Table of contents for 16 - 2017 in Inside Soap UK

“Thank heavens for the soap ladies!” The soaps seem full of bad, immoral men at the minute. Turn the page to our Inside Scoop section, and who do you find? Bullying Pierce in Emmerdale, evil Nathan in Corrie and scheming, self-serving Max in EastEnders. What a rum bunch! Thank heavens for the ladies, eh? Turn to our interview section and you can meet Julia Goulding, aka Corrie’s rough diamond Shona, who looks a million dollars out of Shona’s jeans and jumpers. Then there’s the always lovely Gaynor Faye – Emmerdale’s working single mum Megan – who tells us all about her character’s big mistake this week. However, the one the jury is out on is EastEnders’ newcomer Lisa Faulkner. Not in real life, of course – Lisa was the nicest…

It’s not just Shirley who’s grateful to have Woody’s much-needed support this week – he turns out to be a tower of strength for Tina in her hour of need, too. Tina is still struggling to deal with the tragic death of her mother Sylvie, and with everyone else focused on the problems at the pub, she feels she has no one to open up to about her grief. However, Woody proves to be a surprising source of comfort and understanding, as he encourages his new friend to talk to him about how she’s feeling. While the pair share an emotional heart-to-heart about the people they’ve lost, kindly Tina also offers Woody some advice about how to settle in better at the Vic. Could this be the start of a…

Moon landing! Kat and Alfie’s long-awaited EastEnders spin-off, Redwater, will finally hit our screens next month. “It’s a good thriller,” promises star Shane Richie . Stop the bullies! Back in Walford, actress Sydney Craven has spoken out against her alter ego Alexandra and pal Madison’s awful behaviour towards Bex. “We don’t condone their actions, and hope the show helps combat bullying,” she tweeted. Gone for good! For Hollyoaks fans who are still reeling from the shock departures of Freddie Roscoe and Liam Donovan, it has been confirmed that neither will return to the show. Sob!…

Honey is in for a shock when she arrives for work at the Minute Mart this week, and discovers that Derek is the new shop assistant! After Denise’s explosive exit from the company, Honey has been waiting to find out who will join her – but she never expected it to be pernickety Derek. He considers it the perfect place to earn some money and become even more entrenched in the Walford community. The problem is, he’s terrible at the job… Following his shaky start, Honey begins to realise that Derek’s first-day nerves aren’t the reason he is making so many mistakes. Instead, she discovers that he’s incapable of picking up even the most basic training – and as a result, the Minute Mart is in chaos. After a long…

Sid returns to The Mill Health Centre this week, suitably relaxed and rejuvenated after his break from the practice. The medic insists to Mrs Tembe that he’s ready to take on a new challenge – but soon regrets his enthusiasm when she delightedly sets him one! With her new initiative to help vulnerable patients in the development stage, Mrs Tembe decides that Sid is just the person to step in and get the ambitious scheme under way. The question is: does Sid have something a bit more dynamic in mind?…

CREATURE COMFORT Rosie Webster was wearing an amazing pink unicorn onesie in a couple of recent Corrie episodes! I’m desperate to get one myself. Where’s it from? Phoebe, Carlisle Rosie’s ‘Unicorn Onesie’ is from PrettyLittleThing. It also comes in blue – and as well as a horn on the hood, you get a fluffy unicorn tail! GUILT TRIP EastEnders’ Michelle really wound Sharon up when she mentioned a “poor homeless bloke” who burned to death in the car lot years ago. Why did that bother her so much? Did Sharon know the bloke or something? Terry Not exactly. Michelle’s comment touched a nerve because the grisly death was Phil’s fault! Back in 1994, Frank Butcher owned the car lot and made a deal with Phil to torch the place so…

Lisa Faulkner has appeared on our television screens countless times over the years, in shows including Holby City, Spooks and Murder In Suburbia. More recently, though, she’s been cooking up a storm, having published her fourth cookbook after winning Celebrity MasterChef back in 2010. So as we head to the EastEnders studios for a chat with Lisa about Walford newcomer Fi Browning, we have our fingers crossed there might be a little slice of cake to accompany our cuppa. But sadly, it’s not to be… “I’m really sorry – I didn’t bring any in today!” apologises the 45-year-old star, who is mum to Billie, 10. “I did make a great big polenta and honey cake the other day. I had to bring two because I forgot to put any baking…

“What do you think is the most bonkers thing Sienna has ever done?” …asks reader Georgina from Edinburgh I think when she found out that Dodger was Nico’s father, and she decided that they should just get married and be a family! Then she locked him in the basement for Christmas – that was the most off the chart she’s ever been! It was hilarious how much of a good plan she thought that was. Every week, we put your questions to a star of the soaps. Look out for requests on our Facebook page, or email your questions to youask@insidesoap.co.uk, putting the actor’s name in the subject line. Our favourite question each week will win a £20 prize !…

They’re well known soap stars as residents of Walford past and present – but Anita Dobson (Angie Watts) and Bonnie Langford (Carmel) are also glittering icons of London’s theatre scene. They beamed their widest showbiz smiles at the recent opening night for a new production of the classic musical 42nd Street, at the Theatre Royal in London – which stars former Emmerdale villain Tom Lister (Carl King) and superstar vocalist Sheena Easton . It was something of a homecoming for Bonnie in particular, who starred in the 90s revival of 42nd Street, and she was full of praise for the new production. “A superb show and happy memories,” she tweeted. TOP OF THE WOOD It wasn’t that long ago that his scheming EastEnders character Max was at The Shard, but…

The cast of Hollyoaks are known for being glamorous – but when attending Aintree racecourse, they went above and beyond. Looking stunning in floral frocks were Nikki Sanderson (Maxine) and Tamara Wall (Grace), while Nadine Mulkerrin (Cleo) dared to go low in a plunging white dress. Also with them was cast mate Amanda Clapham (Holly) in a bodycon dress that showed off her slim waist – as well as Rory Douglas-Speed (Joel) who was out of the collar and in a nice suit and tie. He’s smiling like the cat that got the cream!…

£45 Topshop You won’t risk going unnoticed by donning a camouflage shirt or jacket like this one! £20 Boohoo This zip-through patch pocket denim pinafore dress is the perfect base item for layering up. £3.50 Topshop Add the cutest detail to even the meanest of outfits with some frilly ankle socks. £22 River Island Mix this suede and faux-leather textured bag with camo print for a top-notch look. £79 Sole Trader Reduced from £99, these Adidas Superstar 80s Metal Toe trainers are a bargain not to be missed.…

I normally watch a lot of television, but I’ve been moving house recently ! I loved The Halcyon, that was great. And I really enjoyed The Crown on Netflix. I watched the whole thing in two days! I love The Apprentice , I never miss that, and I’m a big fan of Corrie . I’ve got quite a few friends in the cast, so I always like to catch up on that. I have a telly with Sky where I stay in Benidorm – it’s a prerequisite of mine that when I go there I have British telly! The last film I watched was The Diary Of A Teenage Girl . Bel Powley, who played Bianca Dyke in Benidorm, was…

NINE LIVES Filming is under way for the next series of comedy-horror anthology Inside No. 9 . Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith will be joined by guests including Emilia Fox and Nicola Walker. CITY SLICKER David Morrissey is to star in four-part BBC2 thriller The City & The City , adapted from the novel by China Miéville. He’ll play Inspector Tyador Borlú, investigating a seemingly run-of-the-mill murder that takes a strange twist which involves the relationship between “twin cities”. COMMUNITY SPIRIT Penelope Keith will return to Channel 4 to carry out the search for Village Of The Year 2017. The winning village will receive £10,000 for a community project. To take part, visit www.channel4.com/takepart…

CORONATION STREET The Connor is on… IS MARIA’S FLING WITH AIDAN ABOUT TO REIGNITE? Maria decides to have some fun at ex-lover Aidan’s expense next week – after she’s encouraged by David Platt! Her crafty colleague tells her that Aidan has been asking about the pair of them, and she deduces that Aidan still wants her. But as Maria plays him for a fool at a business lunch, will her suspicions be proved correct? EASTENDERS Flat Jack! The Branning fella is feeling deflated next week, as he struggles to cope without his beloved Ronnie. While Max and Dot both try to intervene, can Jack ever find happiness again? EMMERDALE Emma exposed? She’s been clinging on to her secret (and her sanity) for months now, but next week might be Emma’s…

While most of us hate having a long commute to and from work, Lucy admits that – due to the sensitive nature of this storyline – having some extra time on the way home has been a godsend to help her unwind. “I don’t think there’s any way you can shake off scenes like these immediately,” the actress tells us. “But living in Blackpool, I have quite a long drive back home, so I kind of zone out and listen to my music – and by the time I’ve arrived, I feel normal again.” Lucy has also just moved in with her boyfriend of one year, Tom Leech – so let’s hope he’s ready and waiting with dinner on the table when she gets home!…

Is this how Nick Tilsley makes his dramatic exit from Coronation Street ? It certainly looks that way, as a visit to the seaside takes a tragic turn for Leanne’s fiancé… Our sneaky snaps show the desperate Bistro boss fighting for his life, after a walk along the beach ends with him being sucked into a pool of quicksand. “It’s no secret that Ben Price is leaving the cobbles – so Nick’s days could be well and truly numbered,” grimaces our Weatherfield insider. “It will be a soap death like no other!” The horrific events unfold during what looks like a visit to the coast for Nick, Steve and Peter. Nick has been at loggerheads with both men for months, so perhaps they’ll escape the cobbles in…

Bonkers Emma has found religion in the months since she killed her fiancé, James – but the soap gods will see to it that a vital piece of evidence ends up coming back to haunt her… “Obviously the Barton story that kicked off last year around the big car crash is still bubbling, and the video that Ashley accidentally recorded of Emma is still out there,” says Dales boss Iain MacLeod, reminding us that Emma manipulated Ashley’s memory of seeing her at the scene of James’ death. “It will definitely become significant as the story unfolds.” Of course, the tape in question is now in the possession of Ashley’s grieving widow, Laurel. So if she is the one who discovers it, how far will Emma go to silence her? Remember…

“Martin is the mayor. He’s gay. This is my lesbian daughter, Sophie. And this is my straight-identifying daughter, Rosie.” We love the new, tolerant Sal. All about the inclusiveness. “Our Father… can I be honest with you? I’m not sure I’m up to this. It’s too hard. I’m not prepared. I just want to go home, lock the doors and drink wine all day.” Vicar Harriet made a special prayer – the sentiment of which we can surely all get behind. “Is that why you slept with a teenager?” Bex, quite rightly, is not putting up with any self-serving ramblings from Michelle. “I needed money for cider and tattoos!” We were struck by Nancy’s movitation for training to be a teacher. It’s not exactly: ‘I wanted to nurture and inspire…

“No character is more missed in Walford than Kat Moon . Why couldn’t she have taken over the pub in Mick’s absence? EastEnders need to bring Kat back sharpish! ( Alfie can stay in Spain or Ireland, or wherever they are.)” …insists reader Markus from Liverpool “ Corrie should make more of stalker Chloe – she’s great. But what man would be desperate enough to shack up with her? Steve McDonald , of course!” …suggests reader Fiona, via email “ Hollyoaks should bring back Chris Fountain as Justin Burton . I saw him on stage in The Full Monty , and he’s still gorgeous. Justin has loads of village connections, too.” …declares reader Jackie from Sheffield “If…

FAIR CITY Ciaran finds it hard dealing with Katy and Farrah’s pregnancy this week – can Katy persuade him to set her free? Elsewhere, Dan and Sash share a charged moment, and Decco detects the tension between them. Also, Kevin offers Renee some valuable advice. RIVER CITY Amber is shocked when Fraser turns up asking for money this week, but it’s not long before he’s taken away by some heavies! Is Lenny responsible? Meanwhile, Kim tries her best to reassure Bob after he tells her he can’t have children. Also, Greig struggles with his wheelchair. THE ARCHERS Toby considers packing in his artisan gin venture this week, but Pip is too busy dealing with the IBR outbreak to console her boyfriend. Across the village, Lilian is keen to remove all…

 The secret connection between Weatherfield newcomer Shona Ramsey and the late, great Kylie Platt has been keeping Corrie’s amateur sleuths speculating for months. But last week, we finally discovered the devastating truth that Shona is the estranged mother of Kylie’s killer, Clayton. Obviously, this is big news, so we caught up with actress Julia Goulding over a cuppa on the set of Roy’s Rolls, where her alter ego works, to find out more… “Clayton turned from being Shona’s sweet young son to a murderer!” “There were some weird and wonderful theories from fans about who Shona could be!” grins Julia, who is battling a cold as we chat, but remains full of enthusiasm about this storyline. “My favourite one was that Shona might be Kylie’s mum, even though I’m pretty…

When you start a new job, it can be tricky to make friends. While Lisa’s had no problems settling into the Square, she admits that taking in her new miniature Schnauzer, Rory, was a definite people-pleaser… “Rory was a great icebreaker!” she enthuses. “On my second day of filming, the person coming to look after her couldn’t make it, so Rory had to come to work with me. It was only for a couple of hours, but everyone was so nice to her. I was very lucky! So the next time you start a new job, take a puppy in with you.”…

While we have no doubt feisty Megan would be more than capable of holding her own against Jai if he decided to take her to court, we pray she’ll tread carefully. After all, look at what poor Rachel Breckle had to put up with after Jai decided he wanted custody of their son Archie! FREEZING Before Rachel and their son returned to the village, Jai was conned into exchanging cash for an impostor baby Archie . Rachel later promised to tell the family courts all about this shady deal when the custody battle started to heat up – so Jai retaliated by locking her in a freezer! DRUGGING Jai hoped he’d come out on top once he convinced everyone that Rachel was an irresponsible drug user . He planted cocaine…

She’s always possessed the body of a goddess – and being pregnant clearly hasn’t changed that! Pictured loving her blossoming bump, Jennifer Metcalfe (Mercedes) looked sensational as she holidayed with boyfriend and father-to-be, Greg Lake . Sunning it up in Tenerife on a ‘babymoon’ before the little one arrives, the Hollyoaks stunner looked happy as she frolicked in the shallow water in a crochet bikini that showcased her gorgeous curves. Speaking of her changing shape, Jen revealed, “My boobs are bigger and my bum is, too”, and explained that the Hollyoaks team haven’t had to make many allowances in order for fans not to notice her bump. “You would never know – it’s so tiny!” laughed the star. “I’m quite busy with storylines, but they’re not working me too hard.…

As the younger cousins of Alfie Moon, brothers Tyler and Anthony were brought into EastEnders with great fanfare when they pitched up in 2011. The same can’t be said of their departures, however, after a change in the soap’s producer led to their low-key exits two years later. But there are no hard feelings, as actor Tony Discipline – who played Tyler – tells us he’s still ‘over the moon’ to be part of Walford’s alumni… “When I got the call for EastEnders it was like winning the lottery,” beams the star. “I was working at Billingsgate Fish Market in the day and going to acting classes at night. It was surreal to go from selling sea bass to being stopped in the street and asked for a picture!” As…

1 Urban Decay Brow Box Containing two silky brow powders, setting wax, mini-tweezers, a mini-angled brush and two mirrors! 2 Eylure Brow Palette Ensure brows are defined with Eylure’s colour and definition kits, available in three different shades. 3 Barry M Brow Kit Shape, define and highlight brows with this three-step kit from Barry M. 4 Fleur De Force Brow Palette Produced in three shades, this pallete from Fleur De Force helps you say goodbye to bushy brows.…

THE SPIRIT OF THE GOOD WIFE – a show we loved, even in its slightly wobbly later seasons – lives on in this spin-off that takes the familiar world of Chicago litigation and popular characters such as Diane Lockhart and Lucca Quinn , but shows them from a very different angle. After taking a new job at a smaller, less wealthy law firm where a majority of the staff are black, Diane is forced to confront a lot of issues that she took for granted in her old life. The acting is superb, the plots move swiftly and, like its predecessor, it has a real skill at finding excitement in even the most mundane of court cases.…

. BULLSEYE! Max’s secret plot to destroy Walford remains very much a mystery, but in Jake Wood’s hands, it’s already the EastEnders storyline most worth tuning in for. All it takes is a few shifty smirks and we’re putty in his hands – much like unsuspecting Carmel as Max slathers on the charm! You’ve still got it, fella! Wouldn’t it be a hoot if all the vengeful Barlows pushed Ken ? It would be like Murder On The Orient Express. “Take that, Dad!” “And this!” “And that!” “I’m so happy, I want to get on the roof and shout it across the Square!” exclaimed Stacey , after telling Martin about her pregnancy. That’s lovely, sweetheart. But best stay away from rooftops We think the new pooch…

What was filming the wedding day like? Well, it was a Saturday, so I was thinking, ‘Brilliant, everyone’s going to love me for making them work at the weekend…’! But it was all pretty swift in the end – we finished filming on time, or maybe even a bit early, I think. The weather was pretty good, too. And it was a nice bunch of people, so it was pretty pain-free. Actors often mention that big events like this can take ages to film. Yes, they can – these kinds of days can be very long and drawn out, and everyone’s lost the plot by about 3 o’clock! But this one was nowhere near as bad as Cain and Moira’s wedding day, which was one of the longest days of…

Meanwhile, Barlow boys Adam and Daniel will come to blows in a violent showdown! These dramatic pictures of stars Sam Robertson (Adam) and Rob Mallard (Daniel) filming on location show the pair locked in a brutal battle, with Adam trying to bundle Daniel into the boot of his car! But what exactly are the bitter duo fighting about? “As the pressure mounts in the hunt for Ken’s attacker, his family look set to turn on each other,” reckons our Corrie spy. “Adam could be attempting to apprehend Daniel because he thinks he’s the guilty party. Or is he trying to stop his uncle from exposing him as the true culprit?”…

Did Harry kill Amy? While it’s only natural that Harry would want to bring home his man, we can’t help but wonder whether the lad’s fixation on the whole investigation hints he knows more about Amy’s death than he’s letting on. And Parry can confirm that we’re not alone… “A lot of people think it’s Harry!” gasps the actor. “When I watched that week of episodes, even I thought, ‘Wow, I look really guilty’. But it’s interesting to see how everyone has been reacting to it all because somebody is always doing something suspicious. I don’t know who the killer is either, and I’ve thought about it so much I couldn’t even hazard a guess!”…

Hi, Kate! How’s it been having Elle Mulvaney, aka Amy, more involved in the Corrie storylines? I’m enjoying it! Elle’s getting older and we have some really great chats. We both like to give each other advice, and she’s very wise for her age. Plus, she is such a good little actress! What’s the best thing about being one of the Barlows? I love being the only girl in the family – it’s so much fun! And it’s great to really feel part of a clan. I always did, but now even more so because the family has expanded. It’s brilliant having fresh blood. Do you think Amy will be like Tracy when she grows up? Well, like Tracy, Amy tries to work out what she…

Todd is overcome with jealousy this week, after Billy’s ex-boyfriend Drew rocks up – and announces he’s moving to Weatherfield! Although they split some time ago, it’s clear that Billy and Drew are still on good terms, and Billy is godfather to Drew’s little girl Summer. So Billy is delighted when the pair turn up for a visit, and even happier once Drew drops his news about the big move. However, green-eyed Todd can’t help but be suspicious of Drew’s motives, and soon becomes convinced that the fella is plotting to win back Billy! His jealousy leaves Billy amused, and he’s quick to assure his boyfriend that he has nothing to worry about – yet Todd’s not convinced. After Drew questions Billy and Todd’s plans for the future and Billy…

SALLY’S TROLLING HELL Sally was strong enough to shrug off a few nasty messages, but her stalker’s vendetta has now taken a darker turn. Poor Sal is a bag of nerves, and Tim is scared his wife’s life could be in danger... Seeing Sally break down in the factory was absolutely heartbreaking. I’m sure she’s rubbed plenty of people up the wrong way in her time, so there are a lot of potential suspects out there. But what has she done to provoke such a sick obsession? Louis An obituary and an animal heart! Why on earth are the police not taking this more seriously? This isn’t just any idiot behind a computer. Whoever’s doing this sounds extremely dangerous! Penny, Co Durham Could somebody connected to the Gazette be behind…

Weatherfield has started to feel a rather middle-class, upwardly mobile kind of place of late – with its swanky apartments and snooty Bistro. So thank goodness for the Dog & Gun pub, which has served up a stream of lowlife characters. Our first visit to the Dog & Gun – in a seedier suburb of Manchester – was in 2014, when Kylie visited the boozer to buy drugs from her sinister ex, Callum. Also lounging around the bar were Callum’s odious lackeys, Gemma and Macca. Much later, Kylie killed Callum, and then was herself stabbed by another Dog & Gun regular – Macca’s half-brother Clayton. It turns out that Clayton’s mum Shona lived on the surrounding council estate – and as she also knows sleazy Nathan, perhaps he has a…

Hard HITTING It’s fair to say Ian isn’t the most popular man in Walford – but back in 1996, his wife Cindy hated him so much that she hired a hit man! She’d fallen in love with Ian’s half-brother David Wicks , and wanted her hubby out of the picture. It would take more than a bullet in the chest to finish off Ian, though – so Cindy snatched sons Steven and Peter and fled the UK! But the Beales’ marriage wasn’t the only union in soapland marred by violence. Over in Weatherfield, Jim McDonald raised his fists to Liz after he found out that she’d cheated on him. FOUR TIMES THE FUN The big news for Corrie fans was that the show would be increasing to four episodes a…

She’s seen a lot over the years in Albert Square, and long may it continue – as June Brown (Dot) has surprisingly had her eyesight restored following cutting-edge medical treatment. After volunteering to trial the new sight-saving procedure to treat her condition (macular degeneration), the 90-year-old actress said, “I can see people’s faces and recognise my children again! I can now distinguish colours and the pattern on a rug that I couldn’t see before. I can read again, and I don’t think that I would have been able to see at all if I hadn’t had the operation.”…

There was little acting required for Tyler and Anthony’s strong sibling dynamic in EastEnders, due to stars Tony and Matt Lapinskas (aka Anthony) getting on like a house on fire. The pair once joined Inside Soap for a wintery Dickensian-themed photo shoot, and one of the portraits continues to hang proudly on Tony’s bedroom wall… “As a Christmas gift, Matt got a copy of one of the photos you took that day, and he had it made into a canvas print for me,” shares the star. “I’m looking at it as we speak!” And despite being busy with new projects, the fellas remain in touch. “We still speak quite regularly,” Tony tells us. “EastEnders was our first big acting job, and when you go through something like that together, it…

“IT SETS UP THIS DUTY VERSUS LOVE CONFLICT FOR HIM AND AMANDA” JAMES All we’ve ever wanted from Grantchester is for Sidney Chambers to be happy – and as the third series gets under way, he does seem to be. Amanda is now separated from her husband, and she and Sidney even manage to join Geordie and his wife for a night out. They look like two happy couples – but the reality, of course, is more complicated. “Sidney and Amanda are, in a way, living like teenagers,” explains James Norton, who plays the conflicted curate. “They’re stealing kisses behind the church and sneaking out for jazz nights. It’s playful and fun. But they are resisting the impending decision: if Amanda…

SHOW STEPPING OUT Join Amanda Holden and a whole host of ex-soap ladies – including EastEnder Tracy-Ann Oberman (Chrissie Watts) and Emmerdale’s Nicola Stephenson (Tess Harris) – as they take to the stage in this heart-warming comedy. The show is on at London’s Vaudeville Theatre till 17 June – for tickets, visit www.nimaxtheatres.com BOOK THE HOUSEKEEPER by Suellen Dainty After Anne’s boyfriend – who is also her boss – leaves her, she’s in desperate need of a new job. So when her celebrity idol, Emma Helmsley, advertises for a housekeeper, is the opportunity too good to be true? Win! For the chance to win a copy, tell us which EastEnder is played by Emma Barton: A) Honey or B) Sharon. Text ISPRIZE1 , a space, then A or B…