Table of contents for 47 - 2016 in Inside Soap UK

For all that we’ve enjoyed Phelan’s Weatherfield antics over the past few months, we still haven’t forgotten or forgiven what he did to Anna. So, while we were shocked, we weren’t totally surprised when he let poor Michael die right in front of his eyes. Who knows what this man is capable of now? Well, I’ll tell you who does – Connor McIntyre, who plays the cobbles baddy, and he tells us all about it over on p12! Off screen, Connor is one of the nicest men you could ever meet, so if you ever run into him on the street, there’s really no need to give him a hard time – tempting as it may be after Phelan’s dastardly deeds! Meanwhile, if you can t get enough soapiness in…

“JACK IS LIKE A BULL IN A CHINA SHOP WITH THIS MOVE - RONNIE IS FUMING!,, The sound of wedding bells can be heard in Walford this week – as Jack tells Ronnie that he’s gone and booked their big day! But as the reluctant bride-to-be worries about her fella’s plans to move away from Albert Square – and the effect it will have on her relationship with sister Roxy – how will Ronnie feel when Jack delivers his news? “Jack is moving full steam ahead to make this marriage happen, whereas Ronnie’s keen to put the brakes on it,” says our EastEnders insider. “They’ve done the big wedding before, and these days she doesn’t like to make a fuss. Of course, Roxy is playing on her mind, too. It…

EMILY OUT? Street bosses have rubbished reports that Eileen Derbyshire - who plays Emily Bishop - has quit the soap. “Eileen is currently taking an extended break, and has not give any indication that she doesn’t plan to return in the future,” says a show spokesperson. EVA’S AGONY Still in Weatherfield, actress Catherine Tyldesley (Eva) has revealed that her alter ego is in for a cruel time next year. “Over Christmas we’ll see Eva live the dream - she’s so in love,” shares the star. “She’s utterly unaware that Aidan is feeling torn [over Maria]. It’ll be so sad to watch.” MOVING ON Ex-EastEnder Nitin Ganatra (Masood) will be cooking up a storm in a new cookery programme on Channel 5, while departing Square starRita Simons(Roxy) has signed up to…

As Connor points out, Richard Hillman is one of the greatest Street villains of all time – and we can’t help but spot a few similarities between him and Phelan! Tricky Dicky’s killing spree also kicked off at the scene of a building site, as he and his business partner, Duggie Ferguson, engaged in a furious argument. During the row, Duggie accidentally fell several floors after a banister gave way – and merciless Richard left him to die as a ruthless way of severing all ties between them. And that was just the beginning, of course, as Hillman went to extreme lengths to deliberately silence his former wife Patricia, who had worked out what he was up to. Now, Phelan doesn’t have an ex living in close proximity to give…

There may be more shocking news on the horizon for Lauren and Brad this week, as their daughter Paige takes a pregnancy test! The uni student fears that she could be expecting a baby, but needs to take a test to be sure – and given that she’s hooked up with both Tyler and Jack recently, either one of them could potentially be the daddy! “It all starts at Lauren and Brad’s wedding – Paige is having these crazy emotional outbursts, and doesn’t know what’s going on,” explains Olympia Valance, who plays her. “I think it’s safe to say there have also been some other changes that lead her to believe she’s expecting, but she’s really hoping the test will be negative. Being pregnant is the last thing Paige needs!”…

Sex with Bex is still on Shakil’s mind this week, as the lad puts his girlfriend in an awkward position when he suggests an alternative arrangement. The teen couple have been feeling the pressure since they started talking about their first time, and though Shakil can’t wait to lose his ‘V’ plates, Bex doesn’t yet feel ready to take that step. Shakil has insisted that he’s happy to wait – even though the boys at school are giving him grief – but this week, Louise is baffled when she notices that he’s stopped wearing his chastity bracelet! She’s not the only one to clock that, and it’s not long before all the other kids are gossiping about Bex – so Louise decides to offer her best mate some advice. Of…

“RANA THOUGHT SHE’D FOUND A GENUINE BOND WITH ZEEDAN” Sometimes it’s nice to be completely wrong about a character. In the case of Rana Habeeb, we thought she was shallow, flighty and destined to lead poor vulnerable Zeedan a merry dance. Instead, this compassionate and charismatic girl has proved to be her fella’s rock during tough times, and she’s just as beautiful inside as she is outside. So it’s pretty shocking to discover that Zeedan breaks her heart this week by declaring that their wedding is off… “It’s not as though Rana is the kind of girl who’s been dreaming of getting married since she was five years old – she’s always lived in the moment and been spontaneous,” explains Bhavna Limbachia, who made her Corrie debut as Rana early…

It’s incredible to think that the ordeal inflicted on Lawrence by the authorities was something that happened only a few decades ago. In his own life, John has been part of a movement to get the government to pardon the men who were prosecuted simply for being gay. It’s been a hard fight, but the actor is hopeful that it’s one they can win… “I did my utmost to help out with the campaign to have people pardoned for the ‘crimes’ they were found guilty of pre-1967 [when the Sexual Offences Act decriminalised homosexuality],” he tells us. “It seems to have succeeded, though the government is backtracking on a couple of things. But I’m sure it’s going to come through eventually. It captured my interest, because lots of my friends…

“MATTEO ARRIVES ON A HORSE – HE’S NOT AFRAID TO BREAK THE RULES” When Holby City bosses hinted at an ‘Italian stallion’ joining the cast, they weren’t horsing around. Super-sexy consultant Matteo makes quite an entrance when he arrives for his first shift at the hospital this week – on the back of a magnificent chestnut-coloured steed! It’s a jaw-dropping display that lands him in big trouble with highly unimpressed Jac Naylor. Though thankfully for Christian Vit – who plays the charming newcomer – he has had plenty of practice when it comes to working with stroppy mares… “I’ve been living in the UK for two-and-a-half years since arriving from Italy, and the first acting job I landed while over here was on Game Of Thrones,” he explains, referring to…

Walford favourites Lacey Turner (Stacey) and James Bye (Martin) enjoyed a nice night out recently – and the glam pair looked a million miles away from their Square alter egos. They attended the annual Mind Media Awards, where EastEnders was nominated for Stacey’s breakdown following the birth of baby Arthur. However, we couldn’t help but feel a bit of déjà vu with our own Inside Soap Awards! The long floral frock, the dapper light jacket – have Lacey and James been taking style tips from fellow soapie pairing Charlotte Bellamy and John Middleton, aka Emmerdale’s Laurel and Ashley? Also starring... CORRIE’S TINA HOLLYOAKS LOVEBIRDS WALKING A FINN LINE! EMMERDALE STAR JOE…

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JUST THE TWO OF US Ant and Dec have signed a new three-year contract with ITV. The deal will see them staying on as hosts of I’m A Celebrity, Britain’s Got Talent and Saturday Night Takeaway until 2019. VIRTUAL MAKEOVER Comedy panel show Virtually Famous is returning to E4 with a new look. Chris Ramsey will take over as host, Vicky Pattison will be joining Seann Walsh as a team captain, and Gogglebox’s Scarlett Moffatt will be a regular panellist. BE A BETTER PARENT? A new documentary series for Channel 5 is planning to bring separated parents together to find an approach that works for all the family. For info on taking part, call 07535 501327 or email modernfamily@pulsefilms.co.uk…

THE AXEMAN COMETH… With the raft of recent departures from Albert Square, it’s hard to keep up with the comings and goings! And many of you think the new EastEnders producer has made some rather big mistakes… It is an awful shame that Belinda has left Walford already. She was a fantastic addition to the show, and there was so much storyline potential with the character! Let’s hope it isn’t the last we see of her – she’s going to be very much missed. Chris, Mitchelstown It took me by surprise to see Belinda leave Walford. I was really bemused by what was going on – even Stacey and Martin looked speechless! I’m very sad that Carli Norris [who plays her] has left EastEnders. Louise, Leicester…

BULLSEYE! The chilling scene in which Phelan recalled watching a rabbit (or maybe it was a hare?) die a slow death – while Michael snuffed it before his very eyes – has to be one of the most agonisingly brilliant soap moments of the year. Top marks to Connor McIntyre for sealing his place as one of Weatherfield’s all-time most wicked baddies ever. You da man! Kathy says she’s finding it hard to make new friends – so find her some mates, EastEnders! And while you’re at it, a meaty plot wouldn’t go amiss. She didn’t return from the dead to sell carrots. When you’ve had an accident that’s, like, totally not your fault. The Most Heartwarming Scene Of The Week was Walford’s Jane showing Masood the progress she’s made…

Make no mistake, a new Weatherfield super-villain has been born in the form of wicked Pat Phelan! The evil builder showed us just what he’s capable of when he stood by and watched Michael Rodwell die before his eyes. But is Michael the first in a long line of victims? Check out our exclusive interview with Connor McIntyre, who plays Phelan, to find out… Blimey, Connor! Phelan has really crossed a line now, hasn’t he? We’ve passed the point of no return with him, definitely. You have to be in a certain place to say, “Okay this suits me,” as you preside over someone when they expire. Phelan is a piece of work, all right! What did you first think when you heard Phelan was going to leave Michael to…

Aaron faces big drama this week, when a row between Robert and Rebecca turns nasty. Tensions are running high in the aftermath of the jailbreak plan, and Rebecca is still facing hostility from her family. It seems her efforts to save Lachlan are not appreciated – and Chrissie isn’t ready to offer a truce to her wayward sibling. Meanwhile, Rebecca is frozen out by Robert, who’s tired of her selfish plotting and endless attempts to seduce him. Despite their past attraction, Robert is committed to Aaron – yet Rebecca refuses to respect that. “Oh, nothing would make Rebecca happier than ruining Robert’s happy life with Aaron,” mutters our mole. “She is arrogant enough to believe that Aaron doesn’t mean much to Robert – that the whole thing is a house…

Former EastEnders star Anita Dobson (Angie Watts) guest stars this week as Edwina, a retired midwife and ex-colleague of Ruhma. After Ruhma drops in to visit Edwina, she’s stunned when a man – calling himself Gavin – turns up and claims to be Edwina’s son. As he pulls out a birth certificate to support his accusation, appalled Edwina insists it’s fake, and her only child is her daughter Gabby. Furiously throwing Gavin out on his ear, Edwina is then forced to offer Gabby and Ruhma some kind of explanation for the tense showdown. But what are they about to discover? Also this week… Ayesha is very excited when Tyler suggests a holiday, and Al wants to cancel Christmas.…

Grieving Mercedes receives another heartbreaking blow this week, as she finds out that Joe’s mum Sandy wants his kids to live with her in South Africa. Shortly before his tragic death, Joe was planning a life with Mercedes and his kids, JJ and Lexi – and now that he’s gone, Mercedes assumes that she will continue to care for the children. So when she hears via Ellie that Sandy wants custody of her grandkids, she doesn’t take the news well – and soon she’s planning to flee the country with them, packing their bags and passports! Can Mercy’s worried family talk some sense into her before it’s too late? Also this week… James asks John Paul to move in with him, and Celine is offered an exciting job…

He had his fair share of flings in the Square, but generally Fats didn’t have a lot of luck with the ladies. Still, Ricky treasured his character’s relationship with Whitney, who went on to dump him for Tyler Moon… “The year I spent working with Shona [McGarty, who plays Whitney] was one of the best I had,” he recalls. “The break-up scene between them was super-intense because I was channelling a break-up I’d just been through, and the director trusted us enough to do what we wanted with the scene. Whitney broke up with Fatboy on Valentine’s Day too – outrageous!”…

“IF THERE WAS A SCENE WITH A REAL FIRE THE ‘ ACTORS WOULD BE LIKE, I THINK MY CHARACTER WOULD SIT BY THE FIRE’.” Hattie Morahan on how the cast kept the cold at bay filming My Mother And Other Strangers “I’M FROM THE NOKIA 3210 GENERATION. THE IDEA THAT WE’RE DOING OUR BANKING ON TABLETS NOW IS CRAZY.” Humans star Ivanno Jeremiah contemplates the rapid advancement of technology “IT’S FUN, BUT NOT THAT FUN. I’M REALLY NOT EXCITED ABOUT HAVING COCKROACHES UP MY NOSE!” I’m A Celebrity: Extra Camp host Stacey Solomon remembers the worst of the Bushtucker Trials “I GOT TO RIDE A MOTORBIKE ON A BEACH.IT DOESN’T GET BETTER THAN THAT - I M A FRUSTRATED STUNTMAN!” The Coroner’s Matt Bardock is always up for doing an…

Viewers have known Caz is a bad egg for much longer than any of her cobbles victims, which has proved quite eye-opening for actress Rhea Bailey. So as Caz’s reign of terror continues, the star has had to remind people that she’s not a real-life villain… Hi Rhea! We’ve been stunned by Caz’s antics. Does she realise how evil her actions are? No, she feels like everything she’s doing is completely justified! Caz has been rejected by everybody – her family, the Army, Kate and now Maria. Unfortunately for Maria, she’s taking the fall for the people who’ve hurt Caz throughout her life. Caz has thought, ‘You’ve all hurt me, so I’m going to unleash terror on you!’. In her head, it’s justice. Do you think she’s actually a stone-cold…

As Phelan’s wicked reign continues, we say a fond farewell to Les Dennis – who couldn’t have been more thrilled with Michael’s killer exit. “At least I didn’t die in an armchair or go off in a taxi,” chuckles the star. “It was an amazing way to finish, and to work with Connor – the villain that all viewers love to hate – was incredible. People kept coming up to me in places like supermarkets saying, ‘Are you going to get that Phelan?’, whereas I already had a good ‘Phelan’ that he was going to get me! “Michael’s death is another huge blow for the Platts,” adds Les. “There were the killings of Callum and Kylie, and now Gail has lost husband number five. I think that she really…

Wannabe starlet Leah finally gets her moment in the spotlight this week, when her breakfast cereal advert airs on television! The young diva begins the week in a foul mood, after her mum and Ryan refuse to let her see dad Ste – so in a bid to make it up to her, Ryan throws a party to celebrate her starring role in the Banana Bongos ad. But as all Leah’s school pals gather round to watch her make her TV debut, imagine the little’un’s horror when she realises that she’s not been made the star she expected… “While Leah is definitely up there in the advert for all to see, it soon becomes clear the producers have replaced her voice with someone else’s!” reveals our Hollyoaks sneak. “We all…

“ LAUREN DECIDES IT’S TIME TO LET GO OF ALL THE CRAP AND BE HAPPY!,, Dust off your hats and have that confetti at the ready – because Brad and Lauren are getting married! It may have been a long and tragic road to the altar for the former teenage sweethearts – who first met over 20 years ago – but Brad and Lauren are all smiles as they come dancing down the aisle together this week. However, we know that Erinsborough weddings have a tendency to go horribly wrong – so is more heartache in store for the couple as they prepare to say “I do”? “You can’t have a wedding on Ramsay Street without something going awry,” teases Kate Kendall, who plays bride Lauren. “But look, it’s not…

There’s drama for Finn this week, when the doctors decide to bring Kasim out of his coma. For the past few weeks, Finn has been visiting seriously injured Kasim and pretended to staff that he is his boyfriend. But the truth is that Kasim has never laid eyes on the Barton lad, and Finn has forged this attachment with the stranger without even knowing if he’s gay. So when the doctors reveal their plans to wake Kasim, Finn is both nervous and excited. While he hopes the lad will feel the same connection when he’s conscious, Finn fears the whole thing could be destroyed the moment this confused guy finds out what has gone on. Before that, though, Finn gets a shock when he discovers Kasim had a cardiac arrest…

FAIR CITY Laura is stunned when she spots Sally kissing Rocco this week – but even after she decides to stop Sally from coming clean, Dan finds out anyway… Elsewhere, Niamh is thrilled by the residents’ opposition to Paul’s new venture, but how will she feel when Debbie gets involved in the project? Also, Dermot tries to stop Zoe from going on a trip with Kelly. RIVER CITY Cassie’s termination looms this week, and she’s torn as Angus tells her that it’s over between them if she decides to go through with it… Meanwhile, Lorna is angry when Frankie is expelled for bullying, but Frankie is equally unhappy that her mum doesn’t defend her against the accusations. Also, Lenny suspects there’s a police informant in his clan. THE ARCHERS Brian…

CRADLE SNATCHING! “I couldn’t believe it when Joanne slept with Zack – he’s so young! It was never going to get her closer to Louis, but me and Duayne [Boachie, who plays Zack] had a laugh doing it. And lots of people were jealous that I got to mess about with a young, hot guy!” RISK TAKING! “Jumping in front of Louis’ car was something that I loved doing. I was excited to be able to do my own stunt, so I really enjoyed filming these scenes.” FRAMING! “It was very well written when Joanne planted drugs on Mercedes, because she thought about what sort of person Mercedes is and how she could twist the knife. Although it backfired when Mercy found out it was flour – so it wasn’t…

SYED MASOOD EASTENDERS IN THE CLOSET As a member of the religious Masood family, Syed suspected his sexuality would never be tolerated. To keep his mum Zainab happy, he decided to live life as a straight man, but his decision caused untold pain. LIVING A LIE Syed tried to conform to Zainab’s dream for him and married beautiful Amira. Having waited until their wedding night to sleep together, put-out Amira discovered that Syed wasn’t interested in consummating their marriage. THE TRUTH IS OUT Amira realised Syed’s true love was Christian after seeing the words ‘Syed loves Christian’ written on the wall of their flat. Syed had a lot of explaining to do! OUT AND PROUD Syed faced a backlash when the truth ‘came out’. Zainab made life pretty tough for…

How did you feel about your screen dad James being killed off? …asks Alice from Hampshire Bill [Ward, who played James] told us personally in early summer because he didn’t want us hearing it from someone else. Me, Mike [Parr, aka Ross] and Anthony [Quinlan, who plays Pete] are very close to him. It was a shock, but Super Soap Week was a big success, I think. Bill’s a lovely guy with a big manly laugh you’d recognise a mile off, so it’s a lot quieter on set now! Which band would you join, given the choice? …asks Keira, via email Oasis, 100 per cent. I’ve always been a massive fan and actually went to their last ever gig at Heaton Park in 2009. I even had their haircut while…

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ON A SUNDAY NIGHT at this time of year we’d expect most of the TV chatter to be about the latest Strictly or X Factor eliminations, so it warmed our hearts a couple of weeks ago when all anyone was talking about was an iguana’s life-or-death escape from a hoard of hungry snakes, in one of the most gripping chase scenes we’ve seen this side of a Hollywood blockbuster. It just goes to show you that the best drama on telly isn’t always scripted. This week’s episode focuses on survival in the desert, and features a tiny bat fighting a deadly scorpion.…

1 SATURDAY DVD CHRISTMAS WITH THE COOPERS An all-star cast unite to celebrate the festive season in this must-have holiday movie. Sam Cooper (John Goodman) and his wife Charlotte (Diane Keaton) want nothing more than to host the perfect Christmas feast for all their loved ones – what could possibly go wrong? WIN! For the chance to win a copy, tell us who plays Nate Cooper in Home and Away: A) Scott Lee, B) Alec Snow, or C) Kyle Pryor. Text ISWIN1, a space, then A, B, or C and your name & address to 85010 (50p). Or see below for postal entries. 2 SUNDAY DVD GAME OF THRONES - THE COMPLETE SIXTH SEASON Survivors from all parts of Westeros and Essos regroup to press forward and familiar faces forge…

DUN AND DUSTED When Caroline told Roo that she has Huntington’s disease in Home and Away, she said that Duncan’s best friend at school had the same illness. Is that a character we know? Kath, Leeds The character Caroline was referring to is Edward Dunglass, who was on the show between 1999 and 2000. He and Duncan got up to all sorts together – but Edward left shortly after finding out he had Huntington’s. PRISON CHIC Before she got banged up, Maria in Corrie was wearing a blue hooded coat that looked really cosy. It had fur around the top – do you know where I can get it from please, Sarah? Lorna, via email Maria’s navy satin faux fur-lined jacket is from Topshop, and will set you back £75.…

ARIES 21 MARCH - 20 APRIL You’ll be in the mood for travel this holiday season - but make sure that you’ve crossed all s s you head off! This is a week to get prepared and schedule things well. TAURUS 21 APRIL - 21 MAY Something big is brewing in your life, and it may take some time to get your head around it. It won t be a bad development at all, but you’ll have to devote some time this week to sizing up what it means. GEMINI 22 MAY - 21 JUNE Bit of a misstep this week! But try not to worry about that, because there are plenty you ve achieved. Focus on the everyday good you’ve done for your family. CANCER 22 JUNE - 23…