Table of contents for 40 - 2017 in Inside Soap UK

“Thanks Liz for the tears and the joy” It was a sad day when Inside Soap learned of Liz Dawn’s passing. For so many of us here, Vera and Jack simply were Coronation Street as we grew up. Back then, there were only four TV channels, and none of the other modern distractions, so everyone watched Corrie – and Liz was one of the country’s most recognisable faces. It was my great honour to present Liz and her telly partner, the late Bill Tarmey, with a trophy at the Inside Soap Awards back in 2002. I can genuinely say the pair were wonderful, everything you wanted them to be and more – and that’s not something I can say of all of the stars I’ve met! If Liz thanked me…

EastEnders shocked the nation when the identity of the evil mastermind pulling Max’s strings was revealed to be none other than wicked James Willmott-Brown from back in the day! However, there are still many questions that remain unanswered as we get to know James and his ruthless family. What is Willmott-Brown’s true agenda, and why is his clan hell-bent on buying up Albert Square? While his brother-in-law Hugo seems to be clued in, do his children Luke, Sophie and Josh know the whole story of his sordid history? And how long before W-B comes face to face with those he’s wronged in the past? Inside Soap brings you the answers… IS KATHY IN DANGER? Many viewers were shocked by the 1988 EastEnders storyline in which Willmott-Brown raped Kathy…

Love for Gemma? Rumour has it that Corrie’s Gemma will bag herself a rich, handsome fella – who could turn out to be heir to brewery empire Newton & Ridley. You go, girl! Zosia not out! A reunion may be on the cards for Holby’s Zosia and Ollie. “I’ve been asked to film an episode this month,” says recently departed actress Camilla Arfwedson (Zosia). Stone the crows! There’ll be a blast from the past for Alf this winter, when his daughter Quinn Jackson returns to the Bay. She was last on our screens in 1995 – so what brings her back to her dad’s hometown after 22 years away?…

Adam’s arrest comes as a shock to most people on the Street, but Billy already knows all about the robbery – and this week he puts his own suggestion to Adam regarding how the crook can pay for what he’s done. After hearing miserable Fiz lamenting the financial difficulties facing the out-of-work factory girls, Billy confides in boyfriend Todd that Adam should cough up some cash, given that he’s the reason they’ve all lost their jobs at Underworld. Adam refuses to accept any responsibility when Billy’s idea is put to him, and his complacency is too much for Billy to stomach – leading him to take shocking action! Over at the solicitors’ office, Billy spies an envelope stuffed full of money on Adam’s desk, – and swipes it as a…

Donna has the day from hell this week – but can she manage to turn it all around? First she arrives for her shift in a state after new housemate Ric hogs the shower. And when he asks her to escort a visiting bigwig – played by ex-Hollyoaks star Nick Rhys (Lockie Campbell) – around the unit, further trouble is on the cards! Donna goes all out to impress the supposed VIP, and her admirable nursing skills don’t let her down. But there are more shocks in store on this exhausting day……

UNACCEPTABLE IN THE 80s Now there’s a twist! Of all the people we might’ve suspected of being behind the Walford property conspiracy, we’d never have guessed in a million years it would be James Wilmott-bloomin’-Brown! So let me get this straight… ‘Fi’ is really Sophie and she is Josh’s half-sister. And their other brother is the man Max was in prison with. And their uncle Hugo is the chairman of the company Lauren and Max worked for. And Hugo’s brother-in law is James Wilmott-Brown, who used to own the bar that’s now called The Albert, and raped Kathy Beale. Is that right? Is there anything else I need to know? I’ve only watched EastEnders for 20 years, so forgive me if I’m not up to speed on the ancient history!…

Distraught Stacey begins the week with her children removed and placed in Carmel and Kush’s care. But there may be bigger battles to come for the stressed-out mum… Although guilty Carmel allows her to spend time with her kids, little does Stacey know that it was Carmel who reported her to social services in the first place – and it’s an anxious family who head to the hospital for their appointment with the doctor about Arthur’s mysterious bruises. Stacey is relieved when Arthur is given the all-clear, but her joy is short-lived after social services state they’ll be checking in on her regularly. Her stress levels rise as the first home visit approaches, and there’s more trouble afoot when Stacey and Martin get a shock that could change everything. What…

Things certainly move fast in the world of soap – but EastEnders actress Gillian Taylforth (who plays Kathy) looked to be enjoying a relaxing day in the slow lane while attending Harley Street Skin Clinic’s recent Back On Track charity event. Appearing alongside son Harrison , the 62-year-old actress demonstrated exactly where the youngster gets his good looks from, as they posed for the cameras at the motor racing-themed meet-up. And Gillian wasn’t the only EastEnder at the event – her Walford cast mate Bonnie Langford (aka Carmel) also turned up to enjoy a day of full-throttle fun and games. But while glowing 53-year-old Bonnie put in a radiant display, it’s quite obvious that the real star of the show was Gillian’s beloved pet pooch. Cute!…

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My favourite film of all time , and this is going to make me sound like a real fuddy-duddy, is His Girl Friday with Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell. I was in York filming Victoria and I switched on the telly and there it was, so I had to watch the whole thing again! It’s still as sharp and relevant nearly 80 years on. Comedy-wise I enjoyed White Gold – because I’m in it! It’s not necessarily my area of humour, it’s quite scatological, but I think [writer] Damon Beesley’s done a brilliant job. I enjoyed the disgusting clothes – a friend said, “You don’t mind looking hideous on TV, do you?” and I wasn’t quite sure whether to take that as a compliment or an insult!…

It’s a bold decision on the part of EastEnders to turn Max Branning into a murderer. First, Steven Beale died as a direct result of injuries caused by Max, and then, as Max left Jane in a fire – convinced that she could not make it out alive on her own – he showed himself to be a cold-blooded killer. And in that moment, the character of Max Branning changed for me forever. I’ve loved Max since he arrived in 2006, as one of the most complex yet likeable characters in soapland. It didn’t matter how much he lied and cheated – I could always forgive him. Until now. Soapland is very clear on the rules where murder is concerned – the killer will eventually pay the price. Jane is…

Harry may think he killed Amy, but Hollyoaks viewers know better! Through flashbacks we discovered that somebody else was in Amy’s flat after Harry left – and Parry tells us the show’s fans are relieved that it wasn’t his alter ego… “At first I had a lot of people calling me a murderer on Instagram!” he chuckles. “But then when people found out that it wasn’t actually Harry, I think they were satisfied, because it would be out of character for him to kill someone. “Most viewers are just desperate to know who the real murderer is,” adds Parry. “But I like that Harry thinks he killed someone even though he didn’t – I get to play the drama without worrying about losing my job!”…

“I was right about that Botox. And now she tells me she’s going to have a boob job. But she’s only saved up enough for one boob – so it might be quite a while yet.” You can always rely on a hairdresser for the best gossip. “Never trust anyone with only one photo on their profile. And if it’s just a head shot, then chances are he’s a whale.” Ben has a special insight into the ways of top Walford dating app ‘FishNet’. “You can’t just d flop around g going, for ‘Boohoo ass , poor me’. cousin You ’s nail a lid on top of awyer your feelings . , you slap a smile on your face, and you get on with it.” Liz truly missed her vocation…

FAIR CITY Mondo pressures Juliet to spend time with Melanie this week – will his efforts to help them bond bear fruit? Meanwhile, Pete urges Dolores to warn Ronan about Phoenix Way, and Doug vows to find the truth as he suspects that Miriam nearly cost Hannah her life… RIVER CITY Pete is feeling the pressure this week, as he finally tracks down his estranged wife, Francesca. Elsewhere, Annie’s attempts to embrace normality are frustrated when she discovers the identity of Alex’s new business partner, and Frankie’s actions cause concern for Amber. THE ARCHERS Adam prepares for parenting by throwing himself into the lion’s den this week – but will babysitting Henry do the trick? Over at the Dower House, relations are still strained and Lilian finds herself drawn to…

HORSE FAIR He doesn’t have the greatest dress sense, but sometimes Scott in Hollyoaks wears some great stuff. Do you know where I can find his shirt with the multicoloured horses, please? Dan, Cardiff Scott’s shirt is a Claudio Lugli ‘Horse Rider’ print, and you can pick one up for £79.99 from www. theshirtstore.co.uk REVVED UP It’s sad that Reverend Stevens is leaving Walford – how long has he been in EastEnders? Rog, Bristol Former Michael Keating has played The Reverend George Stevens – vicar of St Cuthbert’s Church, Walford – for 12 years. His first appearance was to help plan the christening of Little Mo Mitchell’s son Freddie in 2005, and he’s since officiated weddings – such as Peggy and Archie Mitchell – and endless…

What we love about Lydia is how she’s stepped into the Thomas household just when widowed Laurel needed a friend. Her presence has helped lift the sombre mood after Ashley’s death, and given Mrs Thomas a reason to smile again. “I was nervous about Lydia moving in with Laurel, and how she’d fit into the household, but Emmerdale has got it spot on!” says Karen. “I had to complement the amazing dementia story that Charlotte Bellamy [Laurel] and John Middleton [Ashley] had done, not undo any of that great work. I think Lydia brought some light relief – it’s great to be part of the Thomas family.” It’ll be interesting to see this bond grow deeper, especially as Laurel has worn out her welcome at Nicola’s house. “Although Lydia does…

Liz Dawn described her 36 years playing Vera as “the best of my life”, and for Corrie viewers, her reign on the cobbles marked one of the show’s golden eras. Alongside her screen partner Bill Tarmey, she was one half of the Street’s best-ever double act. In the words of Michael Le Vell (Kevin) when he paid tribute to the actress: “Jack and Vera were the foundations on which Coronation Street has been built.” Early years Following a jobs ranging working in Woolworths to selling wigs, it was Liz’s husband Donald who pushed her towards show business, realising she had talent as a singer. It was he who suggested she change her name from Sylvia Butterfield, with Liz choosing to reverse the names of one of…

She may have been a grandmother, but there was no stopping Big Mo on the romance front – and the object of her desires was mysterious character Fat Elvis. For a long while all we knew of the mythical man – whom we never saw on screen – was that he was the purveyor of seriously dodgy goods, and that he had a huge crush on Mo. So, imagine Laila’s surprise when she came face to face with the man himself, and he was nothing like she had imagined. “Nobody even told me they were bringing Fat Elvis into the show,” she laughs. “Then one day I arrive and they say, ‘Oh, Fat Elvis is here’. I went to meet him and he wasn’t at all what I was expecting.…

His love life may not be smooth sailing on the cobbles, but Corrie’s Dean Fagan (Luke) is head over heels. Having proposed to his girlfriend of nine years, Louise Pridding , the star shared a snap of the loved-up pair as they celebrated their news. And following his proposal while on holiday in Spain, Luke said: “After making her wait nearly 10 years, I finally led her down a dark path and asked her to marry me. Can’t believe she said yes!”…

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HIGH ART IT CERTAINLY AIN’T, but we do find ourselves really looking forward to watching this gladiatorial game show every week. Despite our initial concerns, we’ve consulted some classics scholars and discovered that the challenges the contestants are put through are more historically accurate than you might think – which makes us feel better about watching. However, we’re obviously not here for a history lesson: the appeal comes from the (mostly) friendly rivalries between the couples , who know that the whole thing is completely daft but still really want to win.…

BULLSEYE! The highlight of a quiet week for the soaps was the slow unravelling of Emma Barton . We loved Gabby chipping away at Emma’s phoney faith, ending with the screening of the fateful Ashley video on the wall of the church. But best of all was the fact that, even then, Emma was in denial. “All right! I killed your dad!” she confessed to Finn . “But let’s not bother your brothers with that.” Aidan spent just 45 seconds on Maria’s Sofa Of Certain Sex before he tried to have another go on her! Luckily, she was able to resist her settee’s unknowable erotic power. Only on TV do a couple go to a restaurant and then sit on the same side of the table. At least invite the…

Dane is a dramatic addition to the cobbles, and Julia is pleased with the development. “Introducing someone new to Shona’s story had to be done, especially with all the rumours going around that Nathan was Clayton’s dad!” laughs the actress. “Dane also needed to be brought in to prove that Shona has been telling the truth about her background. He’s not a nice man, so hopefully it will allow the Coronation Street audience a more sympathetic view of Shona and everything she’s been through. “I agree that she might not have made the best decisions in the past,” continues Julia. “But these days Shona is really trying her best to right the wrongs that have been done by the people around her…”…

“I hope Moira the medical centre lady becomes a Corrie regular. I love that she’s an absolute shrew, but can be buttered up so easily with flattery! Move her on to the Street please!” …begs reader Heidi “I think the residents of Emmerdale should go away together on holiday for the month of October, to miss the village’s annual disaster! That said, they’d all go to a tropical island and a volcano would go off.” …says reader Angie fromWrexham “In Casualty , I think they should discover that the only surgeon skilled enough to operate on Connie Beauchamp … is Connie Beauchamp! That would be a real TV first!” …chuckles reader Sarah “No character in soap is in greater need of a storyline…

Mick and Linda’s closest pals try to make them see sense this week – though will they only make things worse? While Linda and Shirley have never been close, they have come to rely on each other in recent times – and the pair share a heart-to-heart at the Vic. But will Linda listen to what Shirl has to say? Meanwhile, Mick confides in Jack about what’s been going on, oblivious to the fact that Jack has known of Linda’s cancer ordeal for a couple of weeks, after she told him in the aftermath of the gas explosion. So if Jack reveals to Mick that he’s already aware of Linda’s battle, will Mick feel more out in the cold than ever?…

Skint Gerry is the target of Pollard’s fury this week – driving the lad to some reckless behaviour. Pollard is angry because Gerry can’t afford to pay his B&B bill, so Doug offers him a job there to pay off the debt. The problem is, Diane has also offered Gabby and Liv some work, and the combination of teenagers inevitably brings trouble! When vodka later goes missing from their stock, Doug turns detective – but what he doesn’t know is that Gerry nicked the booze because he’s trying to show the girls how cool he is. Liv reckons he’s being a moron, but Gabby can’t resist getting involved in the bad boy’s nonsense – and when Gerry suggests the girls bunk off and spend the day getting drunk on vodka…

“Carmel wants to put things right, but her timing is back to front – as usual!” Say what you like about Carmel and her henpecking ways, but she’s the last person we want to see tangled in Max’s wicked web. Not even her recent reporting of Stacey to social services could merit her appalling treatment at his hands – but this week, Carmel must deal with the consequences of the trouble she’s caused. She’s wracked with guilt over blowing the whistle on little Arthur’s mysterious bruises, prompting the removal of him and sister Lily from Stacey’s care. However, Carmel’s real-life alter ego Bonnie Langford insists that she can hold her own… “She’s no doormat!” insists the much-loved star of stage and screen, as we grab her for a chat. “It’s…

“I’d want Jess Ellis [Tegan] to be my court jester, because she’s hilarious! She has a chihuahua called Bob who she brings on set, too!” “Right now Cleo would want Joel to be her king, but that could change if she finds out about Bart! Zack would be a good match for her , he’s nice.” “Cleo would throw her Auntie Myra in the stocks! As much as Cleo loves her, Myra can be quite annoying because she tells her off a lot .” “The first law Cleo would pass is that people must wear their hair in a bun! Cleo always has her hair in a bun – she’d get married like that, too!” “Cleo’s national anthem would be something by Rihanna. I think she’d like Wild Thoughts ,…

“Dipi hates Clancy – but do you love dogs in real life?” Dipi loves to gossip about the lives of her Ramsay Street neighbours – but how will 32-year-old Sharon cope with our readers’ probing questions about her own life? “Is it true you originally auditioned to play Mishti, not Dipi?” Yes, that’s right. Dipi is much older than I am in real life! I went for the role of Mishti to begin with, but when I got all off, which was a sad moment for me! But I was just grateful to be a part of the Sharma-Rebecchi family. “What’s it like playing the mum of teenagers?” It’s so weird, because in real life I don’t think it could physically even be possible for me to be their mum!…

Baby TRAGEDY Emmerdale stars Charlotte Bellamy and John Middleton won acclaim during Ashley’s dementia plot, but that wasn’t the first time their alter egos had struck tragedy. In 2008, Laurel and Ashley suffered a heartbreaking loss when their baby son Daniel was a victim of cot death. The stars acted their socks off – and there was more drama when it turned out Daniel had been switched at birth, meaning Laurel and Ashley had grieved for a son who wasn’t even theirs. It wasn t all doom and gloom in the village, though – Val and Pollard finally got hitched, even after Val was kidnapped by the Dingles on the big day! WHITNEY’S anguish Whitney may be all grown up these days as she plans her second nuptials, but back in…

Dales actress Roxy Shahidi (Leyla) is known for her super-svelte figure – but get set to see her with a baby bump very soon! Roxy recently revealed that she is expecting a daughter with actor hubby Arsher Ali in January. Admitting that the news came as a shock, Roxy said: “I was terrified when I saw the test was positive. We hadn’t been trying long, and I was sure it was going to take us much longer! It was a few weeks before I got my head around it, but once I did I was filled with joy.” Meanwhile, Roxy’s cast mate Charley Webb (Debbie) had already sussed that her pal had a bun in the oven… “Charley told me that she thought I was pregnant before I did the…

With the kids back to school and their dads spending long hours on set, it’s nice to see fathers and sons enjoying some quality time together. Attending the press night of Beautiful – The Carole King Musical at the Bradford Theatre, Dales star Matthew Wolfenden (David) and his seven-year-old son Buster were clearly having lots of fun together while dressed in matching denim jackets. Elsewhere, Matthew’s co-star Chris Bisson (Jai) has been making the most of his precious days off by playing with four-year-old son Harry – who is the spit of his dashing dad!…

“ELVIS AND GEORGIE WILL BECAUSE NEVER JUST THEY BE FRIENDS CAN’T BE , !” Lance Corporal Georgie Lane is quick to respond to the call of duty this week, when there’s an earthquake in Nepal and the British Army is sent to help. But the relief effort is under-resourced, while Georgie is also asked to mentor a promising but reckless recruit who she’s already clashed with… “Georgie goes over to help rebuild villages and look after the people,” explains Michelle Keegan, who plays her. “She belongs in the Army, so whatever challenge she faces, she goes head-on. I think that she feels a little bit out of it when she’s at home – so no matter where in the world she is…

Marty McFly had a DeLorean, the Doctor has his Tardis, and Nick, Jason, Lauren and Horace have… a lift that smells of wee in a run-down block of flats. Okay, so their method of time travel might lack elegance, but it transports the group back 90 years and that’s what counts… “They’re a bunch of friends from south London in a struggling jazz band,” explains Kadiff Kirwan, who plays Jason. “They end up in a lift that takes them back to the 1920s, and the show is about how they navigate through life in that particular period. Oh, and they’re all black!” Daniel Lawrence Taylor, who wrote the series and also plays Nick, says he wanted to show a slightly different side of history than we get from the likes…

DEDICATED DUTY Martin Clunes will star in new ITV true-crime drama Manhunt . It’s based on the memoirs of DCI Colin Sutton, who led the hunt for Levi Bellfield – the killer of Milly Dowler, Marsha McDonnell and Amelie Delagrange. HUMAN RITES Filming has started on the third series of Channel 4 artificial intelligence drama Humans . Mark Bonnar joins the cast as a government scientist who develops a connection with Laura (Katherine Parkinson). PROBLEM CHILD Is your child out of control and aggressive? Would you like expert help? A returning Channel 5 series is looking for families to take part. For more info, contact emma@castinghouse.co.uk or call 01908 681142…