Table of contents for 17 - 2022 in Inside Soap UK

“David Platt would be horrified at the thought” There are two sorts of people in the world: those who’d be thrilled to grow up to be just like their mother… and those whose greatest fear is growing up to be just like their mother. Whereas Corrie’s David Platt would be horrified to be told he’s turning into a miniature version of his twittering mum Gail – as teenager Max runs him ragged – actor Jack P Shepherd is delighted by this development; as you can read in our fun chat on p44. Of course, it cuts both ways. Gail would be equally horrified to think herself cast from the same mould as her own twittering mum Audrey. And in due course we’ll surely see Max rolling his eyes at the…

All-out war erupts in the Barlow family this week, when Simon goes nuclear after Carla employs Jacob at Underworld. It’s Amy who convinces Carla to give her boyfriend a chance, although once news reaches Simon, he can’t believe his stepmum could betray him by giving his arch-enemy a job. When Peter, Leanne and the rest of the Barlow-Battersby clan find out, they are horrified. Soon, Carla finds herself in the eye of the storm… “This Jacob decision could cost Carla her family – Simon and Peter are furious!” warns our Weatherfield insider. “She was trying to give a reformed bad boy a second chance, but they don’t see it like that. To Simon, it’s simple – Carla has totally betrayed him and given someone who almost destroyed his life the…

DRUG DRAMA! Caught in a toxic cycle of drugs and crime with gangster Jez Quigley, Leanne was in grave danger – and it was up to Toyah to attempt to talk some sense into her… BARLOW THE BELT! Leanne was livid to learn that ex-hubby Peter and her sis were secret lovers. Rumbling their cute codenames Fred and Wilma, she confronted the pair and yelled, “Yabba dabba flamin’ doo!” THREE’S A CROWD! Naughty Imran dated both Battersby babes without the other realising it. To get revenge they teamed up and pretended they fancied a threesome, causing him to run a mile (until Toyah foolishly forgave him).…

Comeback Queen! Rula Lenska has heavily hinted that her Corrie alter ego, Claudia Colby, will be back for another stint on the cobbles this summer. “If she’s good, they might let her back,” teases the actress. RIP Melanie Former EastEnders star Melanie Clarke Pullen has sadly passed away. The 46-year-old actress played Mary Flaherty – Pauline Fowler’s Irish relative – from 1997 to 1999. The show must go on! After two years off the air, The British Soap Awards will return live to ITV in June to honour and reward our favourite soaps! Go to britishsoapawards.tv from Thursday 21 April at 10am for full details on all the categories, and how to cast your votes.…

Kiri’s mum arrives in Erinsborough this week – and Glen runs himself ragged  attempting to hide from her! But will she catch him out? Glen’s desperately trying to keep the fact that he is Kiri’s father a secret. Yet the truth could be about to spill out as Barbara pays her a visit… “Glen is desperate to avoid Barbara at all costs!” explains Richard Huggett, who plays Glen. “The whole time she’s in Erinsborough he’s hiding, because he can’t be in the same room as her. Ultimately, I think Glen told Barbara that he would never contact Kiri – but now here they all are.” While Kiri is having a great time showing Barbara around the vineyard and introducing her to her colleagues, Glen’s doing everything he can to stay…

It only seems like five minutes ago that young David Platt was running riot on the Street, smashing things up, pushing his mum down the stairs, and just generally causing carnage wherever he went. So it’s only fitting that, now he’s a dad himself, David is being put through the wringer by his own teenage son, Max – who’s 10 times worse than he ever was! “David’s oblivious to how he was when he was a kid!” laughs actor Jack P Shepherd, aka David, who recently celebrated his 22nd anniversary on the cobbles. “There was a scene where Kirk said to him, ‘Well, you were twice as bad when you were Max’s age’, and David was like, ‘No, I wasn’t!’ He has a very selective memory. “I think this was…

It takes a lot to climb the career ladder: hard work, dedication, and, in Olivia’s case, anonymously blackmailing your colleague to steal their job! The toxic teacher has been threatening John Paul over his secret that his drinking caused the bus crash, but what happens when he works out the identity of his tormentor? Emily Burnett, who plays Miss Bradshaw, reveals all! “Olivia is ambitious and her main aim is to become deputy head,” says the star. “She looks for cracks she can use to ensure success. She used to admire John Paul, yet since learning he lied about the crash and is hiding his alcoholism, she looks down on his bad behaviour.” Her attempt to force JP to resign is exposed when he leaves Olivia a voicemail saying he’s…

It’s been 26 years since Cindy Beale left Walford behind – and estranged husband Ian destroyed – but she’s never really gone away. Michelle Collins hasn’t appeared on the Square for almost three decades, yet Cindy gets mentioned to her every day. Given that Michelle has now found huge success beyond soap – she’s currently touring the country in stage play Cluedo – and also runs her own production company, she admits it’s frustrating to remain forever in Ms Beale’s shadow. However, Michelle reckons she’s made her peace with it. “I am surprised that Cindy has remained so iconic,” she admits. “Even young people come up to me, and I’m like, ‘How do you know who Cindy is?’. But with the Drama channel running the Classic EastEnders episodes, people still…

“Cleo is a senior anatomical pathology technician,” reveals Zoë Tapper, who plays her. “She takes care of the bodies, helps to conduct post-mortems, then prepares the bodies for viewing by relatives. She attempts to help victims reclaim their dignity, and notices Grace has the same ability. She likes how tender he is. “She has integrity, but she also has quite a naughty sense of humour and charm, so she’s quite refreshing,” she adds. “Meeting Grace is like finding a kindred spirit. They fancy each other quickly – so Cleo takes a no-nonsense approach!”…

CASUALTY Matthew Afolami..................... Osi Okerafor Sah Brockner....................... Arin Smethurst Faith Cadogan....................... Kirsty Mitchell Iain Dean....................... Michael Stevenson Charlie Fairhead............... Derek Thompson Teddy Gowan............................ Milo Clarke Ethan Hardy..................... George Rainsford David Hide................................. Jason Durr Jan Jenning................................ Di Botcher Dylan Keogh............................ William Beck Marty Kirkby................. Shaheen Jafargholi Rash Masum............................ Neet Mohan Jacob Masters........................ Charles Venn Robyn Miller................ Amanda Henderson Stevie Nash.......................... Elinor Lawless CORONATION STREET Aadi Alahan.......................... Adam Hussain Asha Alahan......................... Tanisha Gorey Dev Alahan........................ Jimmi Harkishin Aggie Bailey.......................... Lorna Laidlaw Ed Bailey................ Trevor Michael Georges James Bailey...................... Nathan Graham Michael Bailey........................ Ryan Russell Ronnie Bailey......................... Vinta Morgan Adam Barlow.................. Samuel Robertson Carla Barlow.............................. Alison King 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 Sam Blakeman.......................…

Dear Simon, you are quite right, what Jacob did was unforgivable. In fact, it was just as inexcusable as knocking your own mum about… Or forcing spice cigarettes on Summer when she was just 13… Or being part of a gang who mugged Audrey Roberts. Imagine being morally bankrupt enough as a teenager that you steal cars to go joyriding, stage a burglary at an old lady’s flat and then join a drug-dealing gang! All these things on their own are disgusting, but together they make for quite a roll call of dishonour. It was only right and proper that your family disowned you, and you were cast out of polite society. Except you weren’t, you hypocrite. You were given not one, but many chances at redemption. So, stop banging…

Soap characters are famous for slinging mud at one another – but Corrie love rivals Tyrone and Phill are set to smash all records! Our hilarious pictures of stars Alan Halsall and Jamie Kenna, who play the pair respectively, show the warring fellas in their most epic showdown yet. “The renovations are under way at the new home that Phill now shares with Tyrone and Phill Tyrone’s ex, Fiz – but not an awful lot of work is getting sho done,” points out our Weatherfield insider. “The two men come to blows, and end up covered in cement!” This is not the first time that the men in Fiz’s life have engaged in a comedy fight. At Christmas, Tyrone and Phill ended up chasing each other across the cobbles armed…

“Bertie’s become quite obsessed with shopping channels. I’ll stick a cartoon on for him while I go to the loo, and I’ll come back in, and he’ll be watching two women trying to flog Diamonique tennis bracelets.” We think Bertie is going to grow up into a very special little boy. “I thought I was fine after having Keegan and then a few weeks later I had killer piles. Even now I can’t even think about him without picturing haemorrhoid cream.” Well, that’s a lovely image at teatime, Karen. “I can still picture him, my big brother, on his bike, off to see the world. I haven’t really done much to expand my horizons, have I?” Well, there was that time you stocked purple sprouting broccoli on the stall. “I…

Jai finds himself in the firing line this week, after a packet of cocaine seemingly falls out of his coat pocket – and Laurel accuses him of scoring again! The unfortunate incident comes just as Jai and Laurel have decided to give their romance another shot, and Jai swears blind that he’s being framed by Kim for the incident. But is his boss really responsible, or has addict Jai fallen off the wagon again? Dales star Chris Bisson reckons his alter ego is completely innocent this time… Hi, Chris! The staff at HOP are protesting this week. So what does Jai make of it all? Jai is caught between a rock and a hard place. He doesn’t necessarily think the zero-hours contacts are a good idea, although Kim is putting…

Chelsea’s fortunes appear to be changing for the better this week, as she impresses behind the bar at Ruby’s – but will she agree to take a permanent job there? The single mum has a lot to think about as the week kicks off, following Patrick’s suggestion that they swap houses. While Kim is thrilled at the idea of moving back into her swanky old pad, Chelsea realises she needs to face her demons… “Chelsea is finding it difficult being in the house, surrounded by memories of Gray and all the terrible things he did,” our Albert Square insider reminds us. “So when Patrick suggested that she switch houses with him and Kim, it seemed like the logical solution. However, is Chelsea really ready to give up on her dream…

FAIR CITY Anna refuses to ask Dean for help when she’s injured this week – yet she later agrees to go on another date with him! Elsewhere, Anto’s lies spiral out of control when Carol chases him for payment… And Joan suggests Dearbhla may not be up to running a business. RIVER CITY Stevie and his two dads come together to do the DNA test this week, and finally get the result – but anxious Sam scarpers! Meanwhile, Ellie tells Ruby how disappointed she is about the failed surrogacy. Plus, Bob goes all out for Angus’ birthday.…

HEARTBREAKING GOODBYE I’m so cross at Home and Away for killing off Ari! It was bad enough that they sent him to prison for a crime he didn’t commit, but his illness and subsequent death seemed to come out of nowhere. I’m just glad he finally got to marry Mia before he passed away… Jacqui, Wolverhampton SAVE OUR TOYAH! Why do soaps make women characters with fertility issues turn full-on crazy around babies? Toyah Battersby is a sane, mature woman, and making her a party to her cheating partner’s plot to take Alfie ruins her character. I just don’t believe it. Alfie should be with his mother, and I’m sure the ‘real’ Toyah would say the same! Mercedes, Blackheath I agree – after Imran caused her to lose Elsie, I…

The relationship between David and Max may be fraught, to say the least, but Jack loves playing out the meaty scenes with his young co-star Paddy Bever, who took over playing Max last year… “Paddy’s great, all the Platts love him,” he grins. “His nickname is Paddington Beaver! He’s really settling in, and he’s made loads of friends. “People always forget that someone else played David before me – there was another actor who played him until he was nine – so I was a recast too,” Jack reminds us. “It was great to come in and play David as a cheeky 10-year-old boy – and then see him turn as he went into his teenage years!”…

Ethan has been waiting patiently for a chance to prove that he has what it takes to be a high-flying lawyer, so he’s understandably excited when his big moment finally comes and he’s assigned to a high-profile case. However, rather than this being his time to shine, the nature of the crime throws the eager legal eagle into a difficult dilemma. Emmerdale’s Emile John explains why his alter ego is in for a rough ride… Hi Emile! When does Ethan first hear about this case? He’s finally on the duty rota at his law firm, which means he gets to represent someone if a case comes up. One evening he gets an emergency call out of hours and his boss tells him he’s needed. Ethan is enjoying a cosy night…

Who better to play Miss Scarlett in the stage production of the board game Cluedo than Walford’s original scarlet woman? Michelle is currently on a six-month theatre tour where she gets to wear shocking red every night as the glamourous suspect in a murder mystery… “I used to play Cluedo with my cousin, and we both wanted to be Miss Scarlett – everyone did,” she laughs. “She’s a fun character who wears this iconic red dress, and I get to be glammed up every night. My heels aren’t as high as I’d like because she does all this running around, and that’d be dangerous!” According to Michelle, the regional tour has been a hit with audiences, who thoroughly enjoy a night of laughter and murderous frolics. “After the pandemic, people…

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BULLSEYE! Meena’s had so many resurgences that, even after her guilty verdict, we ask ourselves: is this really the end for Emmerdale’s fifth horsewoman of the apocalypse? Villains like her aren’t dead until they’re dead. Is there a gap in the ITV schedule for another prison drama? They could secure the services of Paige Sandhu with a golden handcuffs deal and call it Bad Girls: The Revenge!…

It’s no wonder that Janine feels she needs to sabotage Linda’s return to the Queen Vic, as the cracks are already beginning to show in her fledgling romance with Mick. Though the new couple seem to be on cloud nine as they return from their romantic break away, it’s clear that Mick is not as ready to move on as he’s led Janine to believe. He’s promised her that he and Linda are done and that he’s totally committed to this new relationship – but if that’s the case, why is he looking so uncomfortable? It’s when Mick hears from Billy that Janine has been revealing intimate details of their private life that he starts to look decidedly awkward about how fast everything is moving. So is Mick having second…

Sally and Tim face a big test for their marriage this week, when they  fall out over their problems in the bedroom. Following his heart surgery and enforced celibacy, Tim is finding it impossible to perform, and Sally wants him to get help. She feels terrible for her mortified husband, but knows that seeking medical advice is the best way to resolve the issue. However, Tim is too embarrassed to speak to anyone – and lashes out at Sally instead… “This is a very sensitive subject for Tim, and he’s finding it tough to overcome his emotions,” shares our Weatherfield insider. “He’s just hoping things will click back into place, but so far, no dice. Now the very idea of an early night is making him super-nervous.” Sally’s patience is…

Emotions run high for surrogate Bernie this week, as new mum Rainie pleads with her to babysit Roland. It’s an awkward moment when desperate Rainie is forced to ask for Bernie’s support after Stuart lets her down. Although he adores his baby son, Stuart’s going all out to avoid holding Roland because he’s finding it tough to cope with post-op pain. Worried that he’ll harm the little boy by accident, Stuart refuses to look after him – leaving Rainie and Vi at the end of their tethers. However, Rainie doesn’t seem to realise just how hard it will be for Bernie to care for the baby she carried for nine months, even for a short time. It’s an emotionally overwhelming experience for Bernie, but all Rainie can see is her…

Ste and Sienna need help keeping their criminal activities under wraps this week – however, is someone already on to them? The naughty duo have been siphoning off cash from dodgy Ethan’s money-laundering business, yet they know it’s a dangerous enterprise. So, keen to do whatever it takes to throw Ethan off the scent, they turn to his accountant for help… However, when Sienna and Ste find out that Ethan’s chilling boss, The Undertaker, is on the warpath, the pair panic. Are they about to be rumbled?…

BEN’S VIOLENT CRUSADE! The colour drained from Sharon’s face after Ben admitted that he was behind a string of hideous beatings avenging hate crime in Walford – and our readers worry that he’s in dangerous territory… It saddens me that Ben has sunk to the level of the vicious thugs that he’s trying to teach a lesson. After all, our Ben is a lover – not a fighter! Leanne, Whitstable Sharon’s right – if Ben carries on down such a hateful path, he’s going to wind up in Walford nick sharing a cell with his dad. Ben should take a leaf out of barman Lewis’ book, rather than letting his fists do the talking. I love Lewis, by the way – he’s a breath of fresh air! Scott I know…

1 “ Gilly [Wright, who plays Jean] is a wonderful actress, I think a lot of actors would struggle to make a character like Jean as convincing. I was delighted when I found out I’d be working with her.” 2 “I’m very friendly with Brian Conley [aka Rocky]. He’d only been on the show for a month before I joined, and he was the first person who offered to show me the ropes.” 3 “ Roger Griffiths [Mitch] and I worked together years ago playing gangsters on a film called Hard Men. So, it was lovely to see him again and see him doing so well.” 4 “ Steve McFadden, who plays Phil, is a very old friend of mine. We go back 40 years, having been at drama college…

Work might be stressful for Ethan this week, but thankfully his love life is looking up. The lawyer’s romance with Marcus takes an important step forward when the pair make plans to move in together, and Emile is hoping his alter ego can make a proper go of things with the attractive electrician. “Finally, Ethan is on track to having a fruitful and meaningful relationship!” he beams. “Ethan is happier than he has ever been in the village – it’s nice to play this giddy, childlike side of him. Viewers are going to really warm to this version of the character and support the relationship with Marcus. “The biggest worry for Ethan is introducing Marcus to his dad – he is well aware of how goofy and unpredictable Charles can…

There’s a perturbing new investigation for Detective Superintendent Roy Grace (John Simm) and DS Glenn Branson (Richie Campbell), as we return to the Sussex coast for the latest adaptation of Peter James’ award-winning novel series. After the body of a former teacher is discovered, and human remains are unearthed in a crop field, the deaths appear unconnected. But with his reputation floundering and Assistant Chief Constable Alison Vosper (Rakie Ayola) suggesting he transfer, can Grace convince his superiors of his hunch that a serial predator is at large? Inside TV joins John and Richie – thrilled to be back in Brighton for four new episodes – to find out more… Hello, both! What did you make of the reaction to last year’s series debut? John I was thrilled! I was…

With the second series of Billie & Greg: The Family Diaries under way on ITVBe, the couple talk us through their top telly… What television dramas have you enjoyed recently? Greg Peaky Blinders… Billie We love that. And No Return – Sheridan Smith played that so well. Greg And I’m on the new series of Queen Of The South on Netflix. And what shows do you like to relax in front of? Billie We love Gogglebox, and I used to love Keeping Up With The Kardashians – I do like reality shows… Greg Yeah, I’ve been watching Below Deck Mediterranean. Billie Another one I like is Dream Home Makeovers With Sophie Robinson. What were your favourite TV shows growing up? Billie I used to love Hollyoaks! Greg I’m showing my…

EMMERDALE Leyla’s secret SHE’S BEEN HIDING SOMETHING AWFUL FROM LIAM… It’s been the worst year possible for Dales medic Liam – first his beloved daughter Leanna dies, then he finds out that she was bumped off by the local serial killer! But while the good doctor has been caught up in his grief and quest for justice against Meena, he’s been neglecting his wife Leyla during a time that’s been just as devastating for her. And next week, we discover that Leyla has been living a secret life behind her hubby’s back… EASTENDERS Dotty’s new pal Dotty isn’t exactly the most popular girl on the Square, especially after her plot to rip off Sonia! But next week, the club manager makes a surprising new friend… CORRIE Ken in trouble! You’d…