Table of contents for 33 - 2017 in Inside Soap UK

“I’m obsessed with the Street’s Mary!” Okay, I’ll admit it. I am slightly obsessed with Corrie’s Mary. When I’m sat on the sofa eating my tea and watching the many Street dramas play out, the second that I realise it’s a Mary scene, I look up from my chicken Kiev and dedicate my full attention to this warm, positive, hilarious and just-a-bit-bonkers cobbles character. So, it’s to my absolute delight that we have Mary’s beaming face on the cover of this week’s Inside Soap. We know her wedding to Norris isn’t based on love, but Corrie adds some real emotional weight to this plot as Mary reunites with her son, Jude, and meets her baby grandson for the first time. Mary’s delight is evident – however, as the week goes…

Creepy Will is set to run the risk of being exposed as Michelle’s tormentor, after she and Robert hatch a plan to end her nightmare once and for all! As Will secretly continues to target his ex, she and Robert remain convinced that drug dealer Rich is to blame. So in a bid to keep Michelle safe, Robert suggests they pretend to split up so that Rich will leave her alone. While Michelle nurses her ‘broken heart’, will delighted Will slip up and expose himself as the guilty party? Or will he do far worse to Michelle before she realises he’s dangerous? “Will feels spurned by Michelle and wants revenge for her hurting him,” explains actress Kym Marsh, who plays her. “When they had their near-affair last year, the reason…

We’re struggling to get our heads around this breaking news – but yes, Street fans, sworn enemies Anna and Phelan may end up sharing a grandchild! The big rumour from the cobbles is that Pat’s daughter, Nicola, will have a shock one-night stand with Anna’s son, Gary. And as a consequence of said bunk-up, Nicola will learn that she’s expecting his child… “It’s possible that Nicola and Gary don’t even know one another exist yet,” chuckles our Corrie insider. “So the idea that their worlds are going to collide and they’ll wind up in bed together is a juicy one indeed.” Whispers suggest that the scandal will pit three families against each other when the truth comes out. It’s no secret that Anna and Phelan loathe each other, so it’s…

“What about actor Michael Crawford reprising his role as the accident-prone Frank Spencer from Some Mothers Do ’Ave ’Em – in his trademark beret and brown mac – as Dan Spencer’s dad in Emmerdale ? Imagine the catastrophes!” …suggests reader Amanda from Devon “I think Adam Barlow and Eva Price should have a proper affair in Coronation Street . She’s having to fake a pregnancy while she gets her revenge on Aidan , so it would be a hilarious twist if she really did get pregnant, but by Adam.” …says reader Paula from London “With Mandy and Luke having made a Hollyoaks comeback, is it too much to hope for a return for Jambo Bolton too?…

Nancy has a romantic surprise planned for Darren this week – but it leaves Darren ashamed of all the lies that he’s told his oblivious wife… Nancy is unaware that anxious Darren has been dealing drugs for weeks – and after she clocks his suspicious behaviour, she confides in Tom that she thinks Darren is gambling again. So her hubby feels terrible when he learns Nancy has planned a surprise renewal of their vows! But can he go through with the romantic ceremony without first being totally honest with his wife?…

BRIDE-TO-BE I’m loving Whitney’s new wardrobe in EastEnders, and thought the dress she wore at her engagement party was lovely. It was a beautiful pale blue colour, – where’s it from? Sherry, Leicester Whitney’s ‘Aqua Chiffon Necklace Tunic Dress’ is from Quiz for just £24.99. It is a gorgeous shade of blue, but also comes in plenty of other colours. WEDDING WAR I was laughing my head off when Corrie’s Gail commented on Steve’s history of failed marriages, only for Liz to tell her it’s no more than her! I know they’ve both had a lot of weddings between them, but who’s had more? Dan Both Gail and Steve have been hitched six times! Steve wed Vicky Arden, Karen Phillips (twice), Becky Granger, Tracy Barlow and…

ROSS There’s still chemistry between Charity and Ross, the father of her son Moses. The fact that he’s trying to get back with her daughter Debbie adds a new layer of wrongness – but would Charity do the dirty on her own kid? Of course she would! PETE Pete has revealed his bad-boy side thanks to his affair with Priya, so the natural next step would be getting involved with wicked Charity. She’s a big fan of younger men in good shape, so Pete fits the bill perfectly. FRANK If Charity has her way, Frank and Megan’s romance will go the way of the dodo. She’s always wanted him for herself – so could a newly single Frank be persuaded by scheming Charity to start down that dark path again?…

1 Sam has eight siblings, two of whom have also starred in Corrie! Emily Aston played Becky Palmer, and Joseph Aston once played Tommy Duckworth! 2 To celebrate 50 years of ITV, 12-year-old Sam gave flowers to the Queen. “She asked my mum and dad if they were better parents than Cilla!” he chuckles. 3 Star Sam was lucky enough to be given a signed guitar by rock band Status Quo when they made a guest appearance on the cobbles back in 2005. 4 Sam proposed to long-term girflriend Briony Gardner in June this year in front of co-stars Alan Halsall (Tyrone) and Andy Whyment (Kirk) at a charity golf event. 5 Away from Weatherfield, the actor is one half of JSA Print – a T-shirt business he runs with…

David Wicks’ heart has always belonged to Carol Jackson , so Lisa knew from the moment EastEnders cast her as his girlfriend Naomi that the role would be short-lived! “Me getting that job was all down to Michael French [who played David],” reveals the actress. “The casting director suggested me and some other people for the part, and Michael had seen me in The Bill and said to them, ‘If you can get her, that would be amazing’! “I was very spoilt working with Michael, Lindsey Coulson [who played Carol] and Nitin Ganatra [aka Masood Ahmed],” continues Lisa. “It was just the four of us filming our scenes away from the main studio, and it felt like we were doing our own little play. EastEnders was a great experience.”…

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The last drama I tried to get into was Orphan Black on Netflix . I got quite into it, but then my partner did the worst thing and watched it without me on his day off. I have to watch it with someone in case I need a bit of, “Wait, what just happened?”. I love The Crown as well – I live in Windsor, so now I really feel like a part of the Royal Family! Comedy-wise, I was a hardcore fan of Sex And The City and Will & Grace . And last year Body Fixers was on after The Big Bang Theory, so I watched quite a bit of that and found it quite funny. I’m…

EASTENDERS Beales reel! STEVEN’S BRAIN TUMOUR LIE SPIRALS OUT OF CONTROL… Lying about an illness never works out well in soapland – and for Walford’s Steven, it’s made things 10 times worse! Next week, his plight gets thornier when Lauren insists Ian and Jane be told about his ‘condition’. Will Steven sink to a new low by making his family sick with worry? Or might fate conspire against him and expose his evil lies? CORRIE Ukraine or shine! Gary returns from his stint working abroad next week, appearing happy and refreshed. However, it soon transpires that he’s concealing something dangerous… So will he come clean to Sarah? EMMERDALE Gotta have Faith! The Dales’ golden-oldie love triangle heats up next week, as Pollard pushes Faith into the arms of Rodney. Can…

Poor Lauren could finally be about to learn that fiancé Steven isn’t really dying of cancer – with the news that actor Aaron Sidwell is bowing out of EastEnders ! “Aaron is part of a big upcoming storyline, and following dramatic scenes to be aired this summer, he will be leaving the show,” confirms a show spokesperson. “We wish him the very best for the future.” The star is swapping the Square for the stage after signing up to play Fiyero in the UK and Ireland tour of the smash-hit musical Wicked. Meanwhile in Walford, Steven has convinced Lauren that he has a brain tumour and trapped her into agreeing to marry him –with the help of her sister Abi and their father Max. However, as Max…

War on the dance floor! Strictly Come Dancing is set to pit Emmerdale against EastEnders, with the news that both Gemma Atkinson (the Dales’ Carly Hope) and Davood Ghadami (Walford’s Kush) are among this year’s celebrity contestants. How exciting! Crash horror! Disaster will strike in Summer Bay when Brody and Mason are involved in a terrifying crash. But while Brody walks away from the accident unscathed, Mason’s life will be changed forever as a result of his injuries. Bird talk! Be still our beating hearts! Steve McFadden , who plays tough guy Phil in EastEnders, is set to become a ‘codfather’ to two baby penguins. We’ll be gutted if he doesn’t name them Phil and Grant……

“He doesn’t bank on being sussed out by his daughter!” The heat is on for Phelan this week, as it becomes clear to those around him that he’s up to his neck in something very dodgy! Eileen and Nicola notice that Pat has been acting a bit shifty lately, prompting Nicola to tail her old man and confront him. Just what is he up to, and will she get to the bottom of it? “This is Pat Phelan we’re talking about, so he could be involved in any number of illegal activities!” warns our Weatherfield sneak. “But what he doesn’t bank on is Nicola sussing him out. When it comes to being one step ahead of the game, you don’t need a DNA test to prove that she is her…

It’s Nell’s birthday this week, and it looks as if Jai might be set on giving her the biggest gift of all – by asking her to marry him! The possibility presents itself as Nell hopes for a quiet birthday that will pass her by without any fuss. However, when Bob lets the cat out of the bag to Jai, it doesn’t look as if his modest girlfriend will be getting off so lightly! While Jai begins acting suspiciously around Nell, she becomes convinced that he’s going to pop the question. Is that what Jai is secretly planning? And could Nell be ready to make such a huge commitment if he is?…

“Jay and Phil’s relationship is ruined – Jay forgive can never him!” Dark drama is in store for Phil and Jay this week, as Phil makes a shocking confession that blows the lad’s world apart – he killed Jay’s father! In a gripping two-hander episode, the boy Phil took on as his own will be heartbroken by the stunning revelation – and as Phil explains all, the fallout is unfathomable. So while Jamie Borthwick, who plays young mechanic Jay, is thrilled to have been involved in such a spectacular episode, he does admit that for his shattered alter ego, life will never be the same again… Hi, Jamie. This is a huge confession from Phil! What will it mean for Jay? His whole relationship with Phil has been ruined, and…

Before Casualty, Chelsea spent three years in Emmerdale as Kerry’s daughter Amy, and she’s still close to her Dales family. “Laura Norton and Isabel Hodgins – who played my mam and my best mate Victoria – have become proper friends for life,” grins the star. “I really miss them all up in Leeds. It’s so hard because it’s quite far away and we’re working in shows where there are no breaks!” So, would the actress ever consider a return to the village? “I don’t know – that’s not on my agenda at the minute, but Amy was such a fun character to play,” says Chelsea. “I’m sure there would be lots of stuff that they could do with her – she was a real live wire!”…

It’s been ages since we’ve had a catchup with Hollyoaks star Sarah Jayne Dunn – but when we call her for a natter about reprising her role as Mandy, her son Stanley wants to hog the limelight! “Can you hear my little one in the back of the car?” giggles Sarah, as she chats to us on her day off. “I think he wants to join in our conversation! Stanley has just turned one, so coming back to Hollyoaks was perfect timing for me. There’s a nursery here, and it’s been good for me as a new mum to get back into work – and back into adult conversation.” Life off screen is clearly fabulous for Sarah – it’s just a shame the same can’t be…

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IT SEEMS AS THOUGH we’re telling everyone we meet that they ought to be watching China Girl – but we firmly believe it’s the most engrossing telly we’ve seen in ages. As much as we’re enjoying the crime-drama aspect of the series , what sets it apart is how that’s just the baseline for an exploration of bigger themes like motherhood, feminism and violence. Fresh from The Handmaid’s Tale , Elisabeth Moss gives her second superb performance of the year as tightly wound detective Robin Griffin, slowly trying to resolve her past while keeping herself together in the present. It’s top-class stuff.…

LIKE FOR LIKE Paddy McGuinness will present Even Better Than The Real Thing , a BBC1 show that pays tribute to tribute acts. The special will feature imitations of Little Mix, George Michael, Ariana Grande and more. MATCH GAME E4 is lining up a third series of Celebs Go Dating later this summer. The celebrities taking part this time include TOWIE stars Bobby and Arg, presenter Sarah-Jane Crawford and model Calum Best. ALL ABOARD Three more series of ITV documentary The Cruise are being filmed ready for broadcast next year. One series will follow the Royal Princess to the Med again, while the others will go to Alaska and the Caribbean.…

BULLSEYE! The comedy pairing of Steve and Leanne in Coronation Street is currently the best thing in soap by a country mile. We’re laughing out loud at every scene they share. Meanwhile, poor Michelle is scared out of her wits after being drugged and locked in the boot of a car. Given that Steve is the one who cheated, we have to wonder: where is the justice in that? Dear Stalker Will . You might want to look a little less creepy while lurking in the background of Michelle’s scenes. It’s a dead giveaway, babes. It was a genius idea of Rosie’s to masquerade as Elle Woods from Legally Blonde to bag herself an interview at Adam and Todd’s law firm. She’s not as stupid as…

In the midst of Norris and Mary’s wedding-day dramas, their close pal Rita has some worrying problems of her own. While she’s getting ready for the big event, panic sets in as she realises she can’t remember where she’s meant to be going. The memory wobble comes after the break-in at the Kabin, and Rita’s subsequent falling-out with Gemma – but is stress to blame for her confusion, or is something more worrying going on?…

After months of speculation, EastEnders has confirmed that top star Danny Dyer – who plays Mick – isn’t leaving the soap. Earlier this year, Danny took a break following tabloid claims that show bosses had ordered him to ‘sort his life out’. However, insiders were adamant that Danny was simply on holiday – and the actor has since returned to the heart of the drama with the gripping love triangle between Mick, Linda and Whitney. “We never discuss artists’ contracts,” says a Walford spokesperson. “But we can confirm that Danny will be staying put with EastEnders.” Phew! The actor was recently spotted on location filming an exciting stunt with fellow cast members. So watch this space……

From drugs to heartbreak to near-death experiences, Cleo McQueen has done it all in her relatively short time in the village! No doubt she wonders why things never go her way – but Nadine hopes her alter ego doesn’t get a break… “I think things at work would be far quieter and less interesting for me if Cleo was happy,” reckons the star. “I love getting my teeth into all the gritty storylines, and I’ve been really lucky to have had so much cool stuff to film. “So I’m enjoying the drama – but if Hollyoaks want to go back to Ibiza next year, I’d be well up for Cleo going and having a lovely time on holiday! Knowing her luck, she’ll end up in Bognor Regis instead…”…

“My dad is rubbish at being by himself. If he’s not with Michelle, I reckon you’re the next best. After Eva. Or maybe Maria.” You can always rely on Amy for honesty. Stark, brutal honesty. “That is the most uncomfortable kiss I’ve seen since Liza Minnelli’s last wedding. Where is the chemistry? There’s more sexual tension between you and the dog.” Careful, Liz – you don’t want to give the Corrie writing department any more crazy ideas. “Look, I know you don’t love me and I don’t love you. But I think you’re ace, and you’re a really good mum and, you know, I think you’re really fit when you’ve got your make-up on… And if we go into this with really low expectations, it might work out. So… do…

It’s a nail-biting day for the students of Walford this week, as their GCSE results are released. Bex and Denise are particularly anxious, as a lot rides on whether they get the right grades. After she opens her envelope, Bex is disappointed, as she doesn’t do as well in Music as she’d been hoping. Meanwhile, Denise is convinced that she’s facing a lower grade than she would like. But as she plucks up the courage to find out for sure, could she be in for a shock?…

FAIR CITY Juliet helps Mondo with wooing Melanie this week, but soon lives to regret it when Melanie reacts badly to her fling with Alex… Elsewhere, Pete is outraged to learn Doug has been given his job, and urges him not to accept. Also, Carol breaks down at Trigger’s funeral. RIVER CITY Annie uses her hen party to quiz Lydia about the Murdochs this week – but her persistent questioning arouses suspicion… Meanwhile, Angus is forced to look for a new business partner, as Greig senses that Frankie is not being honest about her university plans. THE ARCHERS Lilian and Matt team up at a property sale – and with tension rising, he invites her back to his suite… Elsewhere, Shula is horrified to hear Oliver is considering selling Grey…

LINDA’S BIG RETURN After a long eight months away from the Square, Linda was ready to come home for good. However, there was carnage at the Queen Vic when Mick confessed he’d fallen for Whitney in her absence… What a performance from Kellie Bright [Linda]! She’s a total powerhouse, and as sad as it was watching Linda deal with her heartbreak, it was brilliant to see her bring a bit of fire back to the Carters. I’m so happy she’s home! Shelley, Coventry I was moved watching Linda deal with Mick’s confession, and I think she was fair in her angry yet agonised reaction. I’m glad she threw Whitney and Mick out, because they deserve to feel bad, but I hope she reunites with her husband one day. They are…

“Part of Charity’s make-up is breaking the rules, but that repels a lot of men” She’s a terrible person in every way, but there’s something about Charity Dingle Tate Sharma Macey that’s irresistible. There are few characters in soapland who revel in being bad quite like Charity. She loves risks, mind games, scams and everything in between, all while cracking jokes and looking fabulous. This week, her partnership with arch-enemy Megan is under strain as their plot to ruin Frank starts to fray around the edges. But the danger just makes Charity feel more alive – and actress Emma Atkins is having a ball… “I love my job so much!” laughs the star, who’s played Charity since 2000. “The audience likes the high-energy stuff where there are fights and rows.…

What exactly has Phil done? While Jay reels from the shock of Phil’s admission, we’re intrigued by the nature of what it all means. Up till this point, all we know of Jay’s dad’s death is that after Jase crossed a gang of violent football hooligans, Jay was held hostage by their leader Terry as part of a twisted revenge plan. With Billy’s help, Jase eventually managed to get Jay away from the thugs – but while terrified Billy hid, too traumatised to intervene, Jase was beaten to death by Terry’s men. So why is Phil now blaming himself for leaving Jay an orphan?…

These days, Lisa Maxwell is busy wreaking havoc as Tracey Donovan in Hollyoaks. But for viewers who followed ITV police drama The Bill, Lisa’s law-abiding character DI Samantha Nixon was the polar opposite… “I miss the authority that came with playing Sam – you don’t get that much say in real life!” laughs the 53-year-old actress, who was in the show from 2002 to 2009. “My husband Paul [Jessup] used to hate getting into a taxi with me. I’d come home from work having spent the whole day pretending to be a senior detective, and talk to the cab driver like I was directing a PC! “One of the great things about doing The Bill was that the women could do their own stunts,” adds Lisa. “As a 5ft 2in…

Stepping on to the set of your favourite soap is a thrilling experience – so having bagged a role as the Street’s Nicola Rubinstein, actress Nicola Thorp decided to treat her loved ones to a visit to her new home on the cobbles. “My gran watched the first episode of Corrie, and has watched it ever since,” she tells Inside Soap. “From when I first said I wanted to be an actress, she’s asked when she’ll see me in Corrie. So it was an ambition for me to make my gran proud. Bringing her to the set was emotional.” And grandma Edith even got to pour a pint in the Rovers… “She’s pulling that face at the bar because she didn’t realise the pump was connected to anything, so a…

“IF BRADLEY WALSH CAN DO IT, SURELY I CAN MANAGE THIS!” He may have stepped down from the Strictly judging panel last year, but Len Goodman isn’t ready for a quiet retirement just yet. He’s back on our screens this Saturday as the host of this new game show where the contestants need a good ear for a rhyme. “This is not University Challenge or Mastermind, but it’s such a laugh,” Len tells Inside TV as we join him for a chat. “I personally think it’s a perfect quiz for early evening on a Saturday. Whether you’re 10 or 100, you can join in and find the rhyme. You’ll get these snooty people who won’t go with it…