Table of contents for 06 - 2021 in Inside Soap UK

“The ‘Ballum’ proposal warmed our cockles!” Well, we’ve made it through January – well done to all of us! The month ended on a high soap-wise, with Ben and Callum’s cute double proposal in EastEnders. We chat to Tony Clay – aka Callum – about the ‘Ballum’ wedding plans over on p48. He’s loving the storyline, and I think it’s lovely to have something so heartfelt on our screens to warm our cockles, as the weather outside certainly isn’t! Talking of feeling the cold, we have some chilling drama on the way in Corrie this week, as Debbie and Kev are trapped in the Bistro fridge, with no way of escape! And things are frosty at Home Farm too, as Dawn finds herself out in the cold, while Gabby is…

Hi, Emma! Can Charity ever come back from this terrible path? When I get my scripts, I think back to all that she has done over the years. For instance, ‘Has Charity done anything worse than this? And is it redeemable?’ But I’m not sure, I think Charity’s sunk as low as she can go! Is there anyone in the village who can save her? Diane is the only person who doesn’t turn her back on Charity, and so that might be a nice relationship forming. Diane shows her that she has to get her life together for the sake of her own self-preservation, if nothing else! How much fun is it to play Charity when she’s like this? Amazing fun, I feel so bloody lucky! She’s addicted to danger,…

Hot on the heels of Norris’ departure, current cobbles star Maureen Lipman has revealed that she is also taking a break from playing Evelyn in the show. However, the good news is that Tyrone’s fierce Granny will definitely be back! The truth of the matter is that 74-year-old Maureen is pressing pause for a little while until she receives her coronavirus vaccine, ensuring that she is well-protected before returning to set. Both Corrie and Emmerdale halted filming again recently due to isolated Covid scares (see over the page for the full story), so it sounds as though the veteran actress has made a sensible decision. “I’m still officially working on Coronation Street, except that I’m taking a bit of a sabbatical until I get my jab,” confirms Maureen. “I can’t…

Leanne Leanne continues to struggle with her grief this week – but when she believes Oliver is trying to contact her from the afterlife, she calls a TV psychic. Is she heading for more heartbreak? As the week kicks off, Leanne attempts to make an effort – for Simon’s sake – to get out of the house and show she’s getting better. She agrees to lunch at the Bistro, but after Nick asks how she is, Leanne lies to him, making out that she’s doing well – when the truth is in fact the complete opposite. And as Leanne heads over to Oliver’s tree in Victoria Gardens, it’s clear she’s still totally grief-stricken… “The situation is becoming increasingly difficult for poor Simon to deal with,” sighs our Coronation Street insider.…

TONY KING Whitney was just 12 when Bianca’s boyfriend first took advantage of her. She thought Tony was her true love, but in reality he was a monster. ROB GRAYSON Charming Rob lured Whitney away from her life in Walford and into his murky world of sex trafficking. She was wickedly exploited before her brother Ryan pushed Rob from a seaside pier. LEE CARTER Mick and Linda’s son helped Whitney to overcome her demons – however, the couple’s marriage fell apart after she sadly suffered a miscarriage, and Lee battled clinical depression. HARRY ‘WOODY’ WOODWARD After a whirlwind romance with the Vic’s one-time head barman, Whitney agreed to marry wideboy Woody. But they were over faster than they had begun. MICK CARTER Whit and Mick had always been close, but…

“The funniest storyline would be for Suki to find herself pregnant by Peter. Imagine the gossip, and the horror of Suki’s kids – especially Ash!”…chuckles reader Zoe “My wish would be to see Leanne’s family in Corrie – consisting of Eva, Stella and Gloria Price – rock up again in Weatherfield to help devastated Leanne on the road to recovery.”…says reader Andrew from Leeds “I really want Nikhil Sharma to come back and get to know Meena. I’m sure they would be extremely happy together, and perhaps repair some of the damage Manpreet has caused.”…suggests reader James from Huddersfield “Neighbours’ MacKenzie deserves to be happy after her ex Richie broke her heart. Does anyone else think Jay would be a great match for her?”…ponders reader Lalla from Dover Each week,…

Sheila schemes with Des to find a way to make Clive jealous this week, but their plan doesn’t quite pan out! When Des gets the impression that Clive isn’t really into Jane, he suggests that he and Sheila go on a ‘fake date’ to check Clive’s reaction. However, their ruse doesn’t go as intended, and Des’ friendship with both Jane and Clive ends up shattered. Sheila feels guilty for it, so arranges to apologise to all of them. Will she ever be able to accept that Clive has moved on with Jane?…

Born in Argentina in 1887, stewardess Violet Jessop is regarded as the unluckiest woman of the 20th century. She was aboard the RMS Titanic when it met its icy demise in 1912; narrowly escaping with her life. Four years later, she was working as a nurse on the Titanic’s sister ship, the RMS Britannic, when it too sank. What are the chances, eh? However, surely the fact that Violet survived both wrecks proves her good fortune rather than her bad luck? If you’re really looking for someone with a Final Destination-style target on their back, then we offer you Weatherfield’s Don Brennan. The fact he was married to Ivy for 10 years would be calamity enough for most people. But he went on to lose a leg in a car…

“When Callum almost married Whitney, he was in grey with a pink tie – and I remember thinking those suits looked a bit ‘rascal’! [Laughs] Maybe he’ll go for a nice three-piece this time…” “Lexi deserves to have her moment as Ben and Callum’s flower girl, seeing as she was such a big part of the proposal. And little Izzy would love all that!” “Ricky Champ [Stuart] is like a big brother to me off screen, so I’d be a bit gutted if Stuart wasn’t Callum’s best man. I love him to bits.” “It would be great to see more members of the Highway family. But I would love to see Phil as Ben’s ‘Father of the Groom’ get really excited, too. We should get him up dancing on the…

The Street’s Jack P Shepherd – aka David – has proved that lockdown birthdays can be just as glam as any other, after his girlfriend Hanni Treweek threw him a ball inspired by period-drama Bridgerton! It may have been a very exclusive event with a teeny-tiny guest list, but with lavish costumes, dancing, and even a yummy chocolate birthday cake, it was every bit as fancy as any period drama party. And with Hanni’s sister also blowing out the cake candles for her birthday, there was double the reason to go all-out with the celebrations. Jack and Hanni have used their recent downtime to move house – we’re not sure if it’s quite on the scale of the grand palaces and castles you’d see in Bridgerton, but we’re sure they’re…

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As Zoe continues hosting her new daily BBC2 quiz show Lightning, she chats to us about her fave shows on the box… Are there any other comedies you’ve enjoyed? I like dipping into nostalgic comedy. Are You Being Served? and Fawlty  Towers still make me laugh. And all the Carry On films. It’s British panto, isn’t it? It’s from a slightly less woke time, but they’re harmless and entertaining. What shows did you enjoy as a kid? Popeye was a favourite! I also used to watch the Pink Panther films with my dad. It was a real treat to stay up late with him; you’re seen as one of the grown-ups! What programmes do you like to chill out to? I’ve been watching travel shows lately, just because we can’t…

HEART & SOUL Filming has wrapped on BBC1 drama Ridley Road, adapted from the Jo Bloom novel and with a cast including Rory Kinnear, Tracy-Ann Oberman and Tamzin Outhwaite. Telling the story of a young Jewish woman who risks everything for her beliefs and the man she loves, the thriller airs later this year. CONGRATS, PUSFACE! Channel 4 is set to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Friday Night Dinner this month, with a documentary delving behind the scenes of the sitcom, which stars Tamsin Grieg, Paul Ritter, Simon Bird and Tom Rosenthal. GET READY FOR THIS… Ant and Dec are teasing plenty of Takeaway treats ahead of their Saturday night show’s return later this month, with a trailer promising the usual jolly japes – and a fresh outing for their…

CORONATION STREET Ty in a knot! Tyrone’s friends and family are deeply worried for his wellbeing next week, when the mechanic suddenly collapses! He’s been under a lot of stress in recent times, especially after he let a thief steal Gary’s stock at the furniture shop from right from under his nose – and things are only going to get worse. So could it all have built up and caused poor Ty to have serious health complications? And how would Fiz and the girls cope if the worst was to happen to him as he’s rushed to hospital? EASTENDERS Ruby’s red alert! Since becoming Mrs Fowler, Ruby has been hiding more than one dirty secret from new husband Martin. Next week, though, her lies could be about to catch up…

Wicked Ray rumbles double-crossing Debbie this week – so locks her and her brother Kevin in the Bistro fridge. The Webster siblings are left shaking with fear and freezing having been trapped in the cold store, with nobody but Ray aware of where they are. It’s the horrifying conclusion to Debbie’s dishonesty after she pretended to Abi that she’d killed Ray in self-defence and hidden his body. However, just as she’s ready to betray Ray at the final hour, he realises what she’s plotting and decides to take action. “Debbie might have played her final lucky hand,” warns our Coronation Street insider. “Ray has been willing to trust her to secure his freedom and a new life in Turkey, but he has an instinct that she’s going to shaft him.…

The Street’s Malcolm Hebden has quit his role of Norris for good, the actor has revealed. The 81-year-old star has only appeared in a handful of episodes in recent years, having undergone life-saving surgery in 2017 after a major heart attack. Malcolm fought his way back, and was in good health when Norris popped up last February for Ken’s Stillwaters retirement plot. However, the actor has since decided that particular story was to be his last, and has quietly called time on his career. “It took a great deal of courage to make the decision to retire,” explains Malcolm, who has been playing Weatherfield’s chief busybody since 1994. “I absolutely adored playing Norris, and I was pleased to be able to briefly return after my operation – but I had…

As Leanne hooks up with Crystal Moon, down south lonely Max also finds himself trying to contact the other side. Max has been struggling to cope since his split from Linda, and as he throws himself into caring for his granddaughter Abi, it’s clear that he also misses his late daughter Abi. So when he later spots a flyer for a clairvoyant, Max thinks she may be able to help him find a way to move on with his life… “Visiting a psychic is the last thing anyone would expect Max to do!” gasps our Walford spy. “It’s not clear at this stage if Max is a true believer in this spiritual pathway, but quite frankly, he’s willing to give anything a go right now!” As Max sits down with…

Mick takes a step closer to getting justice this week, as he once again speaks to the police about his childhood abuser, Katy. Although Mick had promised Frankie he wouldn’t report her mum to the police, he was left with no choice when he learned that he wasn’t the only boy she’d groomed. It turned out that Frankie’s little brother Harry – who died when he was just five – was also fathered by an underage lad who’d been abused by Katy, leaving Mick sickened. After discovering the truth about Harry’s dad Jed, Mick went straight to the police station to file a report against Katy. His visit this week is just to confirm the details, yet Mick knows justice is in sight – not just for himself and Jed,…

Tyrone gives Alina some words of advice this week, yet he soon realises he’s put his foot in it – before making an even bigger mistake… When Fiz scolds Tyrone for kicking out Alina at such short notice, he goes to track her down to rectify the situation. However, Alina is the one who finds Tyrone at the garage, and when she hands back her key, she explains how she was just turned down for a job. Tyrone suggests she should take up beauty therapy again, but it’s clear Alina’s not keen… “Fiz reminds Ty that Alina was the victim of people trafficking the last time she worked in a beauticians’,” shares our cobbles sneak. “Tyrone’s mortified, and tries to make it up to Alina by suggesting she takes control…

After Pollard reveals just how much he loves Brenda this week, they agree to talk to the twins about him being around more. With their relationship going from strength to strength, Brenda is left overcome with happiness when Pollard tells her that he’s here for the long run. Eric then admits that he doesn’t want Cathy and Heath to think he’s just a temporary arrangement. Will the twins accept that Pollard is going to be around a lot more from now on?…

Toby fears that he’s about to reveal his killer secret this week, when Dr Ley suggests that they do a lie-detector test! After Cleo begs Celeste to rescue Toby, she goes to the Loft – only for Dr Ley to tell her to leave if there’s to be any hope of saving Toby. However, before she goes, Celeste takes a sneaky snap of the wicked doctor’s notes, and is later horrified by what she reads… Realising that Toby needs help, Celeste enlists Felix to aid his rescue from Dr Ley’s evil clutches. But has Toby already revealed his darkest secret to the mad medic?…

J ac’s dramatic exit paves the way for a surprise return this week, as former Holby surgeon Sahira Shah – played by ex-Footballers Wives star Laila Rouass – takes charge of cardiac matters on Darwin. Last seen in 2012 after a disastrous surgery and bust-up with Hanssen, Sahira returns to work alongside Kian, who is keen to redeem himself with CEO Max. But how will he react to having Sahira as his new boss when she takes a particularly no-nonsense approach? Meanwhile, Amy and Nicky are sceptical about working under Sahira, knowing that she’s an old rival of Jac’s. The three women later team up in theatre, which results in a catastrophic first day back for Sahira. Will a heart-to-heart with Hanssen convince her that she has what it takes…

Denise’s loved ones continue to panic about her disappearance this week, increasingly sure that killer ex Lucas is behind it. Daughter Chelsea is feeling particularly frantic, given that she’s the one who brought Lucas back into their lives. Plus, there’s no doubt that the murderous preacher has form, what with having previously kidnapped Denise and held her hostage for a lengthy time! So, as Denise’s loved ones desperately try to figure out how to find her, Lucas is their main focus. Does he really hold the key to where Denise is?…

PETER FALLS APART! The Barlows have been struggling to get through to alcoholic Peter since his relapse in Coronation Street. But after Peter lashed out at Ken, it seems as if they might have turned a corner… I’m not surprised that Ken went around to every pub to try to stop Peter from drinking. It was a desperate move, but I think it’s one that every parent would have made. Well done to him for trying to help. Nellie, Enfield I know alcohol makes you act differently, and Peter clearly isn’t himself, but I was horrified when he punched his own dad, who is doing nothing other than trying to save his life. When Peter gets back on track he owes Ken one hell of an apology! Richard, Kent I…

There’s one big problem for Kim when it comes to destroying Dawn – she’s the daughter of her lover, Will! Will is clearly going to be less than impressed if he finds out Kim is trying to harm Dawn, and he won’t be afraid to say it. So, would the prospect of losing Will make Kim think twice about seeing her plot through? And is this little fling about to turn serious? “Oh, it’s not serious at all!” grins Claire. “She likes Will because he’s uncomplicated. Kim has to stay in Emmerdale for a while now, to sort out things at Home Farm. So, she’s using Will as a bit of a play toy.” We thought so – but does Kim know that Will also has an ulterior motive? “I…

While some people are using fitness and meditation to get through the current lockdown, others have turned to the more traditional method of beer and wine to see them through! Dry January went out of the window this year – with most of us stuck at home and unable to see friends or family, a small tipple at the end of the day is the only pleasure left! Although in the case of EastEnders stars Natalie Cassidy (Sonia) and Ben Champniss (Shrimpy), the glasses weren’t so small! Elsewhere, Dales star Alex Lincoln – aka Jamie – paired his glass of red with a nice soak in the bath, while Corrie star Andy Whyment (Kirk) and his wife Nichola took things one step further and enjoyed a nice cold bevvy in…

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CASUALTY Connie Beauchamp.......... Amanda Mealing Faith Cadogan...................... Kirsty Mitchell Leon Cook....................... Bobby Lockwood Charlie Fairhead.............. Derek Thompson 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 Malinovsky........................... Uriel Emil Rashid ‘Rash’ Masum............. Neet Mohan Jacob Masters....................... Charles Venn Robyn Miller................ Amanda Henderson CORONATION STREET Aadi Alahan......................... Adam Hussain Asha Alahan......................... Tanisha Gorey Dev Alahan........................ Jimmi Harkishin Aggie Bailey......................... Lorna Laidlaw Edison Bailey......... Trevor Michael Georges James Bailey..................... Nathan Graham Michael Bailey....................... Ryan Russell Adam Barlow................. Samuel Robertson Ken Barlow......................... William Roache Peter Barlow....................... Chris Gascoyne Sarah Barlow........................... Tina O’Brien Simon Barlow.............................. Alex Bain Leanne Battersby................... Jane Danson Toyah Battersby.................... Georgia Taylor Emma Brooker............... Alexandra Mardell Chesney Brown.......................... Sam Aston Carla…

Luke reacted to his Closet Gay Plot Twist by looking like a rabbit trapped in headlights at the mere mention of men and dating. Funny, he never seemed that bothered around boys before! We are so here for Aggie’s zero tolerance policy of Grace. If also completely terrified. We love how Chas still goes a bit weak at the knees for Al, even after knowing that he was two-timing Priya with Debbie. It says a lot for the long-term future of her marriage to Paddy! Emmerdale could make up a new secret for Manpreet every week, and we’d totally believe it of her, every time. What next? She stole Shergar? She knows the location of the Ark of the Covenant? George is truly spoilt for choice. How will he ever…

Where there’s a Wilton, there’s a way! Norris became a thorn in Derek and Mavis’ side after a chance meeting at an M6 service station… Norris was the first person to suss that Richard Hillman was after Emily Bishop’s money and wanted her dead! If only people had listened… Competition enthusiast Mary invited Norris to join her on an all-expenses paid cottage break. But in a Misery- inspired twist, Norris ended up her captive – and was forced to call the police! Norris blamed his half-brother Ramsay (played by Fawlty Towers’ Andrew Sachs) for their mother’s death, and rejected him. But when Ramsay died, he left Norris a fortune! Stalker-turnedbestie Mary was delighted when Norris agreed to a sham wedding to lure her long-lost son Jude to the Street. But…

Carry on, Babs… Family and friends of the legendary Dame Barbara Windsor, who played Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders, are planning to give the late actress a proper memorial in 2022. “Let’s hope that we can send her off in a big way,” said her close friend Christopher Biggins. Mysterious girl! Dales star Michael Wildman has confessed that he had no clue who Al’s secret lover was until a week prior to filming with actress Charley Webb, who plays Debbie! “We’d never even met!” he grinned. Cobbles comeback! TV megastar Joanna Lumley is up for returning to Corrie! The actress – who played Ken’s girlfriend Elaine Perkins in the 70s – has said that she would go back “in a heartbeat”. Take note, Street bosses!…

Sparks fly between Whitney and Kush this week, as they share a kiss! But with Whit’s boss Gray continuing to emotionally manipulate her, he’s unlikely to welcome the idea of Whit having eyes for someone else. Could the pair’s new-found closeness lead to killer Gray taking steps to keep Whit for himself? Kush and Whitney have been growing closer for a while, and their chemistry becomes increasingly evident when Kush takes a room at Dotty’s house, where Whit also lives… “If you put aside Kush’s recent troubles, he’s the sort of fella Whitney has always wanted,” points out our Walford insider. “All the blokes she’s been with before have either taken advantage, or were not being honest with Whitney – or themselves – about their own troubles. Kush stepped in…

AUDREY She refused to loan David the cash, although Audrey can definitely afford to buy the house herself. Could this be payback for David swiping her life-savings? NICK No 8 is Nick’s old family home too – and with son Sam to consider, he’s going to need somewhere bigger to live. Could he have snapped it up? ADAM The lawyer’s certainly not short of a bob or two, and now he and Sarah are back together, a family home would be perfect. Plus, there’s the added bonus of getting one over on Tracy! CARLA It’s been a long time since Carla had her own property, but a place just across the road from the Barlow family would be perfect for Peter’s recovery. Plus, there’s the added bonus of getting one…

Grieving Gail turns to new-found relative George this week, as she begins to arrange her dad Ted’s funeral. Having received the news that her father has passed away, Gail wants to give Ted a moving send-off with the help of Shuttleworth’s Independent Funeral Directors. And after discovering through the Page family tree that they’re related – sharing the same great-great-grandparents – Gail feels that she’s in safe hands with George. However, will he provide the support she needs to manage this difficult task?…

FAIR CITY ● Pete makes a disturbing discovery this week, and goes to confront Erica about his findings – and her pregnancy! Meanwhile, Mairead lies to Damien about her progress battling OCD. Also, Melanie puts Juliet forward to be Ruth’s new childminder… RIVER CITY ● Maggie tries to remain calm while Caitlin is bundled into a police car this week, but Caitlin soon faces more charges… Meanwhile, Eve is suspicious as to why Cameron won’t report his attack! Plus, the Murdochs unite in their grief over Charlotte. THE ARCHERS ● Susan and Neil pay the price for Philip’s actions this week, which leaves both of their reputations in tatters. Can they get out of this mess? Meanwhile, Tony finds himself bonding with Justin over something very unexpected. Finally, Alice is…

It’s the most unfortunate timing. It turns out there’s no way that Michelle can fly over from America to attend her father’s funeral, because Mark Jnr is still in hospital. Would you Adam-and-Eve it? We’re certain she would have been there otherwise. When the tragic day arrives, Pauline collects a wildflower from Arthur’s weedy allotment to place on his coffin. The family is appalled to spot wicked Willy Roper lurking in the graveyard. Quite rightly, Mark lamps him one. After the service, Ian is generous enough to lay on a buffet for free – giving Cindy a brief respite from her husband’s pestering. For while she’s plotting to flee into the vaguely willing arms of David, Ian’s keen to kick-start their marriage by making another baby – which means he’s…

FEELING BLUE Hollyoaks’ Yazz has a great sense of style and, I absolutely love the blue coat she’s been wearing recently. Do you know where can I get one from? Dana, Manchester We’ve found similar items for you to check out, including the lovely Jakke Tilly Faux Fur Jacket in blue from Very. Or if you’re looking for a less pricey option, there’s the Ichi Faux Fur Coat in blue from ASOS. BLOOD MONEY… In Emmerdale, Kim said that Al took money from her for a ‘service’ regarding Graham. What happened? Deborah, Sussex When Al arrived in the village he was being chased by loan sharks. One caught up with him, and threatened to hurt Ellis if he didn’t pay back the money. So Al turned to Kim and told…

“If you’d have told me three years ago that Callum would end up engaged to Ben Mitchell, I probably wouldn’t have believed you!” laughs actor Tony Clay, as we congratulate him on his alter ego’s telly engagement. “It’s amazing to think how far ‘Halfway’ has come since he was rolling around with that bowl haircut of his. It’s lovely!” Ben and Callum’s double proposal episode certainly brought much-needed joy to the hearts of viewers – so naturally, the first question that Inside Soap needs answering is: When can we go out and buy a big hat? “I’d hold off for a little while – these things take planning!” jokes Tony. “Hopefully Ben and Callum can have their day when things are a bit more normal in real life, and we…

Congratulations to Neighbours’ Chris Milligan (Kyle) and his former co-star Jenna Rosenow – aka Amber Turner – who’ve recently got engaged! It was a rather low-key announcement, with Chris posting this pic on his Instagram account of him and Jenna enjoying the sunset in Malibu – and it wasn’t until their eagle-eyed co-stars spotted the sparkler on Jenna’s finger that the penny dropped! The couple have been together for almost nine years, so it’s lovely to see them finally making things official. No word yet on when the wedding will be, but fingers crossed there will be no soap-style dramas on the big day!…