’s funds so carelessly by handing in his…

Bobby’s 18th birthday party takes a shock turn this week, when Dana’s dad Harvey turns up uninvited! But what will he make of his daughter’s killer boyfriend? The Square’s new arrival, Ross Boatman, lifts the lid on his character… Hi Ross! How did your part in EastEnders come about? It’s always been an ambition of mine to be in EastEnders – so I really wanted the job! I knew as soon as I read the audition scenes that this would be a great part to play. I didn’t want to leave anything to chance, so I spent two days recording my audition; I must have done each scene about 20 times! What was your first day on the Albert Square set like? I’ve been in the business for quite some…

Violence erupts in the Bistro this week, as jealous Tyrone takes a swing at Fiz’s date – despite being the one who decided to walk out on their relationship! “Tyrone gets very jealous and bitter about Fiz being on a date” Fiz and Phill are having a lovely time on their second date when Ty and Alina show up to dine there too. But instead of wishing Fiz well, Tyrone kicks off, stunning everyone… “Tyrone makes a drunken fool of himself!” laughs Alan Halsall, who plays the angry ex. “He doesn’t take it too well that Fiz is moving on. He’s on a date with Alina, but he can’t concentrate for watching Fiz and Phill. It gets to him, and he’s not sure why.” Fiz is doing her best to…

Nurse David gets one step closer to finding out what’s wrong with his son Ollie this week – but is Rosa really hurting Ollie? Tensions between David and his wife remain high, with Rosa having moved out of the family home after her husband accused her of poisoning his son! Ollie’s mystery condition has since settled down, so when he’s admitted to hospital with worrying symptoms once again, the plot thickens… Rosa insists that she’s been nowhere near her stepson since she moved out, yet David remains convinced that she must somehow be responsible for his relapse. And when he finds a string of messages on Ollie’s mobile from someone simply named ‘Ma’, David’s certain that it must be Rosa. But as he confronts Rosa over the messages, will David…

New Summer Bay policeman Cash hears that a body has been found on the beach this week – but who is the victim? The morning starts off with Tori bailing out Justin from the station, just as Cash receives a phone call, alerting him to the fact that a corpse has been reported floating in the Bay! Cash rushes out to the beach to cordon off the area, as local residents go into panic mode wondering who has died… The day before, Dean reported his sister Mackenzie missing. So when Ryder rushes over to his flat in the morning to tell him they’ve found a female body in the water, Dean panics that Mac could be dead! Everyone in Summer Bay gathers on the beach to witness the horror unfold.…

The village is a-twitch with fevered romance this Valentine’s Day, thanks to Bernice and Marlon’s ‘Aphrodisiac Night’ at the Woolpack – with foods chosen to fuel the flames of ardour. (Rumours that the punch is laced with Viagra are unconfirmed; though we note that Zak has somewhere new to hang his cap.) Old romantics out there will be thrilled to see Betty ask Seth to marry her (2000 was a leap year, after all), but otherwise the course of true love fails to run smooth. Kathy admits that she’s falling for Graham – to the horror of Eric, who has him bang-to-rights as a killer – while Ashley tries to make his feelings clear to Bernice; if only he can keep Diane from blocking him. Meanwhile, Sarah’s toyboy lover Richie…

I’m a massive fan of the Marvel films, so if I ever had the chance to play a superhero, that would be really fun. My favourite is Spider-Man – so maybe they could have a Spider-Woman? Perhaps I could go out with Tom Holland or something… [laughs] Every week, we put your questions to a star of the soaps. Look out for requests on our Facebook page, or email your questions to youask@insidesoap.co.uk, putting the actor’s name in the subject line. Our favourite question each week will win a £20 prize!…

BOX-SET LINE OF DUTY – COMPLETE SERIES ONE TO SIX In this smash-hit BBC series, Superintendent Ted Hastings leads police anti-corruption unit AC-12, as he and his team – which includes Detective Inspector Kate Fleming and Detective Sergeant Steve Arnott – attempt to take down “bent coppers”. In the process, the unit begins to uncover a conspiracy that reaches the highest echelons of the force. Starring Adrian Dunbar, Vicky McClure and Martin Compston. DIGITAL LONG WEEKEND When struggling writer Bart has a chance encounter with enigmatic Vienna, the two fall fast and hard. A weekend courtship leads to unexpected revelations, but the secrets they both carry could be their undoing or the chance for a fresh start. Starring Finn Wittrock and Zoë Chao. BOOK ANOTHER WHOLE AFTERNOON  by Nicolas Coster…

An eerie silence falls over the village this week, as the locals reel from Leanna’s sudden death. While her devastated father, Liam, is urged to accept that his daughter’s fall from the humpback bridge was a terrible and tragic accident, viewers know that poor Leanna was pushed to her doom by mad Meena! And as the psycho nurse works to cover her tracks – while shamelessly ‘helping’ Liam to work through his grief – horrified Leyla is disturbed by what happens next. Is Meena close to being found out? “The aftermath of Leanna’s death is a total inconvenience for Meena,” splutters our Dales insider. “She has zero remorse and just expects life to carry on as it was. But the ripple effect of Meena’s actions start to interfere with her…

It becomes clear this week that Emma’s new boyfriend Curtis isn’t the guy she thinks he is – as he’s been hiding a massive secret from her! The drama kicks off after Curtis fibs to Emma that he has a dentist appointment, but Steve later catches him looking cosy in the Bistro with an attractive woman! “It looks as if Curtis has been stringing along Emma, while seeing someone else!” gasps our Street spy. “The fact that Curtis has been lying to his girlfriend is a red flag for Steve, and he’s keen to keep Emma from ending up heartbroken. However, there’s more to this story than first meets the eye…” After Steve lays into Curtis and berates him for cheating, the student feels he has no choice but to…

Summer and Brody’s wedding day finally dawns this week, and the bride ramps up her plot to completely wreck her groom’s life! Having learned Brody was partly responsible for her dad Cormac’s death, Summer has made it her mission to wreak revenge on him in spectacular fashion! So as her big day arrives, will all of Summer’s plans fall into place – while Brody’s world falls apart? “Summer’s been waiting for this day for a long time,” admits Rhiannon Clements, who plays her. “She’s had to graft and play the long game to get to this point, which she thinks will lead to Brody’s demise. She’s hoping everything will run smoothly; Summer’s fuelled by her anger and need for revenge – she must be exhausted! But now the end is…

EastEnders will still be available on BBC iPlayer until early August, while the Olympic Games take place. The original decision to give us the option of accessing all four episodes every Monday was so that viewers could drop in on the Walford drama at their leisure during the Euros. However, as the world’s bumper summer of sport shifts to Tokyo, Albert Square bosses see no reason to change their game plan. Meanwhile, the demand for EastEnders has proven to be higher than ever, following a break-in at the set in Elstree. A YouTuber is reported to have breached security and climbed on to the roof of the Vic! Thankfully, no one appears to have been hurt.…

The cast and crew of Coronation Street were thrilled to welcome a very special guest star to the cobbles recently, when Her Majesty The Queen visited the soap’s set in Manchester. Weatherfield royalty lined the Street, with boss Iain MacLeod escorting HM as she congratulated cast and crew on reaching 60 years of Corrie, aka its Diamond Jubilee. “What a time to be alive – I’ve met the Queen!” posted actor Jack P Shepherd, who plays David, on social media. “It’s not every day that you can say that.” “What a lovely way to spend a Thursday morning on Coronation Street,” added Daniel Brocklebank (Billy). “A moment I’ll never forget.” First in the queue to meet Elizabeth – who last visited the cobbles in 1982 – were Street stalwarts Bill…

Nicolette has another terrifying accident this week, which leaves her life and that of her unborn baby in peril! Will she be found in time? Disaster strikes after Hendrix takes Nicolette to the vineyard to try scupper Leo’s plan to spend alone time with Chloe. But it all goes awry when heavily pregnant Nicolette ends up fighting for her life… “Hendrix could have a lot to answer for” “Hendrix is attempting to look out for Nicolette, but what he’s done is sent her out into danger!” exclaims our Ramsay Street sneak. “He has good intentions, though sending a heavily pregnant woman out alone into a vineyard is a big mistake on Hendrix’s part. If something happens to Nic or her unborn child, Hendrix will have a lot to answer for…”…

It’s a sombre week for the Panesar family, as they lay murdered Jags to rest. Everyone is devastated as the hearse arrives, but none more so than Kheerat, who’s so overwhelmed by grief that he walks out of the funeral. Ash tracks down her brother and they share a heart-to-heart, yet Kheerat refuses to return to the ceremony. Meanwhile, Honey suspects that grieving Suki isn’t eating as she continues to punish herself for her son’s death. Can Honey help her?…

The news that Robert won’t appeal his conviction hits his loved ones hard this week, but Aaron offers his care and support to Victoria. He tells his former sister-in-law that despite Robert being in prison for life, he’ll always be there for her in his ex’s place. It’s a touching moment between the two old friends – however, Lee’s mum Wendy isn’t convinced that Robert’s made the right decision. Meanwhile, Aaron’s attempts to move on with Ben hit a snag when his secret is revealed. Ben’s hidden his private torment from Aaron, and been untruthful about the drunk man he helped into a taxi outside the Woolpack. Despite Liv witnessing the moment, Ben reckons that she drunkenly misunderstood the situation in question. So, how will Aaron feel when Ben admits…

There’s something about Greg Kelly that doesn’t quite fit in Weatherfield – he’s like a piece from an EastEnders jigsaw that’s accidentally fallen into the Corrie box. Perhaps it’s the whole ‘chippy barrow boy’ routine. (“Trouble is, I got a partner wiv a big mouf, ain’t I?”) Or perhaps it’s that he’s just that little bit too… cold-blooded for the Street. This week, Greg scuttles back into his office like a velociraptor in a Burton suit; his neck at full stretch, and his lizard eyes swivelling to focus on his lover and business partner, Sally. At first, poor Sal merely winces at the onslaught of terrible dialogue – “Oh, but I ’ave plenty of luck, Sally. The trouble is, it’s all bad!” – as Greg rages about Mike Baldwin stealing…

TODD’S TIME IS UP? Billy’s just made the biggest mistake ever, agreeing to marry Todd in Coronation Street. Something tells me that these two won’t make it down the aisle. Todd has come so close to being exposed too many times, I don’t think his secrets will stay under wraps for long… Nadia NEW LIAISONS… Often in soaps, there are characters we rarely see together. But all of a sudden in Emmerdale, David and Victoria are bonding over being single parents and their babies, and I think it’s been a long time coming. It makes sense to see them together, and it would be lovely to see sparks of romance betweeen the two of them. Sylvia, Hampshire It’s a couple that we didn’t expect, but one we’re most definitely on…

They’re two unlikely characters who you’d never put together as friends – yet Liam’s man-crush on Cain is so sweet and endearing. And Jonny tells us there’s more to come… “It’s good fun to do, but I had no anticipation that people would enjoy it so much,” he admits. “I think it’s the fact that, on the spectrum of personalities, Cain and Liam are about as far removed from one another as it’s possible to be! It’s just the least likely partnership – Liam has a total naivety and innocence as to who Cain really is, and Cain doesn’t see Liam as any kind of threat at all. So they can both just relax with each other. “There’s actually some lovely stuff coming up between Cain and Liam after Leanna…

“Let’s face it, there are a lot of couples in Hollyoaks that aren’t very healthy – toxic even!” begins star Ellis Hollins, as we catch up with him about his alter ego Tom. “But Yazz and Tom aren’t like that. I really hope the fans appreciate this rare, stable relationship, even if they were an unlikely match at the start.” Believe it or not, Yazz and Tom tied the knot six months ago in the dramatic flash-forward episode. Their romance has been almost plain-sailing since then, although the pair did recently hit a bump in the road when the subject of kids came up – and Ellis tells us more… “Having children, or not having children, is something they should have spoken about before marrying,” he sighs. “Tom’s clear that…

As crime drama Baptiste returns for a second series, we’re reunited with the battle-scarred but not-quite-retired detective Julien Baptiste, played by Tchéky Karyo. Having suffered terrible tragedy at the end of the last run, Baptiste is struggling in the opener – but when a new case emerges after the family of an ambassador disappears, he’s keen to be all-consumed… “At the start of this series, Julien is a lost guy,” admits Tchéky. “He’s away from his wife, Celia, living in a hotel room and eating with no appetite. But suddenly, he catches somebody talking on TV about having lost her children and husband. It’s an incomprehensible situation – and one which attracts Julien – so he flies to Budapest to get involved in the case.” The person in question is…

Chaos erupts at the Butcher-Baker house this week, when Keegan thinks sister Bernie’s pregnancy test belongs to his wife Tiff! The misunderstanding takes hold as Tiff tries to support troubled Bernie in her secret surrogacy plan, worried about her best friend’s state of mind. Despite having undergone artificial insemination, surrogate Bernie is still demanding diet pills from Tiff, who is worried they could harm her and her baby if she’s pregnant. So, when Tiff insists that Bernie does a pregnancy test to determine if the procedure was successful, the girls inadvertently spark off a runaway train of events… “Bernie is in way over her head, and Tiff is worried for her…” “Bernie is in way over her head, and Tiff is really worried for her,” warns our Walford insider. “It’s…

Leanne encourages Sam to make himself at home this week – but as the lad settles in to her late son Oliver’s old room, is Leanne ready to cope with it so soon after her boy’s tragic death? Nick is over the moon when Natasha asks if he and Leanne can look after Sam, and the lad is also thrilled to be staying. However, as Sam immediately heads to his new bedroom to put up his astronomy posters, Nick tells him that it might be better to take the pictures down, given that the room was Oliver’s before he died. “As it turns out, Nick has nothing to worry about with Leanne,” reveals our cobbles spy. “She understands that Sam needs a room whenever he stays in their flat –…

Faith may be hiding the truth from Chas and Cain, but this week, great-granddaughter Sarah stumbles upon her secret! Only, will she keep it quiet? “Sarah comes to see Faith in the barn, and she catches the end of a conversation between Faith and Brenda, talking about wearing wigs,” Sally tells us. “She also spots Faith’s arthritis pills, so Sarah puts two and two together, and assumes Faith’s cancer is back. Faith has to explain that she’s had the test, but doesn’t yet know the results. “Then Faith makes Sarah promise not to tell the rest of the family,” continues the star. “It’s a bit much to put on a young lass’ shoulders, and poor Sarah ends up getting quite upset about it all…”…

Nicola goes all out to save her marriage this week – little knowing that Jimmy is contemplating coming clean about kissing Mandy! “Jimmy’s kiss with Mandy could cost him his family!” The King partnership is at a crunch point following Jimmy’s court case, and Nicola is doing all she can to salvage it. The troubled couple agree to have a date night, and Nicola leans on best mate Laurel for emotional support. She confides in her friend that she’s terrified her and Jimmy’s reconciliation feels forced, and that the marriage might be beyond repair. Meanwhile, Jimmy’s nursing a terrible secret that could destroy everything… “That stolen kiss with Mandy could cost Jimmy his family!” warns our Emmerdale insider. “He’s crossed a line, and the guilt is eating him alive. Nicola…

Michael must confront the reality of his domestic situation this week, after Kirk points out that Grace is obviously in love with him! But does Michael feel the same? Since their daughter Glory was born, Michael and Grace have been co-parenting the girl, and it’s clear they’re both smitten with her. Yet what’s also clear to everyone else is that Grace is smitten with Michael! In fact, her love is so obvious that even Kirk – who isn’t the sharpest tool in the box – picks up on it as Michael fills him in on Glory’s nursery. Seeing the look on Grace’s face as Michael talks, Kirk pulls his pal to one side and points out that Grace is head over heels for him! However, given the past hurt Grace…

Cher plans a party for her dad Sylver this week, but things don’t quite go as she’d hoped. It’s as the teenager continues to confide in her online friend ‘Jade’ about her dad not giving her enough attention that she strikes upon the idea of throwing him a party. But Cher is disappointed when Sylver doesn’t react to the news in the way she thought he would, and worse still, he announces that Mercedes is on her way home! Meanwhile, Cher’s boyfriend Romeo mistakenly believes that the party she’s throwing is for his birthday……

Weatherfield County footballer James finds himself in demand this week, after a leading gay magazine asks him for an interview! James recently revealed the truth about his sexuality during a press conference, lifting a huge weight from his shoulders, and allowing him to finally live the life he wants to with new boyfriend Danny. James’ loved ones are delighted when he explains that the mag wants to profile him for their next issue – but is James really ready to reveal all on his private life?…

What man doesn’t love having two women fighting over him? Jonny says it’s been great fun having Sam Giles back on set, and watching the rivalry between Bernice and Leyla… “It’s been lovely to revisit that dynamic,” he grins. “Sam and Roxy play so well together, they love winding each other up – and are great at being passive aggressive with one another as Bernice and Leyla! “Does Liam still have feelings for Bernice? No, I think that’s very much in the past.”…

“My flight for Bali was booked when I got the call to audition for Coronation Street!” laughs cobbles star Kel Allen, as we catch up with her about her alter ego, Laura Neelan. “I was planning on taking time out to go travelling, but then I saw the character brief and it was perfect. Although when I first read it through, the character was called Claire Neelan – they must have thought I looked more like a Laura and changed it. I really love playing Laura, though, and I’m happy to stay until they kick me out!” While Kel is thrilled about Corrie, on screen her character is struggling to find her place. And Laura makes another mistake this week when she tries to sell daughter Kelly’s story to the…

Schoolgirl Summer loves nothing more than revising for an exam – however, will actress Harriet be as prepared to answer our reader questions? “Did you watch Corrie when Matilda Freeman was playing Summer?” “Who is your best mate in the Corrie cast?” Yes, I have watched Matilda in it. My family has always watched Coronation Street, so I’ve been a fan of the show for years. It was a little bit strange coming in to play a character that someone else had played before, because Summer’s personality had already been established, as well as the relationships surrounding her. But in some ways that is useful, as you already have an idea of how the character might react to stuff. “What’s the best thing about Dan Brocklebank [Billy] playing your screen…

Welcome to the weirdest first dates ever, as singles disguise their looks via dramatic prosthetics in the hope of finding true love… Am I intrigued – or terrified? Please do brace yourself – this show does indeed take a visibly striking direction, in a Masked Singer meets Blind Date type of way… How long do they keep their masks on for? For as long as it takes for the dater to decide which of their three beastly singles is actually masking a great personality beneath a giant – and impressively detailed – animal head. Do they even go out in public looking like that? They do! The opener features demon-dressed Emma, who’s faced with a devil of a job deciding whether Bennett the baboon, Archie the statue or Adam the…

Dou you find yourself wishing your flat was just a little bit more, well, fabulous? This brand-new property makeover show from BBC3 sees designer Whinnie Williams working her magic touch on properties all over the country – and she’s doing it on a budget… “This show is particularly for young renters,” Whinnie tells Inside TV. “We’re making interiors accessible. Some weeks, the budget is £500 – and for that, we’re getting people new sofas and curtains, and teaching people how to upcycle and get stuck in. It’s a lot of fun!” The show’s co-host Tyler West admits that he’s constantly left in a state of awe by his colleague’s creativity and innovation. “Whinnie’s interior design style is second-to-none,” he enthuses. “Honestly, the girl amazes me every single week with what…