Table of contents for 22 - 2017 in Inside Soap UK

“Finn plays the innocent, but he’s smarter than you might think” JOE Foolish Finn makes a difficult decision in the hope of sorting his family’s money troubles this week – as he chooses to become an escort! Typically, it’s not long before the youngest Barton is way out of his depth, and ends up having to leg it from his first client. But when Finn attempts to hide out at Wylie’s Farm, there’s another shock in store, as he and Ross discover that their parents’ former home is being used to grow cannabis. Actors Joe Gill (Finn) and Michael Parr (Ross) explain… There’s no shortage of drama for the Bartons this week! But let’s start at the beginning… Why does Finn decide to be an escort? Joe He’s…

EastEnders executive producer Sean O’Connor has promised fireworks in Albert Square, as some of the show’s biggest characters face off in a series of epic confrontations! In a recent interview with Metro.co.uk , the soap’s head honcho revealed his plans for an explosive summer that will ripple well into the autumn – and take us right up to Christmas… LINDA VS MICK & WHITNEY! It’s sure to be the moment that we’ve all been waiting for when Linda returns to Walford, and discovers that cheating husband Mick has been locking lips with Whitney! Will it spell the end for the Carter marriage? “Whitney has some huge episodes coming up – including a showdown with Mick and Linda, which will be a Carter three-hander,” explains Sean.…

“Louise is still hesitating over Travis thanks to this terrible pair dripping poison in her ear” It looks as if love is in the air for Louise and Travis this week – but will Madison and Alexandra ruin the budding romance before it gets off the ground? With Alexandra harbouring her own crush on Travis, she and Mads have been doing their best to convince Lou that he’s no good for her. But can Travis persuade her that they’re meant to be? “Despite Alex and Mads’ best efforts, Louise can’t deny her feelings for Travis,” claims our Walford sneak. “That pair of bullies have done all they can to put Lou off him – and Alex just wants to snag him for herself! However, it’s obvious that Travis likes Louise,…

When we chat to Duncan, he reveals that he’s just got back from a trip to Egypt with his Blue band mates. And he reckons that he and Lee Ryan – who’s just extended his stint as Queen Vic bar manager Woody in EastEnders – have been comparing notes on their new soap roles… “In EastEnders, they shoot using several cameras at once, which means they walk in, do a scene, and it’s done – whereas at Hollyoaks, we just use the one camera, and shoot the same scene about five times,” he explains. “Me and Lee were talking about that and he said, ‘Ah bruv, I’d be rubbish at that. I wouldn’t be able to remember it – I just walk on and do it!’. “Everybody in soap works…

The village welcomes a cool new character this week, when Yasmine’s big sister Farrah turns up on the back of a motorbike. The edgy lass makes her boisterous entrance just as young Yasmine is asking Esther for some part-time work at the Bean. And when Farrah plants a kiss on her pretty blonde companion, it certainly grabs Tony’s attention! Yasmine has had a rough couple of weeks, with her secret heart condition now out in the open. So will she appreciate her sibling’s reappearance?…

Former EastEnders star Danielle Harold (Lola Pearce) makes a guest appearance in Casualty this week as Georgie, a student pal of Elle’s son Blake. When Elle agrees to do a talk at her son’s school, she ropes in Jacob and Josh to help out – but the last thing the trio expect to do while there is treat injuries! First they’re called upon to help Georgie after she sprains her ankle during a fight in the classroom – and things take a sinister turn when Blake is attacked by a gang member, leaving him in a critical condition. Can Elle save her son’s life?…

Ian’s new healthy lifestyle causes friction between Kathy and Jane this week. Both women want him to be as healthy as possible, but they don’t agree on how to go about it. It’s not often that Kathy and Jane fall out – however, on this sensitive issue they find themselves divided, as hapless Ian basks in all the attention he’s receiving. It’s frustrating for Jane to see her hubby mollycoddled by his mum, but Kathy just won’t back down. Will the two women be able to call a truce?…

“Belle is in dangerous territory with Lachlan – but it’s exciting!| It’s hard to believe that Belle Dingle is close to falling in love with twisted Lachlan White. They’ve been friends for a long time, but can Belle really forget that this is the boy who shot his own grandfather at point-blank range and sexually assaulted Alicia Metcalfe? It seems so, because there’s a connection between them, and Belle has started to see Lachlan as boyfriend material. And the development is going to come as a horrible shock to those who love her… “Lachlan is such a weirdo, but Belle considers herself to be one, too!” says Eden Taylor-Draper, who plays her. “They are both very different and isolated from the rest of the village. Don’t forget, Belle has a…

Summer Bay’s Brody makes a deal with the devil this week, after he agrees to sell drugs for dodgy Zannis! And as star Jackson Heywood tells us, Brody’s addiction could end up costing him dearly… Hi, Jackson! How did you react when you found out Brody would get mixed up in drugs? I loved it! I think it’s a pressing issue that needs to be understood. Not all people who become addicts were born that way – it can happen to any one of us. People can make bad decisions and end up paying for them for the rest of their lives. Why has Brody become so reliant on drugs? In Brody’s mind they give him a sense of relief, confidence and clarity, especially when it comes to coping with…

People were seeing double when Corrie’s Kym Marsh (Michelle) unveiled her new wax copy at Madame Tussauds Blackpool. Dropping the curtain to reveal her clone against a Rovers backdrop, the cobbles fave couldn’t believe the likeness Tussauds had captured – especially when the mannequin started talking with her voice! “It freaked me out when I first walked out and it started talking,” laughed Kym. The actress was all smiles as she posed with her double – which was made over four months by a team of 20 people and cost a cool £150,000.…

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EASTENDERS Taylor made! A NEW FAMILY ARRIVE ON THE SQUARE… Quite some time has passed since a new clan made their mark on Walford, so next week’s arrival of the Taylor family is long overdue! Matriarch Karen and her kids Keanu, Bernadette, Riley and Chatham move into 23b Albert Square, and it’s safe to say that they bring a heap of trouble with them! What will the other residents make of their neighbours? CORRIE Daniel’s despair! Ken’s youngest son has endured nothing but drama and turmoil since he stepped on to the cobbles – and next week, it drives him to the very depths of despair. Can anybody rescue him? EMMERDALE Pierce returns! There’s fresh hell for Rhona next week, when she comes face to face with her rapist husband…

“Bethany is blinded by what she thinks is love – she just won’t listen” Horrified Sarah faces fresh hell this week, when she discovers Bethany trying to grab her passport and leave the country with evil Nathan. Following shocking recent events, Sarah now knows the full extent of how much Bethany has been manipulated by her predatory boyfriend. She’s hoping that Bethany is safe back with her family, but Sarah hasn’t reckoned on the control Nathan has over brainwashed Bethany. That is until she finds her daughter preparing to make a run for it… “Bethany’s actions throw Sarah completely,” admits Tina O’Brien, who plays the struggling mum. “There is a moment earlier in the story where it looks as if Bethany has made a breakthrough – and Sarah is so…

Emmerdale producer Iain MacLeod recently teased that it won’t be long before the Barton boys find out their mother Emma killed their father James. And Joe and Michael are braced for the consequences… “What Emma’s done is unforgivable,” admits Joe. “I wouldn’t like to think what might happen in a situation like this, but I’d say it would tear them apart. What exactly will they do? We’ll have to wait and see!” “It’s a weird one – and I imagine you’ll see varied reactions from the brothers,” continues Michael. “Ross has a very difficult history with Emma already – she tried to suffocate him with a pillow when he was a baby – so there’s already 20 years of damage as far as he’s concerned. I think Ross is more…

“The reality of lying to David hits Shona after he kisses her” Smitten David kisses Shona as she fights for her life in the hospital this week – unaware that he’s falling for the mother of Kylie’s killer. It was Shona who rushed to the Platt family’s aid when she discovered vulnerable Bethany was being used by Nathan, then told the police all about the abuse she suffered at the sexual predator’s hands. But afterwards, Shona collapses, succumbing to the injuries she received from a beating by Nathan’s thugs. As Shona goes into surgery for a ruptured spleen, David faces his true feelings for her. And it seems they are reciprocated… “These emotions have been bubbling away for a while, and now they’re coming to the surface,” says Julia Goulding,…

“Aidan has an afternoon in bed with Maria, then arrives home to find Eva in a sexy basque!” Love rat Aidan discovers having two women on tap is tougher than he thought this week – as his girlfriend Eva and mistress Maria demand his attentions. Somehow, the cheat has convinced Maria to continue seeing him behind Eva’s back, and believes he can keep them both sweet as he leads a double life. But Aidan hasn’t taken into account just how much of his attention they both require… “Aidan really is a scumbag!” laughs our Corrie insider. “He’s toying with the emotions of two girls who truly love him – it’s utterly selfish. The trouble is, keeping up with his duties isn’t as easy as Aidan thought. He has a cheeky…

Rob betrays his wife Karen this week, as he struggles to deal with caring for their latest foster-child, baby Marnie. Still traumatised after the serious accident he recently attended, the police officer can’t cope with being the primary carer for Marnie. So, in a bid to rehome the little one, he secretly visits a social worker and implies that Karen is not fit to care for Marnie because of her previous memory issues. Is it time for Rob to take a long, hard look at himself instead?…

Traumatised VJ attempts to numb the pain he feels over losing his daughter Luc this week – by getting drunk and snogging his best mate’s girlfriend! The teenage dad is in a bad way as he hands Luc to Ash, who’s been awarded interim custody. In an effort to lift VJ’s spirits, Hunter and Olivia insist on taking him out for lunch at Salt. However, the only thing VJ is interested in is downing beers! As he drinks more and more, he insults Hunter – so Olivia suggests her man step outside and let her deal with it. While she hopes to talk sense into VJ, he misreads the signals and tries to kiss her! Olivia tells him to back off – but what will Hunter say when he finds…

BENT BOBBY I couldn’t believe it when Nathan’s vile mate Neil was revealed to be a policeman! While it’s true that people in authority are just as capable of evil as anyone else, I worry that this twist could dissuade children from going to the police when they need help. Oliver, Tunbridge Wells FOR PETE’S SAKE Emmerdale’s Pete Barton hasn’t been featured nearly as much as his brothers Ross and Finn in recent weeks. So I was happy to hear rumours of him getting involved in a tasty romance story – and not with Leyla! I can’t wait. Neil, Blackpool You’ll find out who the lucky lady is in next week’s magazine, Neil… TINKER TAYLOR I’m looking forward to seeing what the new EastEnders family, the Taylors, bring to the…

“What was the best thing about spending some time in LA?” Bad boy Warren is no stranger to police questioning! But thankfully, 42-year-old star Jamie doesn’t need a lawyer present while he answers our readers’ queries… “Congratulations on your nomination for Best Actor at this year’s British Soap Awards! How will you celebrate if you win?” Oh goodness, I haven’t even thought about it. Obviously with a few drinks! I don’t usually think about winning because just making it on to the shortlist is amazing. Hollyoaks doesn’t get the number of viewers that other soaps do, unfortunately, but our fans are very loyal. So who knows? Let’s keep our fingers crossed that we get the recognition we deserve. “What’s the difference working on Hollyoaks now compared…

She’s been off screen for a while as she sits her GCSEs, but Emmerdale’s Isobel Steele (Liv) squeezed in a vocal performance at the recent Once Upon A Smile charity ball. Stunning the audience with her singing voice, the teenage star showed just how multi-talented she is as she took to the piano on stage at the Hilton Manchester Deansgate. Glam Isobel wowed her cast mates as she sang for the first time in front of them after her screen brother (and host of the event) Danny Miller , aka Aaron, asked her to perform. What a little star!…

“THIS IS ’ QUITE A BIG LEAP ” FOR ME AND I M A BIT NERVOUS SUNETRA This new six-part drama follows two formerly isolated schools in a small Yorkshire community that are brought together under one roof. No one wants it to succeed more than head teacher Mandy Carter, played by former EastEnder Jo Joyner (Tanya) – but as Ackley Bridge College opens its doors for the first time, there is still friction between the white and Asian communities. With her pupils and her staff not making things easy for her, can Mandy succeed? We caught up with some of the show’s stars – many of whom are familiar TV faces – for the inside scoop… MANDY CARTER Head teacher (Jo…

We were impressed when new Homes Under The Hammer presenter Martel Maxwell made her debut last month – she felt like a natural fit for the show straight away. When we called her up for a chat, we realised why that was: she’s been preparing for this job for a long time… “I know it feels like someone’s just saying it when they say, ‘Yeah, I was a huge fan of the show’, but I was!” chuckles Martel. “I got in trouble because I recorded it, and if you series link Homes Under The Hammer your Sky box very soon becomes full, so my husband tried to record some football and he couldn’t. He was like, ‘Bloody Homes Under The Hammer’! But then I got the…

Lucy Fallon visited the Manchester base of helpline Childline, chatting to the counsellors whose job it is to help children and young people with issues including grooming… “It’s been quite overwhelming hearing how many children use Childline and how counsellors are able to help, just by in some cases listening,” says Lucy. “When you’re young and vulnerable, like Bethany is, it can feel like you have nowhere to turn – so it’s crucial Childline is there for them. “Talking to counsellors has made it hit home that there are real-life Bethanys out there who need help. I hope by tackling such an important issue on Coronation Street, we can help raise awareness and encourage victims to speak out.” Children and young people can contact Childline for free confidential support and…

“Having a child together means the world to Stacey and Martin…” This is the moment thrilled Stacey and Martin see baby Fowler for the first time! The proud parents have joy written across their faces as they visit the hospital for Stacey’s first ultrasound, and are shown their little bundle of joy on a monitor… “Having a child together means the world to Stacey and Martin,” beams our Square spy. “When Kush turned out to be Arthur’s father, it almost broke Martin. But here he and Stacey are, stronger than ever, and having a baby of their own. It’s a dream come true.” The couple have been keeping the news of Stacey’s pregnancy a secret since finding out earlier this year – but with their first scan out of the…

The soap rumour mill has gone into overdrive following reports that Carla Connor is on her way back to Weatherfield! A tabloid has claimed that star Alison King – who played her from 2006 to 2016 – has been in secret talks to reprise her role later this year… “The gossip is purely speculation at this stage, but the story hasn’t been flatly denied by the soap, which gives us hope,” reckons our Street insider. “Corrie chiefs will want to keep news of a comeback quiet, but Carla’s return would be explosive!” Meanwhile, actress Claire King has announced that she’s quitting her role as Dev’s girlfriend, Erica. The star – who is best known for playing Emmerdale super-bitch Kim Tate – will leave our screens in August. “I was only…

“Jimmy has a terrible hangover – and realises what he’s just done” Rakesh faces the wrath of the village this week, when he is finally exposed as the arsonist behind the Mill fire – after Jimmy makes a severe error of judgement. Following a fight with wife Nicola – who was caught up in the blaze and suffered serious injuries – Jimmy heads to the pub to drown his sorrows. Things get out of hand as the drinks flow, and suddenly Jimmy blurts out the secret he has been hiding for months. Although Nicola might be a victim of Rakesh’s crime, she and Jimmy have failed to report what they discovered to the boys in blue. So, it’s probably not a good idea for him to drunk-dial the police after…

“Ryan is desperate to avoid certain truths being exposed…” The truth about Ryan’s mystery woman ‘K’ finally comes out this week – only, it’s not a woman at all. It’s Kyle! Viewers will learn the details of the pair’s secret fling during a confrontation in the toilets of the Dog. And it turns out Ryan has lots more skeletons in his closet waiting to tumble out… “Ryan’s a dirty dog!” laughs Duncan James, who plays him. “But I’m not complaining – I’ve been snogging Adam Rickitt [Kyle] and Jen Metcalfe [Mercedes]! I quite enjoy going into work and having a snog.” But while it’s all fun and games for Duncan, the same can’t be said for Ryan! His late wife Amy is barely cold, and he has already been having…

Lauren and Steven are pushed to the limit this week, after stressed-out Lauren finally snaps and gives her boyfriend a piece of her mind! It’s clear that she has the weight of the world on her shoulders – but what could be bothering her? Lauren has been keen to succeed in her new job at Weyland & Co, though jealous Steven hasn’t made the transition easy. Nevertheless, she’s determined to deliver a big presentation… until Josh realises that Lauren is off her game and sends her home. Steven tries to reassure his girlfriend that it doesn’t matter – which is when she snaps and exchanges harsh words with him. For some reason, Lauren isn’t able to talk to Steven about what is really troubling her, and later finds herself confiding…

Devastated by the loss of her son Nick, Gail lays the blame firmly on his ex-fiancée Leanne this week. Outraged to be without her beloved eldest boy, Gail cruelly rages at Leanne, holding the woman who came close to being her next daughter-in-law entirely responsible for the unfortunate situation. With Leanne equally distraught at Nick’s absence, she’s mortified when furious Gail lays into her and makes no bones about the fact that – with Nick now gone – she doesn’t want to be involved with Leanne or, for that matter, baby Oliver. The scathing words are the last thing Leanne needs as she also struggles to come to terms with the fact that Nick is no longer around – leaving her to bring up Oli as a single mother, with…

There’s heartbreak for Daniel this week, when Sinead calls time on their relationship out of fear that they are a toxic pairing. Since falling for Daniel, Sinead has been caught up in more drama than she had ever bargained for, and her reputation as a decent person has taken a serious knock. The factory worker is also concerned that she still doesn’t know much about Daniel’s shady past. Is Sinead making the right decision, and how will Daniel be able to cope with losing the girl he loves?…

Sean has been lodging with Norris in Emily Bishop’s old house for quite some time now – however, we’ve never actually glimpsed behind the front door of No 3 to see what the unlikely duo chat about of an evening. And that’s something Antony would love to rectify… “Of course I miss being in the Grimshaw house, because that’s been my home for the past 14 years, and I love the dynamic there,” admits the actor. “But we certainly haven’t seen enough of Sean and Norris together in their house. What do they talk about over breakfast? We need to see more of that! “I adore Malcolm [Hebden, who plays Norris], so it’s always fun to play scenes with him,” adds Antony. “It’s a very odd couple dynamic between Sean…

We nearly dropped our tea and scones when the new Big Brother eye design was revealed last month, with a ‘Best of British’ theme – what could it all mean? Maybe our hosts Emma Willis and Rylan Clark-Neal have the answers… “From what I’ve seen, it looks like the housemates will be from all walks of life, and a real cross-section of people from all over the country,” hints Emma. “It should bring about some very interesting situations. I still love the psychological experiment aspect to BB – I think the show is at its best when we have a genuine sample of society living in the house.” “As a viewer, I think it’s a great idea,” adds Rylan. “I love it when people get political…

SHOW WORKING This new musical is based on Studs Terkel’s book of interviews with the US workforce, and is told from the perspective of those whose daily grind and aspirations reflect the people that make up a nation. Starring Peter Polycarpou and Gillian Bevan, the show is on at the Southwark Playhouse in London until 8 July – to buy tickets, visit www.workingthemusical.co.uk STAR CHOICE Dolly-Rose Campbell (Corrie’s Gemma) “I watched a TV series recently called Feud, which was brilliant. It stars Jessica Lange and Susan Sarandon, and is about the famous feud between Joan Crawford and Bette Davis as they made the film Whatever Happened To Baby Jane?. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at old Hollywood, with a focus on women – which is refreshing!” BOOK THE SILENT FOUNTAIN…