Table of contents for 10 - 2017 in Inside Soap UK

EastEnders is about to welcome a sexy blonde bombshell in the form of TV star Lisa Faulkner – who is joining the show as sassy career girl, Fi Browning. Oozing with style, Walford’s new siren will initially be drawn to the area strictly for business purposes, but is there much more to this new appearance than meets the eye? “Fi Browning is something of a departure for EastEnders – a no-nonsense but sophisticated businesswoman with strength and vulnerability,” explains the show’s executive producer, Sean O’Connor. “But does she have an agenda? And who – or what – has she set her sights on?” Best known for roles in Spooks and Holby City, and for winning Celebrity MasterChef in 2010, Lisa will make her Albert Square debut when Fi…

It’s all hands on deck at the Vic this week, when Mick tries to rescue his beloved boozer. Meanwhile, Mick’s auntie Tina has her hands full with her mum Sylvie, who puts herself in danger as her loved ones struggle to care for her. “The Carters are trying to keep their heads above water,” admits our Square spy. “If it’s not Tina trying to hold down a job at the café while looking after Sylvie, it’s Mick agonising over his leaky roof!” Having recently been refused a loan from the bank, Mick doesn’t have the dosh to pay for the repairs at the pub – and so this week, he’s forced to try to come up with other ways to turn things round. Elsewhere, Tina’s working hard as well –…

“Eva has basically been a saint, and Maria is ashamed of what she’s done to her” Jailbird Maria is released this week – leaving terrified Aidan certain that she’s going to reveal all about their affair! While his secret lover was behind bars, Aidan was able to carry on as normal with his oblivious girlfriend Eva, who has no idea that her man betrayed her with so-called best mate Maria. Having been abandoned by Aidan, Maria is determined to reveal the shocking truth about what went on between them. But when she leaves prison and is met outside the gates by Aidan’s dad Johnny, Maria is set to discover the lengths that the Connors will go to to keep her quiet… BUYING HER SILENCE “Johnny sees Maria as a ticking…

“Who knows how a child would turn out with Warren and Sienna as its parents!” Warren makes it clear he wants nothing to do with Sienna this week – but it looks as if he may be stuck with her for the rest of his days, when she tells him she’s pregnant with his child! The former couple slept together after Warren ‘saved her’ from her own kidnapping. However, once he found out she was behind the whole thing, he couldn’t get away quick enough. He now has a taste of the great lengths she’s willing to go to coax him back into her life – so when Sienna claims to be carrying his child, does Warren believe her? “Well, of course not!” scoffs actor Jamie Lomas, who plays Warren.…

“What other Walford businesses are on the list of Max’s boss?” Max’s secret plot to destroy Albert Square looks set to unravel this week, after his suspicious daughter Lauren starts to interrogate him about his new job. When Max returned at Christmas, he claimed to have bagged himself some “office work”. But as viewers know, the vengeful fella has actually teamed up with a property magnate hell-bent on redeveloping Walford… “Max might be able to fool his so-called friends and neighbours, but Lauren knows her dad well enough to spot when he’s hiding something,” sniffs our EastEnders snoop. “And if she cottons on to what he’s really up to, it’s going to put her in a pretty tricky position.” PEACE TALKS The drama unfolds as the Brannings attempt to rebuild…

Freddie finds a worrying note from Ellie this week, leaving him desperate to discover what’s behind her extreme change in character. After Alfie advises Ellie to write down what’s troubling her, Freddie wants answers – and when he reads his other half’s disturbing words, he encourages her to open up. While Ellie is initially reluctant, she’s clearly shaken as she spies Nick at another table when the couple are out at Nightingales. Will she finally admit what Nick did to her?…

Scheming Chloe makes another play for Peter this week – by setting him up as her hero again. Having failed to lure him away from girlfriend Toyah, Chloe wants to try once more at getting close to the cabbie. And after Peter just happens to bump into the troubled woman – who’s crying over her treatment at the hands of her vicious ex – the crafty madam claims she’s being stalked. Then she lies that she’s terrified of returning home in case her former partner is waiting for her! Gallant Peter drives Chloe home and checks there are no nasty surprises waiting for her. And while he might be a one-woman man these days, Peter neglects to let Toyah know what went on. Instead, he texts Chloe to check she’s…

The tension between Rhona and Vanessa grows worse this week, as Pierce continues to drive a wedge between them. Vanessa has made clear that she doesn’t approve of her best friend’s choice of fiancé, but he seems determined to prove himself when he suggests to Rhona that they ask young Leo to be his best man. However, as Pierce’s controlling behaviour is called into question once again, it’s Vanessa who ends up in the doghouse with Rhona. Has Pierce succeeded in destroying the friendship?…

MYSTERIOUS GIRL The mystery surrounding Corrie’s Shona is gripping! At first, I thought she could be Kylie’s sister – but then Gemma probably would have realised that by now. So I’m right back to square one! I still reckon that Shona and Kylie are related in some way, so I can’t wait until it all kicks off and we finally learn the facts. George, Portsmouth CRIME OF PASSION I don’t understand how Nicola has been allowed to take control of the factory and lord it over the Sharmas. Before the fire, Nicola and Jimmy went into the Mill to romp – they should be charged with breaking and entering! Elizabeth, Bournemouth Jimmy’s kidnap of Rakesh certainly goes against them, too, but I don’t think Rakesh is willing to take a…

“Sarah hopes Bethany will see for herself that it isn’t right” Bethany’s manipulation at the hands of predator Nathan has been almost unbearable to watch – but we’ve taken heart from the fact that once her mum Sarah finds out what’s going on, the whole thing will be blown wide open. Sarah herself went through a not-dissimilar ordeal after being preyed on by an online predator, so surely she can spot a wrong’un a mile off? “There are similarities, in terms of the man 14-year-old Sarah went to meet being a lot older,” explains actress Tina O’Brien, who plays Sarah. “She thought he was a teenager, but he was much older – more like 40. The difference, though, is that Bethany has been bullied. She’s been treated badly in the…

If you think spending a day flinging muck around in a pig pen in the winter doesn’t sound like fun, then Jane has something to tell you – you’re right! She reckons filming was far removed from the delight of watching it… “It was minus nine as we started filming Friday morning, and we shot right through till 9pm,” shares the star. “We were frozen to the point where my jaw froze up and I could hardly speak!” It didn’t help that Jane was wearing an evening dress. “The village set can be very cold, even with thermals on, and normally I’m in Lisa’s jumper and jeans,” says the actress. “But that day I had on a dress and no coat, just a little jacket. Our wonderful costume team kept…

It’s 8am on a Friday morning, and here in the UK the working day is just beginning – but when we call Neighbours star Jodi Anasta (Elly), the 11-hour time difference means she’s getting ready to start her weekend. “I had the day off work, so I got to fly home to Sydney early and pick up my daughter Aleeia from school,” the star tells us, as we ask what she’s been up to today. “We went grocery shopping afterwards and just hung out – it’s been really lovely. Now I have the weekend to chill with Aleeia and my mum, which will be heaven.” It’s a far cry from Elly’s idea of a good weekend, which would no doubt involve partying all night with hunky men! But…

“After plying Nick with wine, Michelle invites him to hers…” Michelle lands upon a new way to get back at cheating hubby Steve this week – by setting out to seduce Leanne’s fiancé, Nick! It’s not just Michelle who’s heartbroken over Steve’s revelation that he’s Oliver’s biological father. Although Nick has always known the truth, he’s furious that Steve has gone back on his word and revealed the secret to the whole of Weatherfield. So as Michelle’s hurt deepens and her revenge plan steps up a gear, it’s no wonder she has Nick in her sights… “What better way for Michelle to get back at both Steve and Leanne than by bedding Nick?” muses our Corrie spy. “Yes, he was complicit in covering up the baby lie, but Michelle can…

I DON’T WANT MICK TO CHEAT ON LINDA ! We all know that life in Albert Square is tough, and even the nicest characters can eventually end up doing terrible things, but not our Mick! Since he took over the Vic, he’s seen his kids come and go, discovered his sister is his mum, and saved the life of the man who raped his wife. But through all of this, the one thing that’s kept Mick from cracking is his relationship with Linda. While the ‘will-they-won’tthey?’ is entertaining during Linda’s time away, it’d be a total betrayal of the character if Mick didn’t do the right thing. Sleeping with his son’s wife just doesn’t ring true for him. Go on EastEnders, give us this one happy marriage!…

“Cain can’t convince Moira to take him back, but she’s happy to let Faith move in!” There’s a shock in store for the residents of the village this week – when brash Faith starts running the Woolpack! With owners Charity and Chas off in Prague looking after little Sarah, Marlon is trying to keep the Woolie going himself, and it quickly turns into a bit of a disaster. Enter Faith, who thinks she’s perfectly qualified to solve the pub problem. But there could be hell to pay when Chas returns to find her troublesome mum making herself right at home behind the bar… Faith has been working overtime to ingratiate herself with the Dingles, even though both her daughter Chas and son Cain aren’t impressed. However, after she took great-granddaughter…

Guilty Joel has only just got Shane off his back, but this week he finds himself being blackmailed again – as Bart McQueen threatens to reveal the lad’s secret involvement in Katy’s death. Joel is doing anything and everything to prevent his dark past from coming to light – even lying to Warren so that his dad believes Shane was the one who was culpable in Katy’s tragic demise. However, while Warren continued to search for Shane – who recently fled the village with his tail between his legs – the dynamics of the conflict shifted when Joel inadvertently became reacquainted with heroin addict Bart, and ended up reintroducing his old man to him too! This means that unlucky Joel is having to deal with yet another face from his…

“Laurel feels wretched after being invisible to Ashley” Laurel is very worried about Ashley’s welfare this week – and soon comes to realise that she isn’t the only one. With Gabby struggling to cope with her dad’s condition, she’s started to misbehave at home. And when the teen and her friend Liv bunk off, steal some booze and spend the afternoon getting bladdered with a couple of lads from school, Laurel realises the family needs to get away… “Laurel is feeling wretched enough after spending hours being invisible beside Ashley and his new girlfriend Maggie, so the last thing she needs is for Gabby to be causing trouble,” sighs our Emmerdale insider. “Gabby and one of the boys, Josh, are getting a bit too close for comfort – and she…

There’s terror in Summer Bay this week, as a bush fire rips through town, leaving complete and utter devastation in its wake. Many lives are in deadly danger as the blaze rages on – but it’s a particularly horrific moment for young father-to-be VJ, when his fiancée Billie ends up going into labour by the side of the road… “Reality sets in that Billie and the baby may die,” says actor Matt Little, who plays the terrified teen. “Apart from the fear of immediate death, VJ also thinks he may have to find a way to deliver this baby!” After their car conks out, Billie and VJ are stranded as the flames close in. And with no hope that they’ll be rescued any time soon, VJ thinks fast. “He picks…

Denise fears for her future at the Minute Mart this week, after she’s told she must attend a meeting at the shop’s head office! Given all the recent trouble D has got herself into – first being arrested for assaulting vile schoolboy Keegan, then mouthing off about her employers in the Walford Gazette – it would stand to reason that the shop’s head honchos are not happy. Denise is already on a warning – so is she being summoned to be officially sacked from her job? Or could there be another reason?…

Home and Away fans need to buckle up – 5STAR is airing two action-packed spin-offs of the Aussie soap this week! The first feature-length episode, Revenge, follows Heath’s quest to track down his wife Bianca after she’s kidnapped, while the second 90-minute special, All Or Nothing, will see the return of jailbird Kyle Braxton, who comes face to face with his old nemesis Gunno behind bars. “It’s a lot darker – there are no walks on the beach!” shares Dan Ewing, aka Heath. “It was very surreal and eerie to be put in the middle of real jails – the claustrophobia was incredible. Even some of the crew who’ve been on the show for a long time were getting spooked.” The specials are also set to feature the…

“The idea of motherhood is an alien concept for Zosia!” It’s a lovely sunny afternoon with a definite hint of spring in the air as Camilla Arfwedson joins Inside Soap for a natter. However, it would appear that mating season is already well under way on the wards of Holby City, as Zosia learns this week that she’s pregnant with boyfriend Oliver’s baby! “She’s completely thrown by it – having a baby hasn’t featured in Zosia’s plans at all!” exclaims the actress, as she joins us on her day off, fresh from having lunch with her boyfriend and her mum. “She’s been in a blissful bubble with Ollie for only a few months, and the fact that she’s found happiness with him is quite a big step in itself. The…

Inside Soap is rooting for Adam and Maxine to get married, have lots of babies and live happily ever after – and we’re not the only ones! When we sit down for a chat with Hollyoaks star Jimmy Essex, who plays Adam, he tells us that he’s keeping his fingers crossed for a big day, too… “I’m a sucker for a wedding, so I would love Adam and Maxine to get married,” he grins. “In fact, I’d love to get married as many times as I can – on screen, of course! Adam is such a showoff, and he likes the finer things in life, even if they are a bit tacky. So I think his wedding to Maxine would be as over the…

All together now: “Tinky Winky! Dipsy! Laa-Laa! Po!”. It seems hard to believe that the Tellytubbies are 20 years old. Coming out to celebrate on the green carpet in London recently was Casualty star Tom Chambers (Sam Strachan), who was joined by his wife Clare and kids William and Olive . Also posing up a storm and enjoying a Teletubby sandwich was ex-EastEnders star Anna Acton (DC Emma Summerhayes), alongside hubby Ben Hull (aka Holby City’s Mr T) and their two children, Lana and Grace .…

When Roy Cropper helped his beloved wife Hayley – who’d been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer – to die in January 2014, the poignant scenes were watched by over 10 million viewers. The couple were beloved by Corrie fans, and it’s not only Roy who misses Hayley dearly to this day. Julie Hesmondhalgh, who played Hayley, is currently starring in ITV drama Broadchurch as Trish, the victim of a sexual assault. But three years after leaving the cobbles, the actress admits there was a time when she couldn’t imagine being anywhere other than Weatherfield… “I was really happy at Coronation Street,” reminisces the star. “When new people started on the show, I’d say to them, ‘I’m Julie, and I’ll be here for the 100th anniversary. I love it!’. A lot of…

WE’VE BEEN TEMPTED to cancel all future holidays after watching this thriller, where architect Ellen becomes convinced that her maternity cover, Paula, wants to oust her from her job permanently . The show stays just the right side of melodrama, thanks in no small part to the central performances of Morven Christie and Vicky McClure, who are clearly having a ball playing the feud , and inject both characters with enough nuance that it isn’t always clear who’s in the right. In this week’s finale, Ellen makes one final attempt to prove that Paula isn’t as pure as she seems……

Heartbroken Robert gets dangerously close to old flame Rebecca this week, when he learns the horrifying truth about his partner Aaron’s drug abuse. Robert can’t believe his ears when Liv reveals that Aaron has been using in prison, and he goes to confront his fella for the true story. After seeing Aaron, he marches off in disgust to drown his sorrows. And that’s when he texts flirty former lover Rebecca… “Robert desperately misses Aaron, and he’s struggled to care for Liv while Chas is in Prague,” explains actor Ryan Hawley, who plays him. “He’s out of his depth, and when the prison visit is initially cancelled, he’s worried Aaron may have got into trouble and jeopardised his appeal. After Liv tells him drugs are the issue, Robert is in disbelief.…

“Martin is so disappointed by his girl’s behaviour” Shamed Bex finally returns to school this week – but there are terrible consequences when bullies Madison and Alexandra catch up with her! The troubled teenager was suspended for her part in the Shakil selfie scandal – and even though she had nothing to do with his naked picture going viral, she was forced to take the fall for her best pal Louise. The upsetting fiasco has put a huge strain on Bex’s relationship with her dad Martin, and it becomes worse this week after Bex makes an announcement… “Martin is so disappointed by Bex’s behaviour, as any parent would be,” reveals our EastEnders source. “Of course, if he knew the truth – that it was Louise, Mads and Alex who posted…

JENNY BRADLEY Pulling power Ruthlessly ambitious Jenny loves being in control – just ask Aidan at Underworld! She’s great at new ideas, and she’d have no problem laying down the law to boisterous punters. Plus, sugar daddy Johnny might buy her the Rovers as a wedding gift… Short measures The problem with Jenny is that she’s quite scary. Would the patrons really want to be confronted by her at full steam on a night out? One false move and she’d poison the stout! MICHELLE CONNOR Pulling power The idea of Michelle sticking up two fingers at Steve from behind the bar appeals to us. She knows and loves the Rovers as much as her former family, and the punters are used to seeing her face. She’d be ace. Short measures…

EastEnders legend Pam St Clement – aka Pat Butcher – guest stars in Casualty again this week, as she reprises her role as cantankerous old hospital patient Sally Hodge. This is the first time Sally has left her house in months – and she wishes she hadn’t after she’s involved in a car crash and brought to the ED! But while she’s secretly happy to be reunited with her old pal Charlie, how will she react when she meets spirited David, who’s on a high after reducing his bipolar medication?…

They’ve only just moved in together, but Carly and Marlon’s relationship is already on the rocks this week, as Marlon discovers his live-in lover isn’t exactly the neatest of house sharers. While Marlon enjoys having everything in order at Tall Trees, it soon becomes apparent to the Woolpack chef that his other half takes a rather more casual approach to tidiness. However, Carly soon latches on to the fact that her beloved is growing tired of her bad habits – and makes it her mission to get the cottage looking shipshape. And that’s not the last of Carly’s good deeds this week, as she also saves the day when one of Bernice’s hen parties goes wrong. Her rescue act prompts one of the guests to offer her a job overseas…

“They end up herding the pigs while still in their nice clothes!” Surely Zak and Lisa are destined to be together forever? It’s obvious the two of them belong with each other, and it’s certainly what the audience wants. So what’s the problem? Well, as star Jane Cox puts it, the situation has become a “terrible mess” since the death of Joanie and the battle for custody of Kyle. Add to that the hurt Lisa harbours about her and Zak’s break-up in the first place, and it’s no wonder she’s feeling, as Jane describes it, “a little confused”… Hi, Jane! We’re sitting here expecting a Zak and Lisa reunion, but it’s all a bit of a disaster at the moment, isn’t it? Well, things certainly aren’t going according to plan!…

“Do you get on with Rob Mallard, who plays Daniel?” “Have you stayed in touch with any of your CBB housemates?” Sam took a nine-year break from the Street when Adam left the cobbles back in 2007. But after returning last year, the 31-year-old is here to answer your questions… “Adam has been very naughty since returning to Weatherfield! What’s the best thing about playing a bad boy?” He is a bit nasty, isn’t he? I struggled with that a little bit in the beginning, but I think I’m getting used to it now. He’s very different from myself, of course, and acting out the things that Adam does – stuff I would never do in real life – is really interesting. So now I’m embracing…

You’d think Emmerdale’s Adam Thomas (Adam) wouldn’t mind coming face to face with his wildlife fears, having spent time in the I’m A Celebrity… jungle last year. But the hunky actor found himself frozen on the spot recently when a tarantula was placed on his head as he held on to a snake! Pictured visiting a Manchester pet shop with his son Teddy , the star struggled to keep his cool. It wasn’t all bad, though, as little Teddy had a great outing and went home with a pet tortoise called Marshall ! Aw!…

“I REALLY WANT THEM TO GO TO A GIG, LIKE THE BEATLES” CHARLOTTE As another series of Call The Midwife comes to a close this week, the sense of the gradual march of progress is unmistakeable in Poplar – not least with the opening of the family planning clinic at the community centre, overseen by Sister Julienne. It means that local women will have access to the pill – provided they are married, or at the very least engaged. And while Sister Julienne had some reservations about this new form of birth control in the beginning, she is at least fully committed to providing the best possible care for her patients. “She’s such a practical person,” points out…

When dog owners are confounded by their canine companions, there’s one person they need to call – Graeme ‘The Dogfather’ Hall, a dog behaviour expert with many years’ experience whose motto is “any dog, any age, any problem”. “It’s very much about fixing everyday, real-world dog problems for normal people,” Graeme tells Inside TV. “This isn’t really a show that’s about creating the next Crufts winner, it’s the sort of problems where you’ve got a dog that can really be the blight of your life because you love your pet, but it s creating such a problem that something has got to give.” One such issue in the show comes from Addie the poodle, who hates his owner Julie’s boyfriend James so much that he attacks James every time he…

CINEMA BEAUTY AND THE BEAST The live-action reboot of this Disney classic starring Emma Watson and Dan Stevens has finally arrived. When Belle searches for her missing father, she finds that he is a prisoner of a beast. Taking her father’s place, Belle soon learns of the beast’s journey from a handsome prince into his current state by a magical curse. CD NOW THAT’S WHAT I CALL R&B Featuring a mixture of the most popular R&B tracks from recent years, as well as old-school essentials, this is an album not to be missed. Including songs from Craig David, Alicia Keys and Justin Timberlake. Win ! For the chance to win a copy, tell us who plays Casualty’s Alicia: A) Chelsea Halfpenny or B) Crystal Yu. Text ISPRIZE1 , a space,…