Table of contents for 48/49 - 2016 in Inside Soap UK

“AIDAN DOESN’T WANT TO BREAK EVA’S HEART - HE’S QUITE CONFUSED” Aidan gets a taste of his own medicine this fortnight, as his secret love Maria shares a saucy snog with hunky Adam Barlow! While Aidan has been toying with Maria, he’s determined not to leave his girlfriend Eva – but will jealousy change his mind about who he wants to be with? “Aidan is envious of Adam – this handsome bugger, coming in and throwing his weight around!” chuckles Shayne Ward, who plays Aidan. “It’s a bit of a wake-up call for Aidan because he’s like, ‘Don’t be coming on to my turf with your good hair!’. “Seriously though, Aidan has been trying to have his cake and eat it by juggling Eva and Maria the way he has,…

For weeks now we’ve been hearing nothing but talk of Ongar – and for readers who are not familiar with the intricacies of Essex geography, Inside Soap is here to help. Ongar is a town about 21 miles north-east of London, located a little way outside of the M25. And as avid fans of EastEnders will already know, Albert Square is supposedly based in the real-life Bromley-by-Bow area of east London. According to the AA’s route planner, to drive from Dalston to Ongar takes around 42 minutes, if you go via the M11. So while we can appreciate that Roxy is upset at the thought of Amy moving away, it’s hardly as if she’s going to be living on the far side of the moon. If…

There are other problems for Peter this fortnight, as Daniel drops a bombshell! When Daniel admits he’s being chucked out of his flat, Peter and Ken offer to help him pack – but they’re left mortified by the sorry state of his digs. Daniel is soon forced to confess to his sibling that his mum Denise left years ago, and he’s struggled to make ends meet ever since. Daniel is defensive as his half-brother questions why he never reported her missing to the police. Will Peter be forced to share this revelation with Ken?…

There’s big drama on the cards for the Mitchell family this fortnight, when they receive some stunning news! With Phil’s condition playing on everyone’s mind, Sharon decides to start planning Christmas, hoping to deliver a special day that the whole clan can look forward to. But as she makes arrangements, a massive bombshell is dropped on the Mitchells. “Phil’s condition could head sharply downhill at any time, so is it bad news?” muses our source. “Or is it about another member of the family? Whatever it is, it is going to change everything...”…

MELANIE LOVED BEING PAMPERED ON CATHY’S BIG DAY… Roy’s having a lot of doubts over whether he can bring himself to say his vows, and we dread to think how poor Cathy will feel if she’s left standing alone at the altar! Whatever the outcome for the couple, Melanie can’t speak highly enough of her cast mate David Neilson, who plays the groom, and embraced all the glamour of Roy and Cathy’s big day. “David is wonderful, hilarious and just a great person to be on set with,” praises the actress. “I really enjoyed playing a bride for a day, too. It was lovely getting to wear make-up and have my hair done. Normally I hate wearing dresses, but the costume department managed to find a dress I was happy…

There’s a saucy surprise in store for Chas this fortnight, when she opens up her Christmas present from Paddy – only to discover sexy lingerie! Thankfully, Chas isn’t one to get easily flustered, and it turns out there’s a simple explanation behind this shock present! There’s actually been a dreadful mix-up, and Chas has mistakenly opened a gift that Rhona purchased for her boyfriend Pierce… The drama kicks off after Rhona decides to inject some frisky fun back into her relationship, and goes shopping for a special outfit to surprise Pierce with. However, when she hands over the gift bag to her man, the contents are not quite what she was expecting! When she witnesses Chas confront Paddy about the sexy underwear, she realises there has been a terrible misunderstanding,…

Jimmy and Nicola’s marriage lies in tatters this fortnight, as she tells him she wants to start divorce proceedings – while he informs her that he’s leaving the village! Convinced that her bumbling hubby’s affections now lie with her sister Bernice, Nicola seems certain that she and Jimmy no longer have a future together. But has she really given up on him? It seems not when she’s left stung after overhearing Kerry and Brenda blaming her marriage breakdown on the kiss she shared with Dan. And by the time Jimmy tells her that he’s decided to go away for a month – in the hope that some space might help them with their problems – she’s horrified. Can Nicola persuade Jimmy to stay home this Christmas for the sake of…

Ste goes to extreme lengths to see his kids this fortnight – by dressing as an elf and hiding out in Santa’s grotto! Poor Ste has been in a funk after losing custody of his kids to Amy and Ryan, and his daughter Leah is just as distraught. So when she leaves him a touching note saying that all she wants for Christmas is to see him, Ste takes action! Getting into disguise, Ste sneaks into the grotto so he can see Leah, and she’s delighted when he hands over a new tablet so they can video call each other. But although Leah agrees to keep her new gadget a secret from her mum and Ryan, how long will it be before her covert meetings with her father are uncovered?…

Which co-star would you pick for Secret Santa, and what would you buy them? HARRY REID EASTENDERS’ BEN Probably Jamie Borthwick [aka Jay], or Tilly Keeper [who plays Louise]. Part of me would want to buy them a giant fan and some grapes so they can treat me like a king! Although being serious, I’d probably think of something much nicer.” If you could buy one present for a cast mate, what would it be? NICK MILES EMMERDALE'S JIMMY “That’s easy – Adam Thomas [aka Adam Barton] will have just come out of the jungle, so he’s going to need a big Christmas hamper packed full of goodies!” If you could buy one present for a castmate, what would it be? What are you most looking forward to this Christmas?…

Another X Factor final is upon us as the top three of this year’s contenders advance to Wembley Arena for the showdown to end all showdowns – well, until we start all over again next August, anyway. We don’t yet know which acts will make the top three, but ahead of the finale, Inside TV spoke to judges Louis Walsh and Nicole Scherzinger to see how they’re feeling about their acts’ chances… What are the key things you need to get right to win The X Factor Final ? Louis Song choice is very important, and you must connect with the audience. You have to build throughout the whole series and not be in the bottom two ever, and listen to your mentor…

However disappointing a rubbish Christmas present may be, at least you can return it – a bad tattoo is for life. Or at least it used to be, before Tattoo Fixers came into our lives to rework people’s dodgy inkings. They’re back with a new series, so we grabbed artists Jay and Sketch for a quick chat to find out how they’re hoping to change the world in their own small way… “The programme is trying to show people that you can get exactly the type of tattoo that you want first off,” Jay tells us. “You don’t need a bad tattoo in order to get a good one! We want people to make the right decision before getting a tattoo at all, because it’s a…

“LAUREL KNOWS THAT ONCE ASHLEY LEAVES HE’S NEVER COMING HOME” Ashley’s dementia takes another turn for the worse this fortnight, causing him to lash out at wife Laurel – and sees him almost hit by a car! It’s the final straw for his struggling other half, who is still unable to face sending Ashley to a day-care facility. So feeling as though she has no other choice, Laurel takes drastic action in order to manage her husband’s condition… “Laurel just wants to keep her family together,” explains actress Charlotte Bellamy, who plays her. “The whole time she’s saying, ‘We’re going to get through this’, even though everyone around her is telling her that her situation is unsafe. She’s so defiant about how she wants to handle things, but then something…

“THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO’D LIKE TO SEE PHELAN GET HIS JUST DESERTS” Wicked Phelan is about to discover there’s a cost to his evil antics – courtesy of vengeful Andy. Ever since Michael’s tragic death at the shady property development site, Andy has been keeping a close eye on Phelan. After hearing what Anna has to say about Phelan’s scheming, and aware that Michael was on a mission to expose him, Andy is desperate for evidence to link Pat to his loved one’s death. With Andy always being close to Michael, there’s no way that he’s going to drop his quest for the truth. “This is war, even if Pat Phelan has no idea that Andy’s gunning for him,” shares our Coronation Street insider. “There are plenty of people…

“THIS IS A RECIPE FOR DISASTER, AS FAR AS THE DINGLES ARE CONCERNED” Lisa returns to the Dales this fortnight, and is shocked to learn that not only are her ex Zak and new wife Joanie planning to move away, but daughter Belle is plotting a new life in America. Can Lisa reunite her family before it’s too late? Belle’s loved ones were blindsided by her stunning announcement that Bailey has landed a job in Boston, and that she intends to move out there with him. Not only will they miss her desperately, but Zak and Lisa fear it’s too much for Belle to deal with as she recovers from her recent mental health issues. Can they and the rest of the family find a way to convince her that…

“FINN SAYS NOTHING ABOUT VISITING KASIM - FIRST HE WANTS TO PROVE THAT HE’S NICE” It seems Finn’s festive dreams might have come true this fortnight, when Kasim – the mystery man for whom he fell after helping to save his life – turns up in the village! Finn’s been distraught since Kasim was moved to a different unit to be brought out of his coma, and was convinced he’d never see him again. So when the former patient arrives on the doorstep to see him, hoping to thank his saviour in person, Finn is on cloud nine… “Although Kasim was in a coma, Finn felt a connection with him,” shares Joe Gill, who plays Finn. “Having lost his dad James, Finn’s been in a really dark place. His brothers…

"LINDA ISN’T KEEN, IT’S TERRIFYING FOR STACEY, AND IAN IS FEELING DISTRESSED!" Christmas in Walford is threatening to be a washout this year – with even festive fanatic Linda failing to capture the magic of the season… “Linda loves to cover the pub in sparkles and glitter to give her clan and punters a Yuletide experience to remember,” trills our Walford insider. “So imagine Mick’s reaction when they talk about their Christmas grotto, and Linda isn’t keen at all!” In fact, she tells him that she’s decided not to bother with it this year, leaving Mick worried that there’s something seriously wrong with his wife… Linda isn’t the only person who’s acting like the Grinch. Martin and Stacey have their own problems to contend with – not least Lily’s role…

Bex and Shakil agree to take their relationship to the next level this fortnight – but will the pair actually go through with doing the deed this time? After weeks of Shaki trying to persuade Bex to sleep with him, and her insisting that she’s not ready, it’s clear that the teenage sweethearts have been having a big communication problem. So when Shaki confides in big brother Kush that he thinks his girlfriend is going off him, Kush’s advice is simple – just talk to the girl! Once the pair finally sit down and have a conversation, they agree that they’re both ready to lose their virginity to each other, and make a pact that they will spend the night together later that week. However, getting some time alone to…

Dot has a lot to think about this fortnight, after she attends another appointment with her eye doctor. While she was hugely relieved when recent tests revealed that she wasn’t going blind as she’d feared, Dot now has to decide whether or not to start treatment for her condition. She has trusty friend Patrick by her side as she visits the specialist, but Dot isn’t happy when he pushes her to start the treatment straight away. Putting her foot down, outraged Dot insists that her pal is out of order, and that she alone will make the final call. But can Patrick persuade Dot that he has her best interests at heart?…

Holby’s resident ice queen is in for a shock this fortnight – as Jac Naylor learns that she’s pregnant! However, further tests reveal that the heart surgeon has a cyst on her ovary, and it could be cancerous. How will Jac deal with two life-changing pieces of news? The drama unfolds as Jac comes face to face with Alistair Maconie – the brother of her ex, Jonny. Shortly after they are reunited, Jac learns that she’s expecting – only for Alistair to reveal that he knows she’s been sleeping with Jonny again! Meanwhile, Mr T is keen for Jac to have an ultrasound upon finding an abnormality on her ovary – which needs dealing with immediately. But when Jac’s test results come back, it turns out she’s not going to…

Ethan attempts to distract himself from Alicia this fortnight – by going on a date with a girl he meets online! Although Ethan’s heart isn’t really in the whole dating thing, he’s persuaded to invite Penny to the Christmas party after Alicia sends a message to her on his behalf. And when the pair meet, they discover that they have plenty in common. Soon Ethan and Penny are sharing a smooch – but Penny can’t help but notice that Ethan keeps looking over at Alicia, and eventually cuts their date short. Will this prompt Ethan to finally declare his feelings for Alicia? Also this fortnight… Sebastian makes a drunken pass at his mentor Dylan!…

What has it been like filming your first EastEnders Christmas? It’s been lovely! It was a bit weird sitting in the Mitchell house, seeing all the decorations everywhere, and cracking walnuts with Jamie [Borthwick, who plays Jay]. We had a whole bowl of them! Sadly, though, it doesn’t sound as if Louise has much to look forward to. There are times when she’s fully immersing herself in the holiday spirit – but for obvious reasons, she’s not overly peppy either! For Louise, her main concern is that her dad is around for Christmas and that he’s happy, despite how trying times may be. How do you think the Mitchells – and the nation – would cope if Phil died? Oh God, if there was no more…

“RYAN FIGHTS FOR HIS WIFE – AND DUFFY IS GUILT-TRIPPED” There hasn’t been much to smile about in the Holby City ED since that helicopter crashed into the building – but the staff finally have something to celebrate this fortnight, as Charlie and Duffy go public with their romance! Their colleagues couldn’t be happier for them, and it seems that after thirtysomething years, the pair are on track for a happy ending. However, that could be about to change as Duffy’s estranged husband Ryan rocks up in Holby and begs her to give their marriage another chance! But Cathy Shipton – who plays the nurse – assures us that Duffy is certain of where her heart lies… “You don’t go to work in another country if you’re happy with your…

WE’VE BEEN ENJOYING the slow burn of the romantic plot in this period drama - even though it feels inevitable that Rose will eventually give in to her feelings for handsome American Captain Dreyfuss (surely?). We appreciate that the show is taking its time, with Rose making a valiant effort to resist his charms, but always feeling distracted by his very existence. It helps massively that Hattie Morahan gives such a finely-tuned performance as Rose - we’ve built up enough sympathy for her dilemma that we’ll probably be on her side whatever decision she ends up making……

We thought we’d seen the last of Freddie and Stuart when they got married at the end of Vicious’ second series last year (well, unless you count their brief cameo during this year’s Eurovision Song Contest) – but they’re back this fortnight for one last hour-long special following a year in their lives. “Our end of term, end of series special will please friends of Stuart and Freddie,” teases Ian McKellen, who plays Freddie. “Especially the very last scene of all! This really is the end, but don’t worry, all the characters are alive and well despite some separation. No spoilers from me, though!” “I think that it’s written really cleverly so viewers get a good farewell,” adds Derek Jacobi, who plays Stuart. “I shall miss…

Even the strongest and most stable of characters would struggle to see the wood for the trees in Laurel’s situation – but this is a woman who not so long ago was battling a severe alcohol problem. So as Ashley’s condition continues to deteriorate, will troubled Laurel be tempted to hit the bottle? “We haven’t gone down that route yet, as there is too much going on!” exclaims Charlotte. “Of course [it’s a possibility], as it’s always going to be there. But at the moment Laurel has a tiny baby and she’s very focused. “I think the writers are doing really well with Ashley’s story,” continues the actress. “After the big car crash episodes he had a massive decline, and now each new stroke that happens affects his brain and…

“ROXY CAN’T BE THE ONLY ONE WHO SUSPECTS JACK IS SWEET ON HONEY” Roxy drops a massive bombshell on Ronnie this fortnight – when she accuses Jack of having an affair with Honey! The tension is rising between the sisters, especially as Jack is doing his best to keep Roxy’s contact with Amy to a bare minimum. While he would have cut Roxy out of their daughter’s life after she abandoned the little’un during her involvement with drugs, Ronnie has fought her sibling’s corner and tried to broker a truce between the warring parents. However, now that Jack and Ronnie are planning to sell up and move, relations have hit an all-time low – and Roxy is about to make things much worse. “In all fairness, Roxy can’t be the…

“IT’S SILLY THAT CELINE DIDN’T GO TO THE POLICE IN THE FIRST PLACE!” Christmas is looking anything but merry for poor Celine this fortnight, as she finds herself trapped in Cameron’s infamous shack! Although her friends and family reckon she’s ditched the village to join her sister Porsche in the Caribbean, little do they know that killer Cameron has gone to extreme measures to stop her from grassing him up to the police. Things didn’t end well for Lockie, the last person to fall into Cameron’s clutches – and Celine fears for her life when she uncovers a clue to her ex’s deadly rampage… “I think people forget that Cameron and Celine were together once – she was in love with him and thought she knew him so well,” shares…

“NICK IS RIGHT TO BE WARY OF PETER - BUT HE’S MOSTLY BEING PARANOID” Tilsley and Barlow have a furious showdown this fortnight – when Nick reckons that Peter is out to ruin his cosy Christmas. Outraged that Peter’s closeness with Leanne casts a shadow over his hopes of playing happy families this festive season, Nick orders his supposed love rival to steer clear. But is Peter even bothered? “Peter thinks Nick is an idiot!” chuckles Chris Gascoyne, who plays Peter. “But he also just wants Leanne to be happy – and since he knows that he isn’t the man to do that, he hopes that Nick is. Plus, he’s really pleased for her that she’s having a baby. So while Nick is right to be wary of Peter, he’s…

"BEN FEELS AS IF IT’S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE HE WILL BE BURYING PHIL" There’s fresh heartbreak for the Mitchells this fortnight, as Ben’s drinking gets way out of hand. Torn apart by the rifts within his family and terrified that Phil is close to death, Ben hits the bottle to try to cope. For those who love him, Ben’s drunken antics are terrifying – and they fear he’ll go down the same path as his alcoholic father. But given the degree of trauma Ben has gone through recently, it’s no wonder that he’s on a rampage of self-destruction. “Ben’s world has been obliterated, and he’s full of rage and grief,” explains our Walford insider. “He’s mourning the loss of the love of his life, Paul. But he’s…

“CATHY ATTEMPTS TO CALL ROY’S BLUFF BY CANCELLING THE WEDDING” Cathy and Roy prepare to get married this fortnight – but will the reluctant groom go through with the wedding? Roy’s nearest and dearest have realised his heart isn’t in this marriage, and that Cathy isn’t the woman he should be pledging to spend the rest of his life with. Devoted Cathy has been having her own second thoughts, too – especially when flighty sister Nessa gatecrashes her life again, right before the big day. But as the pressure builds, will Cathy and Roy make it down the aisle after all? “Cathy loves Roy and wants to get married,” insists Melanie Hill, who plays the bride. “It’s a big thing for her as she can’t believe she has fallen in…

Denise confesses a massive secret to Patrick this fortnight – but what could it be that leaves him gobsmacked? For months, she’s been hiding the fact that her unborn baby’s father is Phil, and it’s tough for Denise to think what the future may hold. She’s always known that she would go through with the pregnancy, but it’s hard having to cope with how her family are treating her. That’s especially true of Kim, who is smothering Dee – and of Patrick, whose kindness makes her feel terrible. “Denise has never known shame quite like this,” says our EastEnders insider. “She is still struggling to believe she’s having Phil Mitchell’s baby, and the only saving grace is that nobody on the Square knows it’s his. Still, the strain is taking…

We don’t often see busybody Norris lost for words – but he’s left speechless this fortnight, when his pal Mary drops a massive bombshell! The poor woman has been in a strange mood ever since she found a lump in her breast – and while there’s good news as the hospital gives her the all-clear, Mary’s pals notice that she still seems downbeat. Erica is extremely worried about her friend, especially when Mary reveals that she’s making a bucket list. So after Mary leaves a mysterious ring binder lying around, Erica can’t help but sneak a peek at its contents… However, when Erica later confronts Mary about what was inside the folder, Mary shuts down the conversation and hurries out! Poor Erica doesn’t know what to do, so she turns…

Tegan has a lot of explaining to do this fortnight, when her colleague Nick catches her seemingly stealing medication from the drugs cabinet at work! The drama kicks off after Nick spots Tegan taking a pill – and when he later finds some anti-anxiety drugs in her bag, the worried medical student takes them away from her. However, Tegan is soon suffering from withdrawal symptoms, and almost makes a dangerous mistake at the hospital! Nick covers for her, so he’s fuming when he catches her stealing the medication – little realising that she’s actually helping out her pal Kim. Will Nick report Tegan to their Dee Valley superiors?…

Billy finds himself at a crossroads this fortnight, as he ponders what is perhaps the biggest decision of his life – whether to pick the Church or a future with boyfriend Todd. Billy’s rekindled relationship with Todd has given him reason to question whether he can return to his role as vicar of the parish that contains Coronation Street. Todd makes his feelings clear when he explains that he would rather his other half have a ‘normal’ job, and this statement hangs heavily on Billy as he prepares to resume his religious duties. Later, in a moment of clarity, Billy tells the Bishop that his heart no longer lies with the Church, and that he wants to put his relationship first. The Bishop is shocked, and even Todd is left…

“TRACEY IS A VICTIM – SHE’D DO ANYTHING TO GET OFF THE HOOK” We always thought that the woman who gave birth to Grace Black and Clare Devine would be a straight-talking, hard-as-nails she-devil you wouldn’t want to mess with. So when Tracey Donovan arrived in the village in September, we were surprised by the unkempt, mousy woman on screen – especially as she was played by the always glamorous and outspoken actress and TV presenter Lisa Maxwell. What on earth had happened to Tracey? Well, as she rocks up again this fortnight, it’s clear that this is a woman still very much haunted by her past. So we got on the phone to Lisa in order to get the lowdown on Grace’s mysterious mum… Hi Lisa! We first saw…

His alter ego is a tortured soul on the Street, but in real life actor Jack P Shepherd (David) was all smiles as he helped switch on the official Christmas lights at Crystal Peaks Shopping Mall & Retail Park in Sheffield. Leaving the drama and worries in Weatherfield, Jack pushed the button to officially launch the festive season – and wasn’t alone as he was joined by hundreds of locals and Corrie fans who were delighted to have their picture taken with the star.…

WANT TO BAG YOURSELF 20 QUID? Tell us what you think Jack is saying to Roxy in this scene from EastEnders - we’ll print the caption that makes us laugh the most, and send the cash to the winner! TO ENTER Post your idea to the Soapbox address, email your entry to soapbubble@ insidesoap.co.uk  or put it on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ insidesoap The winning entry will be announced in two issues’ time! Winning £20 for his Emmerdale caption this issue is Greg, via email…

The Inside Soap Collection These soapie treats include soap-themed T-shirts, mugs and tea towels. More designs are available at www.moretvicar.com/collections/inside-soap/ Coronation Street: The Official Colouring Book Bring all your favourite cobbles characters to life by adding a spot of colour to 45 of the show’s most iconic scenes! RRP £10.00 They’re behind you! Soap faves tread the boards this Christmas… Walford’s Steve McFadden (Phil) stars in Dick Whittington at the Birmingham Hippodrome, while fellow Mitchell Samantha Womack (Ronnie) also appears in Dick Whittington at the Milton Keynes Theatre, with screen sister Rita Simons (Roxy) performing in Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs at the Alban Arena in St Albans. Elsewhere, ex-Corrie star Ryan Thomas (Jason Grimshaw) takes on the role of Prince Charming in Cinderella at the Wyvern Theatre in…