Table of contents for 10 - 2019 in Inside Soap UK

Big events cast shadows before them. And that’s doubly true in soap. It’s no secret that, next week, the factory collapses on Coronation Street, raining deadly debris on those knavish knickerstitchers below. And someone will die! (I bet it’s not Kirk. The Earth could boil into the sun and he’d still be asking what’s for his tea.) “You’ll see shadows cast in these pages” Even though disaster is a week away, you can, thanks to the Corrie story team, see the shadows of it in the pages of this issue. How will Nick pay off his blackmailer on p8? Why is Gary pursuing a new career on p11? Doesn’t that wedding dress look lovely on p18? And why does Robert suddenly loathe Carla with a raging fury on p22? From these…

Their romance has had more ups and downs than the waves on Summer Bay beach – but we can confirm that lovebirds Jasmine and Robbo are getting hitched! Our sneaky on-set snaps show the adoring pair looking happy and relaxed on their wedding day, as their loved ones watch them tie the knot in a gorgeous country church. But although these pics prove that the nuptials are going to go ahead, the lead-up to the ceremony won’t be plain sailing… “Anyone can see that Robbo and Jasmine are crazy about each other, yet fate is conspiring against them!” warns our Home and Away insider. “Tori has just found out that she’s pregnant with Robbo’s baby – and that’s certain to cause major heartbreak for him and his fiancée as they…

One redeeming feature of Breda is her adorable pooch, Bronzer – and the killer’s pet sausage dog actually belongs to Moya herself! “Bronzer is the best-behaved McQueen in the cast!” chuckles the star. “She loves going to work, and trots around as if she owns the place. When I look at Bronzer, I see Barbra Streisand – she’s beautiful. Bronzer’s nearly seven, so she’s no spring chicken. But she’s a great accomplice for Breda – she’s charming and disarming to Breda’s dark character. No one in the Hollyoaks cast is as good as Bronzer – and that includes me!”…

The tears are flowing in Erinsborough this week, as Sonya’s friends and family come together for her memorial service. It was a shock to everyone when Sonya succumbed to her cancer very suddenly, leaving her husband Toadie devastated, and her kids absolutely bereft. But as the loved ones she’s left behind struggle to make sense of her tragic death, at least they have each other to lean on while they pay tribute to their late friend… Lots of familiar faces arrive in town for the service – as well as Sonya’s sister Jade, who managed to catch up with Sonya shortly before her death. Her close friends Lucas and Vanessa also make the journey back to Erinsborough, along with Toadie’s mum Angie, and teenager Willow. It’s a solemn occasion, but…

As Mel continues to navigate a challenging start to 2019, her real-life alter ego Tamzin Outhwaite reveals that she had some bad luck of her own over the recent half-term holiday. The 48-year-old actress had planned to enjoy an exciting trip to India with her daughter, Florence, although she was refused entry to the country because her visa was invalid. “We both sat crying in the immigration office at Goa Airport, but nobody died, and after another nine-hour flight, we returned to Blighty,” explains Tamzin. “I feel very proud of my daughter, who cried as I did, though was mostly worried that we may be separated like families in the US, because her visa was valid and mine was not. “The mad thing is that we had a suitcase full…

Police officer Rob finds himself in hospital this week, after amateur detective Valerie makes another dramatic breakthrough in the investigation of Grant’s murder. While Rob is visiting Grant’s widow Charlotte to explain that police detective Addison has been arrested in connection with the case, Valerie notices something significant in a photo of Grant which has just appeared in the local paper. But after she calls Rob to inform him of what she’s found, how does he end up so badly hurt?…

SOCIAL-ITE I really recognise the lady playing Kyle’s social worker in Emmerdale. I can’t think what she’s been in, although I think she’s in some adverts too? | Hannah, Plymouth The actress in question is Amy Searles, and she’s also been playing PC Carson in Corrie recently. You may recognise her from the Foxy Bingo advert too! HAIR-RAISING! In Corrie last week, Tracy took Amy to the salon, but she warned Maria not to set fire to Amy’s hair! Does Maria have a habit of singeing the customers’ locks off or something? | Wendy-Jane How could you have forgotten already? It only happened last year! When Maria started  doing hair at home, she agreed to do Tracy’s barnet for Beth’s house party. However, Maria got distracted…

It’s a hellish time for the medics at Holby this week, but even worse for porter Gemma Dean, following her brother Iain’s attempted suicide. It’s an agonising wait while his life hangs in the balance – and Casualty’s Rebecca Ryan tells us that her alter ego is in a state of shock… “Gem can’t believe it,” she says. “She’s quite angry at the thought of suicide, and can’t comprehend that it’s something Iain would do. She’s hurt that he didn’t speak to her, and she goes through lots of emotions to understand why this has happened.” Gem first arrived in the ED two years ago as Iain’s delinquent sister – but a lot has changed since then, and they’ve grown close since she began working at Holby. “When she first…

Back in 2000, Hollyoaks was the first soap to feature a storyline about male rape (albeit in its late-night episodes), earning actor Gary Lucy (Luke Morgan) a British Soap Award – the show’s first. Hollyoaks led the way again a year later, when teenager Lisa Hunter started self-harming after being bullied by her school pals – a story which hadn’t been tackled in a soap before. In 2007, the soap lifted the lid on teenager Hannah Ashworth’s battle with anorexia… The plot saw soap’s first eating disorder-related death, after Hannah’s bullimic pal Melissa Hurst had a heart attack. The show made soap headlines again in 2009, when teen Anita Roy was bullied by racist Gaz Bennett – and in an attempt to fit in,…

Pat Phelan After raping Anna Windass, Phelan went away, but returned to become an epic Corrie villain. Phelan built a business on the cobbles, married Eileen, and almost got away with multiple murders. That’s until justice finally caught up with him, courtesy of knife-wielding Anna! James Willmott-Brown Some 25 years after being driven out of Walford by Pete Beale, Willmott-Brown returned to darken Kathy’s doorstep again, hell-bent on buying up the whole of Albert Square and taking revenge on her. However, his plan failed and he was left to die alone by his disgusted daughter, Fi Browning. DI Mark Bails During his first Dales stint, it was clear that DI Bails had it in for Charity Dingle. A couple of years later, Charity revealed that Bails had raped and abused…

Drama Queen EASTENDERS STARS ATTEND THE OSCARS… It’s not every day that former EastEnders pop up in Tinsel Town, but at the 91st Academy Awards – aka the Oscars – ex-residents of the Square were all over the red carpet. Anita Dobson (Angie Watts) wowed the soap’s fans when she appeared alongside hubby of 19 years, Brian May – as the Queen rocker attended the event in support of biopic Bohemian Rhapsody. And with the film scooping four Oscars, no one was more delighted than former Square hunk Ben Hardy (Peter Beale), who plays drummer Roger Taylor in the movie. Chuffed at his success since exiting EastEnders in 2015, Ben reflected on social media at how far he has come – stating that he never thought he’d ever…

Sex Education on Netflix is just adorable. It looks like 70s America but is set now. It’s Instagram-tastic – it looks like a hipster interior but then they’re using mobile phones! The makers don’t seem to care that it’s incongruous because it looks so great. The actors are brilliant, and the message is very right-on. I really want to watch everything Julia Davis has ever done, because I’ve finally found out that she’s a genius, and I’ve never seen any of her stuff! I’d love to do more comedy, so I’ll watch her work and channel that. Recently I saw the film Green Book . My friend was sitting next to me, and I thought she had a cold the whole way through. Then at the…

It’s been a fairly lengthy wait for US hospital drama Chicago Med to return from its mid-season break, but we can confirm that it’s back on our screens this Sunday, with a dramatic episode in which a drive-by shooting outside the medical centre leaves a staff member injured. Here, S Epatha  Merkerson – who plays Sharon Goodwin, the hospital’s Chief of Services – tells us why she loves being part of the show. “I enjoy working with these young actors because, out of all of us, Oliver [Platt, who plays Dr Charles] and I are the oldest!” she shares. “It’s fun to work on fresh stories that educate as well as entertain. And I appreciate Goodwin, because she’s trying to fight the good fight and keep…

CASUALTY Connie Beauchamp.......... Amanda Mealing Gemma Dean...................... Rebecca Ryan Iain Dean..................... Michael Stevenson Lisa ‘Duffy’ Duffin................ Cathy Shipton Charlie Fairhead.............. Derek Thompson Noel Garcia.......................... Tony Marshall Elle Gardner.......................... Jaye Griffiths Ethan Hardy.................... George Rainsford David Hide................................ Jason Durr Jan Jenning............................... Di Botcher Dylan Keogh........................... William Beck Marty Kirkby................ Shaheen Jafargholi Jade Lovell.......................... Gabriella Leon Jacob Masters....................... Charles Venn Rash Masum........................... Neet Mohan Robyn Miller................ Amanda Henderson Ruby Sparks.............................. Maddy Hill Louise Tyler........................... Azuka Oforka CORONATION STREET Dev Alahan........................ Jimmi Harkishin Izzy Armstrong............... Cherylee Houston Amy Barlow.......................... Elle Mulvaney Ken Barlow......................... William Roache Peter Barlow....................... Chris Gascoyne Simon Barlow.............................. Alex Bain Leanne Battersby................... Jane Danson Toyah Battersby.................... Georgia Taylor Emma Brooker............... Alexandra Mardell Chesney Brown.......................... Sam Aston Claudia Colby.......................... Rula Lenska Mary Cole.................................. Patti Clare Carla Connor............................. Alison King Jenny Connor...............…

IS ALFIE A DRAG QUEEN? Alfie Moon is gone, but not forgotten! Kat’s hubby left Albert Square in January, leaving only a cryptic text message. However, his alter ego Shane Richie, has a theory on what he’s up to. “Alfie’s on the run as a drag queen in Spain!” quipped the star on ITV’s This Morning. Meanwhile, if you’re curious about what happened to Alfie the last time he was away from Walford, the 2017 spin-off Kat & Alfie: Redwater is now available via Netflix. LAURIE’S A LIFESAVER! Ex-EastEnder Laurie Brett (Jane Beale) got married to husband Dennis Longman recently, but the star has revealed why their original planned ceremony last October was postponed. “In the lead-up to the wedding, Dennis was very ill,” she told OK! magazine. “I knew…

The Maya and Jacob storyline is becoming more uncomfortable to watch with every passing week – but Emmerdale bosses insist that the conclusion to the controversial plot will strike the correct chord… “We’ve been working with [children’s charity] Barnardo’s to make sure that we get it right,” shares Dales producer Kate Brooks. “It’s a tricky story to tell, but we’ve managed so far to tell it as sensitively as possible. It’s won’t be as straightforward as you imagine. “We want people to be yelling at the TV, ‘Please tell somebody! This is not right! You’re a young lad, please speak out about this!’” she adds. “A lot of teenagers watch the show, and we have a duty to make sure the right protocol is carried out, with the right outcome.”…

Coronation Street and EastEnders are both set to lose major drama queens! Weatherfield’s Kym Marsh, who plays Michelle, has announced that she is taking an extended break from the Street to pursue other acting projects – while Walford’s Lacey Turner, aka Stacey, is due to go on maternity leave following the news that she is expecting her first child… TA-RA KYM! “When I was lucky enough to be offered four episodes of Corrie, never in my wildest dreams did I think that I’d be on the cobbles 13 years later,” explains Kym, who joined the show in 2006. “It’s been an incredibly difficult decision, but it feels like the right time for me to explore some other roles. However, this isn’t the last you’ve…

Star quality Hot on the heels of Janet Street-Porter and Jess Glynne, 90s boyband Hanson are the latest famous faces to sign up for a special cameo in Neighbours! Isaac, Taylor and Zac have already begun filming. Open Highway Walford’s Ricky Champ (Stuart) has called for his screen daughter, Zara, to return – and says there’s potential for the arrival of her mum. “I had an idea of the story before we met Stuart,” he tells us. “So I’d like to speak to the powers-that-be about it!” Stage sensations Corrie’s Daniel Brocklebank (Billy) and the Dales’ Amy Walsh (Tracy) will be in the new series of All Star Musicals. Won by the Street’s Lucy Fallon (Bethany) last year, the show will see celebs sing a musical number at the…

As Kate and Rana come to find out that planning a wedding isn’t quite as straight-forward as they had hoped, star Bhavna Limbachia (aka Rana) knows only too well how much hard work goes into organising such a big day – judging by the gorgeous photographs to emerge from her own nuptials to husband Darren Kuppan last year. Meanwhile, her cast mate Faye Brookes (who plays Kate) has it all to look forward to, following her recent engagement to long-term love Gareth Gates. Let’s hope that Faye doesn’t have an overbearing Lolly-type friend keen to contribute their two pennies’ worth!…

“Halfway house? Halfway out your back window with your flat screen, more like. Halfway back to prison. I want to live in a respectable, residential area – not the Wild West.” Ken – do you want to break the news to Claudia about your convicted murderer daughter? Or shall we? “Me and Masood, we had a falling out – he wanted me to choose between him and Bobby. That’s not fair, is it? I mean, yes, Bobby killed his sister. But you’ve got to move on, ain’t ya? I can’t turn me back on me grandson.” Brace yourselves, viewers. Surely Bobby is due back in Walford any day now! And if he was a killer at 11, goodness knows what he’ll be like at 15! “Apparently, it’s two for one…

There’s trouble in store for Bernice and Liam this week, as they take the next step in their relationship by moving in to their own place together, bringing their warring daughters with them. The loved-up couple have decided to make the big move after briefly sharing a room at the B&B – only, this time, things are more serious. It’s a dream come true for the pair, but their teenage daughters Gabby and Leanna are less than impressed. The girls can’t stand each other and have argued constantly since their parents fell in love. So now that they have to share a room and play happy families, can the teens get on board with Bernice and Liam’s happiness, or is this blended family set to be a disaster?…

Sami and Liberty’s relationship appears to be on the rocks this week, but have they really split for good? Liberty is irritated after Sami rejects her calls and refuses to reply to her messages. And with some prompting from Sienna, she angrily confronts Sami for ignoring her! The tension rises again later when Sami’s aunt, Kameela, invites Liberty over for a family lunch. Sami is stunned to see Liberty at his house as well as Grace, who is invited by Farrah. But can he and Liberty patch things up?…

Among all the drama in the Bay this week, romance is brewing, as Alf contacts ex-wife Martha in the hope of rekindling their flame. And Home and Away star Ray Meagher is all for his character throwing caution to the wind… Hello, Ray! How do you feel about revisiting Alf and Martha’s romance again? I love the whole idea. And the actress who plays Martha – Belinda Giblin – is someone I’ve known since about 1971. We did a show called Matlock Police together. I don’t think we’ve worked together since, so it’s great having her play the role. They didn’t part on the best of terms last year – so what makes Alf reach out to Martha? I think it’s just a case of life’s…

1 Louisa Claire Lytton was born on 7 February 1989 to parents Alan Lytton and Jane Nastri. A native of Camden in north London, she began dancing at the age of three! Louisa later attended the Sylvia Young Theatre School, where she studied acting, dancing and singing. 2 Louisa joined EastEnders in 2005 as Ruby Allen, the daughter of gangster Johnny Allen and the soon-to-be best pal of Stacey Slater. Unaware of her father’s shady dealings, Ruby eventually found out about his criminal activities and disowned him, but was still distraught when he later died in prison. After a failed romance with bad-boy Sean Slater, she left Walford in the back of a taxi in 2006. 3 But in 2018, Louisa announced she was coming…

Penny McNamee HOME & AWAY’S TORI Being pregnant doesn’t mean you can’t do glam – just take a look at Penny! Be a sweet treat like the blooming Bay beauty with these maternity marvels…. BEAUTY BOX Keep you and your bump feeling beautiful and baby-soft, with these rich and luxurious lotions… Mama Mio Megamama Super-Rich Omega Body Lotion This lotion is made from chia seed, almond, coconut oil, pumpkin-seed oil and shea butter. Sanctuary Spa Mum To Be Stretch Mark Oil Pamper yourself before and after your baby arrives, with Sanctuary Spa’s Mum To Be range – which includes this fab stretch-mark oil. Natural Spa Factory Bumps A Daisy Face, Bump & Body Oil Crammed full of goodness, this luxurious oil will leave skin replenished and nourished. Bloom And Blossom…

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER GLORIA Calderón Kellett recently tweeted that this show needs more viewers if Netflix is to recommission it – and that’s all the call to arms we need. This comedy about a Cuban-American single mother raising two children has totally rejuvenated the family sitcom, tackling issues such as (deep breath) race, gender, addiction, sexuality, class and more – and does so in an admirably matter-of-fact way, while still being laugh-out-loud funny. Plus it has a fab cast, including Rita Moreno (Anita in West Side Story!). Give it a try – you might be the viewer who saves it!…

POLY FILLER Mischief Theatre, the team behind BBC1 specials Peter Pan Goes Wrong and A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong, has a full series. The Goes Wrong Show will see the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society present six half-hour stage disasters. IN TOO DEEP? Thriller Deep State is getting a second series on Fox in May. Focussing on the control of the natural resources of sub-Saharan Africa, series one star Joe Dempsie will be joined by Justified’s Walton Goggins and Doctor Foster’s Victoria Hamilton. TRACE MEASURES Joel Dommett has been lined up to host ITV2’s new celebrity gameshow Hey Tracey!. The show will allow the stars to call upon the aid of a virtual assistant – but unlike Siri or Alexa, ‘Tracey’ isn’t exactly state-of-the-art……

SEAN WARD (Tam Campbell, Doctors ) IN We recently met Becky Clarke – Mrs Tembe’s replacement at the surgery – and her boyfriend is set to join her on screen in the next couple of weeks! Tam is played by former Coronation Street star Sean Ward, who spent a year in Weatherfield as bad boy Callum Logan between 2014 and 2015, before his character was bumped off and buried under concrete. Will Tam and Becky fare a little better as they settle into life in Letherbridge? Wednesday 20 March DANIELLE HAROLD (Lola Pearce, EastEnders ) IN We know that Lola is due back in Walford with daughter Lexi in tow – and it looks as if we don’t have much longer to wait. Star Danielle…

It’s a shame that Jean had to get cancer to finally kickstart the big Slater story we’ve waited for since their comeback last year. And there’s no one more capable than Gillian Wright of anchoring such a huge storyline, whose performances are always sublime. Inside Soap readers crowned Gillian Best Actress at our 2012 awards. Clearly, you lot know a star when you see one. This is the picture that initially stopped Maya from doing the deed with Jacob. So, what will it take for her to end this gross affair completely? A photo of him in nappies? There have been some powerful performances from Sarah Sugden recently. 14-year-old Sophia Moore has learned on the job – and as a member of the Dingle family, you…

Discovering that you may have cancer will always come as a huge shock – though for some, like Jean, the prospect is so hard to compehend that they hide away from the truth, unable to accept the facts. “Denial may not be a conscious decison, but a gut one,” according to charity Cancer Research UK. “You might feel as if you can’t think about it and you don’t want to know anything about your cancer or your treatment.” While this is a perfectly natural reaction to have, it can obviously cause some concern for friends and family – however, given time, most people will overcome it. “In extreme cases, some people deny their cancer so firmly that they convince themselves they aren’t ill at all,” explains the charity. “You may…

New pictures of the Coronation Street cast shooting on location are leaning heavily towards the idea that Gary Windass is the Street’s new villain! Our spies spotted actor Mikey North suited and booted as he filmed scenes that suggest his cash-strapped alter ego will soon turn debt collector. Meanwhile, Gary’s long-suffering parter Sarah was seen watching him from a safe distance. She’s clearly worried that her man is up to no good… “Just what kind of mess has Gary got himself into this time?” asks our Corrie sneak. “We know that, as a builder, he’s mixed-up in the imminent roof collapse disaster at Underworld, yet here he is seemingly working as a loan shark. It looks as if his life has taken a very dark turn.”…

“I like Claudia, although I still think she’s a bit too flighty for bookish Ken Barlow. They should bring back Stephanie Beacham and her canal boat – she was Ken’s perfect match (well, after Deirdre, but I think that was more of a physical thing)!” …says reader Toby “I know that Home and Away’s Justin made a right pig’s ear of flirting with Leah when he was drunk – but I think they’d actually be a great match! Can the writers get them together, please?” …asks reader Angela from Birmingham “ Adam the dentist in EastEnders has more than a touch of Archie Mitchell about him. Is this going to be a whole ‘controlling man’ storyline? I wish it was with someone…

FAIR CITY Anto and Lee play a dangerous game this week, after they realise that they’re short on their deposit… Elsewhere, Melanie is floored when Alex reveals that he wants to drop out of school to get a job. And Jackie panics when she finds Ellie with her antidepressants. RIVER CITY Stevie and Alex form an unlikely alliance this week, after Lenny makes an attempt to silence his own son! Meanwhile, Amber takes drastic measures to drown her grief. Plus, AJ and Callum discover that they have some common ground. THE ARCHERS Natasha finds herself roped into the Lent scheme this week, before she uncovers a shocking truth. Elsewhere, Peggy has an offer for her granddaughter – but will Kate accept? Finally, Lily worries about Elizabeth’s slow progress… See p93…

I am truly aghast at Mac’s plan. Part of me knew what he was capable of, but seeing it before my eyes just doesn’t make sense. James is his son! Still, there could be a chance that Mac won’t let Breda go through with it. | Zoe, Yorkshire Just when I thought Mac couldn’t stoop any lower, he orders his own son’s muder! I think he’s messing with the wrong person, trying to get Breda to do his dirty work for him, though. She may be a killer, but her mission is clear. Mac’s the baddest dad the village has ever seen – I hope Breda kills him instead! | Giancarlo I know I shouldn’t be happy that Breda is killing people – but let’s face it, everyone she’s bumped…

FAITH DINGLE Everyone was shocked when Faith was revealed to be the mystery assailant who pushed Kim off the Home Farm balcony and nearly killed her. The two women have a clash this week as Kim returns, and Faith even manages to confess she did the deed. That means big trouble between them, especially because Kim is willing to wait to get her revenge till when Faith least expects it. DEBBIE DINGLE Heartbroken Debbie had a life of happiness to look forward to until Kim snatched it away. Their confrontation last year was marked by vicious sniping, but Debbie will be deadly serious about getting back at Kim. She’ll want justice for Joe and to bring Kim down a peg or two. Given the history between the Dingles and Tates,…

“People hate Ste already, and it’s only the beginning of this plot!” wails Hollyoaks star Kieron Richardson, as we probe him about his character’s involvement with a far-right extremist group. “In the past, when Ste was a baddy and beating his girlfriend, social media wasn’t a big thing. More recently, everyone’s felt sorry for him – but you can’t feel sorry for someone who’s involved in something like this.” Ste may have so far been oblivious to the true intentions of his new pals Jonny and Stuart, although this week viewers will be in no doubt as to what their mission is, when a special episode highlights their plans to radicalise Ste! But for Kieron, this plot offers a great opportunity to delve into something that…

As Emmerdale rapist Pierce Harris, Jonathan Wrather played a cold, calculating and chilling individual – so it’s lovely to discover that he’s so warm and friendly in real life. We caught up with the star just as he returns to playing a baddy again, in a new production of Oscar Wilde’s The Picture Of Dorian Gray. The role is another change of pace, coming after Jonathan took a career break to stay at home with his children, aged two and three. “My wife set up a business a while back, so it was time for me to take over the domestic reins for a while,” he tells us. “It was really nice to be at home – and I needed it. My wife has a job and is ambitious…

On paper, academic misconduct might not sound like the juiciest of themes for a four-part thriller – but this miniseries is about far more than a quibble over the dubious sourcing of an essay. When university tutor Leah (Katherine Kelly) suspects student Rose (Molly Windsor) of plagiarising her latest essay and gives her a failing grade, she learns that Rose isn’t the sort of person to accept such a slight. But how far will Rose go to make Leah pay for her actions? “I was swept away when I first read the script,” enthuses Katherine. “It eats plot – and I mean that in a complimentary way! I just had the first two episodes to begin with, and they were such page-turners that I actually had to start again. It’s…