Inside Soap UK 19 - 2016

Try as I may (although to be honest, I haven’t tried terribly hard!) there’s only one word that I have to write in my editor’s letter for this issue, and that word is… wait for it… GRANT! There’s something a little bit special about the return of this Walford legend. And it’s made all the more of a treat – in a sad way, of course – that it coincides with the final goodbye to Peggy Mitchell, another Walford legend who will simply never be bettered. We are talking classic, tear-jerking EastEnders this week. Grant himself, actor Ross Kemp, tells us about his return over on p8 – and it’s lovely to hear the fondness that he still has for the show and the legacy of the Mitchell family. We…

Soap’s number one family faces its most tragic chapter this week, as the legendary Peggy Mitchell passes away, just after son Grant arrives to be with her. This is no tender reunion for the clan, however, as Grant arrives in Walford furious that Peggy’s sad secret has been kept from him – and that he has been denied the chance to spend more time with her… Brothers Phil and Grant are later united, though – both upset that poorly Peggy has stopped receiving treatment that could prolong her life. But while she tells them she’s ready to face death, it’s facing her sons who are torn up with grief and fury that’s the big battle for Peggy. “Grant and Phil are in turmoil and they are lashing out at each…

We’ll admit that we have been waiting for Grant Mitchell to march back into Walford for years now, but the last thing any of us wanted was for him to be returning for mum Peggy’s tragic death. Saying goodbye to the Mitchell matriarch is hard for everyone, and sons Phil and Grant will become more volatile than ever in the face of her demise. But the truth is that if Dame Barbara Windsor hadn’t asked to kill Peggy off, we might not be welcoming actor Ross Kemp back at all… Welcome back, Ross! Is it true that we owe your return to Dame Barbara? It is. Barbara approached me to say she was leaving EastEnders and that the time was right for her. She was on holiday at the time,…

SHARON She broke his heart by cheating with Phil, but ex-wife Sharon always got under Grant’s skin. Their violent marriage was a disaster, but given that she’s just divorced alcoholic Phil, will Grant be her Mr Right again? JANE Her affair with Grant almost killed Jane and Ian’s relationship, as Jane never could resist the Mitchell hard man. But now Jane and Ian are bound by Bobby’s killer secret, would the temptation of Grant be too risky? KATHY The Mitchell brothers always seem to fall for each other’s women, and Kathy was no exception. Her fling with his brother drove Phil mad – he and Grant ended up in the Thames! Could Kathy be the woman for Grant?…

“JACK HAPPENS TO BE THERE THE SAME DAY JENNY GOES TO BLACKPOOL” Jenny is hailed a hero this week, as she bravely runs in front of a tram to save little Jack Webster’s life. She’s in Blackpool with new love interest Johnny when the accident happens, where she’s trying to exorcise the demons of her past. But in a frightening reminder of what happened to her wicked dad Alan, Jack is in peril on the tramline. And it’s Jenny who rescues him… “It’s purely instinct,” shares Sally Ann Matthews, who plays her. “Jack happens to be there the same day Jenny goes to Blackpool with Johnny. She never went and visited the site where her dad fell, so Johnny offers to take her there so she can remember her dad…

“IT’S BEEN SAID TIM LOVES KEVIN MORE THAN SAL - AND THAT IS IN CLEAR VIEW!” The Metcalfe marriage is in turmoil this week – when Sally learns Tim didn’t go on their planned romantic mini-break alone. She’s feeling awful about being so snobby regarding the surprise her husband had arranged for her, and decides to visit Blackpool with Sophie to beg for his forgiveness. But as she spies Tim enjoying a cosy meal for two, Sally sees red. “Kevin is Tim’s secret dining companion!” laughs our Corrie insider. “It’s often been said that Tim loves his best mate Kev more than Sal, and this is that devotion in clear view. All Sally’s thoughts of pleading for mercy and hoping to find a way to piece their marriage back together…