Table of contents for 19 - 2022 in Inside Soap UK

“The soaps are being true to themselves” “This above all: to thine own self be true,” is some of Shakespeare’s better advice – and it’s good counsel followed by two soaps this issue. EastEnders is doubling-down on its essential EastEnderiness with the promise of some big ‘issue’ storylines. It’s heavy stuff – but has any soap done more to influence the national conversation on difficult subjects than EastEnders? It’s been a key part of the show’s DNA from the beginning, and it rarely misses the mark. Meanwhile, Emmerdale is rolling out one of its trademark tricksy weeks: a ‘flash-forward’ no less, which is a fancy way of teasing us with some clips from Friday on Monday, shot through a moody filter and set to sinister music. It’s all good fun,…

It all kicks off with Faith this week, as her crazy behaviour reaches shocking new heights. Fresh from the scandal of her one-night stand, Faith is desperately trying to make up with Cain, but to no avail. He’s disgusted with her, while Chas is in no mood to forgive her mum either. Faith is already devastated, although she hits rock bottom once the bus fails to show up when she has somewhere urgent to go. Fizzing with frustration, she’s looking for a fight and finds one – before a spiral of self-destruction begins… “Faith’s fury clears up the question of where Cain gets his temper from once and for all!” insists our Dales source. “She’s gunning for a fight and gets one. Amelia ends up in her line of fire,…

It won’t be all doom and gloom in Walford this summer – as the Square prepares to throw the biggest fancy dress party its ever seen! We caught a glimpse of the fun to come recently, after pictures were released of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall visiting the soap’s set in Elstree. At the time, the EastEnders cast were filming celebrations for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, and some of the stars have since posted a few sneak peeks revealing a pop theme on social media. “Bowie, Ginger Spice, Shirley Bassey, Cher and Britney mix,” shared Jamie Borthwick, who plays Jay. “The way that Cher looks at Bowie, though…” Interesting! Can you tell which soap star is beneath each wig? We think we’ve rumbled Whitney Spears……

Emma is drafted in to take over from Sid in training Princess this week – but will the strong-willed women end up clashing, or hitting it off? Zara tells Emma about Sid’s dalliance with his protégé, and the strained atmosphere it’s caused between him and Bear. So, tasked with keeping Princess in line, Emma embraces the challenge. Nervous Princess pumps Valerie for info on Emma, and is confident she can charm her new superior – but she soon realises she’s underestimated the no-nonsense medic……

Thought there were tricky family politics on your wedding day? Well, count yourself lucky. The Tates and Dingles have their ongoing feud of course, but it’s the added battles within each family that make Chris and Charity’s big day this week totally toxic. The run-up is quite fun, with Chris agreeing to Charity hiring a pink Cadillac and ordering burgers and chips for the scran. His relationship has been hanging by a thread for weeks, so he’s treading carefully. As the big day arrives, Chris and his sister Zoe are at a low point, and sometimes-kissing cousins Charity and Cain are in a less-loving phase too – as Cain insists he’s going to destroy the whole day. Reckoning there’s safety in numbers, Charity invites the entire Dingle clan. The posh…

PUT A RING ON IT… So Hollyoaks’ Darren and Nancy are engaged – yet again! While I’m happy for them, I still struggle to understand how Nancy has forgiven Darren for the last affair. And the big question is, how long before another Chester woman catches his wandering eye? Meredith, York RAMSAY STREET HIDE-AND-SEEK… The way Glen was hiding from Kiri’s mum in the vineyard in Neighbours really made me chuckle. Glen almost got away with it too – but with Nicolette on his case and Barbara then spotting him on Ramsay Street, his secret is going to come out very soon. I wonder how Kiri will react… Harvey, Bristol Turn to p24 to see how Kiri deals with the shocking news… NIGHT TERROR… If George’s snoring is the only…

It’s easy to forget that Weatherfield staple Kirk Sutherland has been treading the cobbles and making us laugh for a remarkable 22 years – a fact that viewers tuning into ITV3 will realise very soon, when Andy Whyment pops up for the first time as Kirk on Classic Coronation Street! With that in mind, we took the opportunity to sit down with Andy to talk about his life as a soap star on screen and off – while reflecting on a joyous two decades of comedy, costumes and cringe crooning… Hello, Andy! Are you tempted to tune in to Classic Corrie to remind yourself of those early days? I probably will, to be honest with you! It’s bonkers to think those scenes first went on air 22 years ago. Had…

“My character is a nasty piece of work, but I’m having great fun playing her – in fact, I think I’m loving my role a bit too much!” laughs TV legend Glynis Barber, who arrived in Hollyoaks last week as gangster Norma, aka The Undertaker. “There’s not a single threat that Norma will make that she won’t carry through; she is completely ruthless. It’s so much fun to terrorise everyone in the village!” When an actor as accomplished as Glynis takes a role in a soap, you know it’s going to be a character worth watching. Her previous soap incarnations – corrupt Emmerdale detective Grace Barraclough, and Ronnie and Roxy Mitchell’s no-nonsense mother Glenda in EastEnders – were no shrinking violets. But Glynis insists they were pussycats compared with Norma……

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As The Repair Shop reopens for business this week, Amanda Middleditch and Julie Tatchell – aka the Teddy Bear Ladies – tell us the TV that has them in stitches… Hi, ladies! How does it feel to be back in the barn for another series? Amanda We’re very excited! We have some amazing items coming up… Julie Yeah, we’re doing Duncan The Dragon – when it was time for him to go home, we wanted to keep him! What’s been your favourite drama that you’ve been watching recently? Julie We’re the same on this one: we really enjoyed The Ipcress File on ITV. Amanda It was tricky to follow, though – we did struggle a bit! Julie I love that 60s period: the furniture, the music, the costumes. So even…

EMMERDALE Secret past! LEYLA ISN’T SUZY’S ONLY CONNECTION TO THE VILLAGE… Vanessa thinks she’s found the perfect woman in Suzy – fun, flirty, and definitely a lot less high-maintenence than Charity! But viewers know Suzy’s been hiding a whopping secret from Vanessa, in the shape of her drug-fuelled party nights with Leyla. And next week, we’ll find out that Leyla isn’t Suzy’s only connection to Emmerdale village. There’s another skeleton in her closet that she’ll be desperately trying to hide from Vanessa… CORRIE Jacob exposed Former drug dealer Jacob has been doing everything in his power to turn his life around and prove to Amy that her faith is justified. But next week, the bad boy’s true self is well and truly exposed… EASTENDERS Snap happy! Frankie is determined to…

Brace yourselves for an explosive week in the Dales, as viewers are treated to a series of special flash-forward episodes – where some of the soap’s biggest storylines reach a thrilling climax! We’ll see a misty graveyard with an open grave; the slamming of an iron police-cell door; a gunshot ringing out in the woods, and the wreck of a car following a terrible accident. However, what does it all mean, and whose lives are on the line? Emmerdale’s series producer Laura Shaw tells us more… “You’ll feel as though you’re right in the middle of the action” “I think it’s always exciting when we do these weeks,” she grins. “We know that the audience loves it when we step out of our normal storytelling style. We’ll be beginning the…

An explosive showdown is on the cards for Linda and Janine – after thought-to-be drunk Linda zooms off in her car with baby Annie in the backseat! Our snaps show stars Kellie Bright and Charlie Brooks filming intense scenes with the love rivals locked in an angry confrontation, which ends with Janine seizing control of Linda’s vehicle. Will she succeed in averting a devastating crisis? “If Linda goes out driving with her daughter while under the influence of alcohol, she risks losing Mick for good – never mind the fact that she’s putting both herself and Annie in terrible danger,” points out our Walford mole. “Meanwhile, this is exactly the sort of ammunition that Janine needs to prove that Linda is no longer fit to be with Mick. Linda is…

MURDER IN… Steve Owen killed stalker Saskia with an ashtray, then forced DJ Matthew to help him bury the body – a task surely above his pay grade. FIRE AT… Sam made Billy  torch the bar when Dirty Den took over, as revenge for the resurrected rogue crossing the Mitchells. SHOOTING AT… Jack bought ex-wife Ronnie’s shares in the night spot, then wished he hadn’t bothered when he was gunned down while protecting nephew Billie from a shooting.…

TEENAGE RAMPAGE Troublemaker Max was finally outed for his criminal activity in Coronation Street – leaving poor Amy horrified! But our readers were relieved that Max’s awful actions have been revealed… There’s something seriously not right with Max – and it’s a shame he can’t see what’s wrong with sharing Nicky’s images, despite them already being online. Her career is now in tatters thanks to him. Max wouldn’t like it if the shoe was on the other foot! Lucy, Oxford It’s funny that even though Max was at fault and put Amy’s life in jeopardy, Daniel has now become the most hated person in Weatherfield. Daniel might have kept the secret, but he wasn’t the one spiking drinks… Joseph, Manchester Poor Amy is obviously struggling in the aftermath of her…

While Norma’s clearly enjoying whipping village bad boys like Warren and Ethan into shape, Glynis hints that there may be one local that her character takes under her wing… “I think Sienna greatly admires Norma, and finds her quite aspirational,” reveals the actress. “Though, she is pretty terrified of Norma! She does try it on and does one thing that Norma doesn’t like – and gets very swift retribution! But you never know, Sienna might turn into a mini-me. “I’ve had loads of scenes with Anna Passey, who plays Sienna,” adds Glynis. “She’s gorgeous in every single way. She’s been so amazing to me, almost mentoring me, because when you come into an institution like Hollyoaks, it takes you a while to find your way around.”…

BULLSEYE! Of course, this isn’t the first time that EastEnders has explored bipolar disorder with Jean and Stacey. Yet the pair’s roller coaster in Southend showed some of the most captivating scenes we’ve seen from the ever-reliable Gillian Wright and Lacey Turner. Those final moments between mother and daughter, holding on for dear life in the sea, will haunt us for years to come. Potent stuff.…

It was a case of ‘last chance saloon’ for Peter when he underwent a life-saving liver transplant last year – so for him to fall off the wagon again feels totally inconceivable. However, it’s not completely out of the question, warns Chris… Were you shocked when you found out about Dr Thorne and Peter’s surgery? I had no clue that something like this would ever happen, it’s totally shocking to think that surgeons would ever place bets on operations! But I think the single thing that Peter really takes offence at is the fact that Thorne chose him because he’s an alcoholic. Does that take Peter back to the time when he felt he didn’t deserve to have the transplant? It makes him feel worthless. This guy Thorne is very…

Fresh hell awaits cancer survivor Stuart in the coming weeks, as he battles postnatal depression. In another first for EastEnders, the show will explore a father’s struggle with the mental illness as Stuart fails to bond with baby Roland. “Stuart was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, and recently agreed to treatment for the sake of his son,” explains a Walford spokesperson. “However, viewers will soon see Stuart question his love for the baby.” Actress Tanya Franks, who plays Stuart’s wife Rainie, recently told Inside Soap that she and co-star Ricky Champ (Stuart) had been filming some highly emotional scenes, while EastEnders bosses are said to be working closely with mental health charities PANDAS and Mind to ensure that the story is portrayed realistically and sensitively. “Postnatal depression in fathers…

Eric’s crush on Cleo becomes increasingly obsessive this week, and he goes to perilous lengths to wreck her reignited relationship with Joel! When Verity confronts her brother over his disturbing behaviour, she’s shocked at his reaction – and fears he’s starting to take after their dastardly dead dad, Edward. Eva O’Hara, who plays Verity, discusses her character’s sinister sibling situation… Hello, Eva! Does Verity realise Eric fancies Cleo? He decides to tag along on a girls’ night out to celebrate Zoe’s birthday, and Cleo happily announces that she and Joel are back together. Verity and her mates are having such a great time that they don’t notice Eric’s obvious disappointment and jealousy at the news. At the end of the night, Verity notices Eric and Joel having what looks like…

JIMMY Charity played a blinder when she bedded hapless villager Jimmy and got him to confess Sadie’s plot to destroy Charity’s engagement to Jimmy’s wealthy dad. Tom King watched as his bitter ex slept with his son, and was left reeling by the poisonous pillow talk. TODD On the cobbles, Billy finally discovered that Todd had schemed to destroy his partner Paul and their relationship via video. The footage captured by Todd’s young helper Will had him admitting to the lot, which prompted Billy to dump him and report him to the police! MAX Who could forget the Walford Christmas DVD extravaganza where Max’s entire family settled down to watch Bradley and Stacey’s wedding video but got a bombshell revelation? The footage showing him and Stacey chatting about their affair…

Stacey faces a heartbreaking decision this week, as she visits her mum in hospital – and Jean pleads with her daughter to get her out of there! Jean was admitted to the medical facility following her mental health crisis in Southend, and it’s clear that’s the best place for her to be right now. Yet that doesn’t stop Jean from tugging at her daughter’s heartstrings when she pays her a visit… “It’s absolutely devastating for Stacey to see her mum in such distress,” reveals our Albert Square insider. “Jean is obviously not having a good time at all in hospital, and she’s desperate for Stacey to speak to the doctors and get them to discharge her. All Jean wants is to be at home, surrounded by her loved ones –…

Zoe drunk dials Sam at a party this week, but soon comes to regret her late-night phone call… Despite being surrounded by all her friends while partying at the Loft, Zoe’s mind soon wanders to Sam. So instead of getting on with the night, Zoe makes a drunken call and leaves him a voicemail! The following day, memories rush back to Zoe, and she quickly hurries over to Sam’s place in order to delete her embarrassing message from his phone. However, will she manage to erase the evidence before Sam hears it?…

FAIR CITY Dearbhla informs Joan that their business relationship is over this week, although the feud between them is only just beginning! Elsewhere, Deegan feels down about his impending retirement. And Doug then approaches Orla to ask for a raise… RIVER CITY Lydia plans to clear her name this week – however, when that fails, she realises handing herself over to the police is the only option left… Meanwhile, Tyler’s life hangs in the balance after betraying his brother! Plus, Bob is sick of hiding his romance with Roisin. THE ARCHERS A careless mistake at the Tea Room almost has dire consequences for Fallon this week – but it also leads to a golden opportunity! Elsewhere, Freddie believes that he’s found someone to work at the Orangery. Finally, there’s a…

Leah’s family is thrown into complete and utter chaos this week, when her older brother Dimitri suddenly shows up in the Bay to confront his son, Theo! Dimitri’s arrival puts both Leah and Justin on edge. However, matters only get worse when Theo comes face to face with his abusive father – who wants him to return home… “Leah’s shocked to see Dimitri, especially after the last conversation they had,” explains Ada Nicodemou, who plays her. “Dimitri told her before that he didn’t want anything to do with his son! Although in the long run, I think Leah is hopeful that they can sort it out with Theo.” But Leah’s dreams of a happy reunion are quickly quashed when she walks in on Dimitri and Theo fighting at the house.…

Either Johnny Depp or Reese Witherspoon! I worked with Johnny in Sleepy Hollow, and he was lovely. And believe it or not, I played Reese’s love interest in Vanity Fair. I’m 6ft 4in and she’s about 5ft 4in – so she spent a lot of time stood on apple boxes! Reese was fascinated with my scouse accent, so she got me to teach her phrases – ones I can’t repeat to you! 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!…

Ryan Thomas “I’m a team player so it’s difficult to say I’m competitive,” reckons the former Corrie star. “But I don’t want to come last!” Christine McGuinness “I’m taking part for my children,” reveals model and autism ambassador Christine. “They inspire me to push myself.” Colson Smith “There are no limitations to what I can do,” shares Corrie’s Colson (Craig). “This seemed the ideal next step in my fitness journey.” Phoenix Gulzar-Brown “I’m not super-fit, but I’m really excited!” grins Mel B’s daughter, a former basketball player. “We’re all waiting for game day…” Kevin Clifton “It’s been a mad experience, I’m loving it,” reveals the ex-Strictly pro. “I’m considering getting a Strictly tan for the swimming!” Lucrezia Millarini “I couldn’t turn this down,” insists the ITV news anchor. “There might…

CASUALTY Paige Allcott............ Shalisha James-Davis Sah Brockner....................... Arin Smethurst Faith Cadogan....................... Kirsty Mitchell Iain Dean....................... Michael Stevenson Charlie Fairhead............... Derek Thompson Teddy Gowan............................ Milo Clarke Ethan Hardy..................... George Rainsford David Hide................................. Jason Durr Jan Jenning................................ Di Botcher Dylan Keogh............................ William Beck Marty Kirkby................. Shaheen Jafargholi Rash Masum............................ Neet Mohan Jacob Masters........................ Charles Venn Robyn Miller................ Amanda Henderson Stevie Nash.......................... Elinor Lawless CORONATION STREET Aadi Alahan.......................... Adam Hussain Asha Alahan......................... Tanisha Gorey Dev Alahan........................ Jimmi Harkishin Aggie Bailey.......................... Lorna Laidlaw Ed Bailey................ Trevor Michael Georges James Bailey...................... Nathan Graham Michael Bailey........................ Ryan Russell Ronnie Bailey......................... Vinta Morgan Adam Barlow.................. Samuel Robertson Carla Barlow.............................. Alison King Ken Barlow......................... William Roache Peter Barlow....................... Chris Gascoyne Sarah Barlow............................ Tina O’Brien Simon Barlow............................... Alex Bain Leanne Battersby.................... Jane Danson Toyah Battersby.................... Georgia Taylor Sam Blakeman.......................…