Table of contents for 50/51 - 2016 in Inside Soap UK

Christmas comes but once a year, so they say – and thank the baby Jesus it does, as we are exhausted from putting together this drama-packed, full-to-the-brim, bursting-at-the-seams Christmas issue! I don’t think I’ll be able to muster that much energy for at least another year. As well as a preview of this year’s festive snogs, barneys and betrayals, we spent a bit of quality time with some of your favourite stars for our special Christmas photo shoots, in addition to pulling together the highlights of non-soap telly (yes, such a thing does actually exist!) and your bumper 14-day TV listings. Phew! So all that’s left for me to do now is to leave you and yours with one Christmas wish – that the only dramas you encounter this Yuletide…

Christmas Eve is a day of sorrow for Dot, as she closes up at the launderette for the last time. Having been abruptly ousted from her job, poor Dot is looking at a retirement she doesn’t want. She’s already feeling alone thanks to her problems with her sight and the number of friends she’s lost this year. So to have the door closed on the vocation she’s enjoyed for decades makes it hard for Dot to feel any Christmas cheer at all. Abi tries to help her gran say goodbye in the right way by preparing a party for her at the launderette on the day before she leaves. It’s a modest buffet, but Dot appreciates her kindness – although she’s sad to find out Abi won’t be in Walford…

“IF MARIA GOES TO JAIL, SHE WON’T COME OUT THE SAME PERSON” Terrified Maria faces the awful prospect of spending Christmas in jail this fortnight, as she stands trial for her sham marriage to husband Pablo… However, just as Maria prepares for the possibility that she’ll be torn away from the people she cares about most, smitten Aidan declares his undying love! “I think Aidan genuinely does want to be with Maria,” explains actress Samia Longchambon, who plays her. “It’s not just a sexual attraction – they have a long history through Maria’s connection with the Connor family that we haven’t seen on screen. And after all they went through together recently with Caz, Maria has realised that Aidan has her back no matter what. She loves him, too!” But…

Santa makes a surprise delivery to Leanne this Christmas – her sister Toyah is back in town! Toyah’s arrival is a shock for Leanne, considering that she was meant to be going to her sister’s in Liverpool for her turkey dinner… “Toyah has a row with her husband on Christmas morning, and just ups and leaves!” explains Georgia Taylor, who reprises the role. “She visits Leanne because she needs a support network around her – like putting a sticking plaster on things. “Although they haven’t been on screen together for a while, Leanne and Toyah have obviously kept in touch,” continues the star. “That’s how Toyah finds herself back on the Street.” Leanne is stunned when Toyah drops the bombshell that she’s been having an affair. But when Toyah’s hubby…

Deranged Emma has a new target for her hate this Christmas, as Pete’s girlfriend Leyla gets her feet under the table at the Barton family home. Emma’s dislike of Leyla has been growing ever since she uncovered Emma’s addiction to sleeping tablets and alerted the Barton boys. Following that, Emma has rebuffed all attempts by Leyla to re-establish a friendship, leading to some awkward moments for all concerned. So imagine just how furious Emma is when she comes to discover that Leyla is going to be joining them for dinner on Christmas Day… It’s a pretty miserable time for the family, as they try to enjoy the day but are all lost in their memories of tragic James. For Emma, it’s horrendous as she sees the impact of her actions…

Ryan proves he’s not perfect husband material after all this fortnight, when the cheating scoundrel sleeps with Mercedes McQueen! There’s a lot of tension between Ryan and his fiancée Amy in the wake of the custody battle over young Leah and Lucas – and with Leah blaming Ryan for taking her dad Ste away from her, he struggles to keep it together as the feisty girl steps up her hate campaign. Amid escalating tensions, Ryan is dumbfounded as to how Leah is still wrapping Amy around her little finger – and when Ste’s name is thrown into the mix, the copper hits the roof and makes a jaw-dropping announcement that prompts livid Amy to throw him out of the house! After thieving Goldie is spotted stealing a bottle of wine…

“People are happy that Leanne has her sister back!” You’d be forgiven for thinking you’d stepped back in time when you tune in to Corrie on Christmas Day to find the drama revolving around Battersby sisters Leanne and Toyah! It’s been 16 years since the pair were last together on the Street – but while Toyah’s return may come as a shock for Leanne, viewers have been eagerly anticipating her arrival since it was announced that star Georgia Taylor had been enticed back. As we join her for a chat about her return, Georgia explains why now feels like the right time to be back in Weatherfield… “I’ve never been invited back to the show on a full-time basis before,” admits the 36-year-old, who was last seen as Toyah in…

While Jake admits to turning down offers of work during his time away from EastEnders, he couldn’t resist another twirl around the Strictly ballroom. The actor – who reached the semi-finals of the BBC1 dance contest in 2014 – appeared on the nationwide tour earlier this year. “It was a lovely opportunity to dance with Janette [Manrara, aka Jake’s professional partner] again,” he enthuses. “It’s weird now as I know all the dances, so I’m watching this year from a different perspective. For me, Claudia Fragapane has been head and shoulders above the rest!”…

Jonathan is back in action for a one-off special this Christmas, as he is called out to a country estate to help a young woman find out the truth of what happened to her family in her childhood home – and the investigation harks back to a case Creek solved many years ago… “I like doing the specials,” grins Alan Davies, who plays him. “They’re often in some creepy house and there’s a bit more air in everything, so the clues can be spaced out more. And there’s a good opportunity for comedy – Warwick Davies is very funny in this as a vicar who thinks he can do magic!”…

Mick is determined to deliver a traditional fun-filled Christmas this fortnight, but little does he know there’s something set to scupper his plans! The celebrations begin in earnest at the Vic, as Tina and Aunt Babe entertain the local kids and Mick makes a grand entrance as Santa Claus, much to their guests’ delight. But behind the scenes at the pub, Mick and Linda are worried sick about little Ollie, who faces a challenging new year. The Carter couple are desperate to find out more about how their little lad is doing. But doctors inform them that Ollie’s latest round of tests won’t take place until next year – leaving them without any answers. Nevertheless, the pair remain determined to give Ollie a great Christmas. Knowing Linda isn’t feeling the…

“ROXY’S BEHAVIOUR JUST MAKES THE WHOLE SITUATION MUCH WORSE” Worried Ronnie steps in to help her troubled sister Roxy this fortnight – as her drinking and drug-taking spiral out of control. Roxy has turned to booze and cocaine in an attempt to mask the pain she’s feeling over the divide that’s growing between her and her daughter Amy. Watching Ronnie and Jack create a happy family home for Roxy’s little’un has broken her heart, and although she wants the very best for her offspring, it feels as though she’s being pushed slowly but surely out of Amy’s life. “The problem is, Roxy’s behaviour just makes the whole situation much worse,” sighs our EastEnders source. “Jack would like to be rid of her altogether – but Ronnie is the one thing…

Andy goes to desperate lengths to cover his tracks this fortnight, as the police investigate a horrific attack on Phelan. The builder’s world comes crashing down around him in the weeks leading up to Christmas, when vengeful Andy emerges silently from the darkness and brutally clobbers him with a brick. Every fibre of Andy’s being tells him that Phelan was responsible for Michael’s death – but his actions are set to have dire consequences when the cops vow to track down Pat’s attacker. Is Andy in way over his head? To avoid being exposed for the assault and keep himself in the clear, Andy is forced to resort to desperate measures. He needs money – and fast! After learning that Steph has taken delivery of tablet devices for the Bistro,…

As Cain comes to Moira’s aid once more, is there any hope for the pair’s future? Moira’s ex-husband is right by her side again when he arrives at the farm to find her trashing the place, and it becomes clear that this once-happy couple should reunite. However, as Moira continues to fall apart, can Cain manage to convince his former flame that she needs him back in her life, or is it too little, too late for their marriage to have any chance of being rescued? “Moira really does love Cain, but she’s confused and lost,” says Natalie. “She doesn’t feel as if she can trust Cain again after he went off with Charity, and she holds him a little bit responsible for not supporting Holly before she died. But…

“WE WANT TO SHOW HOW ASHLEY PERCEIVES THE WORLD NOW” This fortnight, a unique Emmerdale episode is set to show us first-hand how much Ashley is suffering, as he goes AWOL from hospital after another mini-stroke. His battle with dementia will be laid bare in the dramatic scenes that follow, as we witness the illness entirely from Ashley’s perspective while he wanders the streets, confused and alone… “What we’re trying to do in the episode is to see inside Ashley’s head,” reveals John Middleton, who plays Ashley. “It’s tricky, because at this point he’s in an advanced state of confusion as a result of his dementia. But we want to show everyone how he perceives the world, so those watching can see what it’s like to…

Nick and Holly’s romance is well and truly rumbled this fortnight, as they’re caught getting up to no good in the back of Dirk’s van! The pair have been seeing each other for the past few weeks, but they’ve opted to keep their relationship under wraps for fear of what Cindy and Dirk will say. Holly’s been on cloud nine since bagging her new fella – though she is oblivious to the fact that Nick has another reason for wanting to keep things secret… The student nurse was stunned when Ellie confronted him recently and accused him of raping her. And while Nick believes he did nothing wrong, he still doesn’t want Ellie’s allegations to get out and damage his reputation. Keen to smooth things over before Ellie spills the…

“IT’ A NICE CHRISTMAS FOR THE FOWLERS!” Down Walford way, teens Bex, Shakil and Louise are as thick as thieves – and it’s clear that their real-life alter egos Jasmine Armfield, Shaheen Jafargholi and Tilly Keeper are just as close. As they get silly in the Inside Soap photo booth, there are plenty of giggles and larking about while we snap our pictures – so much so that it’s an effort to get the threesome to sit still for even two minutes! But with their festive props confiscated and their bums finally on seats, we get all the gossip on what Christmas will be like in Albert Square this year… JASMINE ARMFIELD BEX FOWLER Hello, Jasmine! Does Bex have a happy Christmas in store this year?…

JACK WALFORD If the rumours are true, and the soon-to-depart Ronnie and Roxy really do go glug-glug-glug in a swimming pool this new year, then poor Jack is going to be left with little Amy, Ricky and Matthew to look after. They’ll soon be running rings around him – so here’s a box-set of Supernanny on DVD. ANDY EMMERDALE It’s been made clear to us that poor, falsely accused Andy has gone to ground, and won’t be back for a long, long time. Well blah, blah, blah. Here’s a flare gun. Show us where you are, fella, so we can let you know it’s safe to come home! MOIRA EMMERDALE A coffee machine for Moira, so that she can sober up long enough to realise that it’s not cool to…

What would you buy for Abi this Christmas? Ooh, I’d buy her lots! Maybe some new clothes and make-up, I think she needs that. And I’d love to get her a new gerbil or a dog! What do you want as a Christmas gift this year? I really want a pair of knee-high boots. Although I’d love someone to get me an all-inclusive holiday in a five-star resort – somewhere really hot and luxurious. Which cast member would you want to be secret Santa for? I’d pick June Brown [aka Dot] and get her something sassy. If I had an unlimited budget, I’d go for something sparkly with lots of diamonds!…

It looks as if the mistletoe is going to work its magic again this Christmas – as market trader Shrimpy enjoys some serious flirting with Walford’s women! The hat-loving local might not look like a ladykiller, but on the night of the traders’ party, he’s quite the prize catch. First of all, Shrimpy hits the dance floor with flirty Donna, and the duo have a great time together laughing and dancing. However, just as it looks as though Shrimpy and Donna might get it on, Roxy decides to try to steal her former best mate’s thunder. Will she win Shrimpy’s heart?…

“THIS CHRISTMAS FEELS AS IF THINGS HAVE COME FULL CIRCLE” JANE Prepare for Dingle déjà vu this fortnight, when Zak is exposed as a cheat for the second Christmas on the trot! It was 12 months ago that the love rat was outed for his shock fling with Joanie in front of the entire family, leaving wife Lisa heartbroken. However, the tables are turned in devastating fashion this year, as Joanie finds out just how it feels to be on the receiving end of Zak’s deceit. But who will he end up with? “There’s a parallel to last year’s Christmas with the breaking up of a couple,” teases actor Steve Halliwell, who plays Zak. “The viewers will see how happy Zak is with his family, and that gets Joanie thinking.…

Needy Finn makes a colossal relationship mistake this Christmas, as he tries to rush Kasim from boyfriend to live-in lover. Ever since Kasim woke from his coma, he and Finn have been getting closer. The trouble is, Finn’s had too long to fantasise about what life with Kasim would be like, whereas his fella is only just starting to consider them as a couple. So after they spend the night together and Finn falls further for the handsome newcomer, he can’t help but get more carried away. The first red flag for Kasim is when Finn tries to get him along to the Barton Christmas dinner – with Emma telling him that he can move in if he likes! Even worse lies around the corner, as Finn splashes out on…

“HAS MAX CHANGED? WAIT AND SEE!” We’ve seen unspeakable miscarriages of justice in Walford over the years, but none greater than the wrongful imprisonment of our favourite Square bad boy, Max Branning. Lucy Beale’s ex-lover was robbed of a whole year of his life when he was sent down for her murder – and viewers were cheated out of 12 months of Max drama! But all is right with the world now that the womanising wheeler-dealer is back where he belongs – and actor Jake Wood, who plays him, is delighted to be home… “I’m glad people are excited to see Max back,” grins the star, who has been playing the Branning patriarch since 2006. “The attention surrounding him died down when I wasn’t on the show, but now I’m…

Tina and Mikey enjoy a bit of banter regarding what should be on each other’s Christmas list… “If I could, I would buy Mikey a car for Christmas,” smirks Tina. “He can’t drive, so his wife normally ferries him around. He needs to pull his finger out!” “It would be pretty great if Santa brought Tina a kettle for her to use on set, as she loves a cup of tea,” shares Mikey. “If we could have one that’s nearby to filming and actually works, it would be great. Tina wouldn’t have to keep dashing off!”…

“We really hit the ground running, it’s just full-on”LESLEY The Birds are back for an hour-long special, but any hopes of a quiet Chigwell Christmas are shattered when Tracey fears that something terrible has happened to her son Travis, who’s travelling on his gap year in Morocco. There’s only one thing for it – they’ll all have to go out there and find him. Inside TV caught up with Linda Robson, Pauline Quirke and Lesley Joseph to talk about their adventures… What has happened to Travis? Linda He normally rings Tracey at the same time every day so she knows exactly where he is. But then all of a sudden he doesn’t ring, so Tracey flies into a panic and says they’ve got to go and find him. Dorien speaks…

Don’t expect to see much of Poplar in this year’s Christmas special – as the residents of Nonnatus House sit down for their Christmas Day dinner, Sister Julienne receives a call from the Mother House telling them that one of the church’s small mission hospitals in South Africa is threatened with closure. “The mission is not doing terribly well,” reveals Jenny Agutter, who plays Sister Julienne. “The Mother Superior in charge has just died, and there’s money to run an inoculation project, so that combination means we go out just to see what we can do.” “It’s something very different for the audience,” adds Helen George, who plays Trixie. “They will be expecting cosy Nonnatus House, but actually it’s far from that – we’re taking these characters out of their…

Last Christmas we were gripped by the newest TV adaptation of the Agatha Christie mystery And Then There Were None , so it seemed an obvious decision to have another Christie whodunnit ready for this festive fortnight (though sadly this doesn’t feature Aidan Turner in just a towel). Set in 1920s London, the story concerns the murder of wealthy Emily French (Kim Cattrall), and the prime suspect is her lover Leonard Vole (Glue star Billy Howle). Leonard’s impoverished solicitor John Mayhew (Toby Jones) believes the best hope of getting a not-guilty verdict is the alibi provided by Leonard’s wife Romaine (Andrea Riseborough) – but can Romaine be relied upon to stand up for her philandering husband in the witness box? “As a kid, I spent a lot…