Table of contents for 25 - 2020 in Inside Soap UK

“I’m excited to watch classic EastEnders…” This week, we take a trip down memory lane, as EastEnders unveils its first Secrets From The Square episode, in which stars of the show look back on their time in Walford. Danny Dyer and Kellie Bright (Mick and Linda) are first up – and knowing these two, it’s bound to be entertaining! However, I think I’m secretly more excited about the classic episodes we’re going to enjoy. This week, we’re taken back to where it all began, with the original power couple of the Queen Vic – Angie and Den! It’ll be interesting to watch these episodes – many of which I haven’t seen since their original transmission – and note how the characters have developed over the years, and how the Square…

Since he arrived in Emmerdale, Al has played his cards very close to his chest, so actor Michael Wildman – who plays Al – is delighted we’re getting to spend this episode with him. “We do learn more about Al,” he says. “Any insight into Al is always exciting and helpful for me. We don’t know much about his background, so it’s intriguing because I can play him either way! “Our episode is about fatherhood, and it’s incredibly clever and well-written,” continues Michael. “Strange things happen throughout. The experience could help Al try to be a better person, but whether he can do that, we’ll just have to wait and see! “I jumped at the chance to get back to work – I was starting to get itchy after eight…

WALL WORK I’m thinking about doing some decorating while I have a lot time on my hands, and I really love the wallpaper from Ben and Callum’s flat in EastEnders. Do you know what it’s called? Kate, Southgate The summery wallpaper is called Ravdunge from the Wonderland range by Hanna Werning. You can buy it from Wallpaper Direct, and it’ll certainly brighten up a room! MOTHER MYSTERY Carla talked about her mum Sharon recently, with the bloke staying at the Rovers in Corrie. Have we ever met her? Nick, Tyldesley Unfortunately, we’ve never actually met Sharon! However, we do know a lot about her – she was an alcoholic, and had Carla after a one-night stand with Johnny Connor. Sharon got into debt with drug dealers and dragged her son,…

Couple Chas and Paddy are feeling the strain this week, as we join them during lockdown. And when we chat to Emmerdale’s Lucy Pargeter – who plays Chas – about her character’s problems, she admits that she’s among those who’ve been feeling the pressure of the current situation. The 43-year-old – who is mum to teen daughter Lola and three-year-old twins Missy and Betsy – has had to reach out to friends for help, and has been struggling emotionally. But Lucy admits the experience has taught her a lot… “I went into lockdown thinking, ‘I’m going to be really creative and do something different every day’ – then the tiredness and monotony kicked in,” admits the star. “I’m here on my own with my three kids. I’m used to being…

As well as learning some behind-the-scenes secrets, fans can also look back on some of the show’s most famous episodes. The stroll down memory lane kicks off on Tuesday, with the iconic 1986 two-hander between ex-Vic owners Den and Angie Watts. As the pub’s current landlady, Kellie can’t wait to relive the drama between the original king and queen of the Vic… “I love nostalgia, so I love the old episodes,” she grins. “For me, the thing about Den and Angie – and this is where I lean towards Ange as a bit of a role model – is that they were the originals. You cannot ever be the originals again, no matter how brilliant some of the other landlords and landladies have been. There’s just something about those two.…

Barber Pro Skin Revival Kit Pamper dads with this skin revival kit, containing four styles of face masks, including an under-eye saviour. Wahl Beard Care Kit Keep dads well-groomed with this kit, complete with rechargeable cordless trimmer. K by Dolce & Gabbana Eau de Toilette 50ml & Aftershave Balm Gift Set Make dads feel like a king for the day, with this citrus-inspired fragrance – all in a regal bottle! Glossybox Grooming Kit Limited Edition Worth over £85, this gift set covers all bases, including a serum, moisturiser, body wash and more.…

With Emmerdale clearly embracing some of the bigger challenges that come with producing a soap under the current government guidelines, boss Jane Hudson has been forced to quash ideas that the soap could temporarily replace village extras with mannequins, as a means of aiding social distancing on set! “I just think it’s quite insulting to supporting artists – to say that a mannequin can do your job,” she says, following reports that New Zealand soap Shortland Street was considering using dummies to fake crowded scenes. “Our sets aren’t that big, so if we were to put a mannequin back there, you’d be able to tell. Knowing our luck, an arm will end up falling off. There will be none of that!”…

“Iwant to stay a Platt – so shut up!” laughs actress Julia Goulding, who plays Corrie’s Shona, as co-star Jack P Shepherd (aka David) jokes that socially distanced filming could put the kibosh on any romantic reunion for their on-screen characters. However, mere practicalities don’t stop the pair dreaming about a second wedding for the couple, seeing as poor Shona’s amnesia prevents her from remembering the first… “We don’t want another wedding held in the Bistro!” exclaims Jack, recalling the pair’s nuptials from last year. “We want a big cathedral.” “Yeah! He has to wear a sharp suit – and I want a non-maternity wedding dress,” chips in Julia, who gave birth to son Franklin in November. “The one Shona had on before was like a big sheet to hide…

Chas and Paddy’s woes were filmed under new socially distanced conditions. We spoke to Lucy as she was just about to start filming the special episode, who admitted: “It’s going to be very weird and I’m not looking forward to the way we’re going to be working.” However, she’s unsure if she’ll actually get to watch the finished episode on screen to see the result... “I don’t see any [episodes of Emmerdale] at the time they’re on, as they air in the middle of bath and bedtime in our house,” reveals Lucy. “I used to have to record them, but I’m afraid it has been taken over by kids’ shows and films, so there isn’t any space left for it!”…

“It’s good that we’re now getting the opportunity to learn more about who Mackenzie is outside of her being transgender – and get her into some fun, crazy situations that people get into on Ramsay Street!” grins Neighbours star Georgie Stone, aka Mackenzie, as we chat to her about recently becoming a permanent cast member. “I actually pitched the character to Neighbours originally, and I had lots of input into the storyline, so I feel very protective over her. But now that she’s moved on to the street properly, I love not knowing what’s going to happen to her next!” As the first transgender actress to play a trans character in Neighbours, Georgie is delighted to be making history in the Australian soap world. Yet while the show is still…

Obviously, my loyalty is with EastEnders, but if I could, I’d take Whitney to Emmerdale. I watch all the soaps, and have done for years, and I think Emmerdale always has really good storylines. It would be freezing up there in the winter, though! I’d like to work on a farm, actually. I love animals, I used to go to the farm a lot when I was little, and I really love that sort of thing. Every week, we put your questions to a star of the soaps. Look out for requests on our Facebook page, or email your questions to youask@insidesoap.co.uk, putting the actor’s name in the subject line. Our favourite question each week will win a £20 prize!…

“IT’S A PERIOD DRAMA WITH MAGIC AND ADVENTURE ” EVE Love, murder, magic and revenge: just four of the vital ingredients that make up this lavish adaptation of Eleanor Catton’s Man-Booker prize-winning novel The Luminaries. The six-parter has been filmed on location in New Zealand – where the bulk of the story is set – and episodes one and two come to BBC1 this week. The year is 1865, and Anna Wetherell travels from the UK to New Zealand to forge a new life. On her arrival, she has a romantic encounter with charismatic Emery Staines, which fills her with great expectations for the adventure ahead, and the life they might share together. However, scheming fortune-teller Lydia Wells has other plans in store for Anna, and makes sure that the…

“To be asked to perform a brand-new Talking Head was beyond my expectations,” beams former Corrie star Sarah Lancashire (Raquel Watts), who plays Gwen in An Ordinary Woman, which airs on Tuesday at 9.30pm. “The matchless brilliance of Alan Bennett’s words – coupled with Nick Hytner’s direction – made it a thrilling experience. It was the chance of a lifetime!” Sarah delivered her monologue on a set which will be very familiar to EastEnders viewers, as it’s the Queen Vic’s kitchen! But you’ll soon forget that once you’re swept away by Sarah’s performance. “Gwen is a complex and troubled woman in her middle years,” explains the actress. “It’s a beautiful and achingly poignant portrait.”…

ENDEAVOUR Shaun Evans stars as Endeavour Morse – long before he was promoted to the infamous Inspector – starting out with Oxford City Police CID. Currently replaying on ITV3 PRIME SUSPECT 1973 As 22-year-old Jane Tennison (Stefanie Martini) joins the Met as a WPC, she’s forced to deal with blatant sexism while tackling her very first murder enquiry. Available to stream via BritBox A PUP NAMED SCOOBY-DOO An even younger incarnation of those ‘pesky kids’, as puppy Scoob, bestie Shaggy and the gang cut their mystery-solving teeth. Zoinks! Available to stream via YouTube…

ALEX BROOKER: DISABILITY AND ME Comedian Alex Brooker is to front a new documentary for BBC2, as he confronts the true nature of his disability for the first time. The intimate and moving show hits screens next month. THE PLOT AGAINST AMERICA Film star Winona Ryder leads an all-star cast – including John Turturro, Anthony Boyle and Zoe Kazan – in this new drama, coming to Sky One and NOW TV from 14 July. The Plot Against America imagines an alternative American history, told through the eyes of a working-class Jewish family living in New Jersey. It follows their story, as they watch the political rise of a xenophobic populist, who becomes president and turns the nation towards fascism… HOLLYWOOD CLASSICS ON BBC iPLAYER Good news if you’re a fan…

EMMERDALE Kim vs Andrea! WHO WILL WIN THE BATTLE OF THE TATE WOMEN? Next week’s Emmerdale picks up where it left off three weeks ago, with Andrea holed up in a B&B – and cheating Jamie desperate to locate his missing daughter Millie! But while he’s going out of his mind with worry, cunning Kim is pulling out all the stops to find her scheming daughter-in-law, and drag her back to the village kicking and screaming! So will the queen of Home Farm be victorious once again? Or will Andrea prove that she’s every inch a Tate, and outwit Kim once and for all? NEIGHBOURS Dads at last! There’s exciting news for David and Aaron next week, when they find out they’re finally getting a foster child! However, their new…

Enemies Marlon and Al are forced to face up to their failings as dads this week, after being thrown into lockdown together by Ellis. Having to isolate away from children April and Leo following a coronavirus scare, Marlon is already struggling. So, when Ellis asks Al – who has nowhere else to go – to join them at Tall Trees, he’s not exactly thrilled! Marlon blames Al for destroying his marriage to Jessie, while Al thinks Marlon is an overwrought muppet. And it’s left to poor Ellis to referee as the two men face an extended period of lockdown together… “Marlon is incandescent with rage – he loathes Al,” explains Mark Charnock, who plays the angry bloke. “He’s astounded that Ellis would think this is okay. He wants Al to…

Emmerdale is not hanging about in terms of gripping drama poised to hit our screens, now that filming of its regular stories has recommenced! The village folk look set to prove that not even a global pandemic can keep a good soap down, with whispers suggesting that bosses are bringing out the big guns and preparing to wow viewers with a grisly murder plot… “In terms of all the normal stuff that goes on in soap, people kissing or killing each other, we’ll have to socially distance them,” explains ITV soap director John Whiston, referring to the new safety protocols on set for Covid-19. “We did actually have a murder coming up in Emmerdale quite soon!” Emmerdale executive producer Jane Hudson explained recently that the show’s writers and directors are…

Christmas comes to Weatherfield this week, and Steve is enjoying playing Santa (well, if Santa had a ratty moustache and a wardrobe from Fosters For Men) by giving out bottles of stolen whisky willy-nilly. It’s all good fun until the police arrest and caution him, and then turn up to search the McDonalds’ on Christmas Day. You can imagine Liz’s reaction. Meanwhile, Norris gets drunk on his stag night, and reveals to Derek that he was behind the kidnap of Arthur, the fishing gnome. This throws Derek into a fury about the months of hell he’s suffered. Can he resist taking his revenge on Norris’ wedding day? (Spoiler: nope!)…

Adam Rickitt deserves an award for his performance as Kyle! He’s been on a huge journey for the past three years, and it’s been really awful to watch him lose his battle with depression. Izzy, Burnley Depression destroys lives, and not just Kyle’s. Obviously Darren is suffering, but how on earth are Nancy, Charlie and Oscar going to cope? And there’s not just them – there’s Brooke to think about, too. It’s going to be a real struggle for the Osbornes to get through this, although they have everyone’s support. Jamie, Norfolk I can’t say I didn’t see this coming! They did it before with Jade and Alfie when they were both battling cancer – we knew one was going to go. It’s a shame they killed off Kyle, but…

“Jack is very funny – and he has little black shark eyes!” JULIA “Julia never shuts up, she just talks at you!” JACK Jack and Julia know David and Shona inside out – but how well do the stars know each other? We thought we’d test their knowledge with a Mr & Mrs-style quiz – and once the banter started flowing, it didn’t stop… Welcome both of you to Mr & Mrs! Let’s begin… Julia He knows nothing about me, you know. What would you say are each other’s best qualities? Jack [Laughs] Her teeth! Yeah, her big mouth. Julia He calls them my A4 sheets of paper! What about my swamp eyes, though? Jack Oh yeah, them as well. Julia Jack’s best quality is that he is very funny,…

It’s a huge moment in EastEnders history this week as, for the first time in over 35 years, there aren’t any new episodes on BBC1 – due to the recently enforced break in filming due to Covid-19. But EastEnders fans shouldn’t fret! There’s still plenty of exciting content to tide us over until the soap returns to our screens later this year. From Monday, viewers can enjoy an exclusive behind-the-scenes show, Secrets From The Square – hosted by Stacey Dooley – in which our favourite actors spill the beans on filming their characters’ most memorable moments. First up are Danny Dyer and Kellie Bright, aka Mick and Linda Carter, and we grabbed Kellie for the lowdown on what viewers can expect… “You’ll feel as if you’re sat down having a…

Ever since his release from prison, where he was banged up for fraud – thanks to Maxine’s lies – Damon has kept a low profile in the village. But as we chat to Jacob Roberts, who plays him, he tells us that is all set to change… Hi, Jacob! Can you tell us about Damon’s attempts to cheer up Liberty this week? He’s seen her struggle over the past couple of weeks, so he decides to do a nice thing for Liberty and throw a gender reveal party for the baby. The friendship between Liberty and Damon is growing stronger and stronger. But Maxine causes a problem for him, doesn’t she? Yeah, Maxine asks Damon to look after Minnie. She knows that he really cares for Minnie, as she’s like…

Crosbie Wells “Crosbie is a tragic character who doesn’t realise that’s the case,” says Ewan Leslie, who plays him. “He longs to find his place in the world, and has always wanted to meet his father. He and Lydia got together after he put a bet on her spinning wheel and won her as his wife! But he’s since fallen under her spell…” Francis Carver “Francis has been in prison on Cockatoo Island for 11 years, and when we meet him he’s three months out,” explains his alter ego, Marton Csokas. “But before all that, he had a love affair with Lydia, and that’s what kept him going in prison. He suggests to her that they go away and start again – but she has other ideas!” Te Rau Tauwhare…

We chatted to TV presenter Anita Rani, who hosts the final exploration of different parenting styles in Britain’s Best Parent? this week, about her favourite shows… What are your favourite dramas you’ve watched recently? The last couple I’ve devoured are Fleabag, and Ava DuVernay’s When They See Us on Netflix. They’ve left a lasting impact on me, and I think everyone needs to see them. And what about comedies? We’re huge comedy fans in our house. I’ve just watched Dave on the BBC. It’s about a middle-class Jewish guy trying to become a rapper who goes by the name Little Dicky because he has a little… well! The first episode had me laughing so hard. What’s your favourite programme to relax and unwind in front of? I absolutely love quiz…

BULLSEYE! With Phil and Sharon seemingly over for good, who else is hoping for Phil and Shirley running the Vic together? But a word of caution… Now that Phil has dismissed Kayden as ‘that thing’, and thrown both baby and his mother out on the street – while reminding her how much it hurts to lose something you love – soap law dictates that the baby will turn out to be Phil’s in the end! “Would you like to do some of this jigsaw?” “No, I’m afraid we’re not allowed to sit together on the sofa.” The new Aadi Alahan is really well cast. He has the same cocky swagger as his dad. It’s still the depths of winter in EastEnders – brr! We’ll welcome a warming ‘time jump’ to…