Table of contents for 8 - 2022 in Inside Soap UK

The twisted mind games between serial killer Gray and his former love rival Kheerat reach a chilling climax this week – and one of the men is left fighting for his life! Kheerat still believes he can get Gray to admit to murdering Chantelle, so when he receives a desperate call from his so-called mate, he rushes off to meet him. However, soon the situation has spiralled well out of control – and a life is left hanging in the balance… “This is definitely a showdown worth watching!” teases EastEnders actor Jaz Singh Deol, who plays Kheerat. “What I can say is it’s one of the best pieces of writing I’ve encountered so far during my time on the Square, and it was the perfect storm of actors, writing and…

There’s drama at Hollyoaks High this week, after pupils Leah and DeMarcus break into the school – and steal a bottle of alcohol from the caretaker’s cupboard! When John Paul hears that the school alarm has been triggered and investigates, he’s stunned to find DeMarcus collapsed after necking the booze. Worse still, everyone quickly jumps to the conclusion that the alcohol belongs to Prince, when it’s really part of John Paul’s secret stash. This should be a wake-up call for the deputy head – but Hollyoaks star James Sutton reckons his character is in deep denial about his drinking… Hi, James! We’ve recently seen Bobby call out John Paul about his drinking. Has that had any effect? No, I don’t think it has any effect at all. That’s the thing…

Rhona faces a tough time this week, after news of Pierce’s death reaches Emmerdale village, and she’s then forced to come clean to Marlon. Marlon is shaken once he reads in the paper about Pierce dying, and braces himself to tell Rhona. She and Vanessa are together when Marlon arrives, and are forced to admit that they already knew about the demise of the evil rapist. But despite this opportunity to be totally honest about meeting Pierce’s son Marcus, Rhona stays quiet. “This is a big mess and Rhona knows it,” shares our village spy. “Marlon is going to be hurt and horrified when he hears the full story, so Rhona is just prolonging the agony. Once he discovers just how much she’s hiding, and the whole situation with Marcus,…

“There’s a real spark between Stu and Yasmeen” Stu shows Yasmeen his naughty side this week – when he plays a wicked prank on the high-and-mighty Tracy! It’s after Tracy brags to Jenny and Stu about the fancy wine-tasting experience her dad Ken gifted her for Christmas that Stu realises just how rude the florist is. So, he vows to take her down a peg or two – however, will Yasmeen be impressed with her new housemate’s high-jinks? “Yasmeen and Stu are living together and working together, and it’s clear there’s a lovely friendship developing between the two of them,” points out our Corrie insider. “Yasmeen has offered Stu a lifeline, so the last thing he wants is to offend her by getting her neighbours off-side.” Tracy isn’t exactly the…

Mercedes continues to struggle with wayward son Bobby this week, at the same time as trying to secure herself a new full-time job. Mercy is at her wits’ end when she gets a reminder from social services about their impending visit; meanwhile, she has a job interview lined up and no one to look after Bobby while she’s there… Thankfully, Scott steps in to help, but Mercedes ends up arriving at her job interview late. Has she blown it before she’s had a chance to wow her potential new employers?…

Faith’s world is turned upside down once again this week, when her son Luka is snatched from his football training ground! While waiting for someone to pick him up, Luka is targeted by paedophile Darren. Despite his mum’s previous warnings, Luka willingly gets into Darren’s car to go home. At the hospital, Faith learns that no one has picked up Luka and goes to get him – but he’s not there! Luka soon realises he shouldn’t have trusted Darren and grabs the steering wheel – causing them to crash. The pair are taken to hospital, but Darren warns Luka to keep quiet about what happened… Faith is relieved that Luka is safe – though with Darren still lurking at the hospital, is Luka truly out of harm’s way? And will…

Zara is in Daniel’s bad books this week, over the way in which she’s covering for her glamorous friend Davinia’s affair. Davinia is currently staying at the couple’s house while lying to her husband – and Daniel’s not happy! So, over a large glass of vino, Zara breaks the news to Davinia that she won’t lie for her any more… But despite Zara’s best efforts to put her foot down, Davinia makes it clear how offended she is. Will Zara stick to her guns?…

If you think Dingle men are hard work these days, they’re pussycats compared with their early days. This week, we see Cain rejected by his policewoman lover, Angie. It’s first love for Cain, so having handed over his heart, he’s not happy to see it chucked on the floor then stamped on by an inelegant yet practical police shoe. He reacts in textbook style: violence followed by psychological torture… First up is a manic car drive, which leaves Angie frightened for her life. Soon, he’s popping up in her bedroom, making malicious phone calls. Then – creepiest of all, oddly – Angie returns home to find Cain mowing her lawn and sharing a cup of tea with grandad Len! How far will he go to cut Angie down to size?…

We would never have put together Whitney, Kheerat and Chelsea as the detective team poised to take down Gray. But Shona tells us that she’s enjoyed every minute of working with cast mates Zaraah Abrahams (Chelsea) and Jaz Deol (Kheerat) for this plot… “I love my time with Zaraah, she’s a brilliant actress and fun to work with,” she grins. “Also Jaz is a fantastic actor. Both me and Zaraah are always saying that, when you work with Jaz, you believe everything he’s saying – he’s very intense! But he’s a joy to work with.”…

There’s major peril afoot as Call The Midwife’s latest series comes to a close this week. Poplar’s community bands together in the wake of a train crash, while the Nonnatus nurses are braced and ready to tend to the injured. But with two treasured colleagues – Dr Turner and Sister Julienne – trapped inside a derailed carriage, there’s an anxious wait for news of their fate. Inside TV chats to Megan Cusack – whose nursing alter ego Nancy Corrigan manages to escape the wreckage and fetch help – to find out more… Hello, Megan! This is an incredible episode, isn’t it? Yes, it’s very intense. It was my first time doing night shoots, but we all had good craic together – playing music or playing cards to keep us going.…

THEATRE TOY STORY IN CONCERT Everybody knows the tale of Buzz and Woody in Toy Story – as well as what the toys get up to when people aren’t around! Now you can enjoy the much-loved classic film accompanied by a live orchestra! Toy Story In Concert is presented by Senbla, and performed by the Novello Orchestra conducted by David Mahoney. For tickets and more info visit www.ticketmaster.co.uk BLU-RAY ENCANTO The Madrigals are an extraordinary family who live in a charmed place called the Encanto. The magic of the Encanto has blessed every child in the family with a unique gift – every child except Mirabel! However, she’s soon the Madrigals’ last hope when the magic of the Encanto is in danger… BOOK BREATHLESS by Amy McCulloch Journalist Cecily is…

The shocking truth about Abi’s infidelity comes spilling out in nightmare fashion this week, as Kev overhears a damning conversation. “It’s a horrendous way for Kev to find out” Emotions are running high when Abi makes the big mistake of confessing what she did to horrified Sally. She might be Abi’s best mate, but Sal is also close to her ex-husband Kevin and is conflicted about whether to tell him. But the moral conundrum is taken out of her hands once Abi calls Sally to talk it over – then discovers that Kevin has heard every word! “Abi’s phone is connected to the Bluetooth speaker in the Webster campervan, and her conversation is being broadcast!” reveals our Corrie insider. “While Abi and Sally are talking frankly, Kevin is hearing his…

Everybody needs good Neighbours – but not if you’re Channel 5. The UK broadcaster has announced its decision to cancel the Aussie soap, with producers of the show confirming that Neighbours will end forever unless another UK channel swoops in to save it. Meanwhile, viewers are in uproar considering that the folk of Ramsay Street still pull in 1.5 million viewers a day – baffling fans as to why the axe has swung. Here, Inside Soap’s special report takes a look at the key questions that have been raised to provide you with some answers… Why has Channel 5 dropped Neighbours? Well, a tabloid newspaper has reported that the cost of funding the soap’s production was “too expensive” for the broadcaster. But chiefs have since released a statement explaining that…

Coronation Street is set to wave goodbye to one of its most popular characters, with the news that Emma is to be written out of the soap! Actress Alexandra Mardell – whose Weatherfield highlights include romance with Chesney, and Emma turning out to be Steve’s long-lost daughter – has confirmed her decision to leave after four years as the Street’s little ray of pink sunshine… “Playing Emma, on the most iconic street there is, has been the best experience of my life,” explains Alexandra. “Compared to other cast members I still feel like a newbie, which makes my decision to leave all the more difficult. But I feel it’s the right time for me.” On screen, Emma’s future hangs in the balance as she struggles with the guilt associated with…

It’s really not a good week for John Paul – yet James tells us that things are going to get a whole lot worse… “It gets very bad – wait until you see what we’ve just been filming on location!” he teases. “There’s some big, dangerous stuff coming up – there’s a reasonable budget, quite a large crew, and a great location, so I’ll let your readers jump to their own conclusions about that! “The skin on my face is sore from all the crying and I ache all over,” continues James “I often get these issue-based storylines, and I take it quite seriously, because I want to do a good job. However, we all know what we’re getting ourselves into, so I can’t complain. I think the writers just…

“Paul is gravely ill at this point – it’s touch-and-go…” Scheming Paul finds himself in deadly danger this week, after he collapses while all alone in his office! Paul’s been feeling under the weather for some time now, but seeing as he recently faked a serious illness just to get Terese to take him back, nobody believes him when he says he’s not well. So as Paul falls ill and desperately phones his loved ones for help, nobody is willing to pick up his call… “You can’t blame Paul’s family for not believing him – just look at his track record,” points out our Erinsborough spy. “They’ve all had more than enough of his lies, and none of them want to deal with him anymore. It’s no wonder they all…

“Stacey and Suki are as stubborn and mean as each other” The battle lines are drawn on Bridge Street this week, as Stacey and Suki’s feud ratchets up a notch – and new market inspector Honey is dragged into the fight, when Suki threatens to have her fired if she doesn’t do something about Stacey. Suki is livid that her arch-enemy is now dating her son Kheerat, so she tries to get Stacey’s Baps closed down on hygiene grounds. But Stace decides to fight back by parking her van right outside the Minute Mart, further provoking Suki’s rage. “This is going to get nasty!” predicts our Bridge Street gossip. “It’s hard to know who to put your money on, because Stacey and Suki are as tough, stubborn and mean as…

There’s more heartbreak for Harvey this week, when his son Aaron refuses to see him. He’s been desperate to visit Aaron in prison, but the jailed terrorist won’t put his dad on the visitors’ list. He’s still angry that Harvey threatened to cut him off as he planned to move away, and their last face-to-face conversation was full of bile and bitterness. However, buoyed by Jean’s advice about not giving up on his son, Harvey is determined to reach Aaron. Can he convince his son to let him in?…

Amy’s decision to chuck new fella Jacob lasts a total of five seconds this week – after the pair meet up in secret for stolen kisses! Amy’s father, Steve, is adamant that his daughter has nothing more to do with Jacob, after the lad copped the blame for spiking her drink. However, it seems as if Amy just can’t stay away from her bad boy beau. But with Steve keeping a close eye on his daughter, how long before their romantic meetings are rumbled?…

Former copper Craig starts a new job this week – packing knickers alongside Kirk at Underworld. It’s a totally new direction for the ex-police officer, who spent his whole life dreaming of being part of the force. His mum, Beth, can’t understand why he would throw away years of hard work to go work in an underwear factory, though of course she is unaware of the real reason why Craig was forced to quit… Faye is still riddled with guilt, knowing that it was her part in Ted’s death that forced Craig to leave his dream job – yet Craig paints on a smile, and assures his girlfriend that his first day in the factory went really well. Faye can see that Craig is deeply unhappy, but she knows that…

There’s a chill down Leanne’s spine this week, as evil Jez Quigley oozes into the pub. The Street is reeling from the death of Natalie’s son, Tony, and Leanne is intrigued by Jez’s reaction to the ‘MURDER!’ posters Blu-Tacked to the Rovers walls. Meanwhile, Steve and Vik plan to set up a taxi firm (yes, it’s the beginnings of that now legendary Corrie business, Streetcars), but while their ideas are big, their bank balance is small. Jez is flashing the cash, so could he be a silent partner? Well, more of a murderous, drug-dealing psychopath partner, really. Elsewhere, a lecture from Toyah sees Maxine makes a big decision that will rock Ashley’s world: she’s going vegetarian – and so is he! Can our born-and-bred butcher’s boy cope?…

THE BEST IN TWEED… Emmerdale’s Kim Tate was seen wearing a gorgeous tartan baseball cap. Where can I get one? Mary, Lincolnshire Hi, Mary! We believe Kim is wearing the ‘Harris Tweed Baker Boy Hat’ in green check from James Alexander Clothing. It’s currently in the sale, and there are other colours to choose from too – so have a look and see which takes your fancy! A TROUBLED PAST! David recently mentioned smashing up Coronation Street with a metal pole – I remember him doing that a while ago. But why? Michael That was in 2008! David was in a bad place after Tina terminated her pregnancy. David lashed out at Gail first, then took out his anger on everyone else by laying into the Street with a pole.…

“Grace dating a police officer is something I wouldn’t have imagined in a million years!” laughs Hollyoaks star Tamara Wall, as we catch up with her to see what’s in store for the village’s resident bad girl. “However, I think this story is genius – especially as Grace didn’t know who Saul really was until she fell for him.” Grace’s new beau Saul arrived in the village under the alias of Nate Denby, searching for missing childhood pal Lisa Loveday. He subsequently discovered that she’d been murdered by Toby – and this week, Saul finds himself demoted to a beat copper due to the dodgy tactics he used on the case! Unfortunately, Grace is less than pleased to see her man in uniform… “Saul walks into the club in his…

Bubbly Scott has been an colourful character since arriving in Chester. Star Ross may not be as ‘out-there’, but he wouldn’t want to be anywhere else as he faces your tricky questions… “What do you make of Scott’s fashion sense?” Scott’s style is unique – and that’s being kind! We have costume sales at work where you can buy character clothes. And in seven years of playing Scott, I haven’t bought a single item of my costume! Nikki Sanderson [who plays Maxine] bought one of Scott’s leopard-print shirts. But saying all that, I love that Scott is known for his outlandish, ridiculous outfits. “What are the best and worst parts about playing Scott’s alter ego, Anita Tinkle?” “How do you like to spend a typical day off ?” The best…

Titans of television Ant and Dec bring us yet more Saturday-night silliness, as a new series of Takeaway kicks off, boasting fresh features as well as their characteristic crazy stunts, guest stars and big surprises. Here, the pair tell us more… Hi, both! How do you feel about having an audience back in the studio? Dec We couldn’t be more excited! We’ve really missed having a live audience as they add so much to the show. Ant It’s all about the audience, so we’re over the moon to have them back in the studio, and to have fun with them. What can you tell us about this year’s mini-serial? Ant It’s an homage to Ghostbusters called The Polter Guys! Dec has sold his soul to the devil in return for…

As Inside Soap hits the shelves this week, Emmerdale viewers will have just watched psycho Meena abduct Billy and Dawn on their wedding day. What happens next will surely go down in history as some of the most nail-biting drama to ever rock the village – and none of that would be possible without the soap’s woman of the moment, Paige Sandhu, who plays Meena. Here, the actress reflects on her character’s most sensational plot to date – and teases whether this really is the last we’ve seen of Meena… Hi, Paige! What did you think when you read the climax to Meena’s killing spree? I thought that it was really good! Meena’s return to the village is so intense, and I loved playing it. What reaction did you get…

Sarah’s world comes crashing down this week, when Lydia confesses that she’s been having an affair with Adam! Sarah’s utterly heartbroken to think that her best friend and her husband have betrayed her in the worst possible way – however, she’s totally unaware that it’s all a lie, and that scorned Lydia has stitched-up Adam good and proper! Can Adam convince his wife that he’s totally innocent? Rebecca Ryan, who plays devious Lydia, tells us that her character genuinely believes that she’s acting in Sarah’s best interests… Lydia’s gone to extreme lengths to set up Adam. Why’s she sodetermined? When they dated back in their uni days, Adam treated Lydia very badly. For her, it wasn’t just a little fling and then on to the next one – her relationship…

“Chesney doesn’t want it to happen – he tells Linda to leave…” Heartbroken Chesney faces the very real prospect that he could lose Joseph this week, after Linda suggests that the lad should go to live with her in Portugal! The grandmother has been left deeply concerned since finding out that Joseph recently ran away from home, and she’s worried Chesney and Gemma aren’t in a position to give the boy the love and attention that he needs. But while Linda’s gesture comes from a place of kindness and concern, Chesney is adamant that his son is going nowhere… “Linda thinks, ‘Well, Joseph was happy in Portugal before, so why can’t that happen again?’” points out Jacqueline Leonard, who plays her. “She can see that Ches and Gemma are run…

There’s a storm brewing at the Woolpack this week, as Charity and Marlon try to adjust to their new working relationship. There is still bitterness from Chas over what’s happened, and she shows up to ridicule Charity’s new ideas for the pub. Determined not to rise to it, Charity bites her tongue, but soon falls foul of Marlon, too. He isn’t happy when neither she nor Mack are sold on his new menu ideas, and the chef strops off in a huff. Marlon’s suffered more than most, thanks to Al’s meddling with the pub, therefore the new menu means a lot to him. So when Charity doesn’t want to know, Bob offers to host pop-up nights in the café for Marlon to try out his ideas. It looks as though…

Jasmine and Tane watch over fragile Felicity this week, but she quickly spirals out of control! With Cash out of town for their father’s memorial, Felicity decides to drown her sorrows. After a boozy afternoon, Jasmine asks Tane to watch over Felicity. But the moment Tane turns his back, Felicity flees the gym and then ends up drinking with some guys at the caravan park! Can Jasmine and Tane talk sense into Felicity before Cash returns to Summer Bay?…

Warren pushes away his nearest and dearest this week, as he crumbles after having another health scare… Still in agony after the recent hit-and-run, Warren continues to lash out at Maxine. But a talking-to from Joel makes Warren realise he needs to reveal what’s going on to his loving girlfriend. However, after a fight with Sam, Warren tells Joel that he’s suffered yet another seizure. Will Warren change his mind about telling Maxine the truth about his health woes? Or will he continue to hide his seizures from her?…

EastEnders is truly firing on all cylinders as the millennium approaches. Hot on the heels of Bianca and Dan’s affair, we now have Steve and Matthew’s murder trial and the Mitchell brothers’ dip in the Thames. All solid gold classics, and all within a few weeks – or even just days – of each other. Talk about packing in the drama! ROUGH JUSTICE! Steve and Matthew go up in front of the beak for Saskia’s murder. Steve’s stitched Matthew up like a kipper, as they say in gangster dramas, so it only takes the testimony of Steve’s permanently stunned-looking sister, Jackie, to push it over the finish line – and a guilty verdict is announced for poor Matt. “No!” screams his dad, Michael, in the time-honoured tradition of soap relatives…

WINNER! This week’s prize-winning entry comes from Gill, via email. The cash for your EastEnders caption is on its way – congrats! WANT TO BAG YOURSELF £20? Tell us what you think is being said in this Emmerdale scene. Post your idea to the Soapbox address, email your entry to soapbubble@insidesoap.co.uk, or put it on our Facebook page. The prize-winning entry will be announced in two weeks’ time!…

“Every time I go out to the shops, people are always asking me, ‘What’s going to happen to Gray? Who’s going to take him down?’” giggles EastEnders star Shona McGarty, aka Whitney, as we have a chat with her about her character’s attempts to bring the evil serial killer to justice. “Even the other day, when viewers found out that Tina’s body was buried at the Argee Bhajee, they all thought that Gray was going to get found out in that episode. So they’re all on tenterhooks, just waiting for it to happen.” The plot takes another dramatic twist this week, when a fight breaks out between Gray and Kheerat (see p8) – and worried Whitney is left deeply concerned about Kheerat’s safety. So might she end up having to…

Dirty Dancing superfan Keith Lemon and dancer Ashley Roberts front this new reality series, in which 10 celebs recreate moments from the classic 80s movie. Keith Lemon (aka comedian Leigh Francis) reveals how he came to be involved… “Me and Paddy McGuinness first did it about 14 years ago, for Comic Relief,” he recalls. “Then we did The Keith And Paddy Picture Show, and one episode was a Dirty Dancing special. So when I got the call for this, it was just obvious!” The show will follow presenter Anthea Turner, reality TV’s James Argent and Marnie Simpson, singer Lee Ryan, social media star Saffron Barker, comedians Darren Harriott and Verona Rose, ex-Goggleboxer Tom Malone Jr, TV quizzer Bobby Seagull and Hollyoaks actress Chelsee Healey, as they move into a lakeside…