Inside Soap UK 22 - 2021

“This week’s set to be a hell of a bumpy ride!” Oh, you know there’s a big plot in the offing when the soaps do a posh picture to promote it, as you’ll see over the page where we reveal all the gossip on Kim’s plans to turn the tables on her poisoner in Emmerdale. And it’s a big week across the Pennines as well, with Coronation Street running episodes at 9pm through the week as Sharon’s story comes to a climax, and emotions reach fever pitch at Seb’s funeral. Back when the world was normal, this would have been what we called Britain’s Got Talent week, with Corrie airing after the live finals. But every cloud, as they say, because this year we get to call it The Masked…

Conniving Kim Tate sets a trap to catch her poisoner this week, by announcing her retirement and search for a successor to Home Farm! She throws a formal lunch for the six people she believes are most likely to be trying to kill her by lacing her brandy with diazepam. The formal invitations arrive through each of the guests’ letterboxes on Monday, inviting them to join Kim for a business powwow with a difference. Once the suspected six – Jamie, Dawn, Gabby, Jai, Al and Will – are assembled, Kim makes her big announcement… “Kim throws a curveball by saying she plans to retire – she wants to see who is reeled in!” laughs Claire King, who plays her. “They’re shocked, but she convinces them she just wants to kick…

JAI SHARMA Played by Chris Bisson 'There has always been a power struggle between Jai and Kim, so maybe he wants to take full control of the business? If he convinced everyone Kim wasn't capable, Jai could get payback for how she forced Rishi to sell up. So, Jai could be the poisoner, but I doubt he'd have been doing it to kill her - just to relinquish her control of the business." DAWN TAYLOR Played by Olivia Bromley  "Dawn's confused to get an invite to lunch, and part of her is hoping it means that Kim's accepting her. But she sees Kim as powerful and dangerous, and doesn't want Jamie dragged further into his mother's world. However, If Kim were to hand anything to Dawn, it'd completely change her…

Grieving mum Abi faces the worst day of her life this week, as she prepares to bury her murdered son Seb. It’s a sad and emotional time for all of Seb’s loved ones, knowing that he was beaten to death in a brutal hate-crime attack. Even worse is the fact that the person believed to be responsible for dishing out the fatal blow, evil teen Corey, is walking free, with no evidence to prove that he’s the killer! All hells breaks loose then, when shameless Corey shows his face at the funeral, and furious Abi decides to take matters into her own hands. Yet what nobody knows is that plucky schoolgirl Asha has been secretly gathering evidence against her on-off boyfriend, and is close to getting the proof she needs…

Abi begs Nina to come to Seb’s funeral this week – but can Nina dress as her authentic self? In the wake of Seb’s death, angry Abi took her grief out on Nina, citing her goth clothes as the reason that she and Seb were attacked in the first place, and telling her that she wasn’t welcome at her son’s funeral. It was enough to make Nina turn her back on her unique style, and throw away all of her Victorian Goth clothes in favour of dressing just like everyone else. However, as the funeral approaches, Abi has a change of heart, and lets Nina know that she would like her to attend Seb’s goodbye. She also presents Nina with the binbag full of her old clothes, pointing out that…

Terrified Linda fears that she could lose her baby this week, after she passes out at Sharon’s gym and is rushed to hospital. The mum-be-be is with daughter Nancy when the scary incident takes place, but hasn’t told her headstrong daughter that she’s expecting. Nancy has offered Linda a one-to-one personal-training session as an olive branch so they can try to work through their problems. However, Linda pushes herself too hard, and seriously hurts herself. “It’s a horrible shock for both of them – but only Linda knows about the danger to her unborn baby,” explains our Walford insider. “While they are waiting for the ambulance, Linda tells Sharon that she’s pregnant and Nancy has no idea. Yet there’s more to worry about as they wait for the paramedics –…