Table of contents for 34 - 2021 in Inside Soap UK

“Our only desire is your pleasure!” I’d like to offer a big thank you to the Inside Soap regulars – 1,025 of you in fact – who took part in our reader survey this year. It’s fascinating to see what you enjoy most about the mag (always the opening Scoop section, of course!) and what you’d like to see more or less of. Our first response is to tweak our TV guide this week, to include extra digital channels, with detailed listings for ITV2 and ITV3. And remember, we’re always thrilled to receive feedback on the magazine, so do drop me a line with any ideas, or requests for features or interviews. This is your magazine, and our only desire is your pleasure! Speaking of desire – he continues seamlessly…

Maxine is left utterly horrified this week, when she wakes up in bed with her mum’s boyfriend, Fergus! Worse still, Maxine has absolutely no idea of how she got there or what happened between them. However, the evidence that they slept together appears to be compelling… “The night before, Maxine’s had an argument with Warren, and she’s stormed back to the flat,” explains Nikki Sanderson, who plays her. “Fergus is there drinking, so Maxine decides to join in – she’s doing shots, drinking beer and cider, and she gets what you would call blackout drunk. In the morning she wakes up next to Fergus, and has no recollection of getting into bed with him.” “Maxine doesn’t believe that Fergus is manipulating her…” Fergus is only too happy to fill in…

Hot on the heels of Fenisha’s tragic death in Casualty, devastated Ethan will give up baby Bodhi! The grieving medic will leave the boy on the doorstep of Fenisha’s parents, Pen and Ashley, as he struggles to cope – though his torment is just the start of an unmissable autumn on the ED. “We’ll see how Ethan deals with looking after a baby as a single dad,” reveals Casualty boss Loretta Preece. “Meanwhile, the focus will return to Jan and Ffion, who are troubled after Jan lied to Ffion and the police to save her son, Ross. Their marriage is pushed to its limits…”…

Spooked Todd discovers his evil stepfather Phelan never left Weatherfield this week – when he unearths the late killer’s ashes. Eileen has no idea that her murderer spouse has been lingering in Shuttleworth Undertakers’ all this time. But when Todd decides to give the neglected store room a thorough bottoming, he chances upon an urn that gives him the willies. Racing up, he demands answers from red-faced George as to why ‘Pat Phelan’ remains downstairs. “How do you broach the conversation of ‘Here’s your serial killer hubby’s ashes’ with a woman you fancy?” ponders our Coronation Street gossip. “It’s quite the romantic conundrum. George was looking properly worried about Todd doing the clearing out and now we know why.” It transpires that George had filed the whole issue under the…

Tracy’s return leads to drama in more ways than one this week, after she reveals that her sister, Vanessa, has a new girlfriend! It’s during conversation at the Woolpack that Tracy drops the bombshell just as Vanessa’s ex, Charity, walks into the pub. How will she react? “Charity was forced to accept some time ago that she and Ness were over for good,” our Dales spy reminds us. “However, the thought of her loved-up with someone else is bound to sting. Charity hasn’t just switched off her feelings.” We’ve never ruled out the possibility of a reunion for ‘Vanity’ and actress Michelle Hardwick (Vanessa) hinted recently that she’s poised for a return. So, can we expect Vanessa to head home with her new woman in tow?…

Diane makes a mistake that’s set to cost the Hutch dearly this week, after she tips all of their alcohol down the sink! The restaurant is already in financial strife, made even worse by the fact that Tony and Diane were scammed! Tony tries to put on a brave face so as not to worry his already anxious wife – yet when Diane hears that the Dog is closed because Mercedes is sick, she jumps to the conclusion that their shared alcohol supplier is to blame! But as Di pours the ‘contaminated’ booze down the sink, how will Tony react when he finds out?…

FAIR CITY Ger is left furious when her secret moneylending is exposed by Leo this week – then taken aback by Dean’s reaction. Carol attempts to warn Dean off, all too aware of his history of falling hard and fast. Meanwhile, Will learns his job is in jeopary, and Ray is in a pickle at the garage. THE ARCHERS Brian leads the family through the interviews for Adam’s replacement at Home Farm this week. Can the Aldridges come together to make this most vital decision? Meanwhile, the day of Steph Casey’s wedding arrives at last, but as old wounds reopen, Vince has more on his mind than his father of the bride speech… See TV listings for times & channel details. River City is on a summer break – it…

This week, we see Nigel totally smitten with schoolteacher Julie – until his withering rosebud puts a spanner in the works. No, he doesn’t need to pop to the chemist for some little blue pills (anyway, Viagra isn’t launched until later in 1998, so he’d probably have ended up with worming tablets). What he needs to do is move on from his late wife, Debbie. Nige is on cloud nine after spending the night with Julie, until he notices the rose bush planted in the Square gardens in Debbie’s memory has a bad case of wind-rot. Seeing it as an omen, he gives Julie the cold shoulder. Stepdaughter Clare and even Grant attempt to talk some sense into him – however, is this new love about to wither and die?…

FIRE STARTER In Hollyoaks, Cindy made reference to the fact that Zara had once set fire to the school! Surely that can’t be true? Alice, Letchworth It is indeed true! Zara was a proper tearaway when she was a teenager, and tried to burn down the school after being accused of stealing money from one of her teachers! Sounds pretty standard behaviour for Hollyoaks, to be fair… AARON’S A KILLER? In Emmerdale the other day, Liv mentioned that Aaron had killed his first boyfriend! But I thought Robert was his first boyfriend, and isn’t he still in prison? Tim, Doncaster Oh no, Aaron had quite a few boyfriends before Robert! But the one Liv was referring to is Jackson Walsh, who  Aaron dated back in 2010. Jackson was  involved in…

It’s not just Tiffany who’s dealing with a broken heart this week – grieving Vinny is also devastated that the girl he’s in love with has slept with his mate! And Shiv Jalota, who plays him, reckons Vinny’s family should be prepared for him to go totally off the rails… “We have seen Vinny spiral out of control in the past, so yes, they should be worried!” he teases. “The Panesars are so broken up at the moment because of Jags’ death. Vinny is very sensitive, anything that may wound him or make him feel uncomfortable about Dotty can trigger him. He doesn’t have anyone to vent to properly, and I think he’s quite lonely.”…

Currently haunting Button House as scoutmaster Pat in BBC comedy series Ghosts, actor and writer Jim Howick reveals the shows looming large on his list of TV favourites… What’s the best thing about being in Ghosts? I really enjoy it all! Creating the stories and bringing them to life at West Horsley Place, where we film. It’s such a beautiful location. I bring my dogs to work, and they love it too. What have you most enjoyed watching on TV recently? I have a lot to catch up on… Next on my list is Mare Of Easttown. I can always rely on This Time With Alan Partridge, and I’m a big sports fan, so I enjoyed the Olympics. What about favourite comedy shows? As well as Alan Partridge, Stath Lets…

BULLSEYE! The real-life Flanagan sisters have soap all sewn up this summer. From April’s online bullying in the Dales, to Hope watching the world burn on the cobbles, we’re in awe of the work from young stars Amelia and Isabella. All that’s left is for their young brother, William (Corrie’s Joseph), to play soap’s first astronaut – and the stars for this talented family will have truly aligned. It was an odd decision for Corrie not to show Todd’s hit-and-run. Especially for a show that gave us ‘Soap for Dummies’ last year. We hope EastEnders is paying proper danger money to the tiny person who films from inside a spinning washing machine. Kudos to Chelsea for turning up to court as the very definition of the hot property she was…

We’ve been wondering for years whether Noah Dingle could escape the curse of his parentage – but it looks as if he’s destined for a dark path. It seemed unthinkable that the son of Chris Tate and Charity Dingle could be anything other than a rotter, though instead Noah has often proved the moral compass for his wayward mother. However, now he stands accused of rape, just weeks after stealing pregnant Gabby’s underwear and stalking her. He also lashed out when she rejected him – so does Noah have a nasty streak, or was that a one-off outburst?…

Wicked Chelsea lives dangerously this week, by arranging an assignation with fling James during a night out with Gray. She’s shocked to see James at The Prince Albert, and to discover that he and Gray know each other. Oblivious to his girlfriend’s antics, Gray invites James to have a drink with them, then heads to the bar. While he’s gone, Chelsea tries to line up round two with the handsome guy… “Chelsea might think she’s having her cake and eating it, but she’s flirting with danger,” warns our Walford insider. “Gray’s a violent killer who can’t control his fury, so Chelsea is inadvertently risking her life by two-timing him. Little does she know how serious – fatal, even – the consequences could be.” The next day, Chelsea accompanies Jack to…

Kelly opens up about her prison fears this week, and confesses to Simon that she’s scared she’ll end up behind bars for life! It’s when Simon drops by to visit her that Kelly admits she’s terrified, leaving Simon feeling powerless to help his pal. There was a point where it looked as though romance could be on the cards for him and Kelly, yet with all the drama that’s played out in their lives since, Simon’s been forced to put love on the back burner. Desperate to support Kelly, though, Simon later approaches Nina in the café, and begs her to remember the events of that fateful night – as she is Kelly’s last hope! His request clearly leaves her shaken, and Roy is forced to step in, angrily throwing…

DALES DELIGHT Emmerdale is soaring at the moment. From Kim’s ‘death’ to poor Leanna’s murder, it’s been unmissable. I can’t stop watching to see what psychotic Meena will do next, and I love the bond between Sarah and Faith. If only Vanessa would return to reunite with Charity, the village would be complete! Tess, St Leonards-on-Sea THE BIG REVEAL I can’t believe Keegan has cheated on Tiff with her best mate Dotty in EastEnders – just when she needed him the most when she suffered an allergic reaction. Tiff will go mental when she finds out Dotty slept with her husband. You don’t betray your best friend. I can see it happening in the run up to Christmas – Dotty beware. Louise, Leicester You don’t need to wait until Christmas…

When Aggie Bailey returned to the world of nursing at the start of 2020, neither Corrie nor actress Lorna Laidlaw could have predicted what would happen next. A real-world pandemic written into the show would take both Lorna and Aggie away from the cobbles, with Ed’s missus isolating in a hotel while she worked on the hospital’s front line during the outbreak. Meanwhile, the true story behind Aggie’s absence was that Lorna was shielding in real life so that she could take care of her mum – and filming many of her scenes over video to keep Aggie in the scripts. However, the actress is thrilled to finally be back filming properly on the cobbles, and feeling as though she’s never been away – especially with Aggie and Grace set…

It looks as though Wendy’s new life could be blown apart by her wicked ex – however, Susan is having lots of fun working with actor Rob Jarvis, who plays him. “Rob is absolutely phenomenal – from the moment I met him and ran scenes, I knew that it was going to be good,” she enthuses. “We’re friends for life now, and he’s dead easy to get on with. “The writing shows the audience from the off he’s a baddie, so the viewers will be screaming at their TVs when he’s playing nice to everyone else. We went for a meal, and this couple came up, and I introduced them to Rob. I said I couldn’t say who he was playing, and they turned to him and said, ‘Are you…

“It’s funny how the Stewarts are the heart of Summer Bay, yet the family is so fractured,” muses Georgie Parker, who plays Roo, as we discuss the reappearance of her on-screen brother, Kieran. “But still the Stewarts somehow manage to bring their family dynamic back together when they need to. So I really hope we’ve managed to portray a real brother and sister bond between Roo and Kieran…” Although he and Roo have managed to forge a sibling relationship, Kieran’s return has thrown the Stewart family into chaos – especially once Alf reveals he doesn’t want stepson Kieran living in Summer Bay house! “When Alf decides he doesn’t like someone, it takes a seismic shift to change his mind,” laughs Georgie. “Alf’s unforgiving, and he’ll just lay down his demands.…

“Are you still friends with any of the cast from your original stint on the show?”…asks reader Susan Wills from Taunton That was 35 years ago, and I haven’t seen a lot of the actors, but I’ve bumped into a few over the years. Guy Pearce [who played Mike Young] was popping in and out of the country for a while. Every now and then I see a photo of us all in the 80s – when I had hair! – and wonder what they’re all doing now. Every week, we put your questions to a star of the soaps. Look out for requests on our Facebook page, or email your questions to youask@insidesoap.co.uk, putting the actor’s name in the subject line. Our favourite question each week will win a…

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DVD MY LIFE IS MURDER Alexa Crowe is a retired cop, but her ex-boss is persistently asking her to help with cold cases, and a rookie police data-analyst is hassling Alexa to be her mentor – so her detective days may not be over just yet. Tenacious and unapologetic, Alexa brings her dry wit and brash style as she contends with a suspicious death at a culinary school, a murder in a cycling club, a locked-room mystery, and more. Starring Lucy Lawless. BLU-RAY JUST A GIGOLO After World War I, a war hero returns to Berlin to find that there’s no place for him – he has no skills other than what he learned in the army and can only find menial, low-paying jobs. So he decides to become a…

It’s no secret that Mick’s missus is due to leave our screens now that actress Kellie Bright, who plays Linda, has wrapped filming ahead of welcoming her third child. Yet the mystery remains: what will spark her departure from Walford? “The big plot twist, of course, is that Max Branning is actually the father of Linda’s baby, not Mick,” our Square sneak reminds us. “The Carters have fibbed, claiming that Linda is not as far along in her pregnancy than she really is. However, as Max’s brother and resident detective, Jack, pops into the pub after the robbery with an update for Mick and Linda, will they struggle to keep their secret?”…

Here is your first look at the Square’s slick new addition – as Walford bosses prepare to expand the Monroe family! City boy Aaron will join his sister Dana and their father Harvey this autumn, after dropping by to check out their new home on the Square. Meanwhile, actor Charlie Wernham, who plays Aaron, is no stranger to soapland after playing Robbie Roscoe in Hollyoaks. “It was always a dream to be in EastEnders,” grins Essex-born Charlie, whose time in Chester spanned from 2013 to 2016. “My family are huge fans, so it’s always been close to my heart. I can’t wait to get cracking!” Our spies inform us that wayward Aaron is a cocky high-flyer in the finance world, who didn’t look back after leaving home. He’s close with…

Goodnight, Una Walford’s Emma Barton has paid tribute to the late Una Stubbs, who among other countless roles, played Honey’s auntie Caroline in EastEnders. “We had something special that I will cherish forever,” says Emma. Fate and fortune The first female writer to pen scripts for Corrie left over a million pounds in her will. Adele Rose began her career as a cobbles secretary, before creating Byker Grove and launching the careers of Ant & Dec. Pearl of wisdom! The Deveraux family will be joined in Hollyoaks by an old friend of Walter’s late wife, Gloria. Adventurous Pearl – played by Dawn Hope – brings fun and frolics when she arrives next month.…

“I have known and loved you since before you could vote.” Sounds a bit icky when you put it like that. “I like him a lot. He’s thoughtful, he’s funny, and he’s got these really cute dimples when he smiles.” She thought that about Phil Mitchell once! “Busy morning?” “I’ve got Charity’s legs and Rishi’s back. I’ll be out of wax by this afternoon.” Please, not while we’re eating! “You’re the best thing to ever happen to me, Bobby Beale.” Someone’s clearly had a bleak life so far. “Am I, or am I not, your girlfriend?” “I guess so.” Ah, love’s young dream! “Don’t be nervous. With me in your corner, you’ll get away with murder.” Yes, we see what you did there, EastEnders.…

Sparks fly at Albie’s bar this week, as Sacha finally comes face to face with Madam X! After choosing to resume his search for love, Sacha created an online dating profile for himself under the alias Mr Biggles – accompanied by a picture of a tubby ginger cat. Biggles and Madam X have been messaging back and forth, until Biggles summons the courage to invite her for a date – and Madam X accepts! However, the lead-up to their meeting proves stressful for Sacha, as he worries whether he should be going on a blind date at his age. Yet after Sacha arrives at Albie’s and eventually identifies Madam X, he’s in for a pleasant surprise. As it turns out, Madam X and Mr Biggles know each other very well…

CASUALTY CARNAGE Casualty doesn’t do end-of-series episodes by half – and the medical drama rounded off its current season by killing off two favourites! It was emotional, that’s for sure… Is it too much to hope that scriptwriters could give us a wedding that doesn’t involve death and destruction? I was so happy when Ethan accepted Fenisha’s proposal in Casualty, now Fenisha’s been killed off on a level crossing, and Lev was hit by two trains and killed as he tried to save her! | Ann, Cheshire I actually screamed in shock when Lev got hit by that train – I really wasn’t expecting that to happen. It was like something out of that film Final Destination. I can’t believe that Lev died just as he’d finally admitted to his…

“It was such a bombshell when it happened in the show – I was shocked myself when I first found out, I couldn’t believe it!” gasps EastEnders star Maisie Smith, as we commiserate with her over her character Tiff being cheated on by hubby Keegan. “Her step-cousin has slept with her husband, and they all live in the same house; I don’t think anyone expected that! It must be quite a shock for Tiff for her to actually slap Keegan round the face…” The truth comes out in terrible fashion this week, as Vinny spills the beans to appalled Tiff (see p14), leaving her absolutely heartbroken about her hubby and Dotty’s betrayal. But while Tiff is at rock bottom, star Maisie tells us that having the opportunity to show her…

With all of his friends loved-up, Sid is keen to meet someone too, and goes on a date with a girl called Demi this week. But will it end in disaster as Sid tries to hide the fact he’s an amputee? Billy Price, who plays him, tells us more… Why is Sid trying to hide his prosthetic from Demi? It’s not just Demi – it’s everyone! Sid thinks if people don’t already know about it, then they don’t need to know. Sid just doesn’t want to be judged because of his disability, and he feels as if that is the first thing everyone sees. Does the date at least go well? Sid’s had a thing for Demi for a while. And she’s understanding when she finds out he’s an amputee.…

In the beginning… Kathleen Slater was the second child of Viv and Charlie, born on 15 January 1970. She had a strained relationship with mum Viv, who died when Kat turned 30, but still shares a close bond with her maternal grandmother, ‘Big Mo’ Harris. Hard graft Kat’s never been afraid of work, and has turned her hand to many things. Aside from working the bar at the Queen Vic, Kat’s been a market trader and run a cleaning firm with her family. Now she’s the proud owner of Kat’s Cabs and the launderette alongside Phil. Family matters The Slater sisters fought, but always had each other’s backs. Kat didn’t like Lynne being her mum’s favourite, despaired of snobby Belinda and was cut off from Little Mo by her abusive…

“Iwish I’d opened up earlier – but I was scared of being defined as Amy-with-Crohn’s, and not Amy the dancer,” reveals Strictly star Amy Dowden, on this poignant and powerful documentary about her battle with Crohn’s disease – a lifelong illness which affects the digestive system. “People see the glitz and the glamour of me on Strictly, but this is my reality – what people with Crohn’s and colitis go through – and it’s important to talk and raise awareness.” A dancer since childhood, Amy was just 11 when she suffered her first Crohn’s episode, and was in and out of hospital for years before eventually being diagnosed with the condition aged 19. It’s been a painful and emotional journey, but with the support of her family and friends, she…

For months now, Sharon and Phil have been carrying around the secret that they tried to bump off Ian Beale – and so far they seem to have got away with it! But next week, something happens that threatens to blow everything wide open, and it looks as though they’ll be left with no option but to confess their terrible sins. Yet as they discuss their course of action, will they both be on the same page? Or will one of them throw the other under the bus? YOUR NEXT ISSUE ON SALE TUESDAY 24 AUG EMMERDALE Leyla’s fears Pregnant Leyla has yet more to worry about next week, as she struggles to juggle her secret with protecting Liam. But should she be focusing more on her own health? HOME…