Table of contents for 39 - 2017 in Inside Soap UK

“Emmerdale is off the scale this week!” Wow! Well, Emmerdale is off the scale this week, as the final chapter for evil Emma begins. It makes me a bit sad, actually. Not the ‘going off the scale’ bit – you know I love a big load of drama – but the fact we’re saying goodbye to the wonderful Emma, truly one of the most fascinating soap villains we’ve seen over the past few years. The twists and turns she’s orchestrated in order to keep her sins hidden have been worthy of an Olympic gymnast – and some of the things she’s done, such as manipulating poor Ashley or terrifying little Arthur, have been real shout-at-your-telly moments. Gillian Kearney has given a superb performance as Emma, but I think you still…

The BBC has revealed that there won’t be a second series of EastEnders spin-off Kat & Alfie: Redwater – leaving soap fans wondering if the news could pave the way for Kat and Alfie to make a return to Walford. Redwater, which aired earlier this year, followed the ex-EastEnders to an Irish coastal village in their search for Kat’s son, who had been taken from her at birth. But despite ending on a double cliffhanger – which saw Kat on the verge of drowning and Alfie going under the knife for surgery on a brain tumour – the show isn’t coming back. Returning EastEnders boss John Yorke originally created the Slater family, so perhaps he’ll want one of his first clans back…

“I love the idea that Ashley’s unseen brother Luke in Emmerdale might be his identical twin. That’s genius! Laurel would fall in love with him, but he’d turn out to be a proper wrong’un. This has to happen!” …gasps reader Eddie from Lancaster “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I wish that Max in EastEnders would go back to being an adulterous insurance salesman who we still liked and cared about, instead of his current status as a revenge-seeking attempted murderer.” …says reader Sarah from Bedfordshire “I would love for David and Ken in Corrie to enter both their dogs in a Cruftslike contest. I’m sure there would be some comical scenes between them – and it…

Karen is in a terrible state this week, with Rob still missing. Having spent the weekend leaving countless messages for her troubled husband, Karen is wracked with worry as Rob fails to return any of her calls. And after Valerie offers to cook dinner at her place, Karen has to decline – as she rushes home in the desperate hope that Rob has reappeared. But when he doesn’t show up, Karen turns to Rob’s police colleague, DCI Driver. Can the detective help Karen track down Rob?…

STARS AND STRIPES It’s been very sad to see EastEnders’ Lauren grieving for Steven, but I must admit I was distracted by the stripy dress she was wearing in one of the episodes! Where’s it from? Eliza Lauren’s ‘Stripe Wrap Dress’ is from Warehouse, and is now on sale for just £20! IN TUNE A recent Corrie highlight was the lovely song that Rita sang in the hospital. I had no idea she was such a good singer! What was the song? Bobby, Skipton Rita spent her youth as a showgirl, and when we first met her, she was working as a belly dancer! She enjoyed a memorable stint topping the bill at the Capricorn Club, Weatherfield, in 1972, which led to star Barbara Mullaney (her name at the time)…

Daniel isn’t the first Barlow to earn a byline in the Gazette – dad Ken has been a regular contributor over the years. However, Ken’s most notable journalistic move was to buy the rival Weatherfield Recorder and run it as a free sheet, working with his council mole Wendy Crozier. After Wendy was exposed for leaking stories to Ken, he gave her a job on the paper, and the pair began a torrid affair. Wendy wanted Ken to leave Deirdre, but he wasn’t that keen and confessed the affair to his wife, promising to end it. But when Ken failed to bin Wendy, Deirdre threw him out – giving the local gossips some headline news to share!…

PHOTOS DAN GOLDSMITH When it comes to campaigning for your votes at this year’s Inside Soap Awards, Emmerdale almost doesn’t even have to bother! After picking up the Best Soap gong at our 2016 ceremony, they’ve swept the board at practically every awards do in the past 12 months. But despite their success, they’re taking nothing for granted. “It would be so good to get Best Soap again,” grins Emma Atkins, aka Charity. “It gives everyone a buzz when we win – when you come in the day after an awards ceremony, you can feel how excited everyone is. You can hear everyone talking about it, in the make-up room and on set, we’re all just saying ‘well done’ to each other.…

Looking SHIPSHAPE! CORRIE ’S SAMIA AND HER FAMILY HAVE FUN ON THE HIGH SEAS… Maria’s love life may be in tatters on the Street, but family time couldn’t get much better for her real-life alter ego Samia Longchambon . Appearing at the YachtMarket.com boat show in Southampton with hubby Sylvain , Samia was all smiles as the pair and their two-year-old son Yves took in the nautical sights – and Yves was particularly taken with the pirate ship! “Spent my Sunday casually walking past a few passing pirate ships with my little shipmate,” tweeted the star cutely. The happy family day out is a million miles away from the drama of the cobbles, which currently sees Maria manless and friendless following her affair with Aidan. But despite the…

“Iam going to throw people under the bus, I am going to throw people over the bus, I’m going to get on the bus, take the wheel and get that investment.” That’s just one example of the waffle spouted by the candidates on the latest series of The Apprentice – but at least we have Lord Sugar’s trusted advisor Claude Littner to balance things out by talking some sense. Inside TV spoke to Claude about the upcoming series to find out what we should expect… What did you make of this year’s hopefuls? There are a lot of characters, a lot of arguments and people who somehow or other just don’t get on, and people who obviously establish friendships and work very well together. It’s the…

CAROL, BIANCA & DAN  The affair between her fiancé Dan and daughter Bianca ripped Carol’s world apart. They had a past she wasn’t aware of, and got together again behind Carol and Ricky’s backs. Carol disowned her child, and it took years to fix the damage. Here’s hoping Sonia won’t repeat her mum’s actions… CHARITY, DEBBIE & MICHAEL  Debbie crashed her lover’s secret wedding, only to learn that he was about to tie the knot with her mum. It turned out that Charity had been with Michael for ages. In the end, Michael ditched Charity but Debbie refused to keep seeing him, choosing her mum instead. SALLY, ROSIE & JOHN  Sally had a big crush on her English tutor John Stape, but he was more interested in her daughter Rosie.…

There’s trouble ahead for Street vicar Billy! A new trailer for the show sees young Summer – of whom Billy is a guardian – ending up in hospital after taking drugs, leaving Billy in trouble with social services. But that’s not all, as Corrie producer Kate Oates has hinted at a second new plot for the clergyman – and it seems he has a mystery connection to another local… “Billy learns he has greater links with someone on the Street than he thought,” she says. “Todd always reckoned he was the ne’er-do-well, but it turns out he might not be!”…

“The prices they must charge these so-called media types… I bet Eamonn Holmes thinks nothing of paying £5 for a poached egg.” Norris Cole’s brain is a strange and mysterious place, but we wouldn’t want to crack open that shell. “You know what they say: you get over someone by getting under someone.” For a 15-year-old, Liv is very well informed about the ways of grown-up life. When we were her age, we were too busy learning Spice Girls lyrics from Smash Hits. “I’m fed-up with men ruining our lives! He’s going to regret the day he decided to mess with us…” Creepy Will has drugged and kidnapped and generally terrified Michelle. But he’s absolutely no match for Leanne with a cob on. “You’ve created a monster! A giant bee…

Persistent Tom gives Michelle the creeps this week, when he sends her a freaky present. While the pair seemed to hit it off when they met on the Tube all those months ago, unimpressed Michelle has decided she’s had enough of his advances – but that hasn’t stopped enthusiastic Tom from hassling her! In spite of Michelle’s attempts to let her admirer down gently, he has continued to bombard her with text messages, and she is disturbed when he sends her some macarons – followed by a scarf that she fears belonged to his late wife. When the Mitchells receive crank calls, Michelle is sure he’s behind these as well. Has Tom developed a dangerous obsession with her?…

There are some final scenes in soap that are simply unforgettable – and the image of tragic Roxy and Ronnie drowned together in a hotel swimming pool will never leave us. The controversial decision to axe Walford’s Mitchell sisters shocked many people, but the Gothic tragedy was a stunning finale. For star Rita Simons, it brought a decade of drama in the show to an end, and in the 12 months since, she’s been back on the stage and enjoying quality time with her family. With all the time that’s passed, she was shocked to discover the dramatic exit was up for two Inside Soap Awards… “Wow! It’s lovely and so sweet, since it’s been nearly a year since I finished filming,” enthuses 40-year-old Rita. “To still be thought of…

MAJOR HARRY MARKHAM (Ben Miles) Major Markham is the man in charge, and he takes great pride in never having lost an officer working for him – but is that a streak he’ll be able to maintain? “He is a very traditional old-school Brit from a traditional establishment military background,” says Ben. “He genuinely believes in the British Empire as a benign civilising force in the world.” MARY MARKHAM (Amanda Drew) Major Markham’s wife Mary has a similarly prestigious position among the officers’ wives as the one the other women lean on for support. “Unusually for me, she is a very strong, morally positive character!” grins Amanda. “It was nice to inhabit her sense of purpose and level of compassion. She has a lot of strength.” LIEUTENANT ED LAITHWAITE (Stephen…

Teenager Imo gets a new camera and sets herself the goal of uploading a new video to her online channel every day. It all seems simple enough at first – filming her embarrassed mum, her friends at school and her new fitness kick. But behind all the lively pep and enthusiasm, there’s a strange and sinister presence in some of her footage… “As we go through the series, we see that it deals with anorexia and mental health issues,” explains Michelle Fox, who plays Imo. “I would say she is really innocent and kind of naive. But when this mental health issue takes over her life, it kind of changes her from very happy-go-lucky to very traumatised and terrified, and she has to find a way out of the hole…

What was it like filming Nathan’s court scenes? The director made it feel like a movie set, with lots of different angles and great lighting – it was very exciting. When we finally came to record the verdict, my heart was pounding. How important is it to you for Nathan to face justice? It’s very important. There are growing conviction rates for abuse cases, and the bravery of victims who come forward is being rewarded. Seeing the lifelong damage that abuse inflicts is a hard lesson, and that’s why it’s so good that Corrie is doing this storyline. How would you sum up your Street experience? Nathan’s plots have twisted and turned, and that’s been really exciting. I’ve loved watching this snake grow – the way he thinks he’s so…

Here’s your sneak peek at the upcoming Corrie drama, as couple Rana and Zeedan prepare to tie the knot for a second time. After marrying in the show’s first ever Muslim wedding last year, the pair are set to acquire legal confirmation of their union in another ceremony. But while it’s all smiles in these snaps, will the day go as planned? It’s been confirmed that Rana will develop feelings for her good pal Kate Connor in the coming weeks – so as the bride’s big day approaches, could she find herself getting cold feet before saying “I do” once more? “Rana’s hostile reaction to Kate’s new girlfriend Imogen sparked the beginning of this story,” says our Corrie insider. “But Rana’s behaviour was down to something…

Street actress Barbara Knox has spoken out for the first time about her character Rita’s brain tumour battle, and what may be ahead for one of the show’s most popular characters. “There is a long way to go yet in this storyline for Rita,” said the star, who has been on the cobbles for five decades. “As we follow her journey from the diagnosis to how she comes to terms with the uncertainty of what the future holds, she has some big decisions to make in coming weeks. “When our producer Kate Oates talked to me about the brain tumour storyline for Rita, I was honoured to be tasked with taking on such an important story,” added Barbara. “I was determined to ensure that we got every aspect of the…

Concerned Connie wants answers regarding her heart problems this week – and is left speechless when she’s diagnosed with a rare type of tumour. It’s been clear for a while that something is not quite right, with Connie suffering from breathlessness at work and while out running. Needing to know what’s wrong, the ED boss makes an appointment with a top cardiologist – but she’s not prepared for the huge bombshell that awaits once her test results come in… Reeling from her diagnosis, Connie seeks a second opinion from colleague Ethan. She presents him with her scans, making out that they belong to a patient who she’s been treating in the ED – and Ethan is rather excited to spot an unusual heart tumour. But as he comments that it’s…

FAIR CITY Ray is pleased when Juliet spends some time with him this week – but he’s unaware that Mondo is behind it all. Also, Pete tries to keep Doug and Hannah away from each other, but Miriam intervenes. Elsewhere, troubled Decco contemplates a new business deal. RIVER CITY Kim and Bob learn that their unborn child carries a risk of Down’s syndrome this week, but are upset to hear that a test may cause a miscarriage. What will they decide to do? Meanwhile, Alex struggles taking over the business from Lenny. Plus, Pete makes a new friend. THE ARCHERS Lynda rejects Neil’s suggestion that she join the parish council this week, but urges Robert to take the position. Might he have unexpected competition, though? Across the village, disaster strikes…

WEDDING DAY DOOM After months of swearing revenge on her cheating fiancé, Corrie bride-to-be Eva did a last minute U-turn and decided to marry Aidan for real. Sadly, there was no happy ever after, thanks to Maria… Poor Eva! She should have told Aidan about the baby after he confessed about his affair with Maria. I wanted them to make a go of it! Sharon I can’t believe Maria had the cheek to swan in and act like she was the innocent party in all this! She really is a poisonous cow – and it was typical of her to wallow in self-pity rather than accept responsibility for what she’s done. I hope that karma comes back to find her soon. Nigel, Cornwall The wedding episodes were so unpredictable. I…

Martin and Stacey may have been through the mill more than once, but James and Lacey say bring it on! The pair are an unbeatable combination on set – and great friends behind the scenes, too. James was recently one of a whole gang of Walford stars who flew out to Ibiza for Lacey’s marriage to her childhood sweetheart Matt Kaye. And even James’ real-life wife Victoria, whom he tied the knot with in 2012, gets on with Lacey as famously as James does – as revealed in this snap from her Twitter profile. So when co-stars mesh as well as James and Lacey do, it’s no surprise they’re happy to be thrown in the deep end together… “Lacey and I love having lots of drama in store – and…

Before Neil got the call from Hollyoaks, his last TV appearance was in Emmerdale, playing DS Jason Wise. The kind detective headed the investigation into Gordon Livesy’s historic sex abuse of Aaron – which led to the creep being jailed for his sick crimes. “I was at Emmerdale for about six months, and it was a beautifully sensitive story,” recalls the star, who also played Mike Leydon in Corrie in 2011-12. “I was in and out with my character, but Lucy [Pargeter, aka Chas] and Danny [Miller, aka Aaron] were brilliant. They were really accepting and two of the most beautiful actors I’ve ever met – both on and off screen!”…

MRS SLATER Roxy’s outrageous wedding to bad boy Sean Slater saw her rock a risqué dress, and get frisky with her fella on the register office table! BABY BOMBSHELL She did the dirty on sister Ronnie by sleeping with her man Jack – and evil Archie revealed Jack was the father of Roxy’s daughter, Amy, at a very tense Christmas dinner. FOR THE LOVE OF ALFIE Roxy was serious about Alfie Moon and agreed to marry him – but after exchanging vows on their wedding day, she told him to go back to his one true love, former wife Kat. PASSION KILLER It was Roxy s relationship with brutal Carl White that provoked her sister Ronnie into killing him. She attacked the abusive fella, and let his body be crushed at…

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THIS BLIND-DATING SHOW with a twist is a real treat of the early evening schedules – and we reckon it’s worthy of a primetime slot. The idea is simple enough: a single person sets three potential suitors the challenge of buying them an outfit , and they have a limited amount of time and funds to find something. But of course, trying to second-guess the taste of someone you’ve never met is an absolute minefield – and the outfit you buy is the only thing that they’ll have to judge you on . It’s hilarious – and Matt Edmondson’s spiky, exasperated narration elevates it to an art form.…

STOP THE PRESS BBC1 has ordered a drama about rival newspapers written by Doctor Foster’s Mike Bartlett. David Suchet will play a media tycoon in Press , with Charlotte Riley, Ben Chaplin and Al Weaver also among the cast. GENDER BREAKING Anna Friel has signed up to star in new ITV miniseries Butterfly . She’ll play the mum of an 11-year-old boy who has always dressed as a girl at home but now wants to do so in public. SOUND DECISIONS ITV’s Change Your Tune is on the lookout for Britain’s worst singers, who’ll be coached by top vocal experts before performing live. For more details email singingshow@twofour.co.uk…

EASTENDERS Carters in crisis! MICK AND LINDA MUST OVERCOME ANOTHER OBSTACLE… Just when it seems the Carters have finally got their marriage back on track, a new spanner is thrown into the works next week. But with secrets festering, as well as outside forces threatening to crush their relationship, what fresh hell awaits Mick and Linda? EMMERDALE Gift of the Gabby! The Thomas teen starts to self-destruct next week, as she gets boozy with B&B alcohol. How will Doug and Diane react when they learn that she’s deceived them? HOLLYOAKS Cleo and Joel’s baby joy! HOME AND AWAY Brody busted? HOLBY CITY Fletch feels the pressure… CORRIE Robin could! Billy takes inspiration from the Merry Men of Sherwood Forest next week, as he steals from rich Adam Barlow and gives…

BULLSEYE! We’re sad for Rita , who succumbed to a very rare illness called ‘a cunning ploy to create publicity for Corrie going six episodes a week’-itis. The good news is that it means she’s sure to make a full recovery. But clever old Corrie for using the wonderful Barbara Knox to full effect. We especially loved her remembering much-missed characters like Mavis, Fred and Alec. So, it turns out Ian is still furious that Kathy faked her death. But is it really worth bringing that up again? Can’t we all just pretend the whole sorry saga never happened? We love having Vic Reeves in Weatherfield. Though it’s not perhaps the most understated performance in Corrie history! So what are we calling…