Table of contents for 40 - 2020 in Inside Soap UK

“Some soap nuptials cheered me right up!” At last, a wedding! I can’t tell you how much some soap nuptials have cheered me right up. Firstly there was Rainie and Stuart’s madcap big day on EastEnders – and this week it’s Sally and Tim, two of the nation’s best-loved characters, who are tying the knot. Of course, there will be drama – evil Geoff is involved after all – although all the excitement and happiness of the special day is going to win through in the end, I’m sure! Elsewhere this week, there’s the daddy of all shocks in Walford. When Danny Dyer told us he was on the verge of his “best story ever”, he wasn’t joking. Turn to p8 for all the gossip on this big bombshell. Meanwhile,…

Corrie’s coercive control story has provoked an enormous reaction, and Joe informs us that he’s received plenty of feedback. However, not all of it was complimentary… Hello, Joe! Are you glad that Tim now knows about Geoff’s terrible abuse? Yes! In the same way the audience was wanting the story to reach this point, so was I. Tim was starting to question things, but it was a case of how long can he deny what is right in front of his eyes? Will he now find his mum, and get to know her? He wants to make sure that she is safe and okay. That is his main concern before he even thinks about the possibility of building a relationship. He doesn’t know Elaine, and he doesn’t know what sort…

Juliet makes it clear she’s making a serious play for Jordan’s role in the drugs line this week – which means totally overhauling her look! And as star Niamh Blackshaw tells us, Juliet has no qualms about going over to the dark side… “Everyone’s calling her a kid – she dresses young and looks young, and that’s reflected in the way people treat her,” she says. “So she thinks, ‘If I look older, maybe people will respect me more and trust me more’. I think we all need a glow-up at some point, and it was definitely time for Juliet to get rid of that side ponytail! “I’m up for a change, it’s part of the fun of the job,” adds Niamh. “And I don’t mind going dark. If it…

Strictly grounded! She’s no stranger to a skimpy outfit and a bit of sparkle as Corrie’s Liz, but Bev Callard has revealed her recent hip operation put paid to her plans to take part in Strictly this year. “I was in serious talks with them before this happened,” she says. Body double! Neighbours has found a way to make sure the upcoming affair between Dipi and Pierce really sizzles on screen, despite social distancing – they’ve brought in actress Sharon Johal’s real-life hubby as a body double for love scenes! Sharon tells all in our interview next issue… Killer exposure! EastEnders star Jaz Deol says that his character Kheerat will have to keep his cool if he’s going to expose Gray as Chantelle’s killer. “He knows he can’t act on…

“Has it been forgotten that Dev fathered several kids with the managers of his whole chain of shops? Let’s add to his woes by having them all turn up one by one, looking for uni tuition fees…” …chuckles reader Richard “You know how the same places in England flood every year? Well, isn’t Emmerdale due another deluge? If the ground is washed away, it’d be a suitably biblical way for Malone to make a reappearance!” …says reader Sue “All this talk of Kathy Beale on a dating app looking for fellas… Has no one noticed how stunning she is?! She doesn’t need an app – she just needs to catch Kush or Isaac’s eye. Imagine Ian’s face!” …laughs reader Jane from Glasgow “I reckon that Neighbours is missing a trick…

EastEnders marks the 50th anniversary of VE Day – now itself 25 years ago – with a special episode that sees the Albert Square residents gather for a supposedly jolly but rather bleak looking street party, organised by Arthur. Dear old Ethel meets with Dr Legg at the war memorial, in order to remember those no longer with them. Ethel has more to mourn than most, having lost her whole family to a doodlebug. Meanwhile, Grant – a former Para – slips into his best blazer for a memorial gathering of his own. The Square is also united by sport this week – cheering the Vic football team, led by the unlikely pairing of Nigel and Peggy. However, Peggy has her eye on another trophy entirely – she wants to…

LADY IN RED I love the red blazer Leyla’s been sporting in Emmerdale – do you know where I could get one from? Julie Leyla’s jacket is the Raee blazer from Ted Baker – however, it now only comes in green and black. There might be a few red ones on eBay, but if not, Forever Unique stocks a very similar red blazer with gold embellishments… CORRIE CONNECTIONS One of my favourite characters from Emmerdale is Aaron, and I’m hoping he’ll hit it off with the new guy, Ben – what’s the actor been in before? Josie, Surrey Simon Lennon plays village newcomer Ben – and despite not appearing in soaps until now, he most definitely does have soapland connections. Simon’s most well-known role is playing Brains in the Our…

As the only living relative of Raymond’s adoptive parents, grandma Ellie has become the boy’s legal guardian. But with both Phil and Denise now aware of their biological son’s situation, the battle for his custody is set to kick off! Denise vowed Phil will never be a part of Raymond’s life, but that won’t stop him, as he encounters Ellie in the hospital this week. And Mica warns that things are going to get nasty… “It’s a tug of war!” she declares. “Denise wants her son for her own reasons, and Ellie wants him for her own reasons too – this little boy is stuck in the middle. “Ellie isn’t the doting grandma at all,” adds Mica. “But here she is, having to step up because her son’s gone, his…

“I had 1,000 messages on Instagram!” With voting for the Inside Soap Awards 2020 well under way, it’s time for the stars of Hollyoaks to tell us why they deserve to retain their Best Soap crown! While there’s no doubt that the past six months have been a challenge for all our soaps, it’s perhaps been trickier for Hollyoaks than most – given that the show’s bosses had embarked on an ambitious flash-forward plot that spanned the entire year! Yet despite the obstacles standing in their way, the gang came blasting back on to our screens all guns blazing following their Covidenforced break, with both a wedding and a murder to keep viewers gripped. As Hollyoaks prepares to celebrate its 25th anniversary later this month, the drama is only set…

Smile Science Vita White Professional Whitening Toothpaste This product includes vitamins to nourish gums and calcium peroxide to help maintain natural whiteness. Glo32 Teeth Whitening Stilo Pen Formulated with coconut oil, this stilo helps to leave teeth bright and white in 60 seconds – great while you’re on the go! Waken Mouthwash in Aniseed Mint This formula helps protect and condition gums, and strengthen teeth – also available in spearmint, peppermint and lemon mint. Ciate London x Smiley World Smile On Lipstick – Be Kind Complement white teeth with this mood-boosting poppy and energising cacao lipstick.…

CASUALTY Connie Beauchamp.......... Amanda Mealing Rosa Cadenas......................... Jacey Sallés Faith Cadogan...................... Kirsty Mitchell Charlie Fairhead.............. Derek Thompson Noel Garcia.......................... Tony Marshall Ethan Hardy.................... George Rainsford David Hide................................ Jason Durr Jan Jenning............................... Di Botcher Dylan Keogh.......................... William Beck Fenisha Khatri....................... Olivia D’Lima Marty Kirkby................ Shaheen Jafargholi Jade Lovall.......................... Gabriella Leon Lev Malinowski........................... Uriel Emil Rash Masum........................... Neet Mohan Jacob Masters....................... Charles Venn Robyn Miller................ Amanda Henderson Will Noble................................. Jack Nolan CORONATION STREET Aadi Alahan...................... Zennon Ditchett Asha Alahan......................... Tanisha Gorey Dev Alahan........................ Jimmi Harkishin Izzy Armstrong............... Cherylee Houston Aggie Bailey......................... Lorna Laidlaw Eddison Bailey....... Trevor Michael Georges James Bailey..................... Nathan Graham Michael Bailey....................... Ryan Russell Adam Barlow...................... Sam Robertson Amy Barlow.......................... Elle Mulvaney Ken Barlow......................... William Roache Peter Barlow....................... Chris Gascoyne Sarah Barlow........................... Tina O’Brien Simon Barlow.............................. Alex Bain Leanne Battersby...................…

BULLSEYE! One of the unsung heroes of Corrie is the walking masterclass in characterisation and comic timing that is actor Peter Gunn, aka Brian Packham. He’s up with the best in a noble line of pompous windbags: from Leonard Swindley through Fred Elliott to Norris Cole. At the moment, we’re hoping hate will turn to lust with Mary. What a scandalous affair that would be! If Walford’s Amy, Lexi and The New Lily pooled their resources, they could take over the entire world by Christmas. #Squadgoals Viewers new to Corrie can get an instant feel for a character just from the design of their face mask. It took the death of Annie Sugden for Victoria to finally take a chance on Luke. At least the old girl wasn’t culled in vain!…

The reason for Frankie’s creepy interest in the Carter family is finally revealed this week – when she tells Mick that she believes he is her father! For weeks, Frankie has been hanging around the clan, snapping sneaky pictures of them all, and taking a particular interest in young Ollie. But as suspicious Mick pushes her for answers about what she’s up to, nothing can prepare him for the shock he’s about to receive… “So many possibilities have been running through Mick’s head, yet never in a million years could he have predicted this bombshell!” gasps our Square spy. “Frankie is adamant Mick is her dad, and the look of shock on his face says it all. But is he shocked as he thinks she’s a troublemaker who’s trying to…

Hi, Eden! Did you enjoy secretly knowing that Belle was scheming? Yeah – I really enjoyed the fact we preserved this twist! Things so often get leaked, so when it’s a twist you don’t know about as a viewer, it’s a real shock. When did you first find out about Belle’s bluff? I was told during lockdown, actually. I got a call to say, “What you’re reading is Belle faking it, and not Belle turning against the Dingles!” Initially, I was panicked that I was going against my family, but it was all about the twist. How was it to film? It looked like fun… It was so much fun! I absolutely loved playing against the top game-player himself, Jamie! Now that Belle has had Jamie arrested, do you think…

Albert Square will be rocked by the arrival of a new character this autumn – just as another Walford favourite prepares to leave! Last week, we brought you news of the explosive exit planned for Jake Wood’s alter ego, Max Branning – and now, congratulations are in order for Lacey Turner, who plays Stacey, following the announcement that she’s pregnant with her second child… “It was a lovely surprise,” beams Lacey, who is already mum to one-year-old Dusty. “It took so long to get Dusty, and we learned that it was best to have an attitude of, ‘If it happens, it happens’ – and then it did! Now, they’re coming along like buses.” Naturally, Lacey’s news will mean her taking another long break from the show, and speculation is rife…

As the person who tried to help Whitney in the immediate aftermath of Leo’s death, Mick knows the truth of what she went through on the day Leo attacked her. The former Queen Vic landlord is her best hope of convincing the jury that Whit acted in self-defence, and he’s tense on the big day, especially after the revelation from Frankie (see p8) earlier in the week. Soon, the pressure gets to Mick and he suffers a panic attack on the stand! “Whitney hopes that Mick is going to save the day,” shares Shona. “Unfortunately, though, things take a turn for Mick, which doesn’t fill her with the hope that she so desperately needs.” After poor Mick collapses in agony, will the fella’s botched testimony prove to be the final…

Callum’s boss Thompson ramps up the pressure on him to get evidence against Phil this week – and insists the rookie cop wears a wire to catch the crook! Callum has reluctantly been helping Thompson to compile a case against Phil, in return for boyfriend Ben being released from custody. But with their game plan having reaped no rewards, the detective tells Callum to up his game… “Callum knows that messing with Phil could have terrible consequences, yet by this point he’s in too deep to get out,” our Walford spy reminds us. “All he wanted to do was save Ben from going to jail, and now he’s in an impossible situation. If Phil finds out that Callum has double-crossed him, there will be hell to pay!” But it’s not…

Dev’s corner shop is the target of a robbery this week – leading Johnny to surmise that his old foe Scott is the culprit! The Rovers boss was forced to face up to his past mistakes recently, as he and Scott sat down to discuss a crime they committed together over 30 years ago. So, when Johnny hears about the raid on Dev’s, during which the perpetrator cleared out the till and stole booze and cigarettes, he’s suspicious – especially after witnessing Scott hand over a generous wad of cash to Emma for Oliver’s appeal. But once Johnny accuses Scott, he’s left with egg on his face after Dev confirms the true thieves have been caught. Will Scott accept Johnny’s apology? Or make him pay for his mistake?…

“I’ve had enough shady jobs to know this is the best one in the world!” As the slog that is 2020 continues, Inside Soap wouldn’t be surprised if our soapies were a little more subdued than usual. So, it’s treat to hear Dominic Brunt answer our call as the enthusiastic, fun-loving interviewee he’s always been, even putting on his coat and popping outside for us to get a better phone signal. Despite the madness of this year, Dominic is full of gratitude – and he’s having an absolute ball with alter ego Paddy’s latest drama. “Emmerdale’s just brilliant, isn’t it? What a thing to be part of!” he enthuses. “I walk around the building, and everyone who works on the show is so passionate, so you can’t help but be…

Ruthless property tycoon Ray wants to tear up Coronation Street – yet actor Mark Frost, who plays him, is a cobbles superfan… Hi, Mark! Were you a Street fan before you arrived as Ray? I grew up with Stan and Hilda Ogden – watching Corrie was a family event in my house. So, I was terrified when I arrived here. You walk in to the studios, and there’s this fantastic photograph of Ena Sharples there. It makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. How much did you know about Ray when you took the job? I knew he was in property, owned hotels, and had a bit of money. The name Harvey Weinstein had been mentioned, so I knew there was an inappropriateness towards women, and…

SALLY ANN MATTHEWS & NICHOLAS RHODES Corrie actress Sal (Jenny) and hubby Nick recently celebrated their 21st wedding anniversary – and don’t the pair look the picture of happiness? Sally Ann also turned 50 this year, and is marking it by running 50 5ks for charity – what a star! MAX BOWDEN & DANIELLE McCARNEY Loved-up Max (EastEnders’ Ben) posted a gushing tribute to girfriend Danielle on Instagram… “Thank you for being the most suppprtive, understanding, beautiful, loving woman on the planet.” Aw! SALLY CARMAN & JOE DUTTINE Corrie’s Tim may be tying the knot with Sally this week – but off screen, he only has eyes for Abi! Stars Sally and Joe were snapped arriving at work hand-in-hand, looking relaxed and loved-up as they prepare to…

Yasmeen shocks granddaughter Alya with her attitude to her impending trial this week – when she says that she wants to remain inside! Now that Tim is on side over his dad’s crimes, following the video evidence of what went on behind closed doors with Geoff and Yasmeen, there’s a feeling of confidence from Yasmeen’s friends and family. But when Alya reassures Yasmeen that her prison nightmare may soon be over, she’s stunned by her response. Yasmeen explains that she’s dreading being released as she feels safer and more secure behind bars, where Geoff can’t reach her. Can Alya persuade Yasmeen not to destroy her chance of freedom?…

While it’s hard to believe that Frankie’s claims could be true, we already know that Mick has a huge storyline coming up, which is set to culminate in what star Danny Dyer describes as a “dark Christmas”. So could this be the beginning of the massive plot he’s been teasing? “I’m very excited about it,” he revealed recently. “The plot I’ve been gifted with is by far the best storyline I’ve ever had, and it’s very important. I wish I could tell you more… but it’s a powerful thing.” He also hinted that it wouldn’t be a happy festive season for Mick and Linda this year… “You know what Christmas is about on the Square!” he chuckled. “I’ll let you use your own imagination on that one. We’re due another…

As Hollyoaks hits its 25th birthday next month, we’ll see the return of the soap’s original heartthrob, Kurt Benson – aka actor Jeremy Edwards. But considering Kurt died in a jet ski accident back in 1999, is it a ghostly manifestation we’ll be seeing – or a shock rising from the grave? Of course, it won’t be the first time the show’s viewers have seen Kurt make a return. He appeared as a vision when best mate Tony was battling cancer throughout Hollyoaks Later in 2013 – but with the soap pulling out all the stops for its silver anniversary, the signs are that this time, there could be something far more dramatic afoot… Meanwhile, one person who won’t be featuring in the celebrations is Aedan Duckworth, aka Ollie. The…

“Do you know, I can’t sleep? I have a recurring nightmare that I’m being chased by an angry Geranium.” We felt it our duty to bring this vision to life. “You love a damsel in distress. Me after Frank, Toyah in a bad marriage, vulnerable Abi. You weren’t bothered about me again until the factory roof caved in and me head fell off.” No one summarises old storylines as poetically as Carla. “I’d have shoved his pizza up his backside.” There’s a mental picture that’s been hard to shake. “I want you, Ruby. I don’t want your money.” “But Mummy does. Mummy stole your money.” EastEnders should give all the bombshell reveals to Arthur Fowler to deliver! “Can we take this inside please, girls. You really don’t need to wash…

FAIR CITY ● Oisín reveals to Callum that he’s leaving this week, and Paul tells Ruth that Oisín is no longer part of the family! Meanwhile, Renee suggests to Bob that he makes Hughie part-owner of the Hungry Pig. Plus, Anto’s stuck between a rock and a hard place… RIVER CITY ● We return to Shieldinch once again, where Scarlett is struggling with her grief this week – as she and Bernie say goodbye to Molly. Elsewhere, Caitlin tries to conceal worrying health symptoms. Also, Poppy hides her stalker fears! THE ARCHERS ● Jennifer is left furious this week, after hearing Radio Carter’s latest piece. She confronts Susan, but will the women be able to bury the hatchet? Meanwhile, Alice is feeling the pressure and makes a confession to Chris.…

Liz McDonald normally enjoys the attentions of an old-fashioned kind of chap. (By that we mean anything from Neanderthal down to silverback gorilla.) But this week, a new admirer gives her the heebie-jeebies –not because he’s Fraser Henderson, who runs the drug and protection rings in South Manchester, but because she’s never actually met him. Fraser spotted Liz across the prison visiting room, and is now having gifts of jewellery left inside her (locked) house. It’s a bit predatory even for Liz. Meanwhile, Vera is at her wits’ end following Jack’s horseriding accident. Will Alec prove her saviour?…

CHANTELLE’S FAREWELL… The hearts of EastEnders viewers everywhere broke last week, as Chantelle met a grisly end at the hands of her husband Gray – there wasn’t a dry eye in the house… Gray killing Chantelle was so upsetting to watch. Her defiant speech before she died was amazing, and I hope this story helps real-life victims to speak out. I hope justice is served, too – I feel Mitch will get involved. Jessica Plummer [Chantelle] has been excellent, and I wish her all the best. Manisa, Middlesex Chantelle’s story has just ended in the most dramatic and gripping episode of EastEnders I’ve seen in years. After she finally found the courage to leave Gray, for her life to end in such a tragic way was awful. There were amazing…

Just a few weeks ago, Paddy made his Emmerdale debut for a second time, courtesy of the show’s classic episode repeats on ITV3. What’s weird for Dom isn’t his haircut, clothes or youthfulness, but the fact he can’t remember much about it! “I’ve seen some scenes that I don’t remember at all!” he tells us. “It’s strange as I can see myself walking and talking on screen, but I have no memory of it whatsoever. It’s like having a false memory. I saw a scene where I walked into the vets’ and was like, ‘I know it’s me, I can see it’s me, but I can’t recall this for the life of me!’ It’s very odd!”…

CORRIE Takes one to know one? AS APPROACH RAY MAKES , GARY AN MIGHT SMELL A RAT… Gary Windass has proved himself to be a slippery customer over the past year – but can he spot when someone is trying to do a number on him? As Ray continues his quest to buy up all the properties on Coronation Street next week, he makes Gary an offer which is surely too good to be true. Maria is delighted, but will Gary realise there’s something fishy going on – and can he turn Ray’s passion for property to his own advantage? EMMERDALE Beauty wars! With Bernice selling the salon, Mandy is determined to get her hands on the business – and relaunch it in her own unique style! But she’s got…