Inside Soap UK 08 - 2021

“The soaps cleverly cover filming in advance…” Well, I’m looking forward to seeing our soaps resplendent in a shimmering blanket of snow come the spring, when scenes filmed recently hit our screens. Hopefully, we’ll be watching those gleaming white fields and snow-capped rooftops on our TVs just as real life will be warming up, and we’ll be feeling the sunshine (come on, surely we deserve at least that this year!). I enjoy watching scenes set outside the Woolpack or out on the Square, where the temperature has quite obviously plunged to below zero, and the poor cast members are desperately trying not to look too freezing as they bravely suffer in their spring fashions. The soaps might have some clever tricks to cover filming in advance – such as planting…

There’s high drama for expectant parents Tracy and Nate this week, after Tracy goes into labour without realising it! Following a couple of false alarms, Tracy’s convinced that the contractions she’s feeling are just Braxton Hicks, so doesn’t want to make a fuss. But when Cain and Chas come across the mum-to-be doubled over in pain on Main Street, Tracy’s waters break and it’s time for her to go to hospital. However, terrified Nate is left in a spin while he tries to find the courage to get over his fears. “Tracy doesn’t want to stress Nate out any more” AMY “Tracy’s fighting through it – she doesn’t want to stress Nate out any more with another false alarm,” explains Amy Walsh, who plays her. “He’s freaking out about not…

Hello, Amy! How were the birth scenes to film? Amy Well, I thought I’d have all of Christmas to prepare for it, but then the production team said they would be doing them before instead. So I was thrown right in, and I couldn’t overthink it. I spoke to all my friends and my sisters, and I sent text messages the night before asking for tips. I got one back saying, “Imagine being hit by a bus, then beaten up by a professional boxer, then rolled down a concrete hill, and you’re just about there!” Jurell, what about you? Did you get a father’s perspective from anyone? Jurell I spoke to Jeff Hordley [Cain], and he went into detail of his experience of births. Also, one of my nephews has…

Geoff continues to torture Yasmeen from beyond the grave this week, as bailiffs turn up at her house – to seize goods in lieu of the thousands of pounds worth of debt Geoff racked up! During his reign of terror over his wife, Geoff had Yasmeen sign numerous documents to take out loans, and a massive amount of debt has been clocked up. Now Geoff has gone and the repayments are way overdue, leaving Yasmeen overwhelmed – and facing the prospect of going bankrupt… “Yasmeen has hidden all the bills, because she believes deep down that she is to blame,” explains Shelley King, who plays her. “She wants to run away from everything; she doesn’t want Speed Daal, she doesn’t want the house, she just wants it all to go…

Abusive Geoff may be six feet under, but Yasmeen’s ordeal is still ongoing. And Shelley tells us she’s pleased that Coronation Street has shown that the effects of a controlling relationship can stay with you for years after… “It’s hugely important to show that the torment doesn’t stop when the abuse does,” admits the actress. “It’s a risk in a soap to carry on a storyline for the amount of time that we have, but having spent three years on research and commitment, it would be morally wrong to not follow Yasmeen’s story after the abuse ends. “People have been through court cases, have started to move on with their life, yet the mental scars don’t go away,” continues Shelley. “It’s important to show the full picture for all the…

Pregnant Ruby is terrified that she’s losing her baby this week, after a heated confrontation with Stacey. Having lied to Martin that she was expecting, Ruby was relieved to later discover that she was pregnant for real. But her joy at seeing her baby for the first time turns to horror when she endures a stressful stand-off with Stacey – then discovers she’s bleeding… Ultimately, Ruby wants what Stacey has – a loving family” “Ruby’s finally found someone she wants to start a family with,” declares Louisa Lytton, who plays her. “She hasn’t had that family unit since she was 16, and when you’re that desperate for that sort of love, what better way to get it than from a child of your own? Ruby had a good relationship with…