Table of contents for 41 - 2020 in Inside Soap UK

“There’s a sense of family off-screen in the soaps…” It’s lovely the camaraderie and sense of family that comes across off-screen as well as on in the soaps. It’s great to read our chats this week with Sue Cleaver and Gareth Pierce (Corrie’s Eileen and new Todd), where both talk about welcoming Gareth to the family and how quickly they settled him into the role and felt at home. It’s good to know that behind all that on-screen drama, there’s genuine love and kindness shining through. It’s a good job too, as there’s not much love and kindness in the soaps this week! The previously mentioned Todd and Eileen are up to their necks in it, and are even held at gunpoint (see over the page), while the battle lines…

Good news for fans of Emmerdale’s wheeler-dealer Pollard. Actor Chris Chittell has returned to filming, so we’ll see Pollard up to mischief in the Dales again in the coming weeks. Chris was among the older cast members who were held back from returning to filming in June after lockdown, as the soap embraced its procedures to protect actors and crew members from Covid 19. But he’s back on set now – and couldn’t be more delighted! “My first day back on set since March,” he tweeted. “It’s like a new job. Even though distancing is strict, the peeps are the same.” However, while he enjoyed slipping back into Pollard’s tweeds, there was one thing he missed… “It’s weird you can’t just give someone a cuddle [or] a grasp of the…

“For centuries, men have thrown words at women to shame them for enjoying having sex. Never at another man though. But you, Adam Barlow, are a slut. “Actually, that’s not good enough. You’re some kind of rutting chimp man. You’re vile, you’re weak and you don’t deserve Sarah.” Carla was on fire this week! “I’ve been trying to keep Bertie away from screens, but then I walk in and find him sat staring at Loose Women like he’s having some kind of religious experience.” To be fair, Coleen Nolan is the Patron Saint of Weekday Afternoons. “Things like this don’t happen to real people.” A very cheeky thing for a soap character to say. “You’re not treating your woman right. You need to get out, the pair of you, and…

Charity and fiancée Vanessa finally reconnect over a romantic dinner this week – three years after their very first kiss! The paranoid Woolpack landlady has been convinced that Vanessa doesn’t love her any more, after she became distant while staying at her mum’s house. However, in reality, Charity has been torturing herself with doubts about their future, even though she persuaded Kirin to sign the papers for her to adopt Vanessa’s son, Johnny. Close pals Rhona and Tracey know that Charity is just being silly, so they join forces with Vanessa to surprise her with a romantic treat. “Vanessa can’t be there in person, but they can still share an anniversary date together,” explains our village gossip. “They set up a mannequin and put a tablet on its head, broadcasting…

Evelyn and Arthur’s romantic break to the Lakes ends in disaster this week, as they end up coming back early. Ahead of their first holiday together, Evelyn is nervous and wants to be clear about what Arthur should expect from her. As they prepare to head off, Evelyn lays down the ground rules about their sleeping arrangements, making it abundantly clear that they won’t be sharing a bed. However, after the awkward conversation, Arthur takes a phone call that provokes a strange reaction. “Arthur dashes off and Evelyn is left wondering if she’s ruined everything,” shares our Weatherfield insider. “But he eventually returns, and they head off. We don’t get to see what happens in the Lakes, but we know things don’t go well, because they return home far earlier…

The day of Owen and Roo’s rendezvous arrives this week – but Roo cancels after getting cold feet! It’s a lot for Roo to get her head around, going out with Evan’s brother just weeks after watching Evan die. However, it’s clear that Owen isn’t the type to give up easily, and he invites her out for dinner again later in the week. This time, Roo turns up, and the pair spend a romantic evening together at Salt. But what will Ryder make of his aunt and uncle dating?…

FAIR CITY ● Sharon’s jealousy over Ger’s new friendship with Anto intensifies this week, and soon a row breaks out between the sisters… Meanwhile, Damien and Mairead help Cass get past his tech apathy! Plus, everyone gets ready for the novelty races. RIVER CITY ● Despite pulling a gun on Lenny, Paul finds himself thwarted this week, when Rory recognises his ex-boyfriend! Elsewhere, Maggie acts as peacemaker between Caitlin and Ruby. And Poppy is sickened when her stalker sends her sinister messages… THE ARCHERS ● Gavin and Philip’s lies continue to spiral out of control this week, until Philip comes up with a cunning plan – will they get away with their deception? Meanwhile, Alice attempts to bury the hatchet with Emma… Finally, Alistair decides to open up about his…

PLEATHER UP Celeste from Hollyoaks was wearing a really cool black shirt this week – do you know where I can get one of these from? Molly, London Celeste’s top is the Black Faux Leather Puff Sleeve Shirt from Missguided, and will set you back £26. Our stylish Hollyoaks star pairs it with jeans, but the shirt also looks great tucked into a skirt. Or go all out and match it with some pleather trousers! THAT FACE IS FAMILIAR… When I caught up with the missing episode of Casualty, I really recognised the man who was playing Marty’s dad – who is he? Poppy, Lincolnshire The actor who plays Graham Kirby (Marty’s father) is Philip Wright. He might indeed seem very familiar, as he’s also appearing in EastEnders right now…

When Liberty offered to be a surrogate for her sister Sienna, she truly thought she was doing the right thing, but she’s realising it’s not going to be as easy as she thought. Star Jessamy Stoddart tells us why her character is facing a huge challenge… What was it like filming soap’s first socially distanced birth? I think we made history! It was my first day back after the break, and we were all thrown in at the deep end. But it was absolutely amazing. And I really got the feels watching it back, because I was just so proud that we’re still making telly under these crazy circumstances. Liberty’s struggled since giving birth. What’s that like to play? It’s great, especially for a character like Liberty, who often provides…

The prime-time soaps may grab the majority of headlines, but what would our weekday afternoons look like without our daytime shows? Whether it’s a stroll along the beach in Summer Bay, or a peek behind surgery doors at The Mill, our lunch times are made all the brighter for our daily visit to Doctors, Home and Away and Neighbours. And when the pandemic hit this year, the daytime soaps became more important than ever. While all the UK shows were forced to take a production break, Neighbours was the only soap in the world that continued filming – providing a template for all of our other favourite telly programmes to get back up and running as soon as they possibly could. We sat down for a chat with a star…

“I’m not very good at playing too cool for school!” admits Doctor Who’s Jodie Whittaker, on the thrill of having her lineage investigated as a new series of Who Do You Think You Are? kicks off this week. “We had a lot to learn – with my family, it doesn’t get a bit blurry after 300 years; it gets a bit blurry after my mum and dad! I was worried we might be boring…” Turns out the clan is far from dull, as Jodie goes back in time to delve into the life of her paternal grandmother, Greta. Family myths are busted as the truth of how Greta ended up with the middle name ‘Verdun’, the moniker of a First World War battle, is revealed. Meanwhile, a photograph of Jodie’s…

A new face! Corrie star Sally Ann Matthews has revealed we’ll be exploring Jenny’s family in the coming months. Jenny is the daughter of notorious Street bad guy Alan Bradley, but Sal has revealed that she, “is going to have a family member join the show, someone the audience knows nothing about.” Killer exposure! Emmerdale star Claire King (Kim) thinks her absence from the soaps may have played a big part in screen son Jamie Tate’s move to the dark side. “I think he got most of my lines,” laughs Claire, who returned to filming last month after shielding due to her arthtitis. Return of the Doctors!  Fans of Doctors rejoice: Zara, Daniel and the team are on their way back! After its extended summer break due to Covid19, the…

The casting of actress Simone Lahbib as a new character who’ll have an “everlasting impact” on the family, has led to speculation that the Walford newcomer will turn out to be Frankie’s mum – and she’ll be the one who will reveal the details of Mick fathering a secret daughter. Of course, as far as we know, Mick and Linda were teenage sweethearts who have been faithful to each other their whole life. But will this newcomer have a story to tell that shatters that sweet story? Or is there another twist to come in the tale?…

Whitney faces the most agonising wait of her life this week, as she nervously anticipates the judge’s verdict in her trial. “Whitney just accepts that she’s going to be punished” As the hearing draws to a close, Whitney is thrown a curve ball when her QC comes down with food poisoning –and the only option is for Gray to step in and represent her again! But given that the lawyer is grappling with his grief and guilt over Chantelle’s death, is he really the right person to try to get justice for Whitney? “Gray says to Whitney, ‘Chantelle would want you to tell the truth’, and that strikes a chord with her,” explains Shona McGarty, who plays the accused woman. “Whitney then thinks about Chantelle, how much she misses her,…

Sharon Johal, who plays vulnerable Dipi, reveals that Neighbours has got around the social distancing rules on filming – by employing her husband for the smooch scenes! So when you see the kiss between Dipi and Pierce later this week, it’s actually Sharon’s real-life other half Ankur Dogra that you’ll be watching… “I can give you an insight into my last couple of months – I’ve been dealing with four different men!” laughs the star. “My on-screen husband, Nicholas Coghlan [aka Shane], Tim Robards and Don Hany [who has recently taken over the role of Pierce], and my own husband! For the kissing scene, they had the back of my husband’s head as Pierce. “It’s interesting, because they don’t look similar at all!” adds Sharon. “They made it work –…

Theresa McQueen makes a dramatic return to Hollyoaks this week – and trouble’s not far behind! In the lead up to Theresa’s shock arrival, her cousins Mercy, John Paul and Sylver have all received sinister messages from a mystery number, warning them that they’ll soon have to pay for the sins of their past. And just as they’re wondering who is behind the cryptic texts, Theresa rocks up unannounced! Could her reappearance have something to do with the warnings they received?…

There’s excitement for cobbles vicar Billy this week, when the bishop recommends that he apply for a big new position. The job of archdeacon is currently vacant, and the bishop wants Billy to go for it. This senior role in the clergy is not only a big step up, but also confirms how much faith the bishop has in Billy’s abilities. Paul is thrilled for his partner, as Billy excitedly begins getting everything ready to put in his application. Will he succeed and move up the church ranks?…

For a man famed for being ‘unlucky in love’, Curly Watts didn’t half chalk-up the action. He makes present-day Corrie stallions like Peter Barlow and Adam Baldwin look like Trappist monks. And even by Curly’s standards, Christmas ’96 was a busy one. Preparing to leave Weatherfield for good, Curly is visited by a tremulous trio of totty; like some randy rewrite of A Christmas Carol. First through Curly’s revolving door is Maureen. The pair share a bottle of wine and a good bitch about Reg and Raquel, before one thing, as they say, leads to another. (The next day, Maureen scuttles off in horror.) Later, at Curly’s farewell party from Firman’s Freezers, a drunk Anne makes her feelings for her boss very clear – to which Curly responds by taking…

Evil Todd Grimshaw was one of Corrie’s most compelling characters back in 2017. After off-screen circumstances forced a shock departure, viewers were robbed of the chance to see what the bad boy would get up to next. So, we’re excited that Gareth Pierce – who soap fans may know as Archers villain Gavin Moss – is taking on the role made famous by Bruno Langley, and he’s relishing the opportunity… “I was in a hot tub in the back garden when I found out I’d got the role, which sounds decadent!” laughs Gareth. “My wife was out, and just me and my four-year-old daughter were in when I got the call. When my wife came home, my daughter said, ‘Daddy’s got the part!’ Corrie was a massive show for my…

Despite being new to the show, Ditch tells us that he’s had a big reaction about his impending arrival – and some fans aren’t too trusting of his alter ego. “People have posted on my Instagram account, ‘Don’t break Tori’s heart’ – they’re protective of her already,” he explains. “Everyone’s been on Tori’s journey for a long time, and there’s an investment there – she’s earned the audience’s trust. I understand that people are protective of her, and so they should be. Hopefully Christian won’t break her heart – I’ll try my best!”…

It’s been 20 years since Leah first arrived in the Bay, and it’s been two decades packed with drama. However, this year has been her most turbulent yet, after being kidnapped and almost forced to marry crazed Douglas. Despite the mayhem, Best Daytime Star nominee Ada Nicodemou, who plays Leah, is thrilled to be celebrating her anniversary, and tells us she’s looking forward to many more years on the show… Congratulations on your nomination, Ada! Thank you! I’m so honoured, I haven’t been nominated before, or if I was it was a long while ago, so it’s lovely. It’s been a difficult year for Leah, she was kidnapped, then had PTSD and to top it off, there was the Diner break in, so it’s nice to be up for an…

As her panel show I’m Sorry, I Didn’t Know continues on ITV this week, team captain Chizzy tells us her fave telly shows… You and Jimmy Akingbola, your teammate on I’m Sorry, I Didn’t Know, were both in Holby – did you ever cross paths on the show? We did – Jimmy’s dressing room was opposite mine! But I think we only ever had three scenes together. That was such a shame because I’ve known him for almost 20 years, so it would’ve been lovely to have had a storyline together. So, what TV have you been enjoying most recently? The Walking Dead. There are so many strong female characters in it. None of them is sitting there just waiting to be rescued – they’re taking charge and killing those…

You may have seen in the news recently that two beluga whales – Little White and Little Grey – were released into the waters off the coast of Iceland after a decade in captivity at a water park in China. This new two-parter sees comedian John Bishop follow them on their journey, and he was blown away by the sheer orchestration of this whale (sorry) of a task… “I think viewers will be fascinated by the logistics involved,” shares John. “And it might make people think again about all the mammals in captivity. You can’t watch it and not feel something about them at the end.” John flew out to Shanghai to visit the park where the belugas used to perform, and was mesmerized. “When you get close enough to…

It’s not just Todd and Eileen at Mick’s mercy this week – Gary also ends up on the receiving end of his violence! After Mick somehow gets it into his head that Gary and Todd are in cahoots to rip him off, the gangster turns up at the furniture emporium, and threatens Gary. Of course, it’s not the first time Gary has had to deal with a dodgy character shouting the odds, and you would think he’s more than capable of handling himself. Yet, as Mick and his cronies screech away in their car, Maria finds her hubby lying battered and bruised on the floor! Luckily, Gail has snapped Mick’s car registration number on her mobile – and as Maria forces Gary to tell Craig everything that happened, the police…

It’s all change in Albert Square, as the news reaches Inside Soap of a big return – and two huge goodbyes. But who’s in and who’s out? Read on for all the details... Lucas is back! The current drama over baby Raymond is just the beginning of Denise’s troubles, as another blast from her past is set to rock the troubled mum – her ex, Lucas Johnson, is returning to the Square! Murderous Lucas was the cause of Denise’s biggest nightmare in 2010, when the evil one-time preacher convinced her friends and family she was dead, while all along he was keeping her hostage in a basement! Denise last saw Lucas back in 2016 when she visited him in prison, and he swore he had chaged his ways... “There’s definitely…

It stands to reason that Gray would be behaving oddly right now, following his wife’s shocking death. But while everyone on the Square has mistaken his guilt for grief, both Shirley and Linda are about to witness some alarming behaviour… When Linda arrives at the house with Mac and Mia, whom Gray has forgotten to pick up from school, she realises that the widower isn’t coping well. However, after she kindly offers to help by cleaning up the house, Linda finds herself on the receiving end of Gray’s anger as he notices that she’s washed up Chantelle’s mug! It’s clear that Linda is shaken by the lawyer’s angry outburst, and she later discusses it with Shirley back at the pub. But after Shirley sees Gray’s strange demeanour for herself, will…

Some will call it kismet. To others, it’s just plain, old-fashioned, quality storylining. But for Cindy, the die was cast when she saw David in his football shorts. (It’s literally the only good thing ever to come out of a soap ‘pub team’ plot.) This week, after an extended flirtation around the market, Cindy makes her way to the Portakabin of Shame and attaches herself to David like a limpet mine. Oh, those Wicks boys. Brace yourselves for a very messy affair indeed. Meanwhile, Arthur makes a new friend on the allotment, as one Willy Roper persuades him to join the committee. Sadly, with good intentions like these, the road to hell is paved… WHERE TO WATCH… CORONATION STREET ITV3 Double bill at 2.50pm weekdays, repeated the following weekday at…

WHO’S THE DADDY? Michael’s been a doting father to his daughter, Tianna, on Corrie. But as it turns out – she’s not really his daughter! Grace has been outed, and it came as a surprise to all of us… Suddenly, it all makes sense! Why Grace kept sneaking off so quickly, and why she was so worried when Tianna recognised Michael as her dad – she wasn’t even his! I don’t know how someone could be so manipulative, what a piece of work! Mick I got quite excited when Michael proposed to Grace, but nothing prepared me for what happened next. It was quite amusing how confused the police were, and they even went as far as to give Michael a psych assessment because they thought he was going nuts!…

We can’t wait to see how Todd re-establishes his life in Weatherfield – but for the next few weeks, Gareth will be playing not one, but two soap villains, as he finishes up his role as Gavin Moss in The Archers… “I’m doing a lot of driving at the moment, as The Archers is back in the Birmingham studio!” says Gareth, who during lockdown was recording the radio soap from his own house. “There’s going to be an overlap. Gavin is at the centre of a modern slavery ring, and there’s a sense that he may get his comeuppance. I don’t know when, or how. I’ll probably be the answer to some obscure pub quiz question in the future about ‘which actor appeared in two soaps at the same time?’!”…

“I grew up on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, but I left 20 years ago – it’s such a magical place, and I can’t believe I’m back here now!” exclaims Home and Away newcomer Ditch Davey, as he talks to us about his imminent arrival on our screens as Dr Christian Green. “I’m absolutely loving it so far, it’s the dream place to work! I used to watch Home and Away with the originals like Bobby Simpson and Frank Morgan, but I haven’t seen it since then…” Luckily, Ditch has caught up with everything that’s going on in the not-so-sleepy town – and he reveals a bit more about his alter ego. “Christian comes to town because Justin has a medical emergency,” he says. “Christian is a very confident neurosurgeon at…

WIT AND WISDOM “I don’t need therapy. If I feel down, I think, ‘It could be worse, I could be Robert’” Aaron “He was on my side five minutes into knowing me, and he has been ever since.” Liv on Aaron “If Tom Hardy swings by the scrapyard, I’ll consider it.” Aaron on getting over Robert “Paddy you could fix anything – you fixed me! God knows you had a job on your hands!” Aaron THE KEY RELATIONSHIPS CHAS & PADDY Despite their past struggles, Chas and Aaron are now incredibly close, and he considers Paddy to be his father. The couple support him, love him unconditionally, and will always bail him out. Which is good, because Aaron is a magnet for trouble. ROBERT Aaron may never recover from losing…

Paul Robinson appeared in Neighbours’ very first episode – and 35 years later, he’s still at the heart of the drama. Renowned for his ruthless nature, Paul has recently shown his softer side, as he’s looked out for his granddaughter Harlow, and helped son David in his fostering journey. Actor Stefan Dennis, who is up for Best Daytime Star, tells us that it’s his alter ego Paul’s family who have melted his icy heart… Hi, Stefan! How does it feel to be nominated? I try not to be cynical... as I get nominated every year, and I never win! I suppose this could be the year, but it’s lovely to be nominated, and very flattering. Winning a prize is always fun, isn’t it? People tell me what a wonderful actor…

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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…

BULLSEYE! Did anyone else clock the chemistry between Cain and Tracy this week? She really seems to bring out Cain’s carefully-hidden sympathetic side – in the same way Moira used to. And then there’s Tracy pining for a father figure in her life. We fear the inevitable. (And by ‘fear’ we mean ‘greatly look forward to’) Poor Nate! But then again… What goes around comes around! We love it when a bit-part actor makes the absolute most of their 15 seconds on screen. A guide to humour in soaps: 1) Mandy thinking the term ‘asexual’ means that Liv is a raging nymphomaniac? Not funny. People aren’t that stupid. 2) Sally getting Tim to pose as the yucca plant she’s considering buying? Funny. People are that ridiculous! Do excuse us, we’re…