Inside Soap UK 17 - 2020

“Bravo to Corrie for such a brave plot…” We’ve had a lot of reaction to the story around Asha on Corrie this week, with many people (including Tanisha Gorey herself, who plays the schoolgirl) having their own experiences, or knowing people who’ve gone through something similar. This is where soaps can be so much more powerful than perhaps reading a poster on a wall, or getting a good talking-to about rights and wrongs from a teacher. To see someone like Asha going through this terrible experience – especially when so brilliantly portrayed by rising star Tanisha – and witnessing the impact it has on her friends and family, really brings it all home. With soaps crossing the generations, it’s equally a useful insight for older viewers into the pressures of…

Months of manipulation finally take their toll on Yasmeen this week, and she lashes out at her cruel husband – but as Geoff lies motionless on the floor, has terrified Yasmeen delivered a killer blow? It’s after Yasmeen is diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection – which Geoff tries to blame on her former husband Sharif – that she slowly starts to unravel. And when Geoff makes her wear a sexy dress that he bought for one of his escort girls, Yasmeen loses it with her abuser… “Yasmeen doesn’t mean to attack Geoff – all she wants is something to eat and a hug,” explains Shelley King, who plays the victim. “She is not thinking coherently, she hasn’t eaten properly for two-and-a-half days. She reacts like a wounded, cornered animal…

Why has it taken so long for Yasmeen to see what Geoff is really like? She is a woman who is terrified of losing what she believes to be her closest connection. She has lost all the men in her life, and she is terrified of losing another one. Also, she feels a failure. Geoff has made her feel a common denominator in all this loss. She believes she’s alone. Why didn’t she leave Geoff when she found out he was using escorts? Geoff has already isolated her – she tried to tell him she was going to Spain after she found the escort emails, but he refused to let her go. Her ex-husband had an affair for seven years behind her back, and there may have been more than…

There’s a terrible price to pay for Bobby Beale this week, as he tries to impress his crush, Dotty. The horrifying situation unfolds after underage Bobby heads to the club night at Ruby’s, but is left devastated when he sees Dotty cosying up to his older brother, Peter – and the heartbroken lad goes off the rails… “Dotty is making money from selling balloons of nitrous oxide – aka laughing gas – to various punters,” explains actress Milly Zero, who plays her. “Bobby really wants some, because he wants to act cool and he reckons he is going to get his girl. “But Dotty says to him, ‘Absolutely not – you’ve recently had brain surgery, you’re 16 years old and there is absolutely no way’,” adds the star. “However, Bobby…

BOBBY “In an ideal world, it would be nice for someone like Bobby to tame Dotty,” considers star Milly. “Realistically, though, would that work? I think they are just so different…” VINNY “I really love Dotty’s friendship with Vinny,” grins Milly. “It’s great for her to have a platonic bond with someone who she can get up to mischief with!” PETER “Peter could be a good match – as long as he behaves himself, as we know he can be a bit of a ladies’ man,” chuckles Milly. “And Dotty definitely won’t be willing to stand for that kind of thing!”…

Harriet’s family is at war this week, as secrets and lies see her loved ones at loggerheads. But when Harriet decides to quiz dodgy cop – and former colleague – DI Malone about what’s been going on, will she only make things worse? Harriet becomes concerned after Will is rather heavy-handed when warning off the foster parents of his grandson Lucas, following their recent visit. When the parents report him for intimidation, Harriet knows that Will’s overreaction is because of other pressures he’s under, and decides she ought to quiz Malone. But as Katherine Dow Blyton – who plays Harriet – admits, her alter ego may come to regret her actions… Hi, Katherine! Harriet is very worried about Will and his involvement with Malone, isn’t she? “Will is stressed because…